In his autobiography Paul Shaffer claimed to have turned down the role of George. He was offered the part due to his resemblance to Larry David, upon whom the character is based. .
He was paid $25,000 per episode, but in the third season he demanded to be paid the at the same rate as Ricardo Montalbán per episode. He was fired and was replaced by a butler in the forth and fifth season. The series died a slow death after he left.