Judge Elihu Smails, Ted Knight: “I mean he’s been club champ for three years straight, and I’m not a slouch either.”
Ty Webb (Chevy chase): “Don’t be too proud of yourself, judge. You’re a tremendous slouch! “
It all worked out in 1980 when Chevy Chase created “Caddyshack.” It’s still there today, one year after a near fatal heart attack.
Jim Axelrod, Correspondent, asked: “The heart thing happened a year ago. What are you feeling?
“Oh, we took it out. It wasn’t necessary. Chase responded, “It’s much more comfortable now.”
His relentless deadpan. We were able to witness his humor, caustic, and even raunchy during our conversation.
Axelrod asked: “Out of all these characters, which one are you closest to?”
He replied, “I think Fletch because it was really me.”
“What part of me was it?”
“My c***.”
All of this makes it difficult to determine if Chase is really “just kidding.”
“What do YOU think about Saturday Night Live?” Axelrod was asked.
“Stinks. “Stinks.
“Wait a minute. I don’t know if you’re serious or joking –
Chase replied, “No, I’m serious.”
This wit helped him to build one of the most successful comedy acting careers in the past half-century. He was the first person to use the phrase “Live from New York, it’s Saturday Night!”
He was the first to anchor “Weekend Update”, (“I’m Chevy Chase and you’re NOT”), and also the breakout star of “Saturday Night Live”, which featured Dan Aykroyd and Gilda Radner. (who seemed to have a special talent at getting under Chase’s skin).
Chase stated, “I took a few photos and there was John in the background (flipping the bird). He didn’t do that just once.” John is there whenever I need a little peace.
Chase was not surprised if there was any resentment.
Axelrod said, “Suddenly you’re on the cover of magazines.” “You’re the first of equals?”
“Yeah.”
“Was that strange?”
“No. Chase laughed, “I felt pretty strongly that i was the funniest.”
When he was leaving “SNL”, he could laugh it off. Chase was set to become a Hollywood star with a string of films: “Fletch,” “National Lampoon’s Vacation,” and “Three Amigos” were just a few of the movies that made Chase infamous.
Chase exclaimed, “Oh, those movies are so wonderful.” “God, that was my mark, getting into the films and making them funny. I was able to write my own movies and tell people where and what to do.
He believed telling people “where to” was important back then and it still is.
Axelrod asked: “Is that what you love about Fletch?” Fletch was the closest person to you?
“Yeah. The attitude. “I don’t know.”
“Smug?”
“I’m getting too old to be able to answer these questions well.”
“Smug?”
“F*** you. I’m sorry!”
Cornelius Crane Chase was the son of an Old-Line New York City family, which dates back to before the American Revolution. When he was young, his parents divorced.
Axelrod stated, “You always ask comedians, ‘Why’d it become a comedian?’ A part of it came from the pain?
“Yeah. If you ask many comedians, they will all say “The pain, fear.” You know it comes from their childhood.
Chase enjoyed spending time with his father, who was a book editor and had Truman Capote as friends. “While talking with Truman and Norman, he catches my eye and, while they’re talking, he suddenly does (makes a silly face). That’s quite outrageous!
“But you were absorbing it, just watching him do that?”
“Oh my God! Was I!”
He lived with his mother who had remarried an abusive husband, a psychotherapist. This is when fear and pain began to manifest.
Chase stated, “He was violent towards my mother.”
“Did he hit me?”
“He hit. Growing up, I was always afraid. That fear is still a big part of me. It did, however, shape my path. It made me want those people to go. Bullies – I hate bullies.
Many who have been in contact with Chase over the years might be surprised to learn this. Chase’s clashes with the creator of “Community”, which resulted in his departure from the show following several seasons (2012), are just the latest news about Chase’s behavior and conflicts going back to “SNL.”
Axelrod asked: “When you read that stuff Chevy has been a jerk — are those unfounded cheap shots?”
“I suppose you’d have them ask me. “I don’t care a bit!” He laughed.
No. Chevy Chase is not.
He said, “I am who and what I am.” “And I like who I am – where I am. I don’t care. It’s part me that doesn’t care. That’s something I have thought about a lot. And I don’t know what else to say, man. It doesn’t matter to me.”
He’s not the only one who doesn’t care about his films, as he is greeted in theaters and answered questions.
“They’re celebrating!” Axelrod said.
“Yeah, yeah. Celebrating.”
“What are they celebrating?”
“Usually they’re drunk!” He laughed.
Chevy Chase, 78, is who he really is. This doesn’t mean he has to do a lot of self-reflection. He said:
“Look, I’m trying to be honest
“I know …””
“And I know that it doesn’t help, I suppose. I feel kind of hurt by the fact I can’t continue with this …”
“That’s it, you can’t get deeper?”
“Yeah.”
He was the man who could make a video from scratch for Paul Simon’s song “You Could Call Me Al”. This was a song that he learned in his car while driving to the recording.
Axelrod asked: “But you would love to work again?”
“Oh, I’d love to work again.”
“What type of job?”
“You know, the wife …” Chase chuckled. I don’t care! “I just want to get back to work!”
