John-Michael Howson worked as a journalist, starting in Mildura, Victoria, before moving to print and radio in Melbourne where he got involved writing comedy sketches and songs for revue clubs, theatres and television. After several years working in the UK and Europe he returned to Australia and created, wrote and performed in two of Australia’s most beloved children’s shows the multi-award winning The Magic Circle Club and Adventure Island. He also adapted the international stage hits Irene, No, No, Nanette and Norman Is That You? for Australian productions. He also wrote the hit 1970’s musical Razza Ma Tazz at a time when it was difficult to get locally written musicals produced. He has also written several successful children’s theatre productions including adapting Disney’s Pinnochio. For many years he wrote for, and appeared on, a score of variety shows which led to becoming a popular team member of one of Australia’s legendary shows The Mike Walsh Show where he first met and worked with producer David Mitchell (a co-writer of SHOUT! and Dusty).
John-Michael travelled the world covering international stories from The Academy Awards. Emmys, Tonys, world premieres and royal weddings. In 1989 he moved to Los Angeles to report on the entertainment industry for Australian print, radio and TV including Midday with Ray Martin and GMA with Bert Newton. He also appeared on a number of US television and radio shows. He was a regular on The Joan Rivers Show and The Gordon Elliott Show, appeared on LA based talks shows and also had small parts in comedy shows like The Tracey Ullmann Show. He also did news reports for SKY UK and other international news programs. He also wrote the best selling mystery novellas Once Upon a Nightmare and Deadly Dreams.
After seventeen years he returned to live in Melbourne from which he is heard on radio shows around the country and stars in the top rating political commentary show Sunday Morning on 3AW. John-Michael has co-written SHOUT! and Dusty – the Original Pop Diva (with David Mitchell and Mel Morrow), Pyjamas in Paradise (with Peter Pinne), Dream Lover -The Bobby Darin Story (with Frank Howson) which opens in 2013 and More Sex Please, We’re Seniors. John-Michael was awarded an OAM in 2009 for services to writing and children’s television. He is proudly a patron of a number of organisations involved in the arts and charity.