Talk:Paul Shaffer

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Untitled[edit]

Would anyone object if i removed the word "major" describing Shaffer's role in Spinal Tap? Isn't he in like one scene? -R. fiend

The entry for Howard Shore lists him as musical director on SNL from 1975 to 80. Unless Shore and Shaffer were co-musical directors, it must have been one or the other. I think it was Shore, then Shaffer. This should be coordinated between the two articles. 69.129.37.123 18:53, 9 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]

Paragraph removed[edit]

"Paul's role diminished somewhat since Letterman moved to CBS. Whereas at NBC his band accompanied most musical guests, at CBS, Shaffer et al. were reduced to observing the musical guest from the sidelines. As well, at "Late Night", Shaffer used to have a quirky dialogue with Dave in the transition from monologue to the desk, whereas since 1993, the band merely plays Dave to the desk."

I don't doubt this was the case but I would argue no longer. The band now regularly accompanies musical guests. In the past weeks they've played with Kanye West and Cat Power (from the episodes I saw). Here's an older example from 1997. Mark83 15:07, 16 June 2006 (UTC)[reply]
It is for this very reason that I am removing the line: "Paul also loves to support Canadian bands. When Broken Social Scene performed on the show on July 19, 2006 he performed with the band on the piano." While A may indeed be true, B isn't enough to support it.

Citizenship?[edit]

When did he become a citizen? --Gbleem 03:59, 7 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I was just trying to figure that out and can't find a source. Does anyone have one?--Vbd | (talk) 01:38, 16 February 2007 (UTC)[reply]

He said it on Letterman's show [1] 91.176.32.86 (talk) 22:50, 1 March 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Error[edit]

Paul Shaffer was never the musical director on SNL. Howard Shore was and Paul was just the keyboardist.

Birthday?[edit]

The article mentions two different birth dates, one at the beginning of the text, a different one underneath the photo. Which one is correct? he was on SNL many times and hosted SNL. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 108.204.240.216 (talk) 04:49, 22 November 2011 (UTC)[reply]

Removed Borat comment[edit]

Totally non-factual and irrelevant. Why should it be mentioned that a fictional Kazakhstani journalist played by a British actor has joked that Kazakstan has a day dedicated to Paul Shaffer? There is no Paul Shaffer day in Kazakshtan as anyone with half-a-brain could tell. Borat is a British comedian and Wikipedia is about facts, not about irrelevant jokes said during "in character" interviews.

TRIVIA: he shares a birthday with Comic and 'Daily Show' host Jon Stewert.

Religion[edit]

What is "Jewish-Canadian-American?" If his religion is important enough to mention so prominently (and that is *very* questionable), wouldn't it at least be more proper to write it as "Jewish Canadian-American?"

As to whether it is important enough to put so prominently...do we identify Christians or Muslims or Buddhists or...whatever? Generally not, unless it is central to the reason they exist as encyclopedic entries in the first place, such as prominent ministers, imams, monks, etc. The fact that Shaffer is (or may be - I don't really know) Jewish is mostly irrelevant and certainly doesn't deserve such prominent mention.

In addition, there are any number of prominent Jewish persons whose religious affiliation is not identified nearly as prominently - if at all.

Isaacsf 21:39, 2 December 2007 (UTC)[reply]

It's pretty standard fare to mention the background of people. Pretty much every Wikipedia entry lists this kind of information because people want to know, mostly Jewish people. Jewishness is more than just religion. If someone has a British or German background it usually mentions that. Same thing. JettaMann (talk) 22:57, 19 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]
"people want to know, mostly Jewish people" is a pretty sweeping statement. I see someone else has removed that, as well as the unsourced bit about him being American, both of which I support. Isaacsf (talk) 14:53, 23 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Nationality goes in the opening paragraph. Religion, ethnicity, sexuality, cultural heritage, citizenship, and so on, can all be mentioned after this, providing there are cited references. Is he a citizen of the USA?--Design (talk) 13:26, 23 April 2008 (UTC)[reply]

The recent edit saying that Shaffer was "raised Jewish" is a little misleading, I think. It implies that he's no longer practicing, and from reading his memoir, he's clearly a very devout Jew. If his religion is to be mentioned (and I don't really know if it's necessary or not) it should be in a less ambiguous manner. Mad Thinker (talk) 11:53, 27 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Raised jewish just means he was brought up in a jewish family instead of converting to it later. It doesn't imply he is no longer jewish. -DJSasso (talk) 12:04, 27 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
But it also doesn't make it clear that he IS still Jewish. If his religion is worth mentioning, it's worth being clear about it. Mad Thinker (talk) 15:00, 27 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]
Unless something says he isn't jewish then its safe to say he still is jewish. You don't have to specifically say he still practices. Either way Jewish, isn't just a religion, its also considered an ethnicity as well. So if you are Jewish, you can't really stop being Jewish. You can stop practicing the religion, but you are still Jewish. Its the same as being English, if you move to Canada you are still English even if you live in a new country. -DJSasso (talk) 15:15, 27 October 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Ph.D.[edit]

I pretty sure I heard somewhere that he earned a Ph. D. in music. Anyone have any info on this? Jerry G. Sweeton Jr. (talk) 02:11, 15 January 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Recordings with appearances by Paul Shaffer[edit]

In 2001, Paul played along with Earl Scruggs on the tune "Foggy Mountain Breakdown" [Instrumental] - track seven of the album Earl Scruggs and Friends. Other players on that track included Albert Lee, Gary Scruggs, Glen Duncan, Marty Stuart, Randy Scruggs, Steve Martin, & Vince Gill. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.64.216.22 (talk) 07:17, 26 May 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Book Promotion[edit]

Right now, the opening paragraph mentions Schaffer's memoir and it reads like an advertisement. Information about the memoir appears later in the article in the Other Activities section, which seems appropriate. I'm deleting the first mention of the memoir, I realise this may be contentious but in terms of encyclopadic content his other activities are more significant.Laura schnak (talk) 15:52, 30 December 2009 (UTC)[reply]

The photo is 14 years old[edit]

Surely a newer image can be found. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 69.157.173.237 (talk) 20:58, 28 April 2014 (UTC)[reply]

So, have you found one yet? Sureley you've had enough time. Or do you just come around here to tell other people what to do? -- unsigned comment

I don't know about the first guy, but I just come here to tell other people what to do. -- unsigned comment in praise of the first comment

Movie Cameo in First Contact[edit]

Is there a source for this? I have no recollection of it, and could find no support for the claim anywhere. It is not listed in IMDB's list of cameos for the film, not listed on Memory Alpha, and the only references I could find to it are word-for-word copies of this article. I suggest it be deleted if there is not a source. Mikeymo1741 (talk) 22:06, 9 September 2017 (UTC)[reply]

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Shaffer before Letterman[edit]

I have in my head the notion that Paul Shaffer, before David Letterman, was a staff musician for NBC, appearing on SNL and other programs. Does anyone have any information on this? deisenbe (talk) 11:16, 25 August 2018 (UTC)[reply]

seinfeld[edit]

article claims, with weak support, that shaffer was considered (almost offered) the role given to jason alexander in 'seinfeld', by seinfeld himself. there's no corroboration of this on the wp page for the character. it's a nice idea & all, but did it actually happen?

09:09, 5 December 2020 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Duncanrmi (talk • contribs)

Born in Toronto, raised in Thunder Bay[edit]

I just watched Ian Hanomansing interviewing him on The National. Shaffer stated that he was born at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. Sources are not unanimous about this, but some do support this. I've changed his birthplace in the article. Paul Erik (talk)(contribs) 03:03, 22 February 2021 (UTC)[reply]

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