Why isn't Chevy Chase funny anymore?

Question:Chevy chase was very funny on SNL, really funny in the first Vacation movie, and an absolute comic genius in Fletch. Yet his later movies (and his TV show) were painful to watch. How can a performer go from being so hillarious to falling so flat? I heard one theory that it was because he stopped using cocaine. Was that it? Was it just aging (but that doesn't explain Bill Murray)? Was there an emotional/psychological issue? Think hard people. I must know!

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Chevy chase was very funny on SNL, really funny in the first Vacation movie, and an absolute comic genius in Fletch. Yet his later movies (and his TV show) were painful to watch. How can a performer go from being so hillarious to falling so flat? I heard one theory that it was because he stopped using cocaine. Was that it? Was it just aging (but that doesn't explain Bill Murray)? Was there an emotional/psychological issue? Think hard people. I must know!

People change, and what works when you are young sometimes isn't as successful when you get older.

That's one reason you hear actors talk about "reinventing" themselves. There are some people who can maintain a career on one type of character, but most actors have to be versatile.

I never knew he WAS funny. Never got his brand of humor.

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Chase was always corny and there is no way to top corn, it is as funny as it gets, so he got stale.

alot may be the writers...maybe no good scripts...sometimes after you see one as good as the ones you mentioned..it's pretty hard to top them....

I don't know the answer to your question. Chevy Chase remains a talented entertainer, but they don't make the kind of movies he used to be so great in, e.g., "Caddyshack" and "Foul Play" and "Fletch."

A few years ago he and Lorne Michaels approached NBC with an idea for a new "My Three Sons," in which Chevy would have played the Fred MacMurray role. NBC declined the pitch, which I think was a mistake. The concept is a good one, and a decent group of writers and actors could have made it work. Instead, you get a preposterous drama like "The Black Donnellys" because that's high concept.

You should write to Chevy Chase yourself. If you send it to him care of Lorne Michaels at SNL, Rockefeller Center, NY, NY, I'm sure Lorne will forward it to him.

Good luck.