The Chevy Chase Show

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.

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.

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.

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 wish episodes were re-run or available on tape because nobody who hasn't seen it can understand how truly awful it was.

Why it ever came into being is a mystery because the host hadn't been funny in years and, even in his heyday, his talents were extremely limited.

He rode into public prominence on the whirlwind that was the original SNL, and in many ways, symbolized the show, although his talents paled next to those of his castmates. But his smug irreverence touched a nerve in those post-Watergate, the-systems-sucks-so-let's-have-a-few-laughs days. He was the first to leave SNL and certainly proved the axiom about striking when the iron is hot by churning out a few humorous, money-making films before reaching his level of incompetence and cannonballing into a series of unfunny comedies and endless "Vacation" remakes.

A good movie could be made about the original SNL cast and what became of them; Gilda and Belushi aside, I think the saddest case is Aykroyd, who may have been the funniest of the original crew and has now deteriorated into appearing in the type of vehicles he used to lampoon with laser-like precision.

BTW, Bill Murray, for you youngsters, was NOT an original SNL cast member.