Chevy Chase: A comedy legend's polarizing persona exposed
Chevy Chase is known for his comedic roles, including the "National Lampoon's Vacation" series. Recently, he was criticized by the director of "Home Alone", and now another revelation has come to light: he loves to say things that shouldn't be said.
"I was signed on…and then I met Chevy Chase. Even given my situation at the time, where I desperately needed to make a film, I realized I couldn’t work with the guy," — director Chris Columbus said in an interview with Vanity Fair. Columbus was initially chosen to direct "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." He quit after two meetings with Chase. "First of all, he's not engaged. He's treating me like shit. I don't need this. I'd rather not work again. I'd rather write," he recalled. Now, director Jason Reitman has shared his own memories of working with the actor.
The other side of Chevy Chase
Director Jason Reitman spoke in the "Fly on the Wall" podcast about how Chevy Chase reacted to a film about the show "Saturday Night Live". "Chevy loves to say things that shouldn't be said," he admitted. The film is about the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of the now-iconic "SNL" in 1975.
Reitman recalls that after watching the film, Chase came up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said: "You should be embarrassed."
Reitman tried to understand Chase's comment, saying: "I’m trying to balance it because in my head I know I’m getting a Chevy Chase moment that’s one thousand percent only for me right now and from a comedy point of view, that’s really pure and that’s kind of cool. But also, I just spent two years of my life recreating this moment and trying to capture Chevy perfectly and also, even in the ego, find the humanity and give him a moment to be loved. None of that s— played. He’s not talking about that stuff."
Chevy Chase was part of the cast for the first season of "SNL," aired on NBC from 1975 to 1976. For his role in the satirical show, he was nominated twice for an Emmy, the TV Oscars. Today, Chase is 81 years old and still active professionally. His latest production is "Zombie Town" from 2023. Yet, he remains best known as Clark Griswold in the repeatedly shown "National Lampoon's Vacation" films.
