Recently speaking to AXS TV’s Dan Rather, Paul Shaffer admitted feeling embarrassed for initially rejecting Jerry Seinfeld’s offer.
When the host reminded him of his missed opportunity, the actor recalled how he had received a phone message from Seinfeld:
“This is something, and it’s an area of who knows… People’s memories get foggy, but a phone message came into the office, and it said, ‘Jerry Seinfeld is getting a show, and he wants you to be a sidekick.'”
He continued, noting it didn’t seem necessary for him to audition:
“The story hasn’t been embellished, you know. He wants me to be a particular character, but at this point, it was just he wanted you to be a sidekick, and he didn’t even seem to need me to audition or read for it.”
Detailing why he dismissed the offer, Shaffer added:
“I was so overworked and overstressed. It came from Castle Rock Entertainment. I said to my son, ‘I’m supposed to know; who the hell is that Castle Rock?’ Well, of course, that was Rob Reiner’s company that made ‘Spinal Tap.’ The movie that I was in and had a bit part. I like to call it a cameo.
I couldn’t remember Castle Rock, and I said, ‘Oh, Seinfeld. He’s going nowhere.’ I don’t even think I called back. I know I didn’t call back. I’m embarrassed to say it. So I missed out on the most beloved sitcom since ‘I Love Lucy.'”
As the story goes, Seinfeld wanted the actor in the role of George Costanza, later played by Jason Alexander. However, Jerry debunked this claim when asked by Howard Stern in 2017, saying:
“Wrong… Never… I don’t know how that got started. Not true.”
You can watch Shaffer’s interview below.
