‘You Should Be Embarrassed’: Chevy Chase Didn’t Hold Back When Telling Saturday Night Director How He Felt About The Movie

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As a longtime fan of Saturday Night Live and its legendary cast, I can only imagine the immense pressure Jason Reitman felt while directing the film about this iconic institution. The challenge of finding the perfect actors to portray these comedic giants was daunting, but he managed admirably.

When it comes to Chevy Chase, a notorious difficult character known for his condescending and vicious wit, I can understand Reitman’s apprehension about how he would react to the movie. After all, if you’re going to hang out with comedians, you need a thick skin!

In an episode of Fly on the Wall podcast, hosted by Dana Carvey and David Spade, Jason Reitman shared that Chevy Chase’s response to the film was typically blunt: “Chevy loves to say the thing you’re not supposed to say—to the extreme. So Chevy comes in to watch the movie, and he is there with [his wife] Jayni, and they watch the film, and he’s in the group. And he comes up to me after, and he pats me on the shoulder and goes, ‘Well, you should be embarrassed.'”

I must admit that I found myself dying laughing when I read this exchange between David Spade, Dana Carvey, and Jason Reitman. Chevy Chase’s dry reaction is classic, and it’s hard to tell if he was being serious or just trying to deliver the funniest line possible in that moment.

As a fan of both Saturday Night Live and Chevy Chase, I can only hope that his comment was meant as a joke. But then again, who am I to argue with Chevy Chase? Not very likely!

In any case, I thought Cory Michael Smith’s portrayal of Chase was one of the better turns in Reitman’s film. And if you haven’t seen Saturday Night yet, it’s still a very fun watch and made TopMob’s collective Best Movies of 2024 list. So, grab some popcorn and enjoy the ride!

On a lighter note, I wonder what Chevy Chase would have said if he knew that his comment about Jason Reitman would end up being the punchline in another movie!

Creating a film about the iconic TV show Saturday Night Live certainly presents unique difficulties. To begin with, viewers arrive at the movie theater with their own established ideas about the series. Furthermore, director Jason Reitman had to spend years searching for the perfect actors to portray comedy legends like Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, Chevy Chase, Garrett Morris, and others. Naturally, he ponders if those cast members will watch the movie and what they might think of it. As for Chase, Reitman can rest easy because the Fletch and Vacation actor shared his honest thoughts after viewing the film – and he didn’t mince words.

As a devoted cinephile, I recently tuned into the captivating Fly on the Wall podcast, hosted by the legendary duo Dana Carvey and David Spade from Saturday Night Live. This podcast has emerged as a haven for former cast members and guests to reminisce about their experiences in creating iconic moments on the renowned sketch comedy show. Given Jason Reitman’s extensive work on the film Saturday Night, his appearance on the pod was a natural choice. However, it was during their discussion about Chevy Chase that Reitman shared an interesting perspective. He revealed to the hosts what the notoriously challenging Weekend Update comedian thought of the movie. According to Reitman, this is what Chase had to say:

Chevy has a habit of openly saying things that are usually taboo, sometimes excessively so. For instance, during our movie night with Jayni (his wife), they watched a film together. Following the viewing, he approached me and tapped my shoulder, commenting, “You ought to be ashamed.

It appears that David Spade and Dana Carvey erupted into laughter over the seemingly dry response from Chevy Chase during a screening of Saturday Night. Given Chase’s reputation for being a condescending jerk, it’s unclear whether he was genuinely serious when he promptly dismissed Jason Reitman, or if he intentionally delivered a witty, humorous put-down in that particular situation.

If you are going to hang out with comedians, you need to have a thick skin.

As Carvey and Spade attempted to reassure Rietman that Chase was likely just being sarcastically mean, the director nevertheless admitted:

I’m making sure it comes out right since this scene feels like a unique, one-of-a-kind Chevy Chase moment tailored just for me. From a comedic standpoint, it’s quite special, and intriguing. However, I’ve invested around two years of my life into replicating and capturing the essence of Chevy, aiming to portray him authentically while revealing his humanity. Unfortunately, those aspects didn’t resonate with him, as he’s not addressing those elements.

As a longtime fan of Chevy Chase and his iconic comedic roles, I can empathize with his desire to protect his own image. With a career spanning over four decades, he has built a reputation that is hard-earned and well-deserved. However, in the realm of Hollywood, one can never truly control how they are portrayed, especially by talented actors like Cory Michael Smith in the film “Saturday Night” directed by Jason Reitman.

In my experience as a movie enthusiast, I have seen many instances where actors embody characters that may not align with the public’s perception of the real person. In this case, I found Smith’s portrayal of Chase to be one of the more compelling aspects of the film. Yet, I am well aware that it is highly unlikely that Chevy Chase would agree with my assessment. After all, he knows his own life story better than anyone else. So, while I may have my opinions about the film and its portrayal of him, I respect his right to guard his image and maintain his own narrative.

On Saturday evenings, “Saturday Night” remains an enjoyable viewing experience, and one that earned a spot on TopMob’s esteemed list of the Best Movies of 2024. If you haven’t had the chance to watch it yet, I recommend setting aside some time soon to catch up with this entertaining film.

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2024-12-30 17:40