Chevy Chase Talks About Growing Up and His Home | The Dick Cavett Show

Chevy takes a brief serious tone and talks about his younger self and his current home.
Date aired - October 19th 1978 - Chevy Chase
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Dick Cavett has been nominated for eleven Emmy awards (the most recent in 2012 for the HBO special, Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again), and won three. Spanning five decades, Dick Cavett’s television career has defined excellence in the interview format. He started at ABC in 1968, and also enjoyed success on PBS, USA, and CNBC.
His most recent television successes were the September 2014 PBS special, Dick Cavett’s Watergate, followed April 2015 by Dick Cavett’s Vietnam. He has appeared in movies, tv specials, tv commercials, and several Broadway plays. He starred in an off-Broadway production ofHellman v. McCarthy in 2014 and reprised the role at Theatre 40 in LA February 2015.
Cavett has published four books beginning with Cavett (1974) and Eye on Cavett (1983), co-authored with Christopher Porterfield. His two recent books -- Talk Show: Confrontations, Pointed Commentary, and Off-Screen Secrets (2010) and Brief Encounters: Conversations, Magic moments, and Assorted Hijinks(October 2014) are both collections of his online opinion column, written for The New York Times since 2007. Additionally, he has written for The New Yorker, TV Guide, Vanity Fair, and elsewhere.
#thedickcavettshow

[@bigcat81]

I just watched his interview with Barbara Walters in 1990. He said he was the most unhappy in his life right after he left SNL (1976) until he met his wife (1980-81). So this interview was right in the thick of his unhappiness.

[@josephkelley8641]

76 a bad year for everyone.

[@bramiwami]

I get that people dislike him -- a lot, apparently -‐ but damn, he is one of my favorites.

[@firenze5555]

I think a lot of people don't get his very dry, off-beat humor.

[@TKinfinity01]

I mean, he is also an asshole and burned every bridge in show business imaginable.

[@mortenpotzdidler1998]

@@TKinfinity01 That might speak well of him. Look at the people you're talking about: every last one of them is a miserable, egomaniacal fake. I suppose if Chevy Chase is essentially Fletch, that his encounters with these people would result in "burning every bridge".

[@firenze5555]

@Joe Craven Why do you think that he's narcissistic? If you read his autobiography, he had a terrible, abusive childhood. He's done pretty well for himself, all things considered.

[@firenze5555]

Dan Harmon is a self-professed “rude asshole” and got people to chant obscene words at Chase at the wrap party so he sounds like a bully frat boy too.

[@an2n901]

So its true... he was like Jeff Winger when he was younger...

[@1zieglerbrian]

Also much like Kip Winger from the band Winger

[@thetruthexperiment]

When have you seen him not younger?

[@timowthie]

Even the way he sits is like Jeff winger

[@tylerdurden6901]

What about kip winger

[@noclue9238]

@@thetruthexperiment community

[@sskoog]

Bev D'Angelo was on Gilbert Gottfried's podcast (of all places), within the past year (2019-ish), and (as always) they grilled her about Chevy, and she had some real insight to offer -- [paraphrased] "Yeah, though he was always very nice to me [Bev], I could see what the other people were talking about, he started out as a comedy writer, and I don't think he ever planned to become an actor or knew what to do once he got that fame, and his style was always I'm so much smarter and you're not, and you could see in his performing rooms that everyone would laugh at his barbs, because they felt like they were supposed to, but then some real resentment would build up behind the scenes, and eventually that caught up with him, I honestly don't think his personality was such that he ever wanted any of this actor fame." I feel like I can see some of that, in the awkward mumbling between his sarcastic one-liners. A bright but profoundly uncomfortable guy.

[@HC-cb4yp]

"A bright but profoundly uncomfortable guy." Yup. I think that's it. He wasn't supposed to be a performer on SNL, just a writer, but really wanted to be a performer. Be careful what you wish for.

[@sagatuppercut2960]

Chevy seems confident to me.

[@HC-cb4yp]

@@sagatuppercut2960 Yeah - not sure why I said that.

[@stevef4010]

To quote Chevy on SNL news "I'm Chevy Chase and you're not" . He's a riot.

i love him! he looks really handsome in this interview 🤭❤️❤️

[@MsLenepigen]

Yep. Ridiculously handsome and devilishly charming. I’d beg him to wear me like a belt.

[@93Jubilee]

Yes, so does he.

[@JohnSmith-jz4pk]

THIS HAS AGED SUPER WELL. this is still funny. Makes talk shows today look rigid and fake

[@drstupid4366]

2020 talk shows are fake .

[@Teaganbear]

you really think this makes today's talk shows look rigid and fake? in my opinion, this looks very rigid and uncomfortable. Chevy seems very full of himself also.

[@tubester4567]

@@Teaganbear I dont think they liked each other, Dick used to throw shade at a lot of guests with his questions.

[@Teaganbear]

@@tubester4567 Chevy is a bigger dick than Dick though for sure

[@frozen1762]

Man, this is incredible how he can spin anything into a gag and so quick....and it seems natural and not staged. It's like some of his movies only improvised. This dude could literally live his entire life like some of his comedy.

[@DrTomoculus]

Bard backwards is Drab, isn't it. No. This is the second interview I've watched from this. The speed in which he delivers his answers, makes it look like he's got that answer before Cavett has even finished the question.

[@dannyc8876]

Incredible enough the part that made me laugh in an explosion was his "there's a side of me you didn't know, my right side, if we changed positions you would see it..." That was so silly, but the delivery and glib was awesome

[@Sonicandfrance]

Awww I love Chevy chase he’s so cute & hilarious!!! One of my fav’s Forsure!!!

[@nerrade]

The whole interview is a little uncomfortable and awkward but man Chevy was super quick with his funny and peculiar answers. His brain is firing on all pistons here.

[@matthanneman7511]

well put.

[@DoctorRevers]

A good reminder of why I loved him so much back then. One of the best.

[@priapushk996]

Cavett: Why weren't you in a fraternity? Chase: I tried to get into the sororities as much as I could... 😆

[@KR-te8kw]

He was a good looking guy!

[@thatsbussssin]

What people don’t understand is Chevy is always sarcastic - his comedy is sarcasm. He wasn’t mean he just was a sarcastic comedian

[@-covid-20]

Chevy chase is awoke..knows where he is and where he is going...is in a bussiness of vipers ..and is so quick with the jokes...funny funny man....

[@francisdrake6622]

You ever figure that people's thoughts are so diverse, that's why we bitch at each other so much online? Maybe we are so unique, that viewing another person's thoughts online is horrendous? Maybe we shouldn't be spewing our thoughts out online. I don't think it works.

[@EthanEthanEthanEthanEthan]

Utterly agree. I've always believed that social media is destroying society

[@geupelboi]

Very interesting observation!

[@rudytuesday]

Drake spitting facts

[@tubester4567]

I think the issue is most people are alone on their computers and most of us are anonymous so our deepest darkest thoughts come out. People say things they wouldnt say in a room with people, or face to face. Its good in a way too because people can debate things they have thought about but never said, you get to know what people are really thinking but yeh people are meaner online than they would be in real life.

[@PM-pe5tg]

People love to bash Chevy (for years now) but, don’t forget, the dude was funny as f@ck - made some great movies from the mid-70s until the early 90s 🎙

[@chazs001]

I always loved the chase

[@brucewayne2184]

Chevy Chase was streets ahead.

[@bsk869]

love that ever-hilarious "turn your question literal and then continue being literal for 5 minutes" hit joke that is not at all insufferable

[@cosmosgato]

Chase is quick on his feet.

[@carlbaumeister3439]

And on his butt . . .

[@reesebrindle1809]

That chin dimple. So cute.

[@newyorkgiantsfan5440]

Chevy Chase was the best, still is.

[@angogoblogian6886]

Is this what Pierce did before he got his job at Hawthorne wipes?

[@joniheisenberg6691]

“ A lot of self flatulence.” 😂

[@thepoweroftruth3624]

Chevy was the funniest guy..... EVER

[@larslindegren5632]

I agree.....R.I.P Chevy!!!

[@chaseharlann]

@@larslindegren5632 he didn’t die

[@larslindegren5632]

@@chaseharlann My point exactly... so Chevy is, not was, the funniest guy....EVER!

[@RollingOrmond]

Improv-quick. Worth studying.

[@nataliedelagrandiere4022]

He was so cute.

[@zangardo3937]

everyone back then loved to show off chest hair

[@gigimohammed7457]

Because it's beautiful 😽

[@__beanfeast__]

Apart from Cavett, who is reliably turtle necked up to his earlobes.

[@jayshomer4191]

Great interview, when Chevy was in his prime ! National lampoons Vacation was yet to come….

[@JohnJohnson-mo4bn]

The Master of Glibness = (Young) Chevy Chase.

[@regdwight235]

Love that chase himself is gurning in this 😂

[@manos3790]

You've got to be prepared for a tirade of subliminal quickfire wit when you've Chevy Chase on your show. E.g 'you'd look around and see a door', 'one of several gardener's would come to answer' This goes over dull people's heads.

[@irvhh143]

manos3790 his constant smarting off is tiresome. It's why his movie career didn't go far.

[@manos3790]

@@irvhh143 Cocaine was to blame. He had a very big habit during the 80"s.

[@bedfordnhdonkey]

manos3790 what?

[@Sills71]

@@irvhh143 Chevy had a great carrer... it just did not last as long as some of his peers... there is no funnier movie than Family Vacation

[@Paperbagman555]

I guess i'm dull because i don't get it, help me out here

[@tripjet999]

Raise your hand if you remember that DC has hosted SNL.

[@devi3350]

jeepers he wuz cute

[@davidadams2395]

Gosh, I haven't heard _jeepers_ in forever.

[@robdixson196]

@@davidadams2395 Gumdrops the nostalgia!

[@estebansteverincon7117]

Gee willikers!

[@HardcoreGamer101508]

@@davidadams2395It’s mostly boomers here fantasizing about the old Chevy Chase lol

[@cmiller122returned]

Chevy didn’t need to join a frat. Dude was in the social registry literally the frat for the power brokers of the USA.

[@hyzercreek]

I was always trying to get into the sororities

[@stevef4010]

And he had a City Named after him (sarcasm)

[@stevef4010]

@@hyzercreek That was brilliant!

[@TheHannibalTV]

🤠

[@Sickofdrawingcowboys717]

It's like Dennis Reynolds if he made it.

[@ernestkinas5973]

Driving that train. High on cocaine. Chevy Chase you better watch your speed.

[@garyjones9910]

U don't find out anything about him at all.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

CHEVY CHASE 08 DE OCTUBRE DE 1943 78 AÑOS (79)

[@aphunt12]

He looks very uncomfortable. Not facing Dich Cavette, dodging questions with not very good jokes, and his deemer towards to audience to make it seem like he is relaxed. Either Dick is mimicking Chevy to make him feel at ease or Chevy is mimicking Dick because people do that to feel comfortable.

[@felixthelmocevallosmorales41]

DICK CAVETT 19 DE NOVIEMBRE DE 1936 85 AÑOS (86)

[@eliza_duarte_]

He was so handsome...

[@alyssa-zh5dm]

bro 70s/80s humour was. different.

[@drstupid4366]

Is Dick Cavett and GE Smith brothers ?

[@THX-ov8rv]

Cornelius Crane Chase.

[@Gannooch]

have nothing against the other celebs that were on this show but is this channel ever going to show the Dick Cavett shows where Dick Cavett interviews Jackie Gleason or Art Carney?

[@Gannooch]

How about any of the Honeymooners actors that were a part of main cast?

[@Gannooch]

have nothing against the other celebs that were on this show but is this channel ever going to show the Dick Cavett shows where he interviews Jackie Gleason or Art Carney? How about any Honeymooners actors that were part of the main cast? These are rarities much like the other Dick Cavett ones.

[@blacktoothgriner]

I can imagine what the trip on the May Flower must have been like.😐

[@realaussiemale567]

I imagine with a first name like Cornelius, he was teased mercilessly during his school years. Probably why he chose to change the narrative around himself to being the funny guy.

[@JeffSayYes]

looks llke he just got his braces removed

[@HardcoreGamer101508]

“Oh man, look at him talking like a douche. Such a cool guy!” Comments always reveal a lot about society

[@fieldingmellish6856]

All the comment's about Chevy being ahead of the curve with DC here are… I think wrong. It was DC who controlled the tempo and strategically ignored the pompousness and allowed CC to look like a conceded ass.

[@jmadratz]

I get the feeling Chevy thinks of himself as a modern day Groucho…but in reality he a latter day Gummo.

[@LisaatLife]

Am I alone in thinking he was kind of hot when he was younger? I think Chevy Chase was fine!

[@BiffJackson-o4i]

Two class A smart-a*ses. I wouldn't want to spend a minute in a room with either,.

[@hugglescake]

I thought he lived in Maryland.

[@taWay21]

Chevy always seemed like a dark dude.

[@natestakely1478]

Chev is all over as he admitted from the cain but apparently he controlled it better then many from that show, Kinney etc...

[@curtneilson5502]

His family can be traced to the mayflower; he says that means nothing; then he seems like the most arrogant guy you've ever seen.

[@kevindoran9389]

I don't understand the big deal with the Mayflower, there were many many Europeans already living in America when it landed.

[@curtneilson5502]

@@kevindoran9389 i dont know either; i guess many think it's impressive, so he throws it out there; i used to be a big fan of CC, but in most interviews he comes across so smug that you wanna lol dump a bucket of cold water over him. cheers

[@hyzercreek]

@@kevindoran9389 Albany, NY was already here. I live in a town older that the MF

[@mortenpotzdidler1998]

It's part of the mythmaking of the nation, assuming it still exists. I suppose it won't, for much longer.

[@curtneilson5502]

@@mortenpotzdidler1998 yeah, now it seems like they're trying to re-mythologize in a demonizing/romanticizing (the other way) way

[@antiochiaadtaurum3786]

Why am I asking myself the question of who was born first - Chevy Chase or Ted Bundy?

[@vmackey11]

Whats funny is Chevy was awful early in his career ( Under the Rainbow) etc but Belushi rest his soul was an amazement. Chevy from Vacation from 85 was great. Fletch! Belushi if he lived would have killed him career wise. Shame Belushi passed. By the way, Chevy wasnt at Johns funeral.

[@stevef4010]

Comedy is not a competition. They're both Funny.

[@heidichristensen9978]

Funny

[@readmelancholystrumpetmaster]

A tremendous and wasted talent

[@doctorfeinstone6524]

Not wasted. He made his mark

[@ps9]

When did Paul Bundy have a talk show?

[@sethmiller8620]

...you mean Ted?

[@chriskeck3689]

Rick James was right

[@wbh3952]

back when Chevy was funny.

[@geupelboi]

He's very, very cute, but I've never found him funny at all. He's always come across as a spoiled brat.

[@ongbruhlol]

ok ... * *looks closer* * Todd.

[@fabriziofederico9487]

Farcheesy

[@mellow5123]

Well that was awkward.

[@davidlabarca4268]

I find CC very annoying.

[@hughmanatee7657]

Somehow, without saying much, Cavett always talks too much.

[@nocomment1469]

Chevy chase that booze n cocaine .... Do many say you are an asshole , goof, arrogant ass stain To this day fellow comedians laugh at yiu

[@superdougie10]

Chevy acts here like a dude that just needs to finish the interview and go do some lines of coke and smoke a splif......honest.

[@kevindoran9389]

Seems a bit redundant to do both

[@pneulancer]

@@kevindoran9389 I’d smoke some pot first then do some cocaine to keep me alert and not eat too much. Kinda like I do now.

[@brianwilson9828]

I wish Chevy was as funny as HE thinks he is.

[@mortenpotzdidler1998]

So what do you think of Kate McKinnon and Jimmy Fallon? Jesus.

[@brianwilson9828]

@@mortenpotzdidler1998 Never in the history of entertainment has anyone gone as far on so little...the human equivalent of a1983 Moped.

[@mortenpotzdidler1998]

@@brianwilson9828 And what would that make Fallon and McKinnon? I suppose I'll answer, since you won't: a third world rickshaw.

[@bonnie3232]

To me, he is.

[@racebannon3014]

Chase has become a miserable individual.

[@stevef4010]

Kinda like people who come on youtube to make hateful comments.

[@geinikan1kan]

but frustratingly empty

[@batfink274]

Man, imagine trying to interview this clown. Didn't laugh once, and i thought i was a fan. Just cringe worthy.

[@Justcarlosdiaz]

Hahaha

[@mikephalen3162]

What Chase shows is that he is quicker witted than Cavett.

[@questioneverything1123]

He acts as though he has something to prove...

[@brucegwynn8509]

I agree with you

[@varrick1226]

Chevy isn't funny but his thinking he's funny is funny because he's not. He just tries too hard. Yet I like him in some of the roles he plays. I love him in Fletch and the original lampoon movie with Christie Brinkley. Even the Christmas one is good.

[@frenchprovincial9602]

How hard was this for Dick Cavett. I don't know why Chevy Chase would go on a chat show. He was very hard to talk to. When he did speak he was boring. What a waste of air time.

[@SuperCullen69]

French Provincial it’s one of the most entertaining guests I’ve ever seen him do

[@frenchprovincial9602]

@@SuperCullen69 I agree with you

[@ParcoKid63]

The least funny member of the original SNL cast. Show improved when Bill Murray came on board and it didn't take long for Bill to become a much bigger and more beloved movie actor.

[@pneulancer]

Bill Murray and John Belushi were far better than Chevy. Even though I love him in Fletch and other movies I’ve always though he was far too condescending, arrogant and dismissive. Maybe that’s just his “shtick” but I found it annoying.

[@dimmykarras9287]

I never liked him. Not because I thought he wasn't funny in his own way. It's a matter of taste. Even when he seemed to have it all (the looks, the fame), he came across as a miserable, unpleasant person. He used to be overrated, now he's almost forgotten.

[@marcryan1974]

Awkward.....

[@MileyonDisney]

He is not funny at all.

[@ParcoKid63]

One of the most overrated "actors" in Hollywood history. He knows it, too.

[@stevef4010]

Even Chevy wouldn't probably call himself an actor. Never set out to be one.

[@chuckcornelius194]

he made some really funny movies, but as a talk show guest, boring as hell. he was always terrible on Letterman, not much better here.

[@geronimo8159]

Hmmm? He's actually quite charming here 🤔

[@rmartin7558]

You sound like a barrel of laughs, yourself.

[@KOJ23]

i thought he was hilarious here, cavett seemed to be getting frustrated bc of his smart ass humor (which made him funny)

[@manos3790]

Evidently you're far too dull to absorb sarcasm and wit.

[@TheCumberlandbeggar]

Wow....Chevy boring on talk shows...um

[@mcc5295]

looks like President Biden

[@lanceinmypants143]

One boring interview

[@maciekm433]

Or you just too dumb....

[@Justcarlosdiaz]

Think about it

[@SweetJennyFan]

Awkward........