John Michael Howson (often written as John-Michael Howson) Order of Australia, born in Melbourne, Australia in 1936, is an Australian writer, reporter and entertainer and 3AW commentator. His involvement in the Australian entertainment scene as a writer, producer and performer spans more than 40 years. Howson's parents separated at an early age and he moved to Western Australia with his mother and step-father (a former policeman and publican). He was educated at St. Ildephonsus College, New Norcia, where he was in boarding school.