#KAIZERS ORCHESTRA DISBANDING CRACKED#
#KAIZERS ORCHESTRA DISBANDING MOVIE#

As anyone whoРІР‚в„ўs been in his frigid studio knows, heРІР‚в„ўs a host who likes things just so. Shaffer, of course, moved with Letterman to CBS in 1993, when the programРІР‚в„ўs name became РІР‚СљThe Late Show With David Letterman.РІР‚Сњ Over the years, Shaffer became something of a security blanket to Letterman. ThatРІР‚в„ўs when I began to see what he really needed from me.РІР‚Сњ (But Letterman) said, РІР‚ВI would rather we just have a conversation РІР‚В¦РІР‚в„ў Well, that was daunting to me, but I did it. РІР‚СљI was doing quite well with it, I thought. РІР‚СљI spent time preparing funny, off-the-wall lines РІР‚В¦,РІР‚Сњ Shaffer recalls. ThatРІР‚в„ўs not to say the job was always easy. Those shows allowed him to lead a band, do sketch comedy and match wits with the man who became TVРІР‚в„ўs hottest host. Starting the new gig at a time when his five years on РІР‚СљSaturday Night LiveРІР‚Сњ seemed like an eternity, Shaffer says he never felt tempted to leave Letterman. Shaffer says the time slot following Carson РІР‚Сљsounded like the hippest opportunity - like in Las Vegas when a performer would do a late late show for the other performers or cabdrivers on the strip.

#KAIZERS ORCHESTRA DISBANDING CRACKED#

Shaffer cracked up at his reference to the obscure 1960s soul singer, who looked a little like Jay Leno with an oversize platinum pompadour. Letterman said that sounded great, since heРІР‚в„ўd always thought of himself as the Wayne Cochran of comedy. He envisioned something like the lounge bands heРІР‚в„ўd seen in Toronto at the beginning of his career - a lead keyboard player and a couple of other instruments, interpreting Stax and Motown hits. Shaffer was asked what he saw for LettermanРІР‚в„ўs post-midnight gig, keeping in mind they could afford only a few musicians. Until Shaffer interviewed for the bandleader job, which started with NBCРІР‚в„ўs РІР‚СљLate Night With David LettermanРІР‚Сњ in 1982, he never had met the host. If he hadnРІР‚в„ўt neglected to return a phone call from Jerry Seinfeld, we might have known him as George Costanza, too.Р”В«ut he will always be linked in the public consciousness with Letterman, just as Ed McMahon and Johnny Carson, or Andy Richter and Conan OРІР‚в„ўBrien are linked.

#KAIZERS ORCHESTRA DISBANDING MOVIE#

Shaffer is a walking trivia answer of showbiz credits: bandleader for the original РІР‚СљSaturday Night LiveРІР‚Сњ troupe, same role for the Blues Brothers, part composer of the 1980s hit song РІР‚СљItРІР‚в„ўs Raining MenРІР‚Сњ and the РІР‚СљLate ShowРІР‚Сњ theme, cringe-worthy record executive Artie Fufkin in the movie РІР‚СљThis is Spinal TapРІР‚Сњ and music director for the inductions at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. РІР‚СљNow I have come around to just being absolutely thankful for such a wonderful run - such a long run working for a guy who has been nothing but encouraging to me.РІР‚Сњ РІР‚СљOf course, I had the old mixed feelings, sadness, etc.,РІР‚Сњ Shaffer says during an interview in his office behind ManhattanРІР‚в„ўs Ed Sullivan Theater.

The gravel-voiced sidekick, whoРІР‚в„ўs 65, says he isnРІР‚в„ўt ready to leave show business even with the gig of a lifetime with Letterman coming to a close after 33 years on two networks. Mostly overlooked in the attention paid to David LettermanРІР‚в„ўs Wednesday retirement is the end of a regular television gig for bandleader Paul Shaffer. When Letterman retires, Paul Shaffer will disband CBS Orchestra РІР‚вЂњ The Mercury News Close Menu

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