Oh Chevy Chase, you lovable asshole you. After coming to blows with Dan Harmon during the third season of “Community,” Chase is still around and Harmon isn’t – but before all that came to a head Chase gave an interview to the Huffington Post UK in February to promote the UK DVD release of the second season. It's being printed now as the show hits shelves and once again, his distaste for the comedy comes through loud and clear. During the course of the interview he says that deciding to do "Community" in the first place was “a big mistake.”
"I prefer movies because the money is better and certainly because you really know where you stand when you are making movies, and I have made a lot of them: 50 something, I don't know. The hours in this kind of show are not commensurate with the actual product," Chase candidly shared. "The hours are hideous, and it's still a sitcom on television, which is probably the lowest form of television. That's my feeling about it. I think the reason I have stuck around is because I love these kids, the cast – they are very good. It's not like I am working with the great innovators of all time, but at the same time, they are my friends…"
It’s strange that Chase seems to bemoan the lack of creativity in situation comedies when he's working on possibly the most innovative one on television, and it sounds like he’s eager to be done with the NBC sitcom. “I will have some time off and I will be looking for a film, which I think will be my next thing, my next move,” says Chase, which suggests he’s counting down the days until his contract expires/the show is cancelled after it’s truncated fourth season. The only positive words about the show he seems to have are for Donald Glover, whose improvisation he deems “funny” – which coincidentally is a word he claims he would not use to describe current TV comedy darling Louis C.K but would extend to Albert Brooks, whom he would like to work with.
"I would love to do a movie with Albert Brooks; we're so different but I find him so funny, and I can be just as seemingly narcissistic as he comes off, the 'it's all about me' kind of thing. I think it would be a lot of fun," he said. "I don't know how or what type of movie or how that would go, but I always enjoy him because I think he's got a wide perspective on human behaviour that a lot of other comedians don't have, and quite frankly, there aren't too many comedians who make me laugh."
Aside from his contractually-obliged discussion of "Community," Chase had a few interesting things to say about some projects he claims to have turned down over the years. "I turned down 'Forrest Gump,' I turned down 'American Gigolo,' there are many films – like 'Ghostbusters' – that I turned down… the first one I did was 'Foul Play' with Goldie Hawn, but I turned down 'Animal House' – I turned that down. So all those I regret only because they made huge amounts of money and I would be very wealthy, but I don't regret working with Goldie, I don't regret the projects that I did do," he explained. "And at the time, I felt like I had lived 'Animal House,' I had been to college and high school, and believe me, 'Animal House' didn't come close to some of the things I was doing! That's the way I looked at it, rather than as an intelligent businessman. I'm not that way, I'm not very good about judging according to the pay."
While the mind reels at what could have been with a Chase-starring "American Gigolo," it seems his paycheck-first policy combined with a now notorious prickly attitude will keep him on the sidelines. A Chase and Brooks joint? Yeah, that could be cool, but we doubt it will ever happen.
"Community" returns for season four on October 19th.
I read an article that had Chevy Chase\’s funnies roles. It listed Community number one, as in, the funniest. He\’s so funny on the show, but sure comes across as a jerk of a person.
Does he not think any of his colleagues on the show will read his comments? Funny how he left SNL after one season and wants to leave now, all based on his career. He did well, but I think he would have done better staying at SNL longer. Fifty movies? Four good ones.
terryiey
Not really, just to make a point. Greets to all or some of the people at my company.
"Innovative", a very sparkly word, impressive yes? I also call the people i just by coincidence have been forced to spend time with for a longer period of time "my social contacts" (behind there backs anyway), to them it's more, "be glad we haven't kicked you out yet, you fool" but it's just a subtle difference i think.
So, the man says that "Community," Louis CK and Dan Harmon are overrated, that the cast are actually nice people, Albert Brooks is a genius and movies are generally more time-worthy than TV shows. Chevy might not be too funny anymore, bu at least he speaks the truth…
Sorry, but the National Lampoon, Fletch and Fletch lives movies are all basically 2 hour sitcoms. Sorry Chevy Chase but comedy is comedy. Either it's intelligent and insightful comedy that tries to really say something while making your sides hurt, or it's lowbrow.
All of those movies he was in during the 80's and 90's are basically situation comedy in a 2 hour package. The fact is that he's on the most unique show comedy-wise that is on television besides Louis C.K. shows just how little he actually cares about the product that he's making.
Sounds like he simply doesn't want to put in the hours that T.V. forces you to do. Film shoots are laid back and not nearly as strenuous. It's just sad to hear this coming from a comic genius. I bet it makes the rest of the cast so happy to work with him every day.
How much you want to bet that the show starts to go downhill without Harmon?
dan harmon shold comeback to the show
VIRGINIA, I DID WRITE THESE FILMS!!! I HAVE WRITTEN MORE THAN 1600 FILMS!!! PEOPLE IN THIS INDUSTRY HAVE DONE NOTHING BUT STEAL MY WORK THE PAST THIRTY PLUS YEARS!!! EVERYTHING I HAVE DONE IN MY LIFE WILL BE CORRECTED!!! IT STARTS WITH A LAWSUIT!!! MY LAWSUITS AGAINST THE PEOPLE AND COMPANIES THAT HAVE STOLEN MY WORK ARE THE BEGINNING OF THE END OF ALL OF YOU!!
If he doesnt like it he shouldn't of done the show in the first place, and he keeps talking about that obviously means he didn't get into acting because he wanted to be an actor, all these actors and musicians talk about how it's all about doing something they love about acting or about the music but what it really comes down to is money
CHEVY CHASE DID NOT TURN DOWN FORREST GUMP, GHOSTBUSTERS, OR ANIMAL HOUSE!!! I SHOULD KNOW I WROTE THESE FILMS!!
Man, the guy just comes across as a such an asshole in just about everything he does. He had a few funny roles ages ago and this TV series is about the last thing he's done in…what, maybe ten years that anyone has heard of. I just see his comment about being able to 'seemingly' act narcissistic and I just laugh because he really wouldn't have to try. The backhanded 'compliment' about being friends, but not exactly working with innovators was a particular gem.
The guy has no career left outside of side roles and he's going to shoot himself in the foot by ensuring nobody in TV wants to work with his pompous ass any more.
I have watched every episode of Community. I often see people calling the show "innovative" — please explain this in detail. I find nothing new, innovative, or refreshing about the show. In fact, the MAJORITY of episodes (50%+) do not even make me laugh a little bit. Maybe it's because I'm usually geared toward intelligent and sarcastic humor. But, yeah, I will keep watching the show because I find it mildly interesting. But it's not funny or special.
I see you never got a response. Because it is not funny.
With the exception of American Gigolo, I have read about him being offered every one of the movies he mentioned here years ago. Additionally I have an old magazine that listed him as the star of a proposed Jetsons live action film and Fletch 3 came so close to happening that it's listed as an actual credit in bio/filmography on DVDs in the late 90s. It's always interesting to think of what could have been casting wise. As for his attitude, he has always had a temper, and has always said things publicly most people would say only privately. I admire his talent and his comedic prowess, but I have to admit I would be very apprehensive of meeting him in real life.
Prickly attitude? You did say Prickly, yes?
I wonder if he would have played Tim Matherson's role in ANIMAL HOUSE?
Lol, what a narcissistic whacko. I love his backhanded compliments to his so called "friends" on the show. This has to be a two decade long "I'm Still Here" type mockumentry. No mediocre person is this delusional into thinking they are above everyone else.
Lol. What a jerk.
Chevy also turned down 33 reality TV shows, 25 Good Day LA appearances and a Flowmax advertisement.
I don't believe Chevy Chase was offered American Gigolo or Forrest Gump.
Alert : Stoker trailer. Looks good.