"The Chevy Chase Show" (1993) TV series

User Rating:

2.5/10   

Writers:

Andy Aaron (writer)
Joe Toplyn (head writer)

Seasons:

1

Release Date:

7 September 1993 (USA)

Genre:

Talk-Show

Plot:

1992 and 1993 saw great changes in late-night talk shows: Jay Leno took the place of Johnny Carson, David Letterman switched networks and time slots...

Plot Keywords:

Short Lived | Television Flop | Non Fiction

Cast

Chevy Chase	...	Himself - Host (14 episodes, 1993)
Ron Russ	...	Himself - Announcer (14 episodes, 1993)
Fred Wolf	...	Various (14 episodes, 1993)

(more)

Series Directed by
Steve Binder		(14 episodes, 1993)

Series Writing credits
Mark Brazill		(14 episodes, 1993)
Chevy Chase		(14 episodes, 1993)
Eddie Feldmann		(14 episodes, 1993)
Bart Jennett		(14 episodes, 1993)
Michael Karnow		(14 episodes, 1993)
Dawna Kaufman		(14 episodes, 1993)
Lance Khazei		(14 episodes, 1993)
Ned Rice		(14 episodes, 1993)
Dave Rygalski		(14 episodes, 1993)
Fred Wolf		(14 episodes, 1993)
Andy Aaron		(unknown episodes)
Joe Toplyn		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Steve Binder	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 1993)
Bruce Bodner	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 1993)
Chevy Chase	....	producer (14 episodes, 1993)
Cisco Henson	....	associate producer (14 episodes, 1993)

Series Art Department
Paul Stewart	....	painter (14 episodes, 1993)
Joel Barkow	....	property master (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Carol Stoddard	....	still photographer (unknown episodes)

Series Music Department
Tom Scott	....	orchestra leader (14 episodes, 1993)

Series Other crew
Todd Fischer	....	production coordinator (14 episodes, 1993)
Mike Marmer	....	creative consultant (14 episodes, 1993)
Marie Yamamoto	....	script coordinator (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Cornelius Productions

Distributors

• Fox Network

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Company:

Cornelius Productions

Movie Connections:

Referenced in The Simpsons: Road Rage (2001) (VG)

So Bad It's Good (in retrospect)

It's hard to believe that seven years have passed since I watched the unbelievably awkward "Chevy Chase Show". I think only the sadistic could have really enjoyed viewing it, such was Chevy Chase's discomfort doing something he clearly was ill prepared for. The first show opened with a bit where Chevy was putting his handprints on the walk of fame and wound up falling in. Immediately I knew we were in trouble. Little did I know that that would be the highlight of the show.

The interview with Goldie Hawn, the first guest, has to go down as the most painful, cringe-inducing interview ever seen on national TV. It certainly is the worst I've ever seen. Chevy was so nervous and his questions were so inane that even Goldie seemed to sense the disaster that was occurring. He engaged in the kind of graceless small talk that would be tedious at a cocktail party, let alone a talk show being viewed by millions. He was just trying to survive and that doesn't lead to pleasant viewing. When I think back on it now, I agree with some of the comments made that it is a sort of cult item, particularly that first show. Enough time has passed where it can be enjoyed as a "so bad it's good" form of entertainment. But while watching it the first time, I know I, and probably quite a few others, just felt sorry for Chevy. He was in way over his head. It does make me appreciate other talk show hosts more, though. It takes special skills and abilities, some probably inborn, to make it all look easy.

I watched a few more shows after that first one-though I can't remember any of the guests-and Chevy did improve somewhat. At least he seemed to relax a little-a "little". Still, even as early as the second show, the only reason to tune in was to see how bad it was going to be. And that incentive was only good for a couple of shows. After that, it was just dull.

"The Chevy Chase Show" was doomed within the first five minutes of the first show. It ranks as one of the most humiliating professional moments in any entertainer's career and, to this day, when I think of Chevy Chase, his show is what stands out in my mind. It taints his whole career for me and undoes a lot of the good that Caddyshack and the Vacation movies had done for that career.