Supported live, on-air talent operations for MLB’s historic first-ever game broadcast on Netflix.
MLB 2026 Opening Night marked Major League Baseball’s first-ever live game broadcast on Netflix, part of a new multi-year streaming deal, featuring the New York Yankees taking on the San Francisco Giants. As Talent Assistant, I supported on-site talent operations for the live broadcast, managing check-in, escorting, and the overall talent experience. I tracked the run-of-show to keep talent aligned with production timing, served as a key point of contact between talent and cross-functional production teams, and delivered high-touch support in a fast-paced, high-pressure live environment.
Behind the Scenes
Where were you?
San Francisco
What’s the moment things went sideways?
The day didn’t have a moment that went sideways, but it was busy — we had to keep the talent on time for their interviews and safe from the fans. I would say the moment everything came together was when we were walking from point A to point B and the fans ran towards us and the talent. I was very happy we went over all protocols with security and went over how we should walk from point A to B. Understanding that feeling of fans getting excited to see their favorite player and starting to reach and move toward them in the moment was a bit scary, but it would have been a lot scarier if we hadn’t had that meeting beforehand.
A crew or cast story that still gets told
At the end of the day for Netflix, we were able to attend a small after party across the street, where we got a baseball engraved for the show and took part in some of the photo shoots they set up for us. Being immersed in the talent world all day, it ended up being the best way to experience MLB Opening Night in San Francisco.
What would a viewer never guess?
How much waiting goes into the day. The pauses between each interview aren’t minutes — they’re hours. Time can feel slow, so always have a task ready to help pass the time — it does help. Always, and I mean always, have Shout wipes on hand. There’s a good amount of snacking while they wait and the last thing they want is a stain on their clothes.
What were you actually running day to day?
The talent manager kept us all moving that day and kept us in the know of what to expect. It was great to have a leader who was confident in the schedule and in us as her team. She trusted us to get the talent to all their appointments and not to hover but to check in.
What are you proudest of on this one?
Standing on the MLB field that day and looking around was such a great moment. I have been on a few great sets, but standing at home plate looking up at the stadium I grew up watching games in was such a proud moment.