

We originally chatted with Barbara Gaines, the former executive producer of the Late Show with David Letterman, last March, and needless to say, a lot has happened since. Gaines was kind enough to answer a few follow-up questions about life after Letterman, which includes a new variety show and some hope for a future Late Show archive:

First off, how has life been since the show ended?

Near the end of the first month, my son and I were walking in the Village [in NYC] and a stranger stopped us and asked “Hey, what have you been doing?” My son immediately jumped in with, “She’s been in bed for weeks!” I didn’t really believe it was more than a long hiatus until September and school started up and I still had nowhere to go. Then I started karate classes, a writing class with Jennifer Belle, and took on volunteer production projects for my temple and LPAC. I started to get used to the idea of my new life. At the ten-month mark, [former Letterman producer] Matt Roberts asked me if I wanted to work on his new show and I said yes.

Any thoughts or particular reflections from that last day and show a year ago today (May 20)?

The final montage with the Foo Fighters may not have been a work of genius, but it was the most important thing I did for the end of the show, and I left there so proud of it. I was happy I got a chance to put it together with Randi Grossack and Mark Spada.

How much video did you go through to make the montage? How long did it take?

I began working on it as a video piece in October 2014. It changed to freezes from the show, I think, six weeks later. I would probably still be working on it, if I didn’t have a deadline.



Any hard decisions, shots that didn’t make it? (I’m not sure I saw Trump…)

To this day, I will be in the shower or in line at a store and think, “Blast, I didn’t put in a freeze of Dave electrocuted, or…” and then I will try and remember, “Did I put it in?” I’m still slightly obsessed with it.



Is there one show or moment during that final run of shows that has stuck with you more than others?

The last 28 shows were all wonderful, and it was a joy being at the helm. I felt they were a culmination of my 35 years with Dave, and I was delighted how they turned out. It was a beautiful end.

Any guests you were trying to get for the final shows but couldn’t? Of course, Jay Leno was a story.

Obviously Jay would have been nice and I think it would have been huge! Mostly all our friends came to say farewell.



How did you and the staff take the barrage of media (most of which was highly appreciative) during those weeks?

I wished my parents were alive.

Have you seen Letterman since?

We have spoken.

Has the subject of working on future projects come up? Or do you just mean on a personal level?

I mean I’ve texted, “I’m taking karate,” and he’s texted back, “I knew things would work out for you.”

What are you up to these days?

I’m back at Rockefeller Center as the Associate Producer of the “Maya & Marty Show,” a variety show starring Martin Short & Maya Rudolph. It will air at 10pm (9pm C) on Tuesday nights, six episodes: May 31 through July 12.

You hinted in our first chat that there were plans to preserve the Letterman shows. I know many would be thrilled to see something, especially with old Carson shows appearing on the Antenna TV network recently. Do you know the status of those plans?

I think things are still in the discussion stage.

Thoughts about the late-night scene since Letterman retired?

I think everyone is working hard and doing their thing. I honestly have not watched much late-night television since I stopped working in it. I like Jimmy Kimmel and Conan, and of the new guys on the block, I think I’m leaning James Corden.

Finally, any statement on Letterman’s current look?

I think he is a handsome devil with or without the beard.

Previous chats:

Anton Fig

Bill Scheft

Brian Teta

Barbara Gaines – 2015

Gerard Mulligan

Randy Cohen (part 1) (part 2)

Tom Shales

Don Giller & David Yoder