People matter.
From the internet's tiny treasure, Delancey Place, May 22:
"[Jerry] Seinfeld had already made several smart choices in his fledgling career, and among them was to sign with manager George Shapiro.
"Shapiro was inspired to go into show business like his uncle, Dick Van Dyke Show creator Carl Reiner. Shapiro's charm -- kind eyes, a warm smile, and a hint of a New York accent -- made him particularly suited to being a talent manager, endearing himself to both performers and executives. He had spent the early years of his career at the William Morris talent agency in New York. There, he'd helped put together TV comedies such as The Steve Allen Show, That Girl, and Gomer Pyle. Now, as a talent manager for young comedian Jerry Seinfeld, he may have been simply doing his job when he told NBC executives that his client belonged on their network. But he was also speaking from decades of experience during TV's formative years.
The Tonight Show or Late Night. In 1988, he made his strongest epistolary plea as Seinfeld prepared for his first concert broadcast at Town Hall in New York City. 'Call me a crazy guy,' Shapiro wrote to Tartikoff, 'but I feel that Jerry Seinfeld will soon be doing a series on NBC.' He closed by inviting Tartikoff to attend the Town Hall event. No one from the network came, but Tartikoff invited Seinfeld and Shapiro in for a meeting.
"Seinfeld didn't know his manager had badgered NBC about him. He was still unaware when he and Shapiro headed to NBC's Los Angeles offices on November 2, 1988, to discuss the possibility of a network project with Tartikoff, Littlefield, and the head of late-night programming and specials, Rick Ludwin. Seinfeld hadn't the first idea what he'd do on television -- his main career plan was to be a standup comedian for as long as he could....
....MUCH MORE
