Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast

All good things must come to an end — and so, at last, must the chase. Mike White and Chris Stachiw close out the Chasing Chevy Chase Podcast with special guest Rod Lott (Flick Attack, Bookgasm) joining them to tackle the inevitable: I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not, Marina Zenovich's unflinching documentary which is something more unsettling than a hit piece. Chase himself sits for interviews, offering the kind of casual, self-sabotaging candor that has defined his public persona for decades. Long-time friends and collaborators including Dan Aykroyd, Goldie Hawn, Beverly D'Angelo, Martin Short, Lorne Michaels, and Ryan Reynolds weigh in. So does Community director Jay Chandrasekhar — notably one of the only people from that production willing to participate, with Dan Harmon and others taking a hard pass.The documentary doesn't shy away from the wreckage: the SNL exit Chase himself now calls a mistake, his notorious feuds, the Community firing, and a cringe-inducing on-camera exchange about SNL castmate Terry Sweeney that speaks volumes. Yet, glimpses of an 82-year-old Chase at home in Bedford and doing his annual Christmas Vacation Q&As reveal something more human lurking beneath the legend — and the liability.The podcast may be ending, but Chevy Chase, for better or worse, is forever.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

The Griswolds hit the Strip in Vegas Vacation (1997), the fourth installment in the beloved National Lampoon series and one that doesn't get nearly enough credit. Mark, Chris, and Mike cash in their chips on this sun-baked comedy that transplants Clark Griswold's particular brand of well-intentioned chaos from the open road to the neon-drenched excess of Las Vegas. Chase is at his most endearingly unhinged here — a man who can lose a fortune at the blackjack table while somehow radiating pure, oblivious optimism — and the guys make the case that this late-era entry deserves a second look from fans who wrote it off as a franchise on fumes.From the Hoover Dam to the casino floor, the trio dig into how Vegas itself becomes as much a character as any Griswold, and whether the film's sharper satirical edge on American excess and gambling addiction sneaks in something smarter than it's given credit for. Chevy Chase fatigue be damned — this one might just hit the jackpot.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Mike, Mark, and Chris revisit Cops & Robbersons, a mid-’90s Chevy Chase outing that jams suburban family comedy into a would-be cop thriller. Chase plays Andy Robberson, a lackluster father whose life implodes when a volatile detective (Jack Palance) moves in to surveil a killer (Robert Davi).The discussion looks at where the film sits in Chase’s post-Vacation career, Michael Ritchie’s shaky tonal control, and the odd-couple dynamic between Chase’s flustered everyman and Palance’s granite-jawed intensity. Is this an overlooked curiosity, a misjudged genre mash-up, or just another example of how badly a Chase vehicle can skid without a sharp satirical edge?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Mike, Mark, and Chris revisit the 2015 Vacation, a remake-sequel that tries to chart a new path while carrying the Griswold name. They examine how the film reframes Rusty as the next-generation family man, what works (and what doesn’t) in its mix of callbacks and updated comedy, and how the movie handles the legacy of the original series. The trio also considers Chevy and Beverly D’Angelo’s brief return and whether the film earns its place in the larger Vacation lineage.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Potentially the most popular of all of Chevy Chase's films, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation has become a perennial family favorite despite the Griswolds not actually going on vacation but their extended family visiting them in the suburbs of Chicago during a year where Clark counts too heavily on his Christmas bonus.With a stand-out performance from Randy Quaid returning as Cousin Eddie, the film layers slapstick chaos with sharp holiday satire. Beverly D’Angelo anchors the madness as Ellen Griswold and new kids Juliette Lewis and Johnny Galecki provide memorable turns.Written by John Hughes and directed by Jeremiah S. Chechik, the movie captures both the warmth and the frustration of family gatherings, becoming a December staple for generations who can’t help but sympathize with Clark’s doomed quest for the “perfect” Christmas.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

We finally brave the cinematic sand trap that is Caddyshack II (1988), a baffling sequel that ditches the scrappy charm of the original for a mess of slapstick, snooty social satire, and one-liners that land with all the grace of a thrown brick. Mark, Mike, and Chris dig into what went wrong—from Rodney Dangerfield bailing and Jackie Mason stepping in, to Chevy Chase coasting through with a smirk and a nine iron. Why does this sequel feel like a corporate golf outing where everyone's just waiting for lunch? We break down the chaotic production, Harold Ramis’s reluctant involvement, and the comedy vacuum at its core. It’s less a follow-up than a farce—but is there anything worth salvaging from the rough?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Mike, Mark, and Chris take a closer look at Funny Farm (1988), Chevy Chase’s turn as a New York sportswriter who relocates to small-town Vermont in search of a simpler life—only to find frustration, isolation, and a town that seems determined to break him. Directed by George Roy Hill, the film mixes dry satire with broad physical comedy, offering a darker, more cynical take on the rural escape fantasy. The trio discuss how Funny Farm fits within Chevy’s late-’80s filmography, the tonal balance between charm and bitterness, and whether the film deserves its reputation as a solid entry in his career or a footnote. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Mike White (The Projection Booth), Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy), and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) go behind enemy lines to examine Spies Like Us (1985), a Cold War comedy directed by John Landis and starring Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. The trio unpacks the film’s satirical take on espionage, its place in the Reagan-era political climate, and the chemistry between its two leads. They also dig into the film’s uneven tone, behind-the-scenes drama, and how it fits into the larger arc of Chase’s career.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Surf’s up, Chase fans! In this episode of the Chasing Chevy Chase podcast, Mike White, Chris Stachiw, and Mark Begley take a detour to sunny Southern California with a deep dive into Orange County (2002). Penned by (the other) Mike White and directed by Jake Kadan, the film is packed with a stacked cast including Colin Hanks, Jack Black, and Catherine O’Hara. The crew discusses the film and its wheedling protagonist as well as Chevy's fleeting cameo. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Directed by William Friedkin and written by Paul Brickman, Deal of the Century (1983) is another disappointing entry in Chevy Chase's filmography. He's playing slick arms dealer Eddie Muntz who lucks his way into the titular "deal of the century" where he's partnered with Catherine DeVoto (Sigourney Weaver). His other partner, Ray Kasternak (Gregory Hines), is a loose canon who has an ill-timed spiritual awakening.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

You think you've got problems? Well, Chevy Chase has MODERN PROBLEMS in this 1981 film from Chevy's old friend Tom Shapiro. As air traffic controller Max Fiedler, Chevy loses his girlfriend (Patti D'Arbanville) while being berated by a self-help guru (Dabney Coleman) in a movie that can't decide if it's science fiction or spiritual horror. Join Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy), Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast), and Mike White (The Projection Booth) as they continue to deep dive into the filmography of Chevy Chase. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Surprisingly, not the nadir of Chevy Chase's career but it might be close! Steve Rash's Under the Rainbow, a fictionalized recounting of the little people actors from The Wizard of Oz taking over a hotel across from the MGM soundstages. Against this event is story of Arch Duke Franz Ferdinand's son being hunted by the son of Gavrilo Princip (Robert Donner). Fortunately, the Duke is protected by Bruce Thorpe (Chevy Chase), his intrepid guard. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.

Mark, Chris, and Mike continue their deep dive into the films of Chevy Chase with one of his biggest hits when he played golf enthusiast Ty Webb in Harold Ramis's seminal slobs vs. snobs comedy Caddyshack. A rather odd mix of talents, Chase was in danger of being eclipsed by his fellow actors, especially Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Bill Murray, and a gopher. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/chasing-chevy-chase-podcast--6107734/support.