CNN Documentary Explores The Life And Career Of Chevy Chase

A new documentary is set to offer an unvarnished look at one of the most polarizing figures in comedy history. The film is titled ‘I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not’ and it premieres on CNN this New Year’s Day. Award-winning director Marina Zenovich helms the project and aims to reveal the man behind the famous smirk. Viewers will see a mix of archival footage and candid new interviews that address both his professional triumphs and his personal struggles.

The documentary does not shy away from recent controversies involving the actor. Chase expresses deep regret regarding the fiftieth anniversary special of ‘Saturday Night Live’ that aired earlier this year. He admits in the film that he felt hurt by his exclusion from the stage during the celebration. While other original cast members like Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman appeared on camera, Chase remained in the audience. He questions why his former co-star Bill Murray was included in the festivities while he was left aside.

Lorne Michaels addresses this sensitive topic within the documentary as well. The creator of ‘Saturday Night Live’ suggests there was a caution given regarding the actor’s ability to focus. This concern links to a significant portion of the film that details Chase’s severe health battles. The actor suffered heart failure in 2021 which resulted in a lengthy hospital stay and a medically induced coma. His daughter Caley describes her father as having basically come back from the dead after the incident.

Chase is open about the lasting effects of his heart failure on his daily life. He reveals that his memory has been significantly impacted by the medical emergency. The comedy legend admits that he often needs to be reminded of past events and plays games like chess to help his cognitive function. This memory loss complicates his recollection of his time on sets like ‘Community’ which was a period marked by well-publicized friction.

The director faced a significant challenge when trying to cover the ‘Community’ era of Chase’s career. Zenovich revealed that she attempted to interview the cast members of the hit sitcom but they all declined to participate. Even the show’s creator Dan Harmon refused to appear in the documentary to discuss their turbulent working relationship. The only person from that production who agreed to speak was director Jay Chandrasekhar.

Despite the refusal from his former sitcom co-stars, many other Hollywood legends sat down for the project. Longtime friends such as Martin Short and Dan Aykroyd provide their insights into his comedic genius. Goldie Hawn and Ryan Reynolds also offer their perspectives on working with the complex star. The film ultimately tries to balance the laughter Chase provided to the world with the difficult reputation that has followed him for decades.

Let us know if you plan to watch this new look at the life of the comedy icon in the comments.