The Chevy Chase Show

Probably the worst,most uncomfortable show I've ever watched but yet I kept coming back because I couldn't believe I was actually watching such an unbelievable disaster. Love the old Chevy but talk show host was not for him. Chevy had absolutely no idea what to do or say at any point. I remember being completely boxed back in my early 20's and coming home and watching this with my jaw down to the floor in absolute amazement. Definitely check out the episode where Goldie Hawn sings Happy Birthday to Chevy. I could feel myself sweating because I was so uncomfortable for him. So bad, so very very bad.

I remember waiting in anticipation for this series to start. Always a fan of his, I knew that his show would be a little different and more entertaining, (read: less dry), than the offerings that were available. I thought "The Pat Sajak Show" was the worst new talk show by the way.

He held the traditional talk show stage with a few differences. He moved about his stage with ease and with the same style that people are expecting from him.

He differed from his contemporaries by only focusing on 2 guests per night. Let the viewer see and hear more about his guests than other talk show hosts at the time.

The only low-light of his short lived program was a despicable, rude appearance by Corben Bernsen. He came in straight away criticizing Chevy and, in the worst mannered ungrateful way, gave back his appearance gift he thought was cheap, and marched off the stage.

Others view this program as terrible. I believe it is because Chevy is unique in his talent. And, it is some of the more simple and base forms of entertainment. To some people, he's too staid in his style.

This was an under rated show. It was easily one of the best shows ever. The comedy was rich and drop dead funny. Chevy Chase, with the power of "funny" delivers a hour of on the floor laughing. The skits often made me have random outbursts of chuckles for the next month. And the monologue, well I wish I knew the secret because it was too funny to even repeat. Chevy Chase is a comic genius that needs to be stopped or I will die of laughter. And to all you people out there that criticize this work of art are just plain jealous. Chevy, if you are reading this, don't listen to them. They want your talent but won't get it. This show was brilliant. Chevy brought outstanding wit to the interviews and had perfect timing. This show will always hold a legacy of memories and an impact to the comic world and heart for internity.

I remember this show very well and wished very much for it to succeed. Chevy is likable and talented... but NOT as an interviewer. He was terrible. He simply was totally uncomfortable being in the position of having the full responsibility of being the host and improvising in the moment, and he appeared to have no idea how to have fun with guests and ask the simplest of questions: his mind would go blank and he just sat there at a loss, apparently terrified. It was a shame. He had Tom Scott's great band, and when the show folded -- after 5 weeks? -- there goes the band, there goes the opportunity, and there goes the audience. The show was genuinely that bad. Ya have to be able to take your mind off yourself if you're going to be able to interview people effectively, and unfortunately he had no clue how to do this. Perhaps the timing was bad and he just wasn't reading to go on the air as himself rather than as a character. Still, he was likable and I was sorry that he couldn't make a go of it. Even Goldie Hawn as a guest was unable to bring out the best in Chevy Chase as an interviewer. Those 5 weeks must have been pure agony. Toward the end of the show's run, I know it was for the audience, and it was truly merciful that the show was finally pulled.

After reading so many bad reviews of this short-lived talk show, and hearing many bad reports of the show by ordinary viewers, I finally decided to watch the first episode (via YouTube) to see for myself if the show was really that awful. Yes, it was just as bad as it has been made out to be. While Chevy Chase is funny in movies and sketches on television, the position of being a talk show host does not fit him in the least bit. From the start, he is clearly nervous and befuddled about his position, and watching him desperately struggle gives you the feeling of seeing a drowning man in front of you and being unable to help him. The written humor sections of the show by Chase and other writers is just as bad, though the poor delivery certainly didn't help things. It's amazing that the FOX television network didn't first shoot a pilot to see if Chase could handle this new position being offered to him - it would have saved a lot of money (and embarrassment) in the long run.