# What has happened to Chevy Chase? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [June 3, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395 "2003-06-03T16:24:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/1 "2003-06-03T16:24:48Z")
I know I can’t be the only person to have seen this commercial and wondered what the heck is going on with the face of Chase? For those not in the know, Chevy is now shilling for Aflac. Apparently, either he or the makeup person thought it necessary to coat his head in enough makeup to embarrass a convetion of Tammy Faye wannabes. For your perusal, [a picture.](http://www.fletchwon.net/aflac2.jpg) But even better, [the commercial](http://www.aflac.com/about_us/corp_overview_commercials.asp). Note: it is their latest commercial, The Supermarket. Words can’t describe how frightening his appearance is. My theory is that his face fell off while trying on new disguises for Fletch Returns: The Funny is Long Gone and they had to rebuild a new face from scratch. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/2 "2003-06-03T16:29:04Z")
I think he’s just getting older, and prehaps has declined to go under the knife to preserve his looks. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/3 "2003-06-03T16:39:30Z")
I highly doubt that Chevy Chase will have a significant role in [Fletch Won](http://us.imdb.com/Details?0275354). ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/4 "2003-06-03T16:42:55Z")
I dunno, he looks okay to me… No, wait, now I see it in the video. A little odd, yeah… Looks like someone needs to save face. ---
**Author:** ![Charlie\_Tan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/charlie_tan/32/12582_2.png) [@Charlie\_Tan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Charlie_Tan)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/5 "2003-06-03T16:57:48Z")
He’s 60 yeears old, and obviously not ashamed to show his bald spot. I think he’s just looking older. ---
**Author:** ![Kilt-wearin\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/82dd89/32.png) [@Kilt-wearin\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kilt-wearin_man)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/6 "2003-06-03T17:44:44Z")
His appearance aside, _who the hell convinced him that the Aflac commercial was, in any way, shape or form, a good idea?_ Good grief, that’s just sad. I’m embarassed for him every time it comes on. In fact, I have to change channels so I can’t see it anymore. “Fall now!” indeed. ---
**Author:** ![rmbnxs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9e5f3/32.png) [@rmbnxs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rmbnxs)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/7 "2003-06-03T18:01:21Z")
Chevy fell a long time ago. Actually, it wasn’t that far of a fall. ---
**Author:** ![Phantomkat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9a140/32.png) [@Phantomkat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phantomkat)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/8 "2003-06-03T18:03:52Z")
I notice the same thing but it just looked like some really bad foundation to me! Contrasts w/ the eyebrow color. ---
**Author:** ![Keith\_Berry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/22d042/32.png) [@Keith\_Berry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Keith_Berry)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/9 "2003-06-03T18:09:30Z")
Anyone remember his misbegotten talk show from a few years back? The critical slam and complete lack of audience interest is still causing repercussions for his career, which was near non-existent even at that time. ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/10 "2003-06-03T18:10:12Z")
I thought he looked pretty weird in that commercial, too. (Although I thought the thread would be about “What the hell happened to Chevy Chase’s career,” which is a whole other question.) The foundation thing makes sense, since his features don’t look different. He just looks plastic-coated. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/11 "2003-06-03T18:11:41Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Keith Berry \* > \*\*Anyone remember his misbegotten talk show from a few years back? The critical slam and complete lack of audience interest is still causing repercussions for his career, which was near non-existent even at that time. \*\* I was probably the only one who _liked_ the show. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/12 "2003-06-03T18:26:43Z")
I’ve always wondered - what was so bad about the show? What the heck happened? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/13 "2003-06-03T18:45:50Z")
**Marley** : I don’t think there was anything inherently _bad_ about it, I think the main thing was that he was up against Leno and Letterman. Can’t really compete with those two in the long run; Arsenio only lasted six seasons. ---
**Author:** ![MaxTheVool](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc29f/32.png) [@MaxTheVool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MaxTheVool)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/14 "2003-06-03T19:35:11Z")
[Shameless Plug/Humorous Self Deprecation] It probably has something to do with his time at my proud Alma Mater, **Haverford College**. [/Shameless Plug/Humorous Self Deprecation] ---
**Author:** ![Morbo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/morbo/32/389_2.png) [@Morbo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morbo)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/15 "2003-06-03T19:36:50Z")
I remember my reaction - I tuned in and was actually excited about it - then his first joke fell flat - something about falling into the cement outside the Chinese Theater - and he looked so nervous and uncomfortable that I felt embarrassed for him. I watched another couple episodes and he still looked very uncomfortable, so I stopped watching b/c it was too painful. Seems to me it was just not well written, and he wasn’t able to bring anything else to the party. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/16 "2003-06-03T19:53:42Z")
I saw his talk show once, and he had this truly hilarious bit where he got made up like a wax dummy of himself (looked quite a bit like he does in that commercial, actually) and hung around in the SNL display of a wax museum, startling visitors. Great comedy. Unfortunetly, when I saw it, he explained that they had first shown the bit the night before, and were showing it again because of the great reaction it got. In other words, it was the only thing they’d done yet on the show that had gotten any laughs. He then proceeded to interview Garret Morris, in one of the most lifeless, uniteresting, and stilited interviews I’ve ever had the displeasure of watching. The animated opening to the show was pretty cool, though. ---
**Author:** ![Moe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/moe/32/2972_2.png) [@Moe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moe)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/17 "2003-06-03T21:04:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Jeff Olsen \* > \*\ ***Marley** : I don’t think there was anything inherently _bad_ about it, I think the main thing was that he was up against Leno and Letterman. Can’t really compete with those two in the long run; Arsenio only lasted six seasons. \*\* **Jeff** if the show was to your taste then, well OK, there’s no arguing with taste so don’t bother to read on. Perhaps though you have just forgotten. Chevy was so incredibly bad as an interviewer that, as others have said, it was just plain embarrassing. There was never any flow whatsoever to any of the discussions with his guests and just about every attempt he made to make a joke fell flat. I think Magic Johnson’s show is the only talk show I can think of that was actually more painful to watch. I hate to say it because I love classic “Caddyshack” and “Fletch” Chevy as much as the next guy, but I think the timeslot had little to do with his talk show’s failure. ---
**Author:** ![Cardinal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cardinal/32/4000_2.png) [@Cardinal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cardinal)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/18 "2003-06-03T22:27:05Z")
I actually went to CC’s talk show. It was pretty lifeless. There were straight lines dropped by the guests that even I noticed, but Chevy didn’t pounce. Notice that this kind of show seems to be hosted by stand-up comedians, who have had years of experience in handling hecklers and dealing with jokes that bomb. I think only Conan didn’t have a well-developed stand-up act first. Johnny, Dave, Jay, Arsenio all did. I know that leaves out Jack, Merv, and um, that guy from Forrest Gump. Anyone know what they did first? I also think that some of those hosts decades ago were not supposed to be so hysterical themselves. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2003, 11:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/19 "2003-06-03T23:09:38Z")
It’s possible that I’ve conveniently forgotten about the interview segments. ---
**Author:** ![Manduck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manduck/32/256_2.png) [@Manduck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Manduck)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2003, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395/20 "2003-06-04T01:27:14Z")
I remember him pointedly, blatantly, obviously staring at the tits of all his female guests. Also he would blurt out such subtle witticisms as “I have a 10-inch penis” and the like. Man that was one dismal show. If I recall correctly, he didn’t want to do the show originally, and Fox (it was Fox, right?) had to offer him huge sums of cash to change his mind. They even bought a theatre and named it after him to entice him. About the AFLAC ad - I think what’s going on is that most people remember Chevy Chase from those Fletch movies, so they’re trying to make him look like that by using makeup to subtract about 20 years. Otherwise people might, instead of saying “hey there’s Chevy Chase”, say “who’s that old guy?” I think his makeup kind of looks like Peter Boyle’s makeup in Young Frankenstein. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-happened-to-chevy-chase/179395.md?page=2)