Interview · moment 18 of 25
Directors, The Sopranos, and Jeff's Other Projects
from #258 - Fat Recluse | The Tim Dillon Show · #258
4 min
Guest
Jeff talks about who directs Curb episodes, praises the Sopranos-to-Curb HBO lineage, and mentions he's up for a big movie role and developing three TV shows.
- The Sopranos succeeded by hiring real directors instead of having writers direct the show.
- Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul show the difference between a showrunner-writer and a dedicated director, even when the showrunner directs well.
- Jeff Schaefer directs most Curb Your Enthusiasm episodes, with rotating directors in other seasons.
- His job on Curb is to serve Larry David's voice and vision on screen rather than inserting his own comedy.
- Tim notes Jeff adds something perfect to scenes that pivots them in exactly the right direction.
- Cast members like Richard Lewis used to write notes to himself during scenes, but that kept him from being present.
- Bob Einstein wanted to be so funny that Tim would sometimes question what he was doing, though he was genuinely one of the funniest people on the show.
- Jeff is now working on The Goldbergs while considering how standup and movies fit into his career.
- Jeff got a call about a really big movie role but didn't answer the phone.
- Big movie offers don't come around often for him, so this one feels particularly exciting.
Curb Your EnthusiasmThe SopranosLarry DavidBob EinsteinSusie EsmanVince GilliganJ.B. SmooveRichard LewisThe GoldbergsBetter Call SaulBreaking BadToy Story