This is expected in an authorized biography, but it was nauseating.
Chase never made a mistake, if he made a bad movie it was always as a "favor", things on set were only bad when Chevy didn't trust his instincts. That might be true, but puh-leeze. The lack of humility Chase and t All the things I learned about Chevy Chase were very interesting, but I haven't read anything so poorly-written that actually got published in a while. The lack of humility Chase and the hero-worship of Fruchter was irritating.
I mean, it was like listening to Ecker talk about Bobby Knight! Ashley and Bev, that tidbit is for you. Actually, I thought I'd loan the book to Mike since he's such a big Fletch fan. The author has worse transitions than I've read in high school compositions and is constantly repeating facts. When I heard Chevy had been abused in childhood, I wondered if it was by his father, the editor. Turns out, it was Chevy's mother and stepfather. Anyway, when I got past the bad writing, the story about Chevy was pretty interesting. Oct 21, Patrick DiJusto rated it liked it Shelves: And how he doesn't suffer fools easily.
The people who think he's incredibly arrogant, simply don't understand how Superior he truly is to the average human being. The people who make fun of the crappiness of some of his recent movies, don't know that Chevy offered helpful creative suggestions to the director on how they could save the movie, but unfortunately no one listened t according to this book, the people in Hollywood who don't like Chevy Chase just don't understand how intelligent he is.
The people who make fun of the crappiness of some of his recent movies, don't know that Chevy offered helpful creative suggestions to the director on how they could save the movie, but unfortunately no one listened to him. I understand that the authorized biography of a person is likely to hide the subject's flaws.
But this went beyond biography into haigography - no one could be as flawless as Chevy Chase is in this book. In that book, Chevy is the recurring villain popping up periodically to torment not just the First cast but subsequent casts until he was banned from the show. While no one is probably that bad, the truth about Chevy Chase probably lies midway between these two books. Jul 31, Beverly Zearley rated it liked it. I enjoyed learning more about Chevy Chase.
I didn't realize he had such a sad childhood. I found it hard at times to stay focused in this book, there was a lot of disorganization, not a real good biography for such a funny guy!! But I have a list of movies he was in that I want to see that I haven't! Mar 07, Trav Rockwell rated it liked it. I love Chevy Chase so this was a must read. Abused as a child describing horrible beatings he received off his mother and step father growing up, then to become one of the greatest comedians in the business.
All credit to Chevy, a good read if your a fan. Wasn't a fan of Rena Fruchter writing however. Feb 16, Pat rated it it was amazing. Chase candidly reveals the hell that was his childhood with an abusive mother and ineffective father. His journey is a compelling one, not new by all means, but a study in overcoming tough beginnings to eventual peace of mind. Dec 01, Kitt-e-kat rated it liked it. All these comedians have created that one classic movie favorite. Chevy's was National Lampoon's Family Vacation. Chevy started out having an abusive childhood growing up by his mom and father s.
His mother battled mental problems and didn't know how to disciplined her kids properly without being abusive to them. By the trauma Chevy dealt with growing up, I am surprised he didn't grow up getting more involved into drugs and alcohol I grew up watching Chevy Chase, Steve Martin and Richard Pryor. By the trauma Chevy dealt with growing up, I am surprised he didn't grow up getting more involved into drugs and alcohol later on in life. He did dabble at that stuff but really didn't get into it hardcore like Belushi. He gets into alittle bit about his drug use but not in full detail.
He also gets into every movies he's done and how they all didn't succeeded a hit at the box office. His book is interesting to read from beginning to almost the end. At the end he rambles on about politics and "Bush Bashing" so I got turned off and bored immediately. Feb 22, Clare Bear marked it as to-read. Some funny Fletch quotes: What are you doing here? I ordered some lunch. You ordered it here?
Well, I knew this is where my mouth would be. You'll be wearing rubber gloves. Do you own rubber gloves? I have a lease with an option to buy. Hell, it ain't like it used to be. J Some funny Fletch quotes: Erwin, admit that you are a sinner.
I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not by Rena Fruchter
I didn't take any Polaroids or anything. But, yeah, I've sinned. The Lord forgives ya! Thank you very much. Uh, I parked in a handicap spot on my way up here. Actually, on a handicap person. I told him I'd be back in five minutes, so that's not such a big deal. Aug 07, Frederick rated it liked it Recommends it for: Those interested in stories of survivors. I've only read the first few chapters of this authorized biography, but, inasmuch as it is authorized, this is Chevy Chase's announcement that he was seriously abused as a child.
The opening pages are harrowing. It has been said often that comedians have very sad lives, but Chevy Chase must have tremendous reserves of inner strength to have survived the physical and psychological savagery inflicted upon him in his childhood. A lot of people will ignore this book because they'll think it's just an I've only read the first few chapters of this authorized biography, but, inasmuch as it is authorized, this is Chevy Chase's announcement that he was seriously abused as a child.
A lot of people will ignore this book because they'll think it's just another showbiz whitewash. From the fraction I've read I can see that this book will go off on some unnecessary tangents. But we have, for the first time, a clue to the background of a man who, for two years in the mid-seventies, charmed a TV audience tired of sitcoms and Johnny Carson. The funny faces he'd make behind Emily Littella's back were the sort of faces Chevy Chase made as he was growing up, when he wanted laughter to chase away the enforced misery of his experience.
- The MoonMan!
- Listen To This.
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Feb 24, Cassie rated it it was ok. I was surprised that I did not like this biography. The fault was not with Chevy Chase, but with the biographer, Rena Fruchter. The writing was disorganized and repeated itself. I was also expecting more to be said about Chevy Chase's depression and his recovery, but there were only a few sentences written about it. It was also a little out of date, mentioning nothing about his work on Community. I liked the information about Chevy and his experiences, but the writing was a real obstacle in the I was surprised that I did not like this biography.
I liked the information about Chevy and his experiences, but the writing was a real obstacle in the way of getting through the book. I would only read this book if you wanted to know more about Chevy and you could not get a copy of the Biography Channel version. Jul 22, Megan rated it it was ok Shelves: I've really enjoy the movies I've seen with Chevy Chase in them, so was interested to learn more about him. However I was very disappointed with this biography as it seemed very biased. All the praise was over-the-top and nothing was ever said negatively about Chevy.
According to this book, every movie he made that hasn't done well are ones he said things should be changed, and since the changes weren't made he knew it wouldn't do well, and the ones that succeeded are mostly because of him. Ther I've really enjoy the movies I've seen with Chevy Chase in them, so was interested to learn more about him. There was also a lot of repetitiveness and that was just boring. Besides the beginning it wasn't that great of a read and I wouldn't recommend it.
Nov 26, Scott rated it it was ok Shelves: Interesting, but ultimately slightly disappointing biography of the funny man most often associated with early Saturday Night Live, the Vacation movies, and Caddyshack. The biographical revelations are truly fascinating, and explain his comedic style. However, the writing style for the book is quite flat and lifeless -- there was no "flow" and at times it merely felt like a litany of facts and figures and less a portrayal of Chevy's life and influences. I'd recommend this to die-hard SNL fans lo Interesting, but ultimately slightly disappointing biography of the funny man most often associated with early Saturday Night Live, the Vacation movies, and Caddyshack.
I'd recommend this to die-hard SNL fans looking for Chevy's version of the first season, but otherwise it was something of a disappointment. Apr 30, Kate rated it it was ok.
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I read this because Chevy Chase was one of the founding members of SNL and also an alum of my brother's college, Haverford though he didn't graduate due to getting kicked out for pulling so many pranks! In , Chevy Chase was it. Herb Schlosser was one of the first to notice that Chevy was going to be a major star. The rumblings began to be picked up very quickly in the NBC Press department as well. Indeed, there were many who would come to think Saturday Night in the first season was the Chevy Chase Show.
Also, it straightens me out, as I thought this guy was Danny Arvayrdk or however he spells it. Comments such as these did not go unnoticed in Burbank. He never did host it. Outshining the President in April and winning his writing and performing Emmys in May wildly accelerated the onrush of celebrity. By summer, even the stuffy New York Times had succumbed to the spell. Chase is also a performer and writer for the television program Saturday Night. So Chevy acted surprised the first time publicist Les Slater told him a reporter wanted to do a feature on him.
Opportunity for such insouciance soon faded as the evidence of his celebrity became too obvious to ignore. There was a day early in the first season when Chevy arrived on the 17th floor shaking, excited and a little frightened.
More 'Saturday Night Live' at 40
After a block or two he grew so flustered he got off the bus and fled down the street. It was a crystallizing moment for Chevy, an instant when he realized that everything was going to change. It was also, according to those who worked with him, one of the few times Chevy Chase ever ran from stardom. More than most people who become famous very fast, Chevy walked into fame with his eyes open, expecting it, taking it as his due, seldom pausing to wonder why it was happening to him. Which is not the same as saying he took fame in stride. The New York magazine cover was the demarcation point.
Inevitably he started spending more time in interviews, going out on speaking engagements, and pondering the offers that came in. Just as inevitably, the time he spent working on the show decreased. At first it seemed the outside world had changed more than Chevy had. It was apparent he was struggling to maintain the spirit of irreverence that got him there in the first place. In May he told Vogue magazine: In this business you can come and go in a second.
I could be flushed out tomorrow with a big smile and a handshake. Behind the scenes, however, Chevy began to change, too, and despite the soul-searching interviews, those on the show soon began to feel he was indeed turning into just the sort of obnoxious egocentric he played so convincingly on camera. He was not, in the end, immune; nor was it likely he would be. According to those who knew him, he liked to ride in convertibles so he could talk to fans who recognized him as he cruised down the street. He made bizarre late-night phone calls to friends, gloating to one, also a performer, that of the two of them he was by far the more famous.
He grew gradually more distant from the others on the show. The more famous he got, the more he pulled into himself. When he was hungry he was more of a team player. Cocaine had something to do with that. Several of those on the show say Chevy was one of the first to begin using coke heavily, in part because he was the first who could afford to. A personal sense of insecurity — at variance with his public image but not unusual in performers — contributed to his withdrawal as well. By the end of the season he was ordering other players around on the set, telling them where to stand or how to deliver a line.
We thought we would all shine. When Chevy became the star, we felt hurt, we felt bad. They also felt angry. They sang it on the second show of the second season, and it fairly dripped sarcasm in characterizing Chevy as a new teen idol. Of all the cast members, Belushi complained the loudest about the attention Chevy was getting.
John and Chevy had been rivals since the Lampoon days. John never let Chevy forget that it was he, not Chevy, who had gotten the glowing press notices for Lemmings , or that it was he, not Chevy, who had won when both of them campaigned to be named creative director of the Lampoon Radio Hour. They had a knack for goading each other. At one point NBC put a poster of the cast members up in the lobby outside 8H.
Lorne was infuriated, and threatened he would have the promotion man responsible for the picture fired. Lorne was astute enough, however, not to turn his back on a star when he needed one, and when NBC and the public demanded more Chevy Chase, they got more Chevy Chase.
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Weekend Update alone expanded from three and a half minutes on the first show to almost nine minutes by spring of the first season. That, too, provoked its share of grumbling on what was supposed to be a collaborative, risk-taking show. In fact, it sometimes seemed to his colleagues he was going out of his way to promote that misconception. On a few occasions Chevy felt obliged to correct himself in print.
I'm Chevy Chase ... and You're Not
In an interview in the Long Island newspaper Newsday in April, for example, he repeatedly stressed how much credit the others on the show deserved. W hether or not he admitted it in interviews, the fact was that Chevy did indeed see Saturday Night as his show to a large degree. And that maybe he ought to start thinking about finding a showcase more suitable for his superior talents. Tom Schiller, who was especially close to Chevy that first year, points out an insidious process that occurs when a friend becomes famous.
I can do better for you. Thus, as soon as his face appeared on the cover of New York magazine, Chevy started receiving career counseling commensurate to the scale of his success, which is to say he was inundated with it. There was, for example, the night Chevy was strolling down Park Avenue with his new friend Warren Beatty. Think what that means when Johnny leaves. So NBC was very anxious to get Chevy Chase under contract, and started offering him the world to sign a deal; nobody wanted to take the blame for letting the next Johnny Carson slip through their fingers.
Nor were the offers only from television. The studios in Hollywood were among those bidding for Chevy Chase, and to a generation of performers united in their contempt for TV, movies were infinitely more alluring. Saturday Night was big now, but it was only going to get bigger.