Chevy Chase: The beloved comedian's controversial off‑screen antics
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 signed the contract, and then I met Chevy Chase. Even considering my desperate situation at the time when I really needed to make a film, I realised that I couldn't work with this 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, stating, "He is arrogant. He treats me like rubbish. I don't need this. I'd rather not work," 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 on the "Fly on the Wall" podcast about how Chevy Chase reacted to a film about 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 show in 1975.
Reitman recalls that after watching the film, Chase came up to him, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "Well, you should be ashamed."
Reitman tried to understand Chase's comment, saying, "I'm trying to balance it because in my mind, I know I have my very own moment with Chevy Chase, which is 1000% just for me. From a comedy perspective, it's understandable and cool. But I spent two years of my life recreating that moment and trying to capture Chevy perfectly. Even if he has a big ego, I wanted to show him as an authentic guy, find the humanity in him, and give him a moment where he would be loved. He didn't notice it at all."
Chevy Chase was part of the cast for the first season of "SNL", which was aired on NBC from 1975-1976. 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.
