# What celebrities are known for being jerks(that are not named Chevy Chase)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 4, 2020, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839 "2020-09-04T19:52:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 19
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/361 "2025-01-28T13:19:07Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > He was… by the standards of early television. And then in the early '50s the country’s tastes moved on and his show waned. Fortunately for him, he’d gotten NBC to sign him to a 30-year exclusive television contract at a million dollars a year, so that undoubtedly eased the heartbreak of having his show cancelled in 1956. Yeah, I presume he was a stage/vaudeville guy before this. If I remember, even as a child star? Berle saw his star rise high…only to see major cultural changes(think “Back to the Future”) happen and his style to be a lot less relevant. I remember when RuPaul and he came out on stage at the MTV award show and Rupaul ripped him with insult comedy and Berle tried to rip them back and it fell so flat. Note: The “other thing” he is famous for. I mean…I have no idea if that is just speculation. I swear if we got him and LBJ together…Lord help us. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/362 "2025-01-28T14:06:05Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > Fortunately for him, he’d gotten NBC to sign him to a 30-year exclusive television contract at a million dollars a year, so that undoubtedly eased the heartbreak of having his show cancelled in 1956. I thought this couldn’t possibly be correct. But I googled it, and sure enough, he signed the $1mil / yr, 30 year contract in 1951-- when a million dollars was worth over $12 million in today’s money. Gigantic comedy star at the dawn of television, gigantic wallet, gigantic…y’know. No wonder he was a gigantic asshole (but still no excuse). ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/363 "2025-01-28T14:11:47Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > Note: The “other thing” he is famous for. I mean…I have no idea if that is just speculation. I swear if we got him and LBJ together…Lord help us. According to reliable witnesses, Berle and Forrest Tucker. The word most bandied about was “anaconda.” ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/364 "2025-01-28T14:24:04Z")
> [@Gyrate](#): > > [William S Burroughs shot his wife Joan Vollmer in the head during a party](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_S._Burroughs#Killing_of_Vollmer), alleged to do a “William Tell trick”. Both were extremely drunk and possibly under the influence of other substances. Say what you will about Burroughs, he was good at evaluating doctors. His preoccupation was with locating a croaker who writes scrip (a medico who’d give him prescriptions for morphine). It’s the highest praise possible in our household for physicians, from a patient perspective (“he’s a croaker who writes scrip”). ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/365 "2025-01-28T14:24:19Z")
Reminds of the story about Milton and Forrest at a party and wanting to once and for all determine who in Hollywood held the crown. After grabbing a tape measure, the two started to go upstairs to hold their contest. As they were heading up, legend says Berle’s manager yelled out, “Remember, Milt, only take out enough to win!” ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 4:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/366 "2025-01-28T16:25:42Z")
> [@solost](#): > > I thought this couldn’t possibly be correct. But I googled it, and sure enough, he signed the $1mil / yr, 30 year contract in 1951-- when a million dollars was worth over $12 million in today’s money. Oh, yes, it was borderline scandalous at the time. The network figured they had scored a huge win because he was at the time pretty much the most famous person in the country. He fulfilled the contract…sort of. He actually got a show on ABC in the 1960’s, but I don’t know how he managed it while under contract with another network. ABC paid the salary at that point? I have no idea. His 1979 performance/behavior at SNL as a host was so legendarily bad, he was always listed as the worst host of all time. Except for maybe Steven Seagal, another famous Hollywood jerk. ---
**Author:** ![JohnGalt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johngalt/32/184_2.png) [@JohnGalt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnGalt)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/367 "2025-01-28T17:25:16Z")
Make sure you watch _Always Leave Them Laughing_ (1949) to see Milton Berle in a movie role, as a not very nice up-and-coming comedian. Plus you’ll get to see Bert Lahr perform his vaudeville routine. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/368 "2025-01-28T17:47:55Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > > [@solost](#): > > > > I thought this couldn’t possibly be correct. But I googled it, and sure enough, he signed the $1mil / yr, 30 year contract in 1951-- when a million dollars was worth over $12 million in today’s money. > > Oh, yes, it was borderline scandalous at the time. The network figured they had scored a huge win because he was at the time pretty much the most famous person in the country. He fulfilled the contract…sort of. > > He actually got a show on ABC in the 1960’s, but I don’t know how he managed it while under contract with another network. ABC paid the salary at that point? I have no idea. > > His 1979 performance/behavior at SNL as a host was so legendarily bad, he was always listed as the worst host of all time. Except for maybe Steven Seagal, another famous Hollywood jerk. I don’t think there is any doubt. Seagal was far and away the worst host by all accounts. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/369 "2025-01-28T18:27:21Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t think there is any doubt. Seagal was far and away the worst host by all accounts. I think I saw a reviewer opine that Berle was trying to do comedy and it didn’t really click with the audience, and Seagal wasn’t trying to do comedy and also didn’t click with the audience. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 6:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/370 "2025-01-28T18:46:12Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > > [@Loach](#): > > > > I don’t think there is any doubt. Seagal was far and away the worst host by all accounts. > > I think I saw a reviewer opine that Berle was trying to do comedy and it didn’t really click with the audience, and Seagal wasn’t trying to do comedy and also didn’t click with the audience. Seagal’s appearance was so bad it became a punchline. I believe Lorne’s opinion on the subject. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/qBexRCYzFcE/maxresdefault.jpg "Nicholas Cage Monologue: Leading Ladies - Saturday Night Live") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBexRCYzFcE) ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/371 "2025-01-28T20:05:53Z")
> [@blondebear](#): > > [Jim Gordon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Gordon_(musician)). Pretty well-known session musician who worked with a lot of major acts in the 60s to late 70s. Killed his mother, and even though diagnosed with schizophrenia he was sentenced to 16 years to life. Old news by now, but the Beach Boys 20/20 album has FOUR murderers directly or indirectly involved. - Jim Gordon on drums - Songs written by: Charles Manson (although Dennis Wilson stole the credit); Leadbelly; Phil Spector. ---
**Author:** ![TreacherousCretin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/treacherouscretin/32/476_2.png) [@TreacherousCretin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TreacherousCretin)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/372 "2025-01-28T20:08:39Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I don’t think there is any doubt. Seagal was far and away the worst host by all accounts. Frank Zappa was pretty high on that list as well. Egocentric asshole went out of his way to alienate everybody involved with the episode. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/373 "2025-01-28T20:14:31Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I think I saw a reviewer opine that Berle was trying to do comedy and it didn’t really click with the audience, and Seagal wasn’t trying to do comedy and also didn’t click with the audience. > **[The 11 Worst 'Saturday Night Live' Hosts of All Time, Ranked](https://collider.com/worst-snl-hosts-ranked/)** > > Justin Bieber, Donald Trump, and Michael Phelps are SNL hosts who simply weren't very funny on the historic variety sketch show. Seagal is ranked worst, with berle #2, Look at who is #6! > [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Frank Zappa was pretty high on that list as well. Egocentric asshole went out of his way to alienate everybody involved with the episode. #4 on that list of worst. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/374 "2025-01-28T20:41:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Seagal’s appearance was so bad it became a punchline. I believe Lorne’s opinion on the subject. Yeah, I mean I think that despite Berle being a big jerk…it’s hard to be a bigger loser and mean person thatn Seagal. He’s a monster. My wife just told me Seagal is like Gilderoy Lockhart from Harry Potter. We aren’t sure he has even done any of the things he says he has done. I mean, everything. Even his martial arts performances/demonstrations look terribly lame. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/375 "2025-01-28T21:12:56Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Look at who is #6! OMG his hands are soooo tiny! ---
**Author:** ![John\_DiFool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_difool/32/19543_2.png) [@John\_DiFool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_DiFool)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/376 "2025-01-28T21:42:47Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > Frank Zappa was pretty high on that list as well. Egocentric asshole went out of his way to alienate everybody involved with the episode. I remember the one skit he was in; everyone else playing like they were totally baked (which given that cast was likely actually true), but all he would do when offered is consistently and humorlessly insist that he never does drugs. [he was clean in real life note] ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/377 "2025-01-28T22:02:05Z")
> [@John\_DiFool](#): > > all he would do when offered is consistently and humorlessly insist that he never does drugs Sort of the opposite of the You Put Your Weed In There Guy skit. But also super unfunny, not so opposite at all! [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/CKOc6hXMDhc/maxresdefault.jpg "Put Your Weed in It - SNL") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKOc6hXMDhc) ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/378 "2025-01-28T22:09:01Z")
Zappa was so bad even I, a 17 year old who was likely half asleep, noticed. And even allowing that, in those days, you could never be sure if a skit went bad because the cast fucked up, or of it was all an act. Like I “remember” that Lily Tomlin stomped off and never came back for the rest of the episode, like, for reals. Apparently, that never happened. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/379 "2025-01-28T22:54:49Z")
As a Zappa fan I had to come to terms with him being an asshole long ago. No doubt a complex and interesting asshole. At least his difficult personality came out of genius and not a delusion of grandeur like Seagal. It was easy to feel bad about what Gail Zappa went through with him but then the stories came out about her behavior with their kids. Seemed like they kind of deserved each other. ---
**Author:** ![blondebear](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/blondebear/32/1022_2.png) [@blondebear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/blondebear)\ **Post date:** [January 28, 2025, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839/380 "2025-01-28T23:02:46Z")
I’m a little surprised Gene Simmons hasn’t been mentioned yet. His infamous Fresh Air appearance is more than reason enough to grant him a lifetime membership to the jerk hall of fame. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839.md?page=18) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-celebrities-are-known-for-being-jerks-that-are-not-named-chevy-chase/919839.md?page=20)