About
"There I was in college and I couldn't figure out –- I couldn't do anything but go into music. I would've been too unhappy."
In his three-and-a-half-hour interview, Paul Shaffer talks about growing up in Canada, attending the University of Toronto, and becoming the music director for the Toronto production of Godspell. He reveals what prompted his move to New York, discusses how he came to be a musician/performer on Saturday Night Live, and talks about working with his fellow SNL cast members. He then speaks at length about his long association with David Letterman -- as music director of NBC's Late Night with David Letterman and CBS' The Late Show with David Letterman. He talks about the first episode of The Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th, recalls being music supervisor for The Concert for New York City, and reveals how he missed out on co-starring on Seinfeld. He also discusses the theme song for his then-upcoming book, We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives. Dan Pasternack conducted the interview on June 24, 2009 in New York, NY.
Highlights
Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show
Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on joining the musician's union at the age of 15 and being in a band (but not yet seeing a career in music)
Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers on SNL
Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians
Full Interview
Chapter 1
On his family background; on the musical influence of his parents and their musical tastes; on seeing acts in Las Vegas as an adolescent; on watching The Ed Sullivan Show with his parents growing up, and their knowledgeability of the acts
On watching the CBC and recalling that between 5 and 7 PM, the network ran a test pattern during dinner hour; on the types of shows he saw on the CBC and the parody done of the CBC by SCTV; on his interest in rock 'n' roll
On joining the musician's union at the age of 15 and being in a band, but not yet seeing a career in music; on his studies at the University of Toronto; on playing music by ear (rather than sight); on getting back into music in Toronto by taking a summer course in jazz arranging and playing in a bar band; on deciding to pursue a music career; on meeting Tisziji (Mike) Munoz, who taught him "avant-garde" jazz
On becoming involved in the Toronto production of "Godspell" (and hanging out with many pre-Second City people, including Martin Short) which led to his move to New York
Chapter 2
On joining Saturday Night Live as it was being developed
On Saturday Night Live's early years
On some of the musical guests on Saturday Night Live including John Sebastian, Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, and ABBA
On the development of Saturday Night Live's "lounge singer," "The Blues Brothers" musical sketches; playing Don Kirshner; and working with castmembers Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman
Chapter 3
On Saturday Night Live castmembers Chevy Chase (and hosting 2002's Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase)
On becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast; on leaving the show after five years
On joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show
On David Letterman and working on his shows
On Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
On Letterman guest James Brown
On Bruce Springsteen's performance on the final Late Night with David Letterman Show
On David Letterman's move from NBC to CBS and the changes made to the new show, Late Show with David Letterman
On his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Warren Zevon)
On how David Letterman's health issues affected Late Show with David Letterman
Chapter 4
On his chemistry with David Letterman; on how important it is for him to continue to work on Late Show with David Letterman and on what he'd like to do when the show ends; on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th; on being music supervisor for The Concert for New York City (airdate: October 20, 2001); on missing the opportunity to co-star on Seinfeld
On his proudest professional achievement; on his biggest professional regret; on dealing with celebrity; on the intersectionality of his career in music, television, and comedy; on the expansion of late-night television; on advice to aspiring musicians; on how he'd like to be remembered
B-roll: Paul Shaffer performs a theme song for his autobiography, "We'll Be Here For the Rest of Our Lives" on the piano
Shows
Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
Paul Shaffer on hosting Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase (2002)
Concert for New York City, The
Paul Shaffer on being music supervisor for The Concert for New York City (airdate: October 20, 2001)
Ed Sullivan Show, The aka Toast of the Town
Paul Shaffer on watching The Ed Sullivan Show with his parents growing up, and their knowledgeability of the acts
Late Night with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on Letterman guest James Brown
Paul Shaffer on Bruce Springsteen's performance on the last Late Night with David Letterman Show
Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear with the band on The Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman's move from NBC to CBS and the changes made to the new show, Late Show with David Letterman
On his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Warren Zevon)
Paul Shaffer on how David Letterman's health issues affected Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on how important it is for him to continue to work on Late Show with David Letterman and on what he'd like to do when the show ends
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York, and collaborating with Bill on his nightclub club singer bit (which he later used on SNL)
Paul Shaffer on being hired for Saturday Night Live by music director Howard Shore
Paul Shaffer on his experiences during the early days of Saturday Night Live and the Wednesday brainstorming sessions of that era
Paul Shaffer on John Belushi's Joe Cocker musical parodies
Paul Shaffer on the problem encountered by musical guest John Sebastian while performing the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song on Saturday Night Live (and producer Lorne Michaels stepping in live on the air to ask him to start over)
Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on Garrett Morris and his Tina Turner sketches, which led to his Don Kirshner impressions on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on the "prison follies" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on working with Saturday Night Live's Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman
Paul Shaffer on the bee costumes from the early days of Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller's "Shirley Temple Black" sketch and how it led to an on-screen credit for him
Paul Shaffer on his early duties on Saturday Night Live and how they changed
Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels geared the schedule of Saturday Night Live to the evening hours
Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers
Paul Shaffer on the "Chevy's Girls" girl group sketch
Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase's penchant for pratfalls and the injury he sustained once (doing a Gerald Ford sketch)
Paul Shaffer on Elvis Costello's appearance on Saturday Night Live when he changed songs mid-set
Paul Shaffer on Patti Smith's musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on Saturday Night Live's "Video Vixens" musical sketches
Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase
Paul Shaffer on Bill Murray
Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast
Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years
SCTV
Paul Shaffer on how well he thought SCTV parodied Canada's CBC (and show Front Page Challenge), having regularly watched the CBC growing up
Seinfeld
Paul Shaffer on missing the opportunity to co-star on Seinfeld
Welcome Back, Kotter
Paul Shaffer on the problem encountered by musical guest John Sebastian while performing the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song on Saturday Night Live (and producer Lorne Michaels stepping in live on the air to ask him to start over)
Topics
9/11
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Advice
Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians
Bloopers
Paul Shaffer on musical guest John Sebastian stopping his vocals after microphone feedback on Saturday Night Live's live broadcast
Censorship / Standards & Practices
Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast
Fame and Celebrity
Paul Shaffer on dealing with celebrity
Historic Events and Social Change
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Memorable Moments on Television
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Pop Culture
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on dealing with celebrity
Television Industry
Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast
Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians
Professions
Music Director
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows as music director
Music Professionals
Paul Shaffer on joining the musician's union at the age of 15 and being in a band (but not yet seeing a career in music)
Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear (rather than being a sight reader)
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows as music director
Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians
Musician
Paul Shaffer on joining the musician's union at the age of 15 and being in a band (but not yet seeing a career in music)
Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear (rather than being a sight reader)
Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians
Genres
Comedy Series
Paul Shaffer on how well he thought SCTV parodied Canada's CBC (and show Front Page Challenge), having regularly watched the CBC growing up
Paul Shaffer on missing the opportunity to co-star on Seinfeld
Late Night
Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear with the band on The Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on the early years of Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows
Paul Shaffer on how important it is for him to continue to work on Late Show with David Letterman and on what he'd like to do when the show ends
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Paul Shaffer on the expansion of late-night television
Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials
Paul Shaffer on watching The Ed Sullivan Show with his parents growing up, and their knowledgeability of the acts
Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York, and collaborating with Bill on his nightclub club singer bit (which he later used on SNL)
People
ABBA
Paul Shaffer on the trick played by writer Michael O'Donoghue on Saturday Night Live musical guest ABBA
Dan Aykroyd
Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live
John Belushi
Paul Shaffer on John Belushi's Joe Cocker musical parodies
Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live
Richard Belzer
Paul Shaffer on being impressed with comedian Richard Belzer, who left a party to do a set and returned to the party afterward
Sonny Bono
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
James Brown
Paul Shaffer on Letterman guest James Brown
Chevy Chase
Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase's penchant for pratfalls on Saturday Night Live and the injury he sustained once (doing a Gerald Ford sketch)
Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase and hosting 2002's Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase
Cher
Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Elvis Costello
Paul Shaffer on Elvis Costello's appearance on Saturday Night Live when he changed songs mid-set
Jane Curtin
Paul Shaffer on Jane Curtin
Jean Doumanian
Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years
Brian Doyle-Murray
Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York
Don Kirshner
Paul Shaffer on his Don Kirshner impression
David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman's health issues on Late Show with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on his chemistry with David Letterman
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Paul Shaffer on David Letterman applying the Saturday Night Live mentality to talk shows
Lorne Michaels
Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels geared the schedule of Saturday Night Live to the evening hours
Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers on SNL
Paul Shaffer on the problem encountered by musical guest John Sebastian while performing the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song on Saturday Night Live (and producer Lorne Michaels stepping in live on the air to ask him to start over)
Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years
Garrett Morris
Paul Shaffer on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live
Bill Murray
Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York, and collaborating with Bill on his nightclub club singer bit
Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live
Paul Shaffer on Bill Murray
Laraine Newman
Paul Shaffer on Laraine Newman
Paul Shaffer on Saturday Night Live's "Video Vixens" musical sketches
Michael O'Donoghue
Paul Shaffer on the trick played by writer Michael O'Donoghue on Saturday Night Live musical guest ABBA
Regis Philbin
Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th
Gilda Radner
Paul Shaffer on Gilda Radner
Stephen Schwartz
Paul Shaffer on working on the Canadian theater production of "Godspell" early in his career
John Sebastian
Paul Shaffer on the problem encountered by musical guest John Sebastian while performing the Welcome Back, Kotter theme song on Saturday Night Live (and producer Lorne Michaels stepping in live on the air to ask him to start over)
Martin Short
Paul Shaffer on working on the Canadian theater production of "Godspell" early in his career
Patti Smith
Paul Shaffer on Patti Smith's musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live
Bruce Springsteen
Paul Shaffer on Bruce Springsteen's performance on the last Late Night with David Letterman Show
Warren Zevon
Paul Shaffer on his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Warren Zevon)