Chevy Chase has long been one of Saturday Night Live’s most successful alumni to ever vacate the sketch comedy's cast. In recent years, though, the actor-comedian has become know more as Hollywood’s flesh-and-bone answer to The Muppets' Statler and Waldorf rather than a comedy legend. After the Christmas Vacation star recently had something of a health scare that led to a five-week hospital stay. Chase gave fans a health update, but couldn't stop himself from trashing modern television in the same breath.
Chevy Chase revealed he was recently in the hospital for a heart issue (not related to COVID-19), and following his extended medical stay, the SNL alum is now at home recovering and surrounded by his family. Chase spoke with Page Six to update fans on his current condition, which started off as such:
These are my first few days home. I can only say how happy I am to now be back with my family. I’m feeling good. I was in the hospital five weeks. A heart issue. So, for now, I’m around the house. Not going anywhere. I used to go out and do anything. I’d do slapstick in front of 3,000 people. But at this moment I have no need to go out and meet COVID.
After giving fans that fairly genial rundown about his most current health situation, the actor's inner curmudgeon out in true Chevy Chase fashion. He came down on the current state of television, all of it, including everyone involved, and stated:
I read. Turn on TV. Watch the news. All drek. I see actors, comedians, producers, screenwriters working and, God bless them, but I don’t see anything great on television. It all became a generation of shitheads laughing at the world. The humor today’s giving the next generation worse stuff than they already have in their own lives. It drives me nuts.
Chevy Chase’s commentary on modern television isn’t off-brand for him in the slightest. While it was nice to hear about his current condition being on an upward swing, his dig at current comedies and dramas basically undermined the demanding work of many creatives. Despite his opinions, many fans and critics have referred to the last couple of decades as peak television for viewers. But Chase’s commentary wasn’t so completely off-base, either, as the never-ending array of new streaming services has led to an overabundance of TV altogether. In the same light, the actor came off as bitter and out-of-touch, much like a Chevy Chase character.
As previously mentioned, Chevy Chase’s criticism fell right on the money, considering his current disposition. Chase has made it his mission in recent times to offer his commentary on everything in media (warranted or not). In the past, the Hollywood star criticized the springboard for his career, Saturday Night Live, as well as his time on Community. His feud with creator Dan Harmon has been well-documented, along with his questionable comments about former co-star Donald Glover.
In any case, Chevy Chase’s latest slight against television may have more to do with his own current status in Hollywood rather than a reality where every single thing on TV and streaming is actually "drek."
