- Mike Randall (entertainer)
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Michael E. "Mike" Randall (born c. 1953) is an American actor, meteorologist and reporter from Buffalo, New York. He is best known for his long run on WKBW-TV, where he has been since 1983 and has been the chief meteorologist since 1999.
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Television career
Randall holds seals of approval from the National Weather Association (seal #9708542, which he has held since at least the early 1990s)[1] and the American Meteorological Society (seal #1558, which he earned some time in the 2000s).[2] His meteorology education comes from Mississippi State University's Broadcast Meteorology Program, while his broadcasting education was obtained from Onondaga Community College.
Prior to 1983, Randall worked at WFSB in Hartford and WDBJ-TV in Roanoke, as well as a brief stint as a commercial spokesman for the New York Lottery in 1978.
Randall joined WKBW-TV in 1983 as a feature reporter. In 1989, Randall was paired with Ann Edwards to host Good Morning Western New York, the first morning newscast in the Buffalo market, with Randall assigned weather presenting duties as well as co-hosting duties. Randall became a bona fide meteorologist shortly thereafter; he became the third true meteorologist in the Buffalo market (after WIVB-TV's Don Paul and Mike Cejka). From 1992 through 1993, Randall was named "commander" of the children's television program Rocketship 7. Upon the retirement of Tom Jolls in 1999, Randall was named chief meteorologist and moved to the station's evening newscasts. He was moved back to mornings in 2009 in an effort to revive the ratings of Good Morning Western New York.
Acting career
Randall is known as a character actor performing primarily in one-man shows. His best known impersonations are those of 19th century authors Mark Twain and Charles Dickens. The Twain performances are known as Mark Twain Live! As Dickens, Randall traditionally recites the book A Christmas Carol as Dickens used to do on stage during his lifetime.[dead link][3][4][5][6][7] He holds a degree in theater from the State University of New York at Geneseo.[8]
In 1975, Hal Holbrook, the creator of Mark Twain Tonight, filed a lawsuit against the then-22 year old Randall alleging that Randall had plagiarized Holbrook's work. The two reached a settlement stating that Randall could not use any of Holbrook's work in future productions, but that Randall could continue impersonating Twain.[9]
References
- ^ List of NWA Seal of Approval holders. From the National Weather Association. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ List of AMS Seal of Approval holders. From the American Meteorological Society. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^[dead link]Mike Randall to appear at SCA. Springville Journal. 5 December 2008.
- ^ Rhodes, Sandra (2010-01-07). One Book Bradford: Randall Brings Mark Twain to Bromeley. WESB. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ Deluca, Michelle (2007-11-30). RANDALL AS DICKENS: Weatherman brings “A Christmas Carol” to life. Tonawanda News. Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ ON STAGE: A look at area theater productions. Batavia Daily News (2010-04-29). Retrieved 2010-05-03.
- ^ Author unstated (2010-07-14). ‘Mark Twain Live’ To Play 1891 Fredonia Opera House. The Post-Journal. Retrieved 2010-07-14.
- ^ Harvey, Jerry (2010-11-10). Landmark Society bringing Randall, A Christmas Carol to Bradford. WESB. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ^ Randall, Mike. Randall vs Holbrook vs Twain. Retrieved July 24, 2011.
External links
Categories:- Living people
- 1953 births
- People from Buffalo, New York
- American television meteorologists
- State University of New York at Geneseo alumni
- Works inspired by Mark Twain
- Works inspired by Charles Dickens
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