With Saturday Night, director Jason Reitman attempted to bring audiences behind the scenes of the first Saturday Night Live episode. But one former cast member gave Reitman a scathing review right to his face.
Saturday Night blended history with hyperbole in detailing how Lorne Michaels got the first SNL episode on the air. An ensemble cast was put together to portray the original "Not Ready for Primetime" players that debuted in 1975.
Among the original cast members was Chevy Chase. Reitman recently appeared on the Fly on the Wall podcast and told hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade about Chase's reaction.
"So, Chevy comes in to watch the movie,” Reitman said. “And he is there with Jayni and they watch the film, and he’s in the group, and he comes up to me after and he pats me on the shoulder and goes, ‘Well, you should be embarrassed.’”
Spade tried to give Chase the benefit of the doubt. The former SNL cast member suggested Chase was (mostly) teasing Reitman and knew the exact thing to get under a director's skin. However, Reitman didn't sound convinced that was Chase's motivation.
"I’m trying to balance it, because, in my head, I know, ‘Alright, I’m getting my own Chevy Chase moment that’s 1,000 percent only for me right now,’” Reitman said. “And from a comedy point of view that’s really pure, and that’s kind of cool. But also, I just spent like two years of my life recreating this moment and trying to capture Chevy perfectly, and also even in the ego, find the humanity and give him a moment to be loved. No, none of that shit played. He’s not talking about that stuff.”
What did critics think of Saturday Night?
It sounds like Chevy Chase gave his honest opinion of Saturday Night. The one-time SNL star must not have been impressed with Jason Reitman's version of history nor actor Cory Michael Smith's portrayal.
Chase's review doesn't quite align with how critics and audiences perceived the movie. Saturday Night holds a 78% score on Rotten Tomatoes. Meanwhile, Metacritic gives the movie a 63 out of 100. And audiences polled by CinemaScore grade Saturday Night a B+.
Chase's comments to Reitman just add another chapter in the actor's curious career. From fist-fighting Bill Murray at Saturday Night Live to irritating his Community castmates, Chase seems to know exactly how to rub people the wrong way.