Paul Shaffer
Music Director
About This Interview
In his Archive interview, Paul Shaffer talks about serving as a musician/performer on Saturday Night Live , as well as his long association with David Letterman as music director of Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman . Paul Shaffer was interviewed in New York, NY on June 24, 2009; Dan Pasternack conducted the three-and-a-half-hour interview.
Related To This Video
Featured Content
Embeddable video clip: Paul Shaffer creates a theme song on-the-fly for his autobiography, We'll Be Here for the Rest of Our Lives
YouTube video player - HTML5 compatible.
Highlights
Paul Shaffer on missing the opportunity to co-star onSeinfeld
Clip begins at: 00:02
Paul plays a theme song for his new book
Clip begins at: 00:00
Paul Shaffer on joining Late Night with David Lettermanand their approach to the show
Clip begins at: 14:49, Duration: 16m 59s- Paul Shaffer on various skits he was involved with on SNL.
Clip begins at: 00:22 
Paul Shaffer on the working schedule of Saturday Night Live; working with Lorne Michaels
Clip begins at: 13:15- Paul Shaffer on becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Liveand accidentally swearing during a live broadcast
Clip begins at: 07:46, Duration: 05m 24s
Interview
- Part 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
Clip begins at: 0:50 - 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
Clip begins at: 11:27 - 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
Clip begins at: 20:36 - 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
Clip begins at: 37:01 - Part 2
- On joining Saturday Night Live as it was being developed
Clip begins at: 0:0 - On Saturday Night Live's early years
Clip begins at: 12:36 - On some of the musical guests on Saturday Night Live including John Sebastian, Elvis Costello, Patti Smith, and ABBA
Clip begins at: 21:52 - 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
Clip begins at: 30:03 - Part 3
- On Saturday Night Live castmembers Chevy Chase (and hosting 2002's Comedy Central Presents: The N.Y. Friars Club Roast of Chevy Chase) and Bill Murray
Clip begins at: 0:22 - On becoming a castmember on Saturday Night Live and accidentally swearing during a live broadcast; leaving the show after five years
Clip begins at: 00:00 - On joining Late Night with David Letterman and their approach to the show
Clip begins at: 14:49 - On David Letterman and working on his shows
Clip begins at: 31:48 - On Sonny and Cher's reunion (November 13, 1987) on Late Night with David Letterman
Clip begins at: 41:24 - On Letterman guest James Brown
Clip begins at: 44:25 - On Bruce Springsteen's performance on the final Late Night with David Letterman Show
Clip begins at: 46:21 - On David Letterman's move from NBC to CBS and the changes made to the new show, Late Show with David Letterman
Clip begins at: 47:31 - On his favorite musical performances on Late Show with David Letterman (Iggy Pop, Fat Boy Slim, Warren Zevon)
Clip begins at: 52:16 - On how David Letterman's health issues affected Late Show with David Letterman
Clip begins at: 57:29 - Part 4
- Full Chapter Four
Clip begins at: 0:0
Shows
People
Topics
Genres
Professions
Either to Paul Shaffer, or honouring Paul Shaffer;
I love your stuff, and I so-o-o got to know...
the songname of the tune-portion chosen as introducing the 2nd guest on your May1, 2012 show, (the show featuring guests Seth Meyers and Krysten Ritter).
that soulful catchy-jazzy sound http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0IuD8JhxyeU&feature=results_video&playnex...
By the way, would it happen to be a brassy-jazzy adjusted part of a Hendrix song, Let Me Stand.... If any of you recognize the sound, then pleeeease reply.
P.S.: I suggest to get someone to create a website containing songnames of songparts covered/tributed/performed by the audio-stylin' Paul Shaffer & CBS Orchestra during any part of episodes - starting 2012... many will pay to subscribe for that.
Truly, Chad D. Hackman.
e-mail cdhackman@gmail.com and yes, on facebook
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