A forthcoming documentary about veteran comedian Chevy Chase has been met with a wall of silence from his former co-stars on the cult sitcom Community. The film's director has revealed that every single cast member she approached declined to participate on camera, casting a shadow over the project 13 years after Chase's controversial departure from the show.
A Universal Refusal from Greendale Alumni
Filmmaker Marina Zenovich, behind the CNN Films documentary I'm Chevy Chase, and You're Not, hoped to include insights from the actor's colleagues on the Dan Harmon-created series. The show, which ran from 2009 to 2014, starred a renowned ensemble including Joel McHale, Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, Ken Jeong, Yvette Nicole Brown, and Jim Rash.
However, in an interview with Variety, Zenovich disclosed her efforts were in vain. 'Every single person' from the show said 'no' to an on-camera interview. She even managed to get show creator Dan Harmon's contact details after a chance meeting, but he too ultimately declined. The sole exception was director Jay Chandrasekhar, who agreed to speak. Zenovich admitted, 'If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed.'
Revisiting the On-Set Incident That Led to Exit
The documentary is set to revisit the 2012 incident that precipitated Chase's exit. Chandrasekhar, who was directing that night, recounts in the film that Chase 'said something' to co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, leading to a heated argument where both stormed off set. Brown demanded an apology, which Chase did not give upon returning.
Instead, according to Chandrasekhar, Chase defended himself by referencing his friendship with Richard Pryor, claiming, 'You know, me and Richard Pryor, I used to call Richard Pryor the N-word, and he used to call me The Honky, and we loved each other.' The incident was subsequently leaked to the press, causing Chase to have a 'full meltdown' on set. Production was halted, and Chase was reportedly forced to issue an apology.
He left the series after its fourth season, with a brief reappearance in 2014, in what was understood to be a mutual agreement. Further reports alleged Chase 'often' made racist remarks to co-star Donald Glover, who in a 2018 interview recalled Chase telling him, 'People think you're funnier because you're black.'
Legacy and Premiere of a Controversial Figure
The documentary promises an unvarnished look at the 82-year-old SNL veteran's career and controversies. Glover's past comments painted Chase as someone 'fighting time,' while Chase expressed sadness that Glover 'perceived me in that light.' The collective refusal of his former colleagues to contribute on-camera speaks volumes about the lasting impact of those turbulent years on the Community set.
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not is scheduled to premiere on 1 January at 8 pm EST on CNN Films.
