Since the debut of The Insider, O'Brien interviewed some of Hollywood’s biggest celebrities and most prominent political leaders. In 2004, The Insider was the only newsmagazine granted access inside the White House, which allowed O'Brien to sit down with First Lady, Laura Bush, for an exclusive interview. O'Brien also joined the 2004 presidential election campaign trail, covering politicians such as Vice President Dick Cheney and presidential candidate John Kerry and his running mate Sen. John Edwards.

O'Brien began his 20-year broadcasting career working as an anchor and reporter for KNXT-TV (now KCBS-TV) in Los Angeles in 1977, where he impressively earned four local Emmy Awards for his news coverage. Prior to joining the station, he also spent time working for WMAQ-TV in Chicago.

In 1981, O'Brien joined CBS Sports, where he covered and hosted 7 Olympic Games, four World Series, four Super Bowls, 25 US Open Tennis Championships and a decade as the face of the NBA and the Final Four. 

O’Brien graduated from the University of South Dakota. He also studied International Economics at the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, DC, and currently sits on the Board of the Special Olympics.

A former columnist for the New York Daily News and a frequent contributor on CNN, MSNBC, The Today Show, Oprah and Imus in the Morning. His memoir I’ll Be Back Right After This received rave reviews about life from the tracks in South Dakota to a very public downfall from alcohol. That book went on the NY Times Best Seller list. Now, more than 7 years sober, he counsels and helps many athletes and celebrities as well as countless alcoholics and drug addicts on a daily basis. 

  Read Less ^