Paul Shaffer

Music Director

View Full Interview

The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

Tab

About

About this interview

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.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"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."

People Talking About ...

Highlights

Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show

16:59

Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast

05:24

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

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)

02:26

Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers on SNL

01:41

Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians

00:52

Full Interview

Play 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)

02:25

Concert for New York City, The

Paul Shaffer on being music supervisor for The Concert for New York City (airdate: October 20, 2001)

02:34

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

01:05

Late Night with David Letterman

Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show

16:59

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows

09:36

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

Paul Shaffer on Letterman guest James Brown

01:56

Paul Shaffer on Bruce Springsteen's performance on the last Late Night with David Letterman Show

01:05

Late Show with David Letterman

Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear with the band on The Late Show with David Letterman

01:23

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows

09:36

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman's move from NBC to CBS and the changes made to the new show, Late Show with David Letterman

04:45

On his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Warren Zevon)

05:13

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

00:54

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

02:51

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

02:01

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)

02:41

Paul Shaffer on being hired for Saturday Night Live by music director Howard Shore

01:17

Paul Shaffer on his experiences during the early days of Saturday Night Live and the Wednesday brainstorming sessions of that era

02:20

Paul Shaffer on John Belushi's Joe Cocker musical parodies

02:35

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)

01:27

Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live

06:48

Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live

11:58

Paul Shaffer on Garrett Morris and his Tina Turner sketches, which led to his Don Kirshner impressions on Saturday Night Live

04:34

Paul Shaffer on the "prison follies" sketches on Saturday Night Live

01:11

Paul Shaffer on working with Saturday Night Live's Gilda Radner, Jane Curtin, and Laraine Newman

05:56

Paul Shaffer on the bee costumes from the early days of Saturday Night Live

00:55

Paul Shaffer on writer Marilyn Suzanne Miller's "Shirley Temple Black" sketch and how it led to an on-screen credit for him

03:37

Paul Shaffer on his early duties on Saturday Night Live and how they changed

00:42

Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels geared the schedule of Saturday Night Live to the evening hours

01:14

Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers

01:41

Paul Shaffer on the "Chevy's Girls" girl group sketch

02:50

Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase's penchant for pratfalls and the injury he sustained once (doing a Gerald Ford sketch)

00:48

Paul Shaffer on Elvis Costello's appearance on Saturday Night Live when he changed songs mid-set

01:52

Paul Shaffer on Patti Smith's musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live

01:11

Paul Shaffer on Saturday Night Live's "Video Vixens" musical sketches

02:05

Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase

01:19

Paul Shaffer on Bill Murray

01:35

Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast

05:24

Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years

01:39

Seinfeld

Paul Shaffer on missing the opportunity to co-star on Seinfeld

02:11

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)

01:27

Topics

9/11

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

02:51

Advice

Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians

00:52

Bloopers

Paul Shaffer on musical guest John Sebastian stopping his vocals after microphone feedback on Saturday Night Live's live broadcast

01:27

Censorship / Standards & Practices

Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast

05:24

Fame and Celebrity

Paul Shaffer on dealing with celebrity

01:06

Historic Events and Social Change

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

02:51

Memorable Moments on Television

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

Pop Culture

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

Paul Shaffer on dealing with celebrity

01:06

Television Industry

Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast

05:24

Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians

00:52

Professions

Music Director

View Profession

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows as music director

09:36

Music Professionals

View Profession

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)

02:26

Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear (rather than being a sight reader)

03:06

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows as music director

09:36

Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians

00:52

Musician

View Profession

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)

02:26

Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear (rather than being a sight reader)

03:06

Paul Shaffer on advice to aspiring musicians

00:52

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

02:01

Paul Shaffer on missing the opportunity to co-star on Seinfeld

02:11

Late Night

Paul Shaffer on playing music by ear with the band on The Late Show with David Letterman

01:23

Paul Shaffer on the early years of Saturday Night Live

06:41

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows

09:36

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

00:54

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

02:51

Paul Shaffer on the expansion of late-night television

00:52

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

Paul Shaffer on watching The Ed Sullivan Show with his parents growing up, and their knowledgeability of the acts

01:05

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)

02:41

People

ABBA

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on the trick played by writer Michael O'Donoghue on Saturday Night Live musical guest ABBA

02:01

Bill Murray

View Person Page

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

02:41

Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live

06:48

Paul Shaffer on Bill Murray

01:35

Brian Doyle-Murray

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on being friends with Brian Doyle-Murray and Bill Murray when he first came to New York

02:41

Bruce Springsteen

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Bruce Springsteen's performance on the last Late Night with David Letterman Show

00:55

Cher

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

Chevy Chase

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase's penchant for pratfalls on Saturday Night Live and the injury he sustained once (doing a Gerald Ford sketch)

00:48

Paul Shaffer on Chevy Chase and hosting 2002's Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase

03:44

Dan Aykroyd

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on working with Bill Murray on "the lounge singer" sketches on Saturday Night Live

06:48

Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live

11:58

David Letterman

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show

16:59

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman and working on his shows

09:36

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman's health issues on Late Show with David Letterman

01:57

Paul Shaffer on his chemistry with David Letterman

00:23

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

02:51

Paul Shaffer on David Letterman applying the Saturday Night Live mentality to talk shows

00:19

Don Kirshner

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on his Don Kirshner impression

02:52

Elvis Costello

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Elvis Costello's appearance on Saturday Night Live when he changed songs mid-set

01:52

Garrett Morris

View Interview Page

Paul Shaffer on working with Garrett Morris on Saturday Night Live

01:42

Gilda Radner

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Gilda Radner

01:46

James Brown

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Letterman guest James Brown

01:56

Jane Curtin

View Interview Page

Paul Shaffer on Jane Curtin

02:14

Jean Doumanian

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years

01:39

John Belushi

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on John Belushi's Joe Cocker musical parodies

02:35

Paul Shaffer on the development of "The Blues Brothers" on Saturday Night Live

11:58

John Sebastian

View Person Page

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)

01:27

Laraine Newman

View Interview Page

Paul Shaffer on Laraine Newman

01:56

Paul Shaffer on Saturday Night Live's "Video Vixens" musical sketches

02:05

Lorne Michaels

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels geared the schedule of Saturday Night Live to the evening hours

01:14

Paul Shaffer on how Lorne Michaels gave the creators of sketches full producing powers on SNL

01:41

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)

01:27

Paul Shaffer on leaving Saturday Night Live after five years

01:39

Martin Short

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on working on the Canadian theater production of "Godspell" early in his career

13:50

Michael O'Donoghue

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on the trick played by writer Michael O'Donoghue on Saturday Night Live musical guest ABBA

02:01

Patti Smith

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Patti Smith's musical guest appearance on Saturday Night Live

01:11

Regis Philbin

View Interview Page

Paul Shaffer on returning to Late Show with David Letterman after September 11th

00:52

Richard Belzer

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on being impressed with comedian Richard Belzer, who left a party to do a set and returned to the party afterward

00:51

Sonny Bono

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman

03:01

Stephen Schwartz

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on working on the Canadian theater production of "Godspell" early in his career

13:50

Warren Zevon

View Person Page

Paul Shaffer on his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fatboy Slim, Warren Zevon)

05:13