J. Brian Gadinsky
{{Short description|American television producer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = J. Brian Gadinsky
| image = Brian Gadinsky photo.jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|February 8, 1957}}
| mother = Elaine Gordon
| occupation = Television producer and writer
School teacher
| alma_mater = Syracuse University
}}
J. Brian Gadinsky is an American television producer. He is known for being an executive producer for the first season of American Idol, and for producing the inaugural season of America's Most Wanted. He is the CEO of The G Group, and prior to his work in reality television, was a news producer for WTVJ among other local stations. He has received six regional Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy nomination, and a Primetime Emmy nomination.
Early life
J. Brian Gadinsky was born on February 8, 1957, and is the son of former Florida State Rep. Elaine Gordon.{{Cite web |url=https://cwgs.fiu.edu/_assets/docs/0203.pdf |title=Archived copy |access-date=2019-11-15 |archive-date=2019-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115001032/https://cwgs.fiu.edu/_assets/docs/0203.pdf |url-status=dead }} He grew up in Miami Beach, graduated from Miami Beach High School, and received a B.S. from Syracuse University in 1979.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1986-06-05-8602030088-story.html|title=ANOTHER FACE LIFT FOR 'MONTAGE'|first=Bill Kelley, Television|last=Writer|website=Sun-Sentinel.com|date=5 June 1986 }}
Career
In his early career Gadinsky worked as a producer at the PBS affiliate WPBT. In 1983, at the age of twenty-seven,{{Citation |title=Broadcasting Jul 25 |date=25 July 1983 |work=Broadcasting Magazine |volume=105 |issue=4 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC/Broadcasting-Magazine/BC-1983/BC-1983-07-25.pdf |publisher=The Fifth Estate}} he became the Director of Public Affairs at the CBS affiliate WTVJ{{Citation |title=Broadcasting Aug 27 |date=27 August 1984 |work=Broadcasting Magazine |volume=107 |issue=9 |url=https://www.worldradiohistory.com/Archive-All-BC/Broadcasting-Magazine/BC-1984/BC-1984-08-27.pdf |publisher=The Fifth Estate}} and the executive producer of the Miami-based television news magazine Montage on WTVJ. In 1986 he received his first news Emmy Award for the show's investigative and feature reporting, and received six Emmy Awards overall. In 1987, Gadinsky also wrote, directed, and produced the syndicated documentary The ABC's of AIDS, for which he received an Emmy Award for writing.{{cite book |page=285 |title=Writing: Techniques for Survival |author=Mary Ellen Grasso and James Ledford |publisher=Kendall/Hunt Publishing Company |year=1988}}
Due in part to the success he had in turning around Montage, Gadinsky became the original producer of the television series America's Most Wanted.{{cite book |page=101 |title= America's most wanted: how television catches crooks |author=Jack Breslin |publisher=HarperPaperbacks |year=1990}} In 1991 he was also a producer for American Gladiators,{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/1991/05/03/trying-out-american-gladiators/|title=Trying out for American Gladiators|website=EW.com}} which he produced for five seasons, and for which he was nominated for the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Game/Audience Participation Show.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} In the late-1990s he was also the executive producer for the television series RollerJam on the Nashville Network.{{Cite web |last=Marder |first=Keith |date=21 November 1998 |title=Roller Derby's on the Comeback Trail |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-11-21-9811220115-story.html |url-access=subscription |website=chicagotribune.com}}{{subscription required}}
During the 2000s, Gadinsky was an executive producer for Combat Missions on USA Network,{{Cite web|url=https://www.multichannel.com/news/missions-possible-hit-usa-147042|title='Missions': Possible Hit for USA|first=Jim|last=Forkan|website=Multichannel|date=17 December 2001}} an executive producer for Mr. Personality{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/21/we-answer-mr-personality-burning-questions/|title=We answer Mr. Personality burning questions|website=EW.com}} and Anchorwoman on Fox,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6sJ73F8I2Q4C&pg=PA123|title=Reality Bites Back: The Troubling Truth About Guilty Pleasure TV|first=Jennifer L.|last=Pozner|date=October 19, 2010|publisher=Basic Books|isbn=9781580053754|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=http://archive.boston.com/ae/tv/articles/2007/07/08/and_thats_the_way_it_is____at_least_for_four_weeks/?page=full|title=And that's the way it is -- at least for four weeks - The Boston Globe|website=archive.boston.com}} and an executive producer for American Fighter Pilot on CBS.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3oy5RyfQ27YC&pg=PT262|title=Virgin Film: Ridley Scott|first=James|last=Clarke|date=April 24, 2012|publisher=Random House|isbn=9780753547083|via=Google Books}} He was chosen as an executive producer for American Idol's first season due to his television production experience,{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vbiZAAAAQBAJ&pg=PT102|title=American Idol: The Untold Story|first=Richard|last=Rushfield|date=January 18, 2011|publisher=Hachette Books|isbn=9781401396527|via=Google Books}} for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Producer of Reality/Game/Informational Series Television in 2003.{{citation needed|date=April 2021}} Gadinsky is also the creator and executive producer for the BET show Sunday Best.
Gadinsky was the CEO of The G Group, a reality television production company{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5AUXCgAAQBAJ&pg=PA258|title=Multimedia Storytelling for Digital Communicators in a Multiplatform World|first=Seth|last=Gitner|date=July 3, 2015|publisher=Routledge|isbn=9781317517962|via=Google Books}} where he produced shows including King of Vegas and Tease.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ehp5BV51DpMC&pg=PT8|title=The King of Vegas' Guide to Gambling: How to Win Big at POKER, Casino Gambling & Life! The Zen of Gambling updated|first=Wayne Allyn|last=Root|date=August 3, 2006|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781101099254|via=Google Books}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamingtoday.com/poker/article/11522-Who_wants_to_be_the_first_King_of_Vegas|title=Who wants to be the first King of Vegas?|website=www.gamingtoday.com}} In the fall of 2023, Gadinsky began teaching Social Studies at Horace Mann Middle School in El Portal Florida, as a Corps Member with Teach for America.{{cite web |url=https://api.dadeschools.net/schoolwebsite/#!/?schoolId=6411 |title=Horace Mann Middle School Staff |accessdate=September 7, 2023}}
Personal life
In 2003, Gadinsky signed with the William Morris Agency.{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2003/scene/people-news/brian-gadinsky-1117880351/|title=Brian Gadinsky|first1=Jill|last1=Feiwell|date=February 11, 2003}} He is a season ticket holder with the Los Angeles Dodgers.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2015/03/03/once-again-most-people-in-los-angeles-wont-be-able-to-watch-the-dodgers-on-tv/ |title=Once again, most people in Los Angeles won't be able to watch the Dodgers on TV |date=2015-03-03 |author1=Matt Bonesteel |newspaper=The Washington Post |place=Washington, D.C. |issn=0190-8286 |oclc=1330888409}} In 2011, Gadinsky was credited by sports columnist Bill Plaschke for rallying fan resistance, which led in part to the ouster of owner Frank McCourt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/la-xpm-2011-dec-27-la-sp-1228-plaschke-20111228-story.html|title=His Los Angeles sports MVPs for 2011: Dodgers fans|date=December 27, 2011|website=Los Angeles Times}} He is a member of the Miami Beach High School Hall of Fame.{{cite web | url=http://www.beachhigh.com/announcement.asp?id=180 | title=Miami Beach Senior High School Alumni Association - Announcements - Miami Beach Senior High School Alumni Association eMail Bulletin }} Gadinsky has two sons. His son, Jonah, is a Talent Manager with Dixon Talent in Los Angeles.