A new CNN documentary titled “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” which premiered on January 1, delves into a brief yet significant chapter in Chevy Chase’s extensive comedy career: his ill-fated late-night talk series, “The Chevy Chase Show.” The series, which aired on Fox for a mere six weeks in 1993, faced immediate cancellation due to scathing reviews and consistently low ratings, a period Chase himself now openly discusses with candor.

Chase admitted in the documentary to a fundamental misjudgment regarding his approach to hosting. “I never took anybody’s advice about how to do a talk show. I can do it, I kept thinking,” he recounted, reflecting on the show’s quick demise. His self-assessment was blunt: “It was hideous. I just didn’t really have a sense of what you do on a talk show.” Collaborators and representatives echoed this sentiment, attributing the show’s failure not only to its "old-time" TV producers and a perceived lack of a fresh vision but also to Chase's strengths as a gifted comedic actor and movie star not translating to the demands of live stand-up comedy. His eldest daughter, Cydney Chase, observed her father’s nervousness on set, while writer Andy Aaron confirmed the universally terrible reviews, recalling Chase’s gracious acceptance of responsibility, telling the writing staff, “You guys are doing a great job. It is not your fault, it is my fault.” Chase himself expressed enduring perplexity at the format, remarking, “I don’t know how people like Letterman and others do it. It’s beyond me.” The cancellation news was delivered to the staff at the conclusion of Chase's 50th birthday party, marking an abrupt end to the endeavor.

The debut of “The Chevy Chase Show” on September 7, 1993, occurred amidst an unprecedented frenzy in the landscape of late-night television, often dubbed “the late-night wars.” This competitive environment was ignited by Johnny Carson’s retirement from “The Tonight Show” a year prior, which opened significant opportunities across networks. Already, Arsenio Hall was hosting a highly successful, syndicated late-night program, “Arsenio,” which had effectively attracted younger, multicultural viewers in major cities and was the first competitor to significantly challenge Carson’s audience. Fox, observing “Arsenio’s” success, sought to establish its own late-night presence. This wasn't Fox's first attempt; they had previously launched “The Late Show” with Joan Rivers in 1986, which also had a rocky run and was cancelled by May 1987, followed by the brief “The Wilton North Report.” After these earlier failures, Fox had focused on primetime hits like “Married With Children” and “21 Jump Street” for five years before re-entering the late-night arena with Chase.

The 1993 "late-night wars" escalated with the intense battle between Jay Leno and David Letterman for Carson’s throne, which ultimately saw Leno secure “The Tonight Show.” Letterman, after famously waiting out his NBC contract, launched his highly anticipated “The Late Show” on CBS on August 30, 1993, just ahead of Chase’s premiere. Into this fiercely competitive and high-stakes environment, Chase was thrust, battling against established titans who were eager to prove their dominance. Despite its extremely short run, Chase’s show had a significant, albeit indirect, impact on Hall’s syndicated program. Many major market stations that carried “Arsenio” were Fox affiliates, and when the network decided to launch “The Chevy Chase Show,” these affiliates were pressured to drop Hall’s show to accommodate Fox’s network offering. Most complied, and despite Chase’s quick departure, the damage was irreversible, leading to “Arsenio” airing its final episode on May 27, 1994.

Following the cancellation of his talk show, Chase faced significant personal challenges, including mental health struggles. His daughters, Cydney and Caley, along with his wife Jayni, spoke candidly about his depression during this period. Cydney recalled a “weird environment” and how her father would often withdraw, saying “Not now, honey.” Caley noted that her parents were open about these “deeper things,” explaining the concept of depression and how it made it hard for people to get out of bed. Jayni Chase further described how her husband “would get in bed and not come out,” admitting her initial lack of understanding.

Despite this professional setback and personal hardship, Chevy Chase’s career was not over. He continued to star in several films after his talk show concluded and later experienced a significant career resurgence by playing the curmudgeonly Pierce Hawthorne on the critically acclaimed NBC sitcom “Community,” which ran from 2009 to 2014. The CNN documentary offers a revealing look into this challenging period, underscoring the complexities behind a legendary comedian’s attempt to conquer a notoriously difficult television format and its lasting personal and professional repercussions.