(L to R) Alison Brie and Chevy Chase in ‘Community.’ Photo courtesy of NBC.com.
Even at the height of his ‘Saturday Night Live’ fame and comedy movie star status, Chevy Chase had the reputation of being an outspoken, difficult person.
Yet his proven comic talent on the comedy show, and his cinema work meant that he came across as more of a tricky star dealing with the pressures of fame.
These days, however, he’s more seen as an angry old man, spouting off about past work and claiming that he was better than the likes of ‘Community’, on which he starred as part of the ensemble for 85 episodes between 2010 and 2013.
Speaking to ‘WTF’ podcast host Marc Maron on a recent episode of the show, Chase laid into the show.
Related Article: Joel McHale Says That Donald Glover will be Part of the ‘Community’ Movie
/Chase on ‘Community’
Chevy Chase in ‘Community.’ Photo courtesy of NBC.com.
For four seasons on the show, Chase played Pierce Hawthorne, a former moist towelette tycoon who was at one time the C.E.O of Hawthorne Wipes. He enrolled in Greendale Community College to expand his horizons.
Chase shared the screen with the likes of Donald Glover, Joel McHale and Danny Pudi, and was frequently criticized for his rude behavior, including making racial comments during a heated disagreement with series creator Dan Harmon over his character. He eventually departed the show at the end of the fourth season.
On the subject of the show, Chase said this:
“I honestly felt the show wasn’t funny enough for me, ultimately. I felt a little bit constrained. Everybody had their bits, and I thought they were all good. It just wasn’t hard-hitting enough for me.”
And about his character?
“I didn’t mind the character. I just felt that it was… I felt happier being alone. I just didn’t want to be surrounded by that table, every day, with those people. It was too much.”
Asked how he felt when his former ‘Community’ collaborators made negative comments about his on-set behavior, Chase doubled down:
“I guess you’d have to ask them. I don’t give a crap! I am who I am. And I like where — who I am. I don’t care. And it’s part of me that I don’t care. And I’ve thought about that a lot. And I don’t know what to tell you, man. I just don’t care.”
Previous Chase comments
Cast of ‘Community.’ Photo courtesy of NBC.com.
This is far from the first time that the outspoken Chase has gone on the offensive.
In a Washington Post interview in 2018, he revealed his dislike for the direction of present-day ‘SNL’:
“First of all, between you and me and a lamppost, jeez, I don’t want to put down Lorne (Michaels, ‘SNL’ boss) or the cast. But I’ll just say, maybe off the record, I’m amazed that Lorne has gone so low. I had to watch a little of it, and I just couldn’t f*****g believe it. That means a whole generation of s**theads laughs at the worst f*****g humor in the world.”
For a man who claims he doesn’t want to speak badly of anyone, he certainly spends a lot of time doing just that…
Cast of ‘Community.’ Photo courtesy of NBC.com.
Discussion about this post