Talk:Paul Shaffer

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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)

Contents

[edit] Paragraph removed

"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)
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.

[edit] Citizenship?

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

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)

[edit] Error

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

[edit] Birthday?

The article mentions two different birth dates, one at the beginning of the text, a different one underneath the photo. Which one is correct?

[edit] Removed Borat comment

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.

[edit] Religion

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)

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)
"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)

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)

[edit] Ph.D.

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)