Barbara Gaines (television producer)
Barbara Gaines | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 1, 1956 |
| Education | 1979 graduate of Ithaca College BA in educational television |
| Occupation | Television producer (retired) |
| Known for | Her work as a Television Producer |
| Spouse |
Aari Ludvigsen (m. 1993) |
| Children | Simon Gaines |
| Relatives | Ira Gaines (brother) Andrew Gaines (nephew) Karl Ludvigsen (father-in-law) |
Barbara Gaines (born June 1, 1956) is a former executive producer of the Late Show with David Letterman.[1] She held that position from May 2000 to the show's finale in 2015. She graduated in 1979 from Ithaca College with a BA in educational television.[2]
She started on The David Letterman Show as a production assistant in 1980 before being promoted to production coordinator and assistant producer. As a producer, she was nominated for the Emmy eleven times and won five consecutive awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program.[3] She became one of the most popular staff members with audiences, appearing regularly on the show in segments such as "How's the Weather?", in which Letterman would call a random number in a phone book Gaines picked out and ask about the weather.
She also worked on production for the Orange Bowl Parade; One of the Boys, a comedy series starring Mickey Rooney, Nathan Lane and Dana Carvey; and The $50,000 Pyramid.[2]
Gaines made the 2008 Ten Amazing Gay Women in Showbiz list.[4]
Since 2022, Gaines has co-hosted The Barbara Gaines Show alongside Dave Letterman on the official Letterman YouTube channel.[5]
Personal life
Gaines met her partner Aari Blake Ludvigsen in 1991. They are married.[6] Their son was born in 2006.[7] Gaines belongs to Congregation Beit Simchat Torah (CBST), the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and Straight Synagogue in New York, and in 2010 did a video with the Strength Through Community project at CBST about her life and experiences.[8]
In October 2024, Gaines's essay, "Getting a Mammogram Saved My Life," describing her experience with breast cancer, was published in GO Magazine.[9]
References
- ^ Paula Bernstein (May 16, 2000). "'Letterman' buoys 2 vets to exec producers". Variety. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ a b Barbara Gaines bio. Archived from the original July 6, 2008.
- ^ "Television Academy: Barbara Gaines". The Television Academy. Retrieved February 19, 2026.
- ^ Power Up Top Ten Archived August 21, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The Barbara Gaines Show - YouTube". YouTube.
- ^ "Legendary Producer Barbara Gaines Awarded for LGBT Work". November 10, 2015.
- ^ "Starr Report". August 4, 2006.
- ^ Strength Through Community video on YouTube
- ^ Gaines, Barbara (October 16, 2024). "Getting A Mammogram Saved My Life". GO Magazine. Retrieved February 20, 2026.