A new documentary aiming to rehabilitate the image of comedy legend Chevy Chase has instead laid bare the shocking behaviour that transformed him from a beloved icon into a Hollywood pariah. The film, 'I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not,' airs on CNN on January 1 at 8pm EST and will stream on HBO Max from January 31.
A Legacy Overshadowed by Explosive Behaviour
Tracing his rise through classics like Caddyshack and the National Lampoon series, the documentary shows how Chase's undeniable talent was eclipsed by his difficult nature. Featuring candid interviews with the 82-year-old actor himself, as well as former colleagues and family members, the film reveals a pattern of offensive language and repeated clashes that plagued his career from the start.
Chase found fame as an original cast member of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1975, becoming the first anchor of Weekend Update and winning two Emmys in 1976. Yet, even during this early success, colleagues say he was rubbing people the wrong way. The documentary includes a telling moment where Chase momentarily forgets the name of his first wife, Susan, bluntly adding, "Because I want to."
Notable Conflicts and a Painful SNL Snub
His infamous return to host SNL in 1985 led to a particularly troubling clash with Terry Sweeney, the show's first openly gay cast member. At the height of the AIDS crisis, Chase suggested a sketch about Sweeney having AIDS and being weighed. When confronted in the film, Chase becomes belligerent, denying claims he was angry about apologising and accusing Sweeney of lying.
In a rare show of emotion, Chase admits it "hurt" that he was not invited to perform in SNL's 50th-anniversary special earlier this year. Show creator Lorne Michaels reveals in the film that there was discussion, but he received a caution that Chase "wasn't as focused" as needed.
A Troubled Comeback and Final Meltdown on 'Community'
After a career slump in the 1990s, Chase's role as Pierce Hawthorne on Community from 2009 offered a major comeback. However, the documentary reveals the set was immediately fraught with tension. Director Jay Chandrasekhar recounts that scenes involving Chase were shot first so he could be ushered off set, with the cast and crew cheering when he left.
Writers later confined his character to a wheelchair specifically to limit his time with the cast. The situation culminated in a confrontation with black co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, involving an alleged racial incident. According to Chandrasekhar, Chase referenced a history with comedian Richard Pryor, saying, "I used to call Richard Pryor the N-word, and he used to call me The Honky."
After details leaked, Chase had a meltdown on set, yelling, "My career is ruined!" He never returned. The acrimony was so deep that show creator Dan Harmon led a "f*** Chevy" chant at the wrap party, prompting a bitter, expletive-filled voicemail from Chase that is played in the film.
The pressure contributed to Chase's alcoholism, which his family says led to heart failure in 2021. He was placed in an eight-day coma, with his daughter Caley saying he "basically came back from the dead."
The documentary attempts to contextualise his behaviour as a coping mechanism for childhood abuse, with Chase describing beatings from his stepfather. Yet, his own combative nature undermines this defence. He calls director Marina Zenovich a "b**ch" early on and later tells her she's "not bright enough" to figure him out.
'I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not' premieres on CNN on January 1, offering an unflinching portrait of a brilliant but deeply flawed comedy star whose personal demons ultimately defined his legacy.
