Mike Darnell

Mike Darnell

Michael Darnell is an American entertainment executive. As president of Alternative Entertainment at the Fox network and subsequently president of Unscripted Television at Warner Bros., Darnell was in charge of some of the most successful and longest-running franchises in television history, including American Idol, The Bachelor franchise, The Voice, Family Guy, Futurama, Hell's Kitchen, Kitchen Nightmares, MasterChef, Little Big Shots, The Ellen DeGeneres Show, So You Think You Can Dance, Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?, The Simple Life, Temptation Island, and many more. When he was 12, his family moved to California, where he eventually appeared in, or voiced-over, some sixty commercials. He also appeared in TV episodes such as Sanford and Son, Welcome Back, Kotter and Kojak. Later he worked as a bank teller to help pay his way through Cal State-Northridge. He also played piano at a night spot. Soon after graduating, he had an internship at Entertainment Tonight, which he says he "hated", before he started working at Fox's West Coast flagship station KTTV, within their news department.

More details

Known For

Filmography

1982

Teachers Only
Teachers Only
TV - Released: 4/14/1982

1981

The Violation of Sarah McDavid
The Violation of Sarah McDavid
as Andy
Movie - Released: 5/19/1981

1979

Knots Landing
Knots Landing
as Fred
TV - Released: 12/27/1979

1976

Big John, Little John
Big John, Little John
as Ricky Martin
TV - Released: 9/11/1976

1973

Kojak
Kojak
as Nick
TV - Released: 10/24/1973