Release

ROB BURNETT

August 2004

LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN

ROB BURNETT
(Executive Producer, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Emmy Award-winning producer Rob Burnett has been executive producer of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN since 1996. In addition to his role on the LATE SHOW, Burnett is the presidentpresident and chief executive officer of Worldwide Pants Incorporated, Letterman's production company, where he oversees the hit CBS shows "Everybody Loves Raymond" and the "Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn." He also was the executive producer and co-creator of the critically acclaimed series "Ed," for which he received an Emmy award nomination for writing.

Burnett, and his co-producers, who have contributed to the creation of some of the most memorable and innovative comedy presented on television, were honored with Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for their work on the LATE SHOW.

Burnett became the head writer for "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1992, after being a member of the show's writing staff since February 1988. Prior to that, he was a talent assistant and researcher for "Late Night." Burnett joined Letterman's staff in 1986 as an intern in "Late Night's" talent department. Prior to his association with Letterman, he worked as an editorial assistant on a suburban New Jersey newspaper.

Burnett was born July 8, 1962 in North Caldwell, N.J., and was graduated in 1984 from Tufts University, where he majored in English and played varsity soccer. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Eunice, their daughters, Sydney and Lucy, and their son, Charlie.

Burnett, and his co-producers, who have contributed to the creation of some of the most memorable and innovative comedy presented on television, were honored with Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for their work on the LATE SHOW.

Burnett became the head writer for "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1992, after being a member of the show's writing staff since February 1988. Prior to that, he was a talent assistant and researcher for "Late Night." Burnett joined Letterman's staff in 1986 as an intern in "Late Night's" talent department. Prior to his association with Letterman, he worked as an editorial assistant on a suburban New Jersey newspaper.

Burnett was born July 8, 1962 in North Caldwell, N.J., and was graduated in 1984 from Tufts University, where he majored in English and played varsity soccer. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Eunice, their daughters, Sydney and Lucy, and their son, Charlie.

Burnett and his co-producers, who have contributed to the creation of some of the most memorable and innovative comedy presented on television, were honored with Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002 for their work on the LATE SHOW. * * *

Burnett became the head writer for "Late Night with David Letterman" in 1992, after being a member of the show's writing staff since February 1988. Before that, he was a talent assistant and researcher for "Late Night." Burnett joined Letterman's staff in 1986 as an intern in the "Late Night" talent department. Prior to his association with Letterman, he worked as an editorial assistant on a suburban New Jersey newspaper.

Burnett was born July 8, 1962, in North Caldwell, N.J., and was graduated in 1984 from Tufts University, where he majored in English and played varsity soccer. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Eunice, their daughters, Sydney and Lucy, and their son, Charlie.

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BARBARA GAINES

(Executive Producer, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Barbara Gaines, who was named an executive producer of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN in May 2000, has worked for David Letterman for nearly 25 years.

She began in June 1980 as a production assistant on "The David Letterman Show," Letterman's NBC morning program. When "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered in February 1982, she joined the staff, and she rose from production assistant to production coordinator to associate producer during the show's 11 1/2-year run. In 1996, she was promoted to producer of the LATE SHOW. She has worked on all 1,810 "Late Night" broadcasts and all 2,200-plus episodes of the LATE SHOW.

In her seven years as a producer for the LATE SHOW, Gaines has received eight Emmy nominations and has won five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002).

In addition to working for Letterman, she has worked in 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." She began her career making home movies in her native Long Island.

Gaines was born and raised in Hewlett, N.Y., and was graduated in 1979 from Ithaca College with a B.A. in educational television. She lives in New York with her partner of 12 years, Aari Blake Ludvigsen. Her birth date is June 10, 1957.

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In her eight years as a producer for the LATE SHOW, Gaines has received nine Emmy nominations and has won five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002).

In addition to working for Letterman, she has worked in 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." She began her career making home movies in her native Long Island.

Gaines was born on June 10, 1957, in Hewlett, N.Y. She was graduated in 1979 from Ithaca College with a B.A. in educational television. She lives in New York with her partner of 13 years, Aari Blake Ludvigsen.

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DAVID LETTERMAN (Host, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

This year, David Letterman marks his 22nd year in late- night comedy and his 11thtenth year as the host of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN on CBS. After over 4,000 late-night broadcasts, he remains one of the most influential personalities in the history of television. Other than Johnny Carson, who hosted "The Tonight Show" for 30 years, no other late- night host comes near Letterman in longevity, critical praise and award recognition. Often imitated but never matched, Letterman presents, night after night, an unpredictableunpredictable hour of innovative comedy.

Television critics agree. Entertainment Weekly named Letterman one of the "25 Funniest People in America," adding: "new-school gone old-school, the upstart who first pumped irony into the talk show still rails against the stupidity of the powerful and yet has the charm to melt Julia Roberts." The New York Daily News said "when he has revealed his inner self...that he has been the most potent and singular as a broadcaster," while the Chicago Tribune noted that Letterman's "winning the more prominent place in television history seems assured." The Hollywood Reporter called him "the dean of late-night TV," while the Jack Myers Entertainment Report hailed Letterman's skilled interviews, saying that he is "showing more tireless journalistic gusto than many of the so-called tough interviewers on some network newsmagazines."

On Aug. 30, 1993, the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN made its debut, and it quickly went on to become one of the most talked-about and critically acclaimed programs of the year. Now, more than a decade later, the LATE SHOW continues to deliver inventive and imaginative comedy every night. For its efforts, it has earned six Emmy Awards as Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program. 

        Letterman's first network break came in 1978 on the CBS variety series "Mary," starring Mary Tyler Moore.  In November of that year, he made the first of his 22 appearances on "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson."  He also guest-hosted "Tonight" numerous times.
        From the start, Letterman has been critically applauded for redefining the talk-show genre. In 1992, he received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for taking "one of TV's most conventional and least inventive forms - the talk show - and infusing it with freshness and imagination." Letterman has also won two American Comedy Awards as Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series, and in 1995 and 2001 he was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Television Critics Association.

        In 1980, Letterman began hosting an Emmy Award-winning morning comedy-variety program, "The David Letterman Show," which ran for three months on NBC.  His critically acclaimed showBoth "Late Night with David Letterman" premiered in February 1982.  Throughout its 11½ years, "Late Night" was honored with manyand CBS's LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN have earned countless awards, including five five Emmys and 4035 Emmy nominations.  (The LATE SHOW alone has received 35 Emmy nominations and won eight Emmys, including six total for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.) In addition, Letterman's morning program, "The David Letterman Show," won two Emmys and was honored with five nominations.

        From the start, Letterman has been critically applauded for redefining the talk-show genre.  In 1992, he received the prestigious George Foster Peabody Award for taking "one of TV's most conventional and least inventive forms -- the talk show -- and infusing it with freshness and imagination."  Letterman has also won two American Comedy Awards as Funniest Male Performer in a Television Series, and in 1995 and 2001 he was nominated for a Career Achievement Award by the Television Critics Association.
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        Both "Late Night with David Letterman" and CBS's LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN have earned countless awards, including 13 Emmys and 74 Emmy nominations.  (The LATE SHOW alone has received 39 Emmy nominations and won eight Emmys, including six for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program, in 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002.)  In addition, Letterman's morning program, "The David Letterman Show," won two Emmys and was honored with five nominations.
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MARIA POPE (Executive Producer, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Maria Pope, who was named an executive producer of the LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN in May 2000, began her association with David Letterman in 1982.

She started as an intern at "Late Night with David Letterman" during the summers of 1982 and 1983, began working full time as a receptionist at the late-night talk show in May 1984 and was soon promotedpromoted to writers' assistant. During the next 10 years, Pope held several positions with Letterman's writing staff, including writers' researcher, segment coordinator, segment producer and writer.

For many years, she coordinated the videotaped remote segments, including the much-heralded appearance of Dave's mom, Dorothy, at the 1994 Olympic Winter Games and "Mujibur & Sirajul Across America." In 1996, she was promoted to senior segment producer and produced interview segments with guests ranging from Richard Simmons to former President Bill Clinton.

Pope became a producer for the LATE SHOW in 1998 and has won five consecutive Emmy Awards for Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series (1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002).

A native Texan, born in Austin and raised in Houston, Pope was graduated in 1984 from Southern Methodist University in Dallas with a B.A. degree in journalism and English. She lives in New York.

PAUL SHAFFER

(Musical Director, LATE SHOW with DAVID LETTERMAN)

Paul Shaffer has been David Letterman's musical director and sidekick for over 22 years.

He began his career in 1972 as musical director of the Toronto production of "Godspell." He played piano in "The Magic Show" on Broadway in 1974, then spent the next five years with the original "Saturday Night Live," for which he played keyboards, composed special musical material and, in 1980, became a featured performer.

In 1977, he took a brief break from the show to star in the CBS comedy series "A Year at the Top," produced by Norman Lear and Don Kirshner. After his return to "Saturday Night Live," he collaboratedcollaborated with Gilda Radner on the songs for her Broadway show, in which he also appeared. He also served as musical director for the Blues Brothers -- John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd -- for their double-platinum album and national tour.

In addition to recording his own albums, Coast to Coast (1989) and The World's Most Dangerous Party (1993), Shaffer has recorded with such diverse artists as Diana Ross, Yoko Ono and Robert Plant's Honeydrippers. He composed the LATE SHOW theme song and, with Paul Jabara, wrote the Number Onenumber one '80s dance hit "It's Raining Men,"", performed by the Weather Girls and re--recorded by Geri Halliwell for the "Bridget Jones's Diary" soundtrack, topping the British pop charts in 2001. In 2002, he received his first Grammy Award, for Best Country Instrumental, for the Earl Scruggs and Friends album. He co--produced an avant-garde jazz album for his mentor, Tisziji Munoz, released on Dreyfus Records.

His feature film roles include Artie Fufkin,, in Rob Reiner's "This Is Spinal Tap." He also appeared in the Mike Nichols-directed "Gilda Live"," and the Bill Murray movie "Scrooged,Scrogged," and with John Travolta in "Look Who's Talking Too." He is the voice of Hermes in Disney's animated feature "Hercules" and the television series based on the film. He produced the gold-selling soundtrack for and appeared in "Blues Brothers 2000."

Shaffer has served as musical director and producer for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony at the Waldorf--Astoria since its inception in 1986. He led the band for the "We Are the World" finale of Live Aid. He hosted CBS's 1994 New Year's Eve special from Times Square and was musical director of the closing concert at the 1996 Olympic Games. He appeared with the Blues Brothers at the 1996 Super Bowl halftime show and was musical director of the 1999 Concert of the Century at the White House, featuring Eric Clapton, B. B. King, Gloria Estefan, 'N Sync*NSYNC and others, to aid music programs in public schools. He was musical director of Paul McCartney's ""Concert for New York" and appeared with Faith Hill on the "America: A Tribute to Heroes" telethon, both of which honored and raised money for victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.,"

Shaffer holds two honorary doctorates and was recently inducted into the National Black Sports and Entertainment Hall of Fame. He is currently the National Spokesperson for Epilepsy Canada.

He lives in the New York area with his wife and two children.

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