Michael Crichton talks 'Jurassic Park' on TODAY (1990)

Author Michael Crichton discusses Jurassic Park on NBC Today Show, November 16, 1990.
This video is for educational purposes. No copyright infringement intended.

[@s1050]

Interviews back then were so much more intelligent than today. Society has definitely dumbed down since the 90s

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Strongly agree. That's why I say that in the last 20 years, pop culture absolutely died.

[@LynxStarAuto]

They used common words which are considered "big words" today. Which btw, what does that even mean? "Big word" 😆

[@Jaymes400]

These days intelligenct conversations take place on podcasts, not TV chat shows.

[@shadowbanned3716]

Amen to that. Im glad someone out here notices.

[@janterrirocks]

They would ask him about Trump within 10 seconds.

[@ElvenRaptor]

Wow, watching Crichton talk about this in 1990... He couldn't have known just what a monster success and cultural phenomenon it would become.

[@Chrisdvc26]

By that point he'd already had several hit movies so I think he did know

[@joshuapowell9601]

@@Chrisdvc26 plus J.P was in production before the book even came out

[@luisrizo8813]

@@Chrisdvc26 He said after so many years after being known as the author of "The Andromeda Strain", it was refreshing to then be known as the author of "JP".

[@IronMan-tk8uc]

Spielberg bought the rights for the movie in that very year of 1990, so I think Crichton did knew what it was coming down the line.

[@timwelch3297]

he will be sorely missed

[@TheKh65]

Most definitely

[@PlanetRockJesus]

Read his book, "Travels." Awesome. It's non-fiction. About his life.

[@scifyry]

People like him could create a real Jurassic Park. One of the most diverse and intelligent writers in recent history.

[@muaddib5079]

Not a good idea

[@richardwalton7468]

did you read the book lol

[@issacflores2010]

3 years later it would be made into the best movie of all time.

[@MinusGoji1]

issac flores 2nd best movie of all time

[@jaelie8398]

Aakili Sharp Number 1 would be Jaws?

[@jonatanesparza9204]

Jaws? It's good yes but Jurassic Park changed the game. It holds well to time and even scientists started thinking different after viewing it. Crichton was a head of times. Brilliant mind.

[@domenikschmitz334]

Terminator 2 is the best Film ever.

[@blunew467]

And 4 years after that movie, it would lead to a disappointing sequel “The Lost World” and 4 years after that it would lead to another crappy sequel “Jurassic Park 3” putting the series to sleep but which 14 years would lead to a crappy sequel reboot “Jurassic World” that was meant to save the franchise but instead ruined it even more and 3 years after that “Jurassic World Fallen Kingdom” another crappy installment in this dead horse beaten franchise. Now they are making another one, Poor Michael Crichton. Dude deserved much better.

[@nintenguy3687]

Urassic Park at 0:13 !!

[@bluesira]

I thought I imagined that!

[@uniqoEnEsp]

T-rex: Urass is food

[@marcelobonimani]

My only guess and the only explanation that I could think of is that back in the 90's the word Jurassic was still only well known among scientists and higher education students (for example if they studied geology or something) years later it became more of a popular word.

[@5piecekit]

It's Swiss, the J is silent. Lol!

[@shawn9566]

@@marcelobonimani your probably right

[@thesexyskywalker3283]

This dude is a genius! He made Jurassic Park and Westworld!

[@DeepScreenAnalysis]

The days when authors were actually interviewed on television.

[@Spoomis]

This is how all talk shows ought to be. No stupid games, just intelligent people discussing things.

[@JasonRasmussen]

Have your read Airframe? Crichton addresses this type of "news".

[@googleisretarded7618]

I remember seeing the book in a shop. The cover enticed me; it was the original cover. White with a black t-rex skeleton. I think it was being promoted because the movie would be coming out soon. I was 11. I'd already read Sphere and loved it. I can't believe this was so long ago, but when you look at this TV interview, it seems more similar to the 1960s than it does to today. People on TV were more formal, polite, and articulate.

[@ZTHenrique]

The best novel of my favourite author. What a brilliant man.

[@mallorycarll6280]

I've forgotten how tall Crichton really was. It's a bit wild watching him talk about his iconic novel, and knowing (now in hindsight) how massive the 1993 movie will be. Really interesting video.

[@jaelie8398]

Mallory Carll 6'9"

[@drifter4training]

RIP.... He was awesome !

[@louispacetime1576]

What a great interviewer, asking really great and well thought questions

[@gilian2587]

I miss Michael Chrichton. I read most of his books back in high school. He has died; the Jurrassic Park series has moved on; and most of the material appears to be written by producers who couldn't care less about the science.

[@davymoore5449]

Got a autograph jurrasic park book RIP Dr michael Crichton he was fantastical science writer

[@kylenaversen]

After reading both of his books, Jurassic Park and The Lost World it made me decided to become an author and now I'm writing my own book which it's inspired by Michael Crichton's work. It's called "Travel Through Prehistoric World", and it's about a zoologist named Erik Welker (Inspired of great zoologists such as Nigel Marven and Steve Irwin the Crocodile Hunter, and crazy animal handler the Turtleman from Animal Planet's Call of the Wildman), who wants to create a time machine to travel back in time to rescue dinosaurs and three different species that lived alongside the dinosaurs like little mammals like Purgatorius, pterosaurs, and a giant crocodile called Deinosuchus from extinction and his plan is to bring them back to the present and put them into a zoo, but someone else would want to use dinosaurs as weapons but Erik doesn't want that and it creates chaos and might mess up time's history, just like The Sound of Thunder but in a different way (I haven't figured out yet). I'm still working on that story and I wanted to be more for adults than for children. I believe I'll do wonderfully if were say that to myself.

[@maxichristl3187]

Hows it going?

[@JohklesyFarias]

O projeto do livro continua de pé?

[@alexanderg1297]

Back when authors like Crichton were appreciated by the public. RIP Michael Crichton.

[@A_Storm_That_Isnt_Approaching]

Even though I tend not to read large books I wanted to read Michael's book so I did and I loved it in my opinion he's the best author in fiction may he rest in peace he has a special place in my heart : )

[@GreyWolfLeaderTW]

I can't help but have the theme of Jurassic Park going through my head while listening to Crichton explain his book.

[@KAIJUKING123]

Same

[@austinsmith1505]

Created one of the greatest and honored medical dramas of all time

[@dalesmith7144]

I wonder what he’d think of the franchise today R.I.P Michael Crichton god bless you

[@HalfEatenMedia]

I used to ask my dad to go to Jurassic Park. We saw the movie and I thought they were real. I really cherish those memories and I have Michael Crichton to thank.

[@chrisdawson6156]

Great author R.I.P. Michael you are sadly missed it was on the news when he died

[@brianj.fitzsimons8304]

My Favorite Books by Michael Crichton would be Jurassic Park and The Lost World. Between the 2 Books, my overall Favorite Book would be Jurassic Park. RIP Michael Crichton. You will never be forgotten.

[@mikei.7931]

Have you read "Sphere"? That's really good book of his. It even tops Jurassic Park.

[@brianj.fitzsimons8304]

Mike Mauthor I've read all of his books except the ones that were published after his death like Pirate Latitudes. When Michael Crichton died in 2008, i made a tribute to Michael Crichton. In 2009, I started reading The Andromeda Strain in January 2009 and Finished Next in July 2009. It was my way of saying I won't forget Michael Crichton with the 15 Books that were published before he died. To answer your question I did read Sphere. Excellent book. I still love Jurassic Park because that book got my imagination started with dinosaurs.

[@PlanetRockJesus]

Many moons ago my brother, who at the time lived in Hawaii, mailed me Jurassic Park. And this was before it was announced as "SOON TO BE A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE. " I do read a lot, but not a lot of fiction. BUT, this book was fascinating. Later I learned it was to become a MAJOR (little did we know!) motion picture. Right now I'm reading, for the third time, Crichton's book called "Travels." It's a NON-fiction work, telling of his time in medical school and of his travels around the world. It's an amazing work. Read it. You'll enjoy it.

[@mikei.7931]

PlanetRockJesus does the book Travels mentioned his journey as a writer?

[@PlanetRockJesus]

As far as I know, it's the only autobiographical book he's written, though it's not exhaustive. But it's truly a great work. I find myself awed and laughing out loud reading it. It starts out with him in medical school, and tells his conflicts with his desire to write, with frequent mentions of his upbring, then moves on to his "travels." It's not linear. It's written in chapters which include flashbacks, etc., kind of like a screenplay. Enjoy. I'm bought it for my son off off Ebay last week, but I decided to read it for the third time before I give it to him.

[@mylifefornick]

Fantastic novel! Great writer!!!

[@PrezC]

I Know I loved the book too

[@KAIJUKING123]

I wish he could have lived long enough to see his entire Jurassic park story he created so long ago still be loved by people of all ages shapes and colors and I wished he could have got to watch or even helped write the story or help with touch ups for the final story/script for Jurassic world, fallen kingdom, dominion, and even camp Cretaceous he would have been proud of what he has created, and the legacy that he left behind to make Jurassic park and all the other films and tv shows what is it is today. You be missed Michael you were taken too soon my friend.

[@neekoalighire5929]

R.I.P Michael Crichton

[@CrownMe13]

Great author, he knows how to build up without boring you and the action chapters are amazing. Even better than the movies

[@MysteryHipster]

My WHAT park?!

[@gamersroadbusters3604]

UR-ASS-IC PARK

[@dr.newtongeiszler2706]

I love Urassic Park, it is a awesome book,

[@jamlym4974]

I knew everyone was going to comment on how she pronounced Jurassic.

[@mariomota4069]

Thanks to this man, my sons toy chest is full of dinosaurs. ❤

[@Spartan-ic3zj]

She said T. rex and other big lizards LOL

[@soniacomelli339]

He was such a brilliant man, so smart and talented! I really miss him and his ideas :( R.I.P ❤️

[@Casarzino]

This would make a cool movie

[@rox290]

0:10 She pronounced it "Your-ass-ic Park". I wonder if thats the right way?

[@Bronco541]

I think it's part of a television show host's job description to be a dumb ass.

[@joseph_b319]

F-ing great book!!

[@anuradhainamdar8967]

Very detailed description of the Jurassic era .The other novels like the lost world & " Turbulence " are also engrossing.

[@CameronBath-eg9jc]

R.i.P MiCHAEL CRiCHtON U WErE AN AMAZiNG AUtHOr EVErYONE LOVED ❤

[@razzo15]

I was -1 when this was filmed.... his story was awesome. She would get it in every single way imaginable... no lies! lol

[@JM-tf4nk]

Wow I never knew he did the Andromeda strain as well!!

[@jsfbr]

"Jurassic Park" is a reaaaaaally gory book for adults, and a very good one indeed.

[@javierbejarano771]

Uhhh I kid you not, I am 11 and I read it.

[@mcites]

My favorite author! Rip

[@FireJontte]

Legend

[@richardloganpowelliii4850]

This is a precious thing, discussion of the Jurassic Park idea before the cultural juggernaut. Also, Deborah Norville was a babe.

[@sarinazianour2729]

What a smart conversation

[@OctoberEclipse]

thank you for what you gave us

[@malice9240]

This is my favorit book ever

[@CymruJedi]

Yurassic Park

[@craigusselman546]

author doctor movie director was there anything he couldnt do.

[@TheRubberStudiosASMR]

I love how different the book is from the film. Both classics in their own right. It would have been boring had they just done a straight adaptation. Spielberg and co made the science digestible

[@henrysmith5784]

The book is called "You're-Assic Park"

[@blunew467]

This guy deserves much more credit he created an interesting world full of unique and cool ideas led to a pretty good blockbuster movie that unfortunately led to 4 crappy sequels that tarnished legacy, But nope, Spielberg gets all the credit. Why? Crichton was the genius who came up with everything.

[@yw1971]

She's Sean Young and you're Deborah Norville...

[@zemansk7888]

I was searching for Micheal Crichton not Kevin McCallister

[@lemmythebulldog8812]

Chrichton was a dinosaur himself as a huge as a 6”9 of him

[@taegotkash]

He was often ridiculed and felt ostracized because of his stature.

[@chrisdawson6156]

I'm over half way through the book then I will start reading the lost world of Jurassic park book

[@VituMV]

Yourassik Park??????????????

[@10GalReef]

Ha, "Urassic Park." Sounds like a porn spinoff of Jurassic Park ;)

[@andrewpheasey3477]

10GalReef lol maybe she could star in it! lol i think she was after crichton myself!

[@andrewpheasey3477]

10GalReef her way of flirting with him but he didn't catch on maybe.

[@edp445sSweetCupcake]

Nice!

[@legiongamerworkbruhben6058]

if only he could see what trouble the new movies have become....

[@jaelie8398]

legiongamerworkBRUH ben I sometimes think he's rolling in his grave. The newest one was atrocious

[@thefriendlygamer2221]

Actually he might have liked it because it still gives the message of man trying to control something but this time in the form of trying to make hybrids instead of regular Dinos so...

[@fernandocoronado3885]

The last jurassic park movie was a joke

[@blunew467]

The Lost World was awful and was disrespectful to him as they made him write another book just to throw it in the trash and not do much with it and so they came up with their own crappy story and plot. They didn’t even get him back to write the script! JP3 was pretty bad too but at least that one didn’t make him write another book just for it to be tossed away. Jurassic World 1 and 2 just shit on his grave. Sad joke what this franchise has become, Only one of these movies has gotten a good critical reception. Extremely sad.

[@legiongamerworkbruhben6058]

@@blunew467 slowly....;=; i liked the lost world book.....................but ye publishers seem to keep adding more stuff in sequels

[@c.hunter9069]

RIP

[@PlanetRockJesus]

She uses the term "convolute" in a wrong way.

[@LynxStarAuto]

She did not. Convolute has a slightly different meaning in the world of biology.

[@litote9]

@@LynxStarAuto Wrong. The term was incorrectly used by the bonehead.

[@elliottmayer-yeager8087]

Deborah Norville is 😍

[@thejamesasher]

did she say yurassic park?

[@gilian2587]

Miss... it's not a German word.

[@griffysfnafchannel]

that lady couldn't even bother and mention the raptors or any of the other dinosaurs .

[@zackdexter123123]

Did she pronounce it Yurrasic?

[@LeoWhalen1933]

I wonder if he had any clue what he actually was going to do for the world during this interview....

[@Patrick-su5qz]

Only at YURASSIC PARK.

[@caseypilarczyk9312]

I will be safe for dinosaur this island and 65 millions year old in the lost world famous novel by Michael Crichton born in Chicago 1942 come to life when I can you have a great dinosaur on the earth and little creature things are being to life this Jurassic world 3 This movie is popular books and stories about dinosaur bones in the field museum my favorite places like a i am Jurassic world fans

[@calumsanderson6741]

Deborah it's not "Yurassic"

[@privatenoneofyourbusiness5292]

The film has been my favorite film for years and now I have finally read the book! Some things are different from the movie, but I won't spoil them. Despite that, in my mind Ialways saw the film while reading. The big difference between a film and a book is always that a book is much more detailed; I like that. As far as I am concerned, it remains a cool and exciting story. I am glad that the author ends the thank you-speech with "that the book is completely made up, that it is purely his views and there are incorrect facts that appear in the text". (I myself see it as a fairy tale as I don't believe in the theory of evolution and I do believe that the earth is only about 6000 years old). I don't like that there is (much) cursing in the book. That is not necessary for anything, the story is well written and exciting enough without it!

[@jacquelinewoo1900]

this is a disservice to his intellect

[@JONNOG88]

01:50 So Michael Crichton's Daughter. Would be about the same age as me then. She Single??? :)

[@edelsonmartins]

You - rassic park ?!?!?! This lady was raised in Norway or something?????

[@LynxStarAuto]

Georgia. That southern drawl.

[@chloehazeldene]

That lady clearly doesn’t know anything about the book, or dinosaurs

[@LuKasAV6]

Apparently, Deborah Norville must be a brilliant woman, but she seems so clueless here.

[@LynxStarAuto]

She was 32 here, and still very raw. You can catch her southern drawl from time to time. This is 1990, so it was very early into her Today Show tenure.

[@chaoticiannunez2419]

.........Lady you do know there is a J in ''Jurassic'' , right?

[@viperzerofsx]

+Jean Paul Bigio believe it or not before the movie came out most people never used the word before and it wasn't common knowledge on how it was pronounced. This was the game changer

[@litote9]

Didn't you notice she was a blond?

[@chaoticiannunez2419]

viperzerofsx Huh. I didn’t know that. Thanks.

[@richardc2955]

Yourassic park

[@whoisyouranime]

I read "Jurassic Park". I didn't like it. I'm sorry. I love the movies but the book is just boring. Micheal Crichton isn't a bad writer but the way he presented this story is just a snore fest. The scary parts and the character backgrounds were great but everything else like the computer talk and the many unmemorable side characters are no good. Rumor has it the book was half done when the first movie, directed by Legendary film director, Steven Spielberg, was developed and it shows. I don't want to be blasphemous but the movie is better than the book. I thank the man for creating Jurassic Park and making the movie possible. But his book, I wanted to like it. I really, REALLY did. But no, just no.

[@jetta5267]

Respect your opinion. Check out TIMELINE, SPHERE, TERMINAL MAN , and ANDROMEDA STRAIN. Great books.