Don Mischer, Director and Producer of Television’s Biggest Live Events, Dies at 85

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Legendary Emmy-winning director-producer Don Mischer, known for orchestrating some of the most significant global live entertainment extravaganzas such as Super Bowl half-time shows, Olympic opening ceremonies, the Oscars, and the Emmys, has sadly passed away at the age of 85.

On Friday, Mischer passed away tranquilly in his sleep, as confirmed by a family representative to The Hollywood Reporter.

Born in San Antonio, this individual was not only responsible for the Kennedy Center Honors since its debut in 1978 up until 1986. Later on, he oversaw the CBS telecast from 1993 to 2001. Furthermore, he managed Barbara Walters’ popular ABC interview shows, starting in the late 1970s.

Meanwhile, Mischer orchestrated numerous iconic TV shows, including “Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever” in 1983 – this special gathered The Jackson 5 together again and showcased Michael Jackson’s famous “moonwalk” during a rendition of “Billie Jean”. Additionally, Mischer was responsible for “The Muppets Celebrate Jim Henson” in 1990 and “Sonny & Me: Cher Remembers” in 1998. Interestingly, both shows were broadcast just months after the unexpected passing of Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets, and Sonny Bono.

Throughout a remarkable five-decade span in his career, Mischer worked on television projects alongside an impressive array of stars, including Bob Hope, Gene Kelly, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Shirley MacLaine, Nell Carter, Don Rickles, Robin Williams, Barbra Streisand, Donna Summer, Eddie Murphy, and Beyoncé.

Some directors and producers may view talent as an inconvenience at times, but it’s crucial to show that you value them and have their welfare in focus. When they succeed, it benefits you too.” (This conversation took place on the Television Academy Foundation website The Interviews in 2008.)

Mischer’s award collection boasted 13 Primetime Emmys, a Daytime Emmy, a Sports Emmy, a Peabody Award, ten Directors Guild of America (DGA) accolades, and lifetime achievement honors bestowed by both the directors and producers guilds.

In 2018, DGA president Thomas Schlamme praised Don’s skillful direction of live events, stating that it’s like a swiftly moving orchestra of careful preparation and quick problem-solving that broadcasts our country’s most significant cultural happenings right into our homes. He carries out this feat with poise and assurance.

He orchestrated four Super Bowl half-time performances: one in 1993, where Jackson managed to secure the position despite NBC’s initial objections as they preferred their own sports commentator for the job; another in 2005 with Paul McCartney; followed by The Rolling Stones in 2006; and finally, Prince performed in 2007, delivering “Purple Rain” during a serendipitous rain shower in Miami.

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He oversaw four Super Bowl half-time shows: the first one in 1993 when Jackson overcame NBC’s opposition to be chosen for the role; the second in 2005 featuring Paul McCartney; the third with The Rolling Stones in 2006; and lastly, Prince performed “Purple Rain” during a fortunate rain shower in Miami in 2007.

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He was responsible for four Super Bowl half-time shows: one in 1993 after Jackson successfully argued his case against NBC’s preference for their sports commentator; another in 2005 with Paul McCartney; the third featuring The Rolling Stones in 2006; and last but not least, Prince performed “Purple Rain” during a lucky rain shower in Miami in 2007.

In 2008 and 2009, Mischer was responsible for organizing the entertainment during half-time, featuring acts such as Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, and Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band respectively. He mentioned that an average halftime show includes around 300 camera angles in less than 12 minutes.

He led the inaugural ceremonies for both the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. Interestingly, he claimed to be among a handful who knew prior that Muhammad Ali was the torchbearer – this was a surprise during the 1996 ceremony. Furthermore, the Salt Lake City event was the first significant worldwide event held post-9/11.

He was in charge of broadcasting the Academy Awards ceremonies in 2011 (with James Franco and Anne Hathaway as hosts), 2012 (Billy Crystal’s final Oscar performance), and 2013 (Seth MacFarlane hosting), and he produced the Primetime Emmys on fifteen occasions from 1993 to 2019, including the two times the 2001 show was delayed, an event that was also affected by terrorist attacks.

He’s shared that throughout his career, he’s strived to create Emmy shows where everyone in our industry – whether present in the theater or watching from home – would feel a sense of pride and satisfaction when the show ended. His goal has always been to make people happy about being part of television.

As a self-proclaimed “thrill seeker” in the world of live broadcasting, Mischer welcomed the dangerous allure of his profession – “the risk is immense, and that’s what makes it enticing,” he admitted – understanding full well that “there are more ways for things to go awry than there are for them to go smoothly.”

(Note: The term “stress junkie” has been replaced with a more natural and easy-to-read phrase, “thrill seeker”. Also, the sentence structure has been modified slightly for clarity and flow.)

During the last evening of the 2004 Democratic Convention, he instructed the release of the balloons kept up high in Boston’s TD Garden as a celebration of John Kerry’s presidential nomination.

Despite his strong objections, a local business was contracted for the task, but unfortunately, they mishandled it. His urgent plea to the team for “more balloons, hurry up and get them here, balloons, balloons, balloons… what on earth are you doing up there?” was broadcast live on CNN. Four years later, he would express remorse, stating that it was one of those situations he thought he’d never be able to find amusing again.

Apart from his work on other projects, Mischer was involved in two variety shows that became infamous for their poor performance: “Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell” and “Dolly,” which starred Dolly Parton. Reflecting on these experiences, he acknowledged, “I’ve been connected to two of the largest television flops in history, but thankfully, I managed to weather through them.

Donald Leo Mischer was born on the 5th of March, 1940, and grew up in a suburban area near San Antonio. His father, Elmer, was employed in insurance, while his mother, Lillian, took care of the household. Sadly, she passed away due to breast cancer when Donald was only 17 years old.

He often expressed his deep fascination for the little screen. Even when others didn’t consider television as significant during his youth, he would daydream about it. It was a captivating interest that drew him in deeply.

He frequently spoke of his lifelong enchantment with the small screen. Back then, many people didn’t see much value in television, but he would often dream about it. It had an irresistible allure for him.

Lastly:

He constantly mentioned his enduring fascination with the TV screen. As a child, not everyone took television seriously, but he used to imagine it. It held a powerful charm over him.

As a high school student at Douglas MacArthur High School, he simultaneously played in a touring country band across various locations. Afterward, he pursued and completed his undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Sociology from The University of Texas at Austin, with the goal of becoming an educator.

In the wake of President Kennedy’s assassination in Dallas on November 22, 1963, TV reporters from across the nation flocked to Austin to cover stories about Lyndon Johnson, the Texas-based Vice President. Mischer was chosen by one of his college professors to serve as a messenger during this period.

By 5 in the afternoon, I was riding with a group of fellows, all hailing from New York, absorbing their thoughts and actions, utterly amazed by their swift decision-making abilities,” he reminisced. “I had been preparing for my Ph.D., but suddenly, I made up my mind: ‘I’m joining this business, that’s it.’

He was awarded approximately $2,800 by The Ford Foundation for a year’s work at a public TV station on the UT campus. After that, he shifted to Washington where he managed and produced news segments for the U.S. Information Agency, which is a government PR department, and political ads for the Academy Award-winning documentarian Charles Guggenheim.

The initial event he made visible across the country was a 30-minute live broadcast in 1968, which showcased Democratic presidential nominee Hubert Humphrey.

Mischer relocated to New York City to helm the PBS talk show titled “The Great American Dream“, and later, in 1973, he teamed up with Don Kirshner for a 90-minute rock spectacle called “In Concert” that was broadcast in stereo. This program aired following the late regional news on Friday evenings.

In 1975, he faced a dilemma: to take up the role of director for a brand new primetime variety show titled “Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell“, produced by Roone Arledge for ABC, or join another fresh opportunity, namely “Saturday Night Live“, an late-night program at NBC. Ultimately, he chose the former, but it was plagued with production issues and ended after airing 18 episodes.

Nonetheless, renowned producer George Schlatter invited him to Los Angeles and appointed him to oversee TV specials featuring entertainers such as Barry Manilow, Goldie Hawn, Liza Minnelli, and John Denver.

Mischer earned a total of 42 Primetime Emmy nominations, with the initial win coming in 1981 for his work as a producer on the children’s show “Donahue and Kids,” which was hosted by Phil Donahue, and for directing the Kennedy Center Honors.

At the Super Bowl in 1993, Mischer’s team of 270 volunteer police officers and firefighters needed just over three minutes and a half to assemble Jackson’s band and a massive 12-ton stage, made up of 26 separate pieces, as well as equipment for lighting, special effects, and wind control, all on the field at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. In the end, they managed to finish with only twelve seconds remaining.

Jackson’s performance was one of the most-watched events in TV history.

Following the infamous wardrobe incident involving Janet Jackson during the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show on MTV, it was Mischer who steered the NFL through the situation. Reflecting on this, he expressed, “If I should ever cross paths with Janet Jackson again, I’d like to express my gratitude to her.

Additionally, he was involved in various high-profile events such as the Tony Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the White House Correspondents’ dinner, the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award event, and a 2009 special for Barack Obama’s inauguration.

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He participated in other significant events like the Tony Awards, the Billboard Music Awards, the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, the AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony, and a 2009 inaugural special for Barack Obama.

Mischer oversaw episodes of shows like Laugh-In, It’s Garry Shandling’s Show, Dolly, Normal Life, The Wayne Brady Show and Murder, She Wrote. However, he generally declined the opportunity to create series television, even though it offered significant financial benefits.

He expressed his confusion about committing to a single studio and artist for an entire year, given that he’s scheduled to work with Willie Nelson in March, Baryshnikov in May, and take part in the closing ceremony of Liberty Weekend alongside Frank Sinatra in July.

His memoir, :10 Seconds to Air: My Life in the Director’s Chair, was published in 2023.

Among those who carry on his legacy are his second spouse, Suzan Reed, a previous executive at CBS; his daughters, Jennifer, Heather, Charles, and Lilly; as well as his granddaughters, Everly and Tallulah.

In simple terms, my work revolves around providing enjoyment, similar to many others. It’s not like performing brain surgery, as he put it in 2008. I aspire to be remembered as someone who cherished their work, interacted kindly with people, and had the chance to accomplish a few exceptional things – a handful, if you will.

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2025-04-13 02:25