About
"Bombing is part of the process of putting a good act together. You have to embrace it. You'll be in pain. You'll feel terrible. I've seen comedians crying after it… but bombing gives you the opportunity of knowing what doesn't work, and then starting new jokes. It's essential that a comedian bombs. Just stay with it, learn from it, and keep doing it. Get back on the horse -- there's a reason for that old cliché."
In his nearly two-hour interview, George Shapiro (1931-2022) discusses his early years growing up in the Bronx, where he met his longtime business partner, Howard West, and describes working his way up from mailroom attendant to packaging executive at the William Morris Agency. He talks about his work with The Steve Allen Show and That Girl and details his decision to leave William Morris to form his own management company, Shapiro/West. He speaks at length on working with client Andy Kaufman, on negotiating Kaufman's intricate deal with Taxi, and on Kaufman's premature death. Shapiro also comments on client Jerry Seinfeld, explains how Seinfeld got on the air, and concludes with thoughts on the art of management and his philosophy on comedy. Bill Dana and Jenni Matz conducted the interview in a joint venture with the American Comedy Archives at Emerson College on February 12, 2007 in Los Angeles, CA.
Highlights
George Shapiro on being drawn to comedians
George Shapiro on Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld's integrity
George Shapiro on the poor test response to the pilot of Seinfeld
George Shapiro on disagreeing with Andy Kaufman's inter-gender wrestling on television
George Shapiro on comedians bombing
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his childhood and early influences
On becoming an agent with William Morris
On entertainment in New York in the 1950s; on being drawn to comedians and leaving William Morris to start his own company
On managing Andy Kaufman - on Kaufman's work on Taxi, on Tony Clifton, and inter-gender wrestling
On comedians bombing; on "Man on the Moon"
On people believing that Andy Kaufman is still alive; on his closeness with clients, including Jerry Seinfeld; on comedy
Chapter 2
On current projects; On Seinfeld and how moving the timeslot for the show changed its popularity; on tragedy and comedy
On the camaraderie of comics between Jerry Seinfeld and friends; On The Comedy Store and The Friar's Club
On "clean" comedy; on the cast of Seinfeld; on his proudest achievements; on dealing with celebrity egos; on whether it was all worth it
Shows
Cheers
George Shapiro on Cheers liberating Seinfeld
Merv Griffin Show, The
George Shapiro on disagreeing with Andy Kaufman's inter-gender wrestling on television
Saturday Night Live
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the gig on Saturday Night Live
George Shapiro on disagreeing with Andy Kaufman's inter-gender wrestling on television
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman reading The Great Gatsby on Saturday Night Live
Seinfeld
George Shapiro on packaging Seinfeld
George Shapiro on the cast of Seinfeld
George Shapiro on being proud of working with Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld
Steve Allen Show, The (1956-61)
George Shapiro on clients Bill Persky and Sam Denoff getting hired by Bill Dana on The Steve Allen Show
Taxi
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman (and Tony Clifton) got roles on Taxi
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman's work on Taxi
Your Show of Shows
George Shapiro on Max Liebman booking talent at Tamiment and creating Your Show of Shows
Topics
Characters & Catchphrases
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role of on Latka on Taxi
Classic TV Series Episodes
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman reading "The Great Gatsby" on Saturday Night Live
Comedy
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman reading "The Great Gatsby" on Saturday Night Live
Pop Culture
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role of on Latka on Taxi
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman reading "The Great Gatsby" on Saturday Night Live
Professions
Manager
George Shapiro on managing Andy Kaufman - on Kaufman's work on Taxi, on Tony Clifton, and inter-gender wrestling
George Shapiro on managing clients
Representatives
George Shapiro on managing Andy Kaufman - on Kaufman's work on Taxi, on Tony Clifton, and inter-gender wrestling
George Shapiro on managing clients
Genres
Comedy Series
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role of Latka on Taxi
People
Jason Alexander
George Shapiro on casting Jason Alexander
Bernie Brillstein
George Shapiro on his first day in the William Morris mailroom
James L. Brooks
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role on Taxi
Lenny Bruce
George Shapiro on first seeing Phyllis Diller and Lenny Bruce perform
George Burns
George Shapiro on booking Jerry Seinfeld for his 100th birthday party in 2054
Red Buttons
George Shapiro on Red Buttons' comedy
Sid Caesar
George Shapiro on Sid Caesar performing at Tamiment
Jim Carrey
George Shapiro on "Man on the Moon" - the movie based of Andy Kaufman's life
Imogene Coca
George Shapiro on Imogene Coca performing at Tamiment
Bill Dana
George Shapiro and Bill Dana on Andy Kaufman at the first American Comedy Awards
George Shapiro on clients Bill Persky and Sam Denoff getting hired by Bill Dana on The Steve Allen Show
Larry David
George Shapiro on Larry David and Jerry Seinfeld coming up with the premise of Seinfeld
George Shapiro on how Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David ran Seinfeld
Sam Denoff
George Shapiro on clients Bill Persky and Sam Denoff getting hired by Bill Dana on The Steve Allen Show
George Shapiro on being proud of working with writers Bill Persky and Sam Denoff
Danny DeVito
George Shapiro on "Man on the Moon" - the movie based of Andy Kaufman's life
Phyllis Diller
George Shapiro on first seeing Phyllis Diller and Lenny Bruce perform
George Shapiro on first seeing Phyllis Diller perform
Dick Ebersol
George Shapiro on disagreeing with Andy Kaufman's inter-gender wrestling on television and Andy getting voted off Saturday Night Live
Milos Forman
George Shapiro on "Man on the Moon" - the movie based of Andy Kaufman's life
Ben Griefer
George Shapiro on his mentor, Ben Griefer, in the packaging department of William Morris
Lee Karsian
George Shapiro on working for agent Lee Karsian
Andy Kaufman
George Shapiro on client Andy Kaufman
George Shapiro on "Man on the Moon" - the movie based of Andy Kaufman's life
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman and Robin Williams performing at Carnegie Hall
George Shapiro on people believing that Andy Kaufman is still alive
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman
Abe Lastfogel
George Shapiro on leaving William Morris
Max Liebman
George Shapiro on Max Liebman booking talent at Tamiment and creating Your Show of Shows
Warren Littlefield
George Shapiro on meeting with NBC's Brandon Tartikoff and Warren Littlefield about a Jerry Seinfeld series
Julia Louis-Dreyfus
George Shapiro on casting Julia Louis-Dreyfus
Steve Martin
George Shapiro on Steve Martin's clean comedy
Lorne Michaels
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role on Taxi and the gig on Saturday Night Live
Rosie O'Donnell
George Shapiro on casting Julia Louis-Dreyfus - Rosie O'Donnell read for the part of "Elaine"
Bill Persky
George Shapiro on clients Bill Persky and Sam Denoff getting hired by Bill Dana on The Steve Allen Show
George Shapiro on being proud of working with writers Bill Persky and Sam Denoff
Elvis Presley
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman's idol Elvis Presley
Richard Pryor
George Shapiro on Richard Pryor turning pain into comedy
Carl Reiner
George Shapiro on how Carl Reiner informed him of a new comedian named Andy Kaufman
George Shapiro on Carl Reiner's support of Jerry Seinfeld
George Shapiro on being proud of working with Carl Reiner
Rob Reiner
George Shapiro on bringing in cousin Rob Reiner's production company for deficit spending on Seinfeld
Michael Richards
George Shapiro on casting Michael Richards
Chris Rock
George Shapiro on Chris Rock's comedy
George Schlatter
George Shapiro and Bill Dana on Andy Kaufman at the first American Comedy Awards
Jerry Seinfeld
George Shapiro on Jerry Seinfeld bombing in a live performance
George Shapiro on client Jerry Seinfeld's humor
George Shapiro on Jerry Seinfeld and packaging Seinfeld
George Shapiro on booking Jerry Seinfeld for his 100th birthday party in 2054
George Shapiro on the first time Jerry Seinfeld performed (and bombed)
George Shapiro on how Jerry Seinfeld and Larry David ran Seinfeld
George Shapiro on being proud of working with Jerry Seinfeld on Seinfeld
George Shapiro on Jerry Seinfeld
Mitzi Shore
George Shapiro on The Comedy Store, an improv started by Mitzi Shore
Barbra Streisand
George Shapiro on first seeing Barbra Streisand perform in East Side clubs
Brandon Tartikoff
George Shapiro on telling Brandon Tartikoff that Jerry Seinfled should have his own series
Ed. Weinberger
George Shapiro on how Andy Kaufman got the role on Taxi
Jack Welch
George Shapiro on Jerry Seinfeld not wanting a 10th season of Seinfeld
Howard West
George Shapiro on leaving William Morris to go into management with Howard West
George Shapiro on his business partnership with friend Howard West
Robin Williams
George Shapiro on Andy Kaufman and Robin Williams performing at Carnegie Hall
Bob Wright
George Shapiro on Jerry Seinfeld not wanting a 10th season of Seinfeld
Bob Zmuda
George Shapiro on booking Tony Clifton at Harrod's, but this time Tony was played by Bob Zmuda