The following contains spoilers for Saturday Night Live, now playing in theaters
The new movie Saturday night Take a look at the 90 minutes before the very first episode of SNL back in 1975, and some may be wondering why original cast member Chevy Chase left the show after just one season. As depicted in the movie, Chase was on the verge of becoming a breakout star on the show and was even considered the “heir apparent” to late-night talk show host Johnny Carson. While certain events that occur in the movie did not necessarily happen the same way (or even on the same night), Saturday night Helps explain why Chevy didn’t have a longer tenure.
in Saturday night Directed by Jason Reitman, various documented events and anecdotes are woven together to create a version of ​​what the first night of SNL was like, as well as how it almost fell apart before it could even go to air. This includes the arrogant and charismatic Chevy Chase (played by Cory Michael Smith). While Saturday night It foreshadows his future rise to stardom, it also ties in all the problems Chase had with his fellow cast members and why he finally left the show in 1976Only a few episodes into the second season.
Chevy Chase left Saturday Night Live after multiple BTS problems
This new movie suggests as much
According to various reports and anecdotes over the years, Chevy Chase’s status as the biggest star of Saturday night And earning two Emmys resulted in rising tensions between himself and his fellow cast membersMost notably John Belushi. Chase was reportedly not humble when it came to his rising stardom either, possessing a large ego that was difficult to manage. To that end, the tension that was present during Chevy’s time on the show is certainly depicted in Saturday nightFeaturing a dressing room fight between Chevy and Belushi less than an hour before airtime at 11:30.
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Saturday night Chevy and Belushi’s belt fight did not happen in real life. Instead, the fight is likely representative of the ongoing resentments that would only grow between the first Weekend Update host and his fellow cast members. Likewise, it has been said in interviews with Reitman and Smith that the fight is an homage to Chase’s infamous fight with Bill Murray that took place in a future episode (which took place in Belushi’s dressing room). Substance abuse is also present behind the scenes throughout Studio 8H, No doubt adding to the tensions that led to Chevy’s eventual exit as a cast member halfway through the show’s second season.
Chevy Chase says he left Saturday night to be with his girlfriend
“The real reason was a girl”
According to Chase himself, his primary reason for leaving was much more innocuous. As seen in the video above (beginning at 6:30), Chase claims that the reason he left SNL and New York was for a girl, Jacqueline Carlin who he was engaged to during the first episode of Saturday night and married in 1976. Not wanting to move to New York, Chase moved to Los Angeles to be with Carlin. The two were married for four years and divorced in 1980.
Carlin is indeed featured in Reitmans Saturday nightPlayed by Kaya Gerber. As shown in the movie, Carlin was actually part of various sketches as an extra while Chevy was part of SNL, including the very first episode’s “New Dad” sketch. However, the sequence where JK Simmons’ Milton Berle hits Carlin in front of Chase before flashing his genitals did not happen in real life (although it was inspired by Berle’s infamous reputation and reported incidents). Regardless, Chase is leaving Saturday Night For Carlin is likely only partially true considering the prominent issues behind the scenes.
Chevy Chase became a movie star years after leaving Saturday Night Live
A breakout star in Hollywood
After his exit from Saturday nightChevy capitalized on his rising stardom and became a movie star, particularly in the 1980s with comedy classics such as Flech, Caddyshack, the three amigos, and National Lampoon’s Vacation Movies. Likewise, it is often said during Saturday night First season that Chase may one day take over The Tonight Show Johnny Carson. The concept is referenced in Reitman’s movie when NBC VP of Talent Relations David Tebet (played by Willem Dafoe) says as much. As such, Chevy Chase leaving Saturday night To move on to what he saw as bigger and better opportunities.
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Beyond movies, Chase had his own talk show on Fox in 1993, though the show was canceled after only six weeks of being on the air. More recently, Chevy Chase has been known for his ongoing role in the popular television series Community where he played aging damp towel magnate Pierce Hawthorne. However, Chase was fired during The community Fourth season following racist comments and various disagreements with the show’s creator, Dan Harmon. It was also reported that physical altercations between Chase and actor Joel McHale also occurred.
Chevy Chase returned to host SNL multiple times
Chase hosted the night of his infamous fight with Bill Murray
Despite leaving the show in 1976, Chevy Chase has returned to SNL on multiple occasions. Chase has had multiple cameos, his last one being in 2013. He has also hosted 8 times in SNL’s 50-year history, the last being in 1997. That said, his first time hosting in 1978 is undoubtedly his most infamous.
Having replaced Chase after his departure in 1976, Bill Murray was reportedly not a fan of Chase’s return, nor his alter ego who came hosting in February of 1978. Just before Airtime and Chase’s opening monologue, it was reported that Murray And Chase have a fight. In John Belushi’s dressing room, and Belushi himself had to put himself between the two men right before the episode aired, because they traded blows and insults. However, the two comedians eventually reconciled in 1980, as both Chase and Murray starred in the film. Caddyshack.
Saturday night Now playing in theaters.