Chevy Chase Vs. ‘Community’: A Troubled History of Chevy Chase’s Behavior

It seems there is no end to the ongoing feud between Community creator Dan Harmon and one of the show's ensemble stars, Chevy Chase.

In an interview with The Huffington Post, Chase hinted at his departure from the show, saying, “I probably won't be around that much longer.”

While many of us have fond memories of Chevy Chase's movies, such as the original National Lampoon's Vacation, it's hard to deny that he has a reputation for being difficult.

It would have been nice if Chase had approached his role on Community with some remorse for past behavior and a little self-reflection.

Unfortunately, that was not the case.

The word “difficult” has been used frequently in recent days to describe Chase, prompting a need for a reminder of exactly what that means.

Although Harmon may share some blame, publicly scolding Chase in front of his family seems like a low blow.

However, it's important to note that Chase has a history of problematic behavior, especially during his time on another NBC series, Saturday Night Live.

In the book “Live From New York,” an oral history of SNL by Tom Shales and James Miller, Chase's behavior is described as less than admirable throughout the show's 37-year run.

Here is a brief overview of some instances where Chevy Chase displayed jerk-like behavior on SNL:

During the first season of Saturday Night Live, Chase quickly became a breakout star.

However, after completing his first full season, Chase left the show, only to be replaced by Bill Murray.

When Chase returned to host in the third season, it was not a warm homecoming.

John Belushi even goaded Murray into confronting Chase, resulting in a possible fistfight.

Director John Landis, who witnessed the confrontation, recalled one of the most memorable insults ever spoken, with Murray referring to Chase as “medium talent” in a fit of rage.

Another incident involved Jane Curtin, who took over the “Weekend Update” segment after Chase's departure from SNL.

When Chase returned to host, he felt entitled to reclaim his role on “Update.”

During this time, Chase made remarks suggesting that women were not funny.

One of Chase's worst moments on SNL occurred when he hosted the show on November 16, 1985, during Lorne Michaels' second stint as producer after a five-year hiatus.

Terry Sweeney, the first openly gay cast member, described Chase as a “monster.”

Chase even pitched a sketch where Sweeney's character would have AIDS and get weighed every week—a highly inappropriate idea.

Although Chase eventually apologized, Sweeney recalled his fury at having to do so and how Chase mistreated everyone.

Jon Lovitz also supported Sweeney's claims, noting that Chase made derogatory comments towards him and other cast members.

The cast even resorted to hiding from Chase due to his bad behavior.

Chase hosted SNL once more on October 7, 1995.

Tim Meadows, a long-time cast member, described Chase as a “smart ass” who had no qualms about insulting others.

Meadows compared interacting with Chase to witnessing a car accident.

During his final hosting gig on February 15, 1997, Chase left a lasting negative impression on young cast member Will Ferrell.

Ferrell revealed that Chase made inappropriate remarks, including a suggestion towards one of the female writers.

In hindsight, Ferrell wishes they had all walked out of the room.

In conclusion, it is evident from various accounts that Chevy Chase has a troubled history of behaving poorly, both on Saturday Night Live and now on Community.

Despite his successes in the entertainment industry, it is clear that Chase's difficult demeanor and offensive remarks have left a lasting impact on those who have worked with him.