Key Takeaways:
- Chevy Chase’s iconic "Weekend Update" segment on Saturday Night Live (SNL) was born out of a camera test, where he played a smarmy newsman and deadpanned a joke about a baby sandpiper.
- Chase’s version of "Weekend Update" was a breakout hit, making him the show’s most recognizable face and launching his career as a comedian and actor.
- The segment has had various hosts over the years, including Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, Norm Macdonald, Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Amy Poehler, and Seth Meyers.
- Chase’s impact on "Weekend Update" and SNL as a whole is still felt today, with many considering him one of the greatest hosts of the segment.
Introduction to Chevy Chase
Chevy Chase’s career in comedy began to take shape 50 years ago, just weeks before the premiere of Saturday Night Live (SNL). At the time, NBC executives were eager to see how the show’s untested cast would look on screen, and Chase was one of the first to be put to the test. With his disarmingly handsome appearance and quick wit, Chase adopted the delivery of a smarmy newsman and deadpanned a joke about the hatching of a baby sandpiper, which was stomped to death by a baby hippo. This was the birth of "Weekend Update," a segment that would become a staple of SNL and launch Chase’s career as a comedian and actor.
The Creation of Weekend Update
The first "Weekend Update" segment was just over three minutes long and featured Chase as a fast-talking anchor, complete with a fake advertisement for arthritis medication and a cutaway segment to Laraine Newman on the scene of a fictional hotel homicide. Chase’s self-assurance and charisma on screen were undeniable, and he quickly became the show’s breakout star. According to SNL creator Lorne Michaels, the decision to place "Weekend Update" around midnight was purposeful, as some stations didn’t start airing the show until after local news broadcasts had ended, and audiences would join the show in progress, seeing Chase as a fast-talking anchor and falling in love with him.
Chase’s Impact on SNL
Chase’s version of "Weekend Update" was a game-changer for SNL, and he quickly became the show’s most recognizable face. He was the only cast member to play himself every episode, and his regular pratfalls and ability to make fake risqué phone calls to an unseen woman made him a fan favorite. Chase’s rising fame and immodesty, however, rankled some of his cast mates, who felt that he was getting too much attention. Despite this, Chase’s impact on SNL and "Weekend Update" cannot be overstated, and he is still widely regarded as one of the greatest hosts of the segment.
The Evolution of Weekend Update
After Chase left SNL, "Weekend Update" continued to evolve, with various hosts taking the reins. Jane Curtin, Dan Aykroyd, and Bill Murray all hosted the segment at different times, and later, solo anchors like Norm Macdonald and teams like Tina Fey and Jimmy Fallon, and Amy Poehler and Seth Meyers, brought their own unique styles to the segment. On SNL’s 50th anniversary special, Bill Murray appeared on "Update" to rank all the previous hosts of the segment, placing Chase fourth, under the duo of Curtin and Aykroyd. Despite this, Murray acknowledged that "Weekend Update" would not exist without Chase, and that he was a major influence on the segment’s success.
Legacy of Chevy Chase
Chase’s legacy on SNL and "Weekend Update" is still felt today, and he is widely regarded as one of the greatest comedians of all time. His impact on the show and the segment he helped create is undeniable, and his influence can be seen in many of the comedians and actors who have followed in his footsteps. Despite his departure from SNL after just one season, Chase’s time on the show was a defining moment in his career, and he has gone on to have a successful career in film and television. The documentary "I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not" explores Chase’s rise to fame and his impact on SNL, and is a must-see for fans of the show and the comedian.
