Chevy Chase, a well-known personality from Saturday Night Live’s (SNL) early years, recently opened up about leaving the program after just one season.
Chase stated in an interview with The New Yorker that he may have decided to stay longer if SNL creator Lorne Michaels had given him a small token of gratitude.
An Overview of Chevy Chase’s SNL Departure
One of the original cast members of Saturday Night Live’s first season, Chevy Chase, recently talked about what would have allowed him to stay on the show longer.
Chase, who won two Primetime Emmys in 1976 and was the first host of Weekend Update, was a major factor in the popularity of Saturday Night Live.
But fans were taken aback by his choice to quit after just one season, which paved the way for a lucrative career in television and movies.
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Chase’s Reasons for Leaving
Chase stated in an open interview with The New Yorker that he felt his choice to leave SNL was influenced by his lack of personal acknowledgement from the show’s originator, Lorne Michaels.
According to him, a few straightforward words of gratitude may have had a significant impact. “It wouldn’t have f—— taken much!” said Chase. Basically, all he needed to do was tell me he loved me.
He thought that Chase felt underappreciated despite his crucial contribution to the show’s early popularity because Michaels was reluctant to express gratitude because of his own fears.
According to Chase’s recollections, he even thought he was wiser than Michaels at the time and felt he was essential to the show’s debut.
His departure after just one season was ultimately influenced by this feeling that he was underappreciated.
The Viewpoint of Chase on Appreciation
As the original host of Weekend Update and a key contributor to the show’s early popularity, Chase considered how a few encouraging words from Michaels could have had a big impact.
“It wouldn’t have f—— taken much,” he said, implying that recognition of his accomplishments might have persuaded him to stay on the show. Chase thought he was instrumental in launching SNL and thought Michaels did not give him enough credit for his work.
Lorne Michaels’ Thoughts
Michaels, who also appears in a new biography called Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, responded to Chase’s remarks by saying that he never put pressure on Chase to stay.
Although losing Chase was a blow, he saw it as a necessary step in the show’s development and acknowledged that SNL would have survived without him.
In his own feature for The New Yorker, 80-year-old Lorne Michaels offered his perspective on the early days of Saturday Night Live.
According to a passage taken from his soon-to-be biography, Lorne: The Man Who Invented Saturday Night Live, he never put any pressure on Chase to stay since he saw cast changes as a normal aspect of SNL’s development. Michaels noted,
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“The show would take a hit, but we’d still be okay,” implying that while losing Chase was unfortunate, the show would endure.
Chase remained involved with SNL after leaving, returning to host the program eight times between 1978 and 1997, thereby cementing his place in SNL history. But he still feels that he could have decided to leave if Michaels had shown him more gratitude.
The Legacy of Chevy Chase
Chase’s career took off in Hollywood after leaving Saturday Night Live, landing him famous parts in films like Caddyshack and National Lampoon’s Vacation.
He now loves being a grandfather and treasures his experience on Saturday Night Live. His legacy remains strong, with his contributions still celebrated as part of SNL’s history.
Chase’s Prosperous Post-SNL Career
With significant parts in films like Caddyshack, National Lampoon’s Vacation, and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,
Chase’s career took off after his stint on Saturday Night Live. With the well-liked sitcom Community, he also achieved popularity on television.
As a grandfather to his granddaughter Ivy, Chase now remembers his time on Saturday Night Live with nostalgia.
Even if the show was essential in helping him establish his career, it’s clear that Lorne Michaels’ complimentary words could have changed the trajectory of his time on Saturday Night Live.
Concluding remarks
Looking back, it’s interesting to think about how Chase’s time on Saturday Night Live would have changed if she had received a little respect from Lorne Michaels. Chase’s influence on Saturday Night Live and his subsequent success in Hollywood are indisputable, even though it’s unclear if it would have kept him on the show longer.
One of the most important moments in SNL’s history is still Chevy Chase’s exit. Although Michaels chose not to intervene in Chase’s decision, it’s evident that a little personal appreciation might have influenced the outcome.
Nonetheless, Chase’s impact on SNL’s legacy is undeniable, and his successful career beyond the show has left a lasting mark on Hollywood.