‘I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not’ Director on Finding a “Way In” When Interviewing Infamous Comedy Icon

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Marina Zenovich, the director of the new Chevy Chase documentary, I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not, is speaking out about her experience making the film. The documentary focuses on the actor, who was once a major comedy star but is known for difficult and often hostile behavior on set. Zenovich says interviewing Chase was challenging, and she herself was subjected to his problematic actions during production. The film highlights Chase’s history of being disrespectful and even violent towards those around him.

In an interview with Variety, director Amy Zenovich shared that Chevy Chase immediately made it clear he wouldn’t be easy to work with. When she told him she was trying to understand him, the 82-year-old comedian reportedly said she wasn’t intelligent enough – though he did follow it up with a smile, which made it into the documentary. This initial exchange signaled to Zenovich that Chase would be her most challenging subject yet, considering her previous documentaries focused on figures like Roman Polanski, Robin Williams, and Lance Armstrong. Despite this difficult start, she eventually found a way to connect with him.

I’d never experienced such rudeness in a job interview before. I was really anxious about my first meeting with him, specifically about how to address the fact that people generally had a negative opinion of him. I feared bringing it up would immediately end the interview. But when he actually said something rude to me, it gave me an opening to discuss it.

Zenovich ultimately gained access and discovered a previously unseen side of Chevy Chase in the documentary I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not. It seems he’s kept this part of himself hidden throughout his career. She explains she wanted to understand the person behind the often conflicted, reserved, and vulnerable man shown on camera, to get past his sometimes intimidating public persona. She wondered if he was aware of his own complexities. After extensive interviews, she found that he is, and that beneath the surface lies a great deal of pain and sadness.

Producer P.G. Morgan explained that interviewing Chevy Chase was challenging because he’s so quick and always ‘on.’ Chase can be intimidating, and the producers had a lot of important – and sometimes sensitive – topics they needed to discuss with him.

The Chevy Chase Documentary Features Various Comedy Stars – Including Some From ‘SNL’


NBC

A new CNN documentary, I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not, debuts January 1st, offering a look into the often-controversial life of the famous comedian. While Chevy Chase is widely considered a comedy icon, the film explores how his unpredictable behavior has become more well-known than his actual comedic talent.

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I was so excited to see the documentary included interviews with legends like Dan Aykroyd and Martin Short from Saturday Night Live, and even Lorne Michaels himself! It was a little disappointing to learn some folks declined to participate, though. The director, Zenovich, addressed the fact that some of Chase’s former co-stars, like Steve Martin, weren’t involved, and she talked about whether those absences might be connected to issues with his behavior…

I don’t know why they weren’t here, but their absence is pretty telling. It could be due to scheduling conflicts, personal reasons, or they might be saving their time for their own projects. Ultimately, I believe we assembled a good team. I was a little let down that we didn’t have more representation from the Community group, but there are often sensitive issues people prefer not to discuss.

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2025-12-29 17:05