After Viral Clip Showed Chevy Chase Doc Director Being Insulted By Him, She Explained Why She Didn’t Cut That Moment

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The new documentary, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not, explores the life and career of comedian Chevy Chase, showing both his successes and flaws. Directed by Marina Zenovich, the film has generated online discussion, including some backlash after a clip surfaced showing Chase being disrespectful to Zenovich. Following the controversy, Zenovich explained her decision to include the moment in the final cut of the documentary.

Right away, Zenovich admits to trying to understand Chase, who bluntly responds, “No kidding! You’ve got your work cut out for you.” When she asks why, he tells her, “You just aren’t perceptive enough. There, how’s that?” Many viewers found these comments off-putting, as they shared online. You can see the exchange for yourself if you’re interested.

@hellosky ♬ original sound – Sky

I remember during filming, Chase actually said he hoped that particular scene wouldn’t make the final cut of the documentary. When the director, Zenovich, was later asked about it, she explained…

I mean, duh, of course I kept it in the film! That was the first interview.

Maria Zenovich, a seasoned interviewer known for her work on documentaries like Lance and Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic, found interviewing Chevy Chase particularly challenging. On The Daily Beast’s Obsessed podcast (available on YouTube), she discussed how her research revealed Chase’s reputation for being difficult, and she admitted to being anxious about addressing this during their conversation.

I hesitated to mention it because it was only the second time I’d met him, and I worried about his reaction. I kept thinking, ‘How am I going to bring this up?’ Finally, I told him I was just trying to understand him, and he bluntly said I wouldn’t be able to, because I wasn’t intelligent enough. That’s when I realized I had a chance to really talk to him.

Fans were understandably offended by the comments from the Saturday Night Live alum, and rightfully so. But director Marina Zenovich actually saw those remarks as valuable material for her documentary. Many filmmakers, regardless of whether they’re making fiction or non-fiction, talk about the unexpected, wonderful things that can happen when a camera is rolling. Zenovich felt the same way about her interaction with Chevy Chase, and she explained:

I definitely didn’t want to seem unintelligent, but honestly, my only focus was on succeeding. I wasn’t worried about my pride or anything like that. As soon as he said it, I saw my opportunity and knew things were about to work out.

More on Chevy Chase

Chevy Chase Was Directly Asked About How His Run On Community Ended, And He Answered

As a total film buff, I just watched Maria Zenovich’s documentary on Chevy Chase, and it’s a really revealing look at his life and career – the good, the bad, and everything in between. It doesn’t shy away from tough stuff, like the reports of some really hurtful things he supposedly said about Terry Sweeney back in his SNL days, and why he wasn’t included in the show’s big 50th anniversary celebration. It also covers his scary health crisis in 2021 – he was in a coma for eight days with heart failure. Zenovich actually connects that to some of the times he’s denied things people have said about his past, suggesting the coma may have caused some memory loss. It’s a pretty complex portrait, and honestly, a bit heartbreaking.

Zenovich admitted Chase wasn’t the most open interviewee, but she also noted he’s very concerned with how he’s perceived and became visibly emotional while watching the finished film. Considering that, and the positive reception the documentary has received, Zenovich appears happy with the final result, even after Chase took offense. You can watch I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not now on CNN, and it will be available to HBO Max subscribers starting January 31.

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2026-01-10 22:38