Marina Zenovich Says Former ‘SNL’ Star Was the Rudest Interview of Her Career

A new CNN documentary takes a close and uncomfortable look at the life of Chevy Chase, and it does not try to protect his image.

The film is directed by Marina Zenovich, a filmmaker known for documentaries about famous and controversial figures. This time, she turns the camera on the former “Saturday Night Live” star and shows a side of him many people already suspected was there.

From the start, it is clear that Chase did not control how the documentary was made. Zenovich appears to challenge him directly, and Chase responds with sharp humor that quickly crosses into rudeness.

At one point early in filming, Chase snaps at Zenovich during their first conversation. Zenovich later said that moment caught her off guard but also helped her move forward with the project.

“I’d never done an interview where someone was so rude to me,” Zenovich told Variety. She explained that she was nervous about how to confront Chase about his reputation. “I was so worried going into that first interview with him about how I was going to say to him, like, ‘Everyone thinks you’re an a*****.’” When Chase spoke to her that way, she said it gave her an opening to be honest. “So the minute he said that to me, I had a way in.”

The documentary follows Chase’s full career and personal life. It covers his early success on “Saturday Night Live,” his move into major movie roles, and his fall from favor. The film also looks at his struggles with drugs and alcohol, serious health problems, failed projects, and ongoing conflicts with people he worked with. His time on the NBC show “Community” is not ignored, including the tension between Chase and the rest of the cast.

Zenovich said her goal was not to attack Chase but to understand him. “I wanted to figure out who was the real person behind the conflicted, guarded and somewhat fragile man we see on camera,” she said. After many interviews, she believes Chase does have self-awareness, but also carries a lot of emotional pain.

The film includes interviews with Chase’s family and several well-known figures from his past. Among them are Dan Aykroyd, Goldie Hawn, Beverly D’Angelo, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds, Martin Short, and former agent Mike Ovitz. Their comments help show how Chase was viewed by people who worked closely with him.

Zenovich made the film with her husband and producing partner, P.G. Morgan. Morgan said working with Chase was challenging because of his fast mind and sharp tongue. “Chevy is incredibly quick-witted and always on, so you have to be able to go toe-to-toe with him,” Morgan told Variety. He added that Chase could be intimidating and difficult to interview.

Unlike many celebrity documentaries, Chase was not promoting anything when he agreed to participate. Zenovich believes the project came together because Chase’s family wanted his story told differently after a recent book upset them. She said the finished film was hard for them to watch, but she thinks they understand why it was made.

One noticeable absence in the documentary is the cast of “Community.” Zenovich confirmed that nearly everyone from the show refused to take part. “Every single person said no,” she said. The only exception was director Jay Chandrasekhar, who agreed to speak openly about his experience. Zenovich said without him, the film would have been missing an important piece.

“I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not” premieres January 1 on CNN and will stream on CNN’s digital platforms.

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