FITCHBURG — Barbara Foster has certainly had an impressive run as the host of her Fitchburg Access Television (FATV) show “Barbara and You,” a career that has spanned four and a half decades and produced what is apparently the longest running television talk show of its kind in the country.
“I don’t get as nervous now as I did in the beginning,” Foster said of how her role as host has changed.
A 45th anniversary episode of the show was taped at Coggshall Park earlier this month and will air on Tuesday. FATV crew members surprised Foster with the guests for the anniversary show, which included Mayor Stephen DiNatale and Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella, state Reps. John Cronin and Michael Kushmerek, former FATV Executive Directors Glenn Fossa and Scott May, current FATV Executive Director Nate Glenny, Leominster Access Television (LATV) Executive Director Carl Piermarini, and more.
“What Barbara has done in her 45 years as host of ‘Barbara and You’ is truly remarkable,” Glenny said. “She has highlighted so many individuals and stories from the region, which has made an impact that words cannot describe. Just ask Barbara and she will tell you there is a story behind each and every one of her guests. Fitchburg Access Television is honored to host her show as a part of our local programming to the community for all these years.”
The first “Barbara and You” show aired on May 11, 1976, after Foster was hired by Montachusett Cable. The cable company changed hands and names often and when it was sold to AT&T, they decided to close the programming department. While Foster said she does not recall exactly when she started at FATV, she does remember receiving calls from Leominster and Lunenburg public access as well as FATV “the week I thought it was over.”
“I interviewed with all three,” she said. “I selected FATV because at that time, they had the best equipment and they enticed me by offering to always provide me with a crew and to allow me to air the program in neighboring towns. I appreciated the offer and was willing to do the show without pay. I have never regretted that decision.”
Foster said there have been “many changes” to the show over the years.
“When I first started, it was very time-consuming to find guests willing to be interviewed,” she said. “Now they reach out to me, and I am usually booked six to eight weeks in advance. I am often asked if I haven’t run out of guests, the answer is a resounding no. There are so many interesting people worthy of interviewing. I love being able to shine the spotlight on people who’ve not received the accolades they deserve.”
Foster said they chose the name of the show for a specific reason.
“The show is not about me,” she said. “It’s about you, my guests, (and) also you, the viewing audience. I feel totally blessed and thankful.”
She has interviewed thousands of people including national, state and local celebrities and notables including former Boston Celtics point guard Bob Cousy, musicians Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Dinah Shore, longtime Boston news anchor Jack Williams, and so many more.
“The one people are most impressed with is Johnny Cash,” Foster said. “I, too, was very impressed with him.”
Foster interviewed Michael Dukakis several times as governor, presidential candidate, university professor, and retiree.
“He is always gracious and friendly,” she said. “Another memorable one was George Plimpton, who was well known as a participatory journalist. He was in Fitchburg to play goalie with the Boston Bruins and then write about it for Sports Illustrated.”
Foster said that while she has enjoyed interviewing well known individuals, “the local celebrities are just as inspiring.”
“I have met and interviewed so many people who give of themselves to make this world a better place,” she said. “I’ve met and interviewed many published authors, inspiring preachers, fine athletes, talented musicians, and lovely singers. I feel so blessed and I am so grateful to all who have given of themselves and shared the spotlight with me.”
Foster said the show has evolved and moved with the times over 45 years, including “many technical improvements.”
“When I started, we didn’t have the internet,” she said. “Being able to book guests via email is much easier. Also, along came Zoom. I would never have imagined I could be doing interviews via Zoom.”
Like so many other aspects of life, “Barbara and You” was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The last studio shoot in 2020 was on March 10, and then episode repeats were played until Foster started doing virtual interviews via Zoom on May 5.
“Thanks to the encouragement of Nate at FATV, we did it,” Foster said, adding that they are “happy to be back in the studio” as of June 8, when she interviewed Workers Credit Union President Doug Petersen. “The big advantage to Zoom is that I could, and did, interview people all over the USA.”
Foster was surprised with a citation from Gov. Charlie Baker at the anniversary show taping, whom she has also interviewed, and flowers from a number of adoring fans including Fitchburg Public Schools School Committee member and Stratton Players Board of Directors Chair Sally Cragin, who sat down with Foster that day.
“Every show we do you are there for us… not just interviewing, you come to the shows,” Cragin said of the Stratton Players productions during her one on one with Foster, adding that she estimates Foster has put in “1,956,789 hours” since “Barbara and You” first aired.
“I do take vacation every now and then,” Foster responded with a wide smile.
Foster has been honored with FATV’s Lifetime Achievement Award and was the first inductee into the LATV Television Hall of Fame. She has been named as an Outstanding Citizen in the Sentinel & Enterprise, and in addition to her volunteer work with several charitable organizations and work as a realtor, Foster has served as the host of North Central Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce breakfast meetings for over 25 years.
She has taught Writing for Publishing classes, has been published herself in Woman’s World, Reader’s Digest, and Family Circle, and at least 50 of her former students have been published. Foster said she feels her biggest and best accomplishment is having raised seven children and having a dozen grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her daughter Jessica Strunkin, brought her husband and two children to the anniversary taping and they all sat down to talk to Foster.
“It’s an amazing accomplishment, I am very proud of my mom,” Strunkin said, adding that she has had her “fair share of appearances on the show” including being a filler, dancer, a hula hooper, and has even run the cameras.
“I have a lot of fond memories,” she said.
Glenny said they have done some research in the U.S. and “feel confident in saying she is the longest continuous host of an access television program.”
“It’s a well-known show with a renowned host,” he said. “It’s shared with access stations in the greater North Central Massachusetts region and one of our most popular programs. There is a waiting list through September to be a guest on her show. She is an amazing woman who has done so much in her time with the show.”
“Barbara and You” Director Robyn Comeau echoed those sentiments.
“Barbara is one of the most interesting people I have ever met,” Comeau said. “She really does have a story for everything and has done so many incredible things. I’m proud to be part of the ‘Barbara and You’ show, she’s an amazing person and she’s making history.”
Comeau, who has directed several shows at FATV for over five years, has been the director of “Barbara and You” for the past two years.
“There’s literally only one longer running show, out of Somerville, but only the title is the same, not hosts or format, and it doesn’t appear it runs regularly either,” she said. “Barbara has been on every week for 45 years.”
Foster said she was “very excited” to tape the 45th anniversary show and made an announcement during the taping that those in attendance thought was going to be her retiring.
“The pandemic made me stop and think,” Foster said. “God willing, I’m going to make it to my 50th.”
Foster said she is “grateful” to FATV for the anniversary special, and for “the help we’ve received from Workers Credit Union.”
“I also want to thank my hairdresser Maria and my manicurist Jodi of The Claw Shop,” she said. “I still cannot believe I’ve been on the air for 45 years, I still enjoy it immensely.”
“Barbara and You” airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on FATV, and on LTV and Sterling-Lancaster Community Television at other days and times. For more information visit https://www.fatv.org/barbara-and-you.
