Chevy Chase Documentary Director Says Everyone From COMMUNITY Refused to Talk: “Every Single Person Said No”

It has long been known that- A. Chevy Chase is one of the funniest comedic actors of all time, and B. He’s kind of an asshole. He’s remembered best for being a first season cast member on Saturday Night Live, and going on to make some of the best comedies of all time with the National Lampoon’s Vacation movies, Three Amigos!, Caddyshack, Spies Like Us, Fletch, and the fan-favorite ensemble series Community.

But he burned a lot of bridges along the way, and a new documentary about his life and career doesn’t shy away from that fact.

Documentary filmmaker Marina Zenovich (Lance, Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind) sat down with Variety to discuss her experience making her film I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not. After being called “not bright enough,” upon meeting Chase, Zenovich explained that she was actually relieved.

She wanted to talk to Chase about his conflicts and the enemies he’s made along the way, and his rudeness was the open door she was looking for.

While former collaborators and confidants, including Mike Ovitz, Dan Aykroyd, Beverly D’Angelo, Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds and Martin Short were open to discussing their collaborations and friendships with Chase, his Community co-stars were not willing to talk about their experiences.

While one person who worked on the series did agree to sit down and talk, Zenovich explained the difficult process, saying:

“Every single person said no. I ran into (‘Community’ creator) Dan Harmon at a screening of ‘Deaf President Now!’ and I got his number. I was so excited. I thought it was going to happen but then he declined.

“I was so lucky to get Jay Chandrasekhar (‘Community’ director). He has such an amazing delivery and he was willing to go there. If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed.”

When asked by Variety why Chase wanted to make this film, which isn’t exactly a flattering portrait of him, Zenovich responded:

“Someone wrote a book about him, and I don’t think that [Chase’s] family liked it. I think they were trying to right a wrong. I don’t know if they think that they did because it has been hard. [The doc] was a hard watch for him and his family, but I think in the end they appreciate it.”

I was so bummed out as an adult when I heard the things that Chase was accused of saying by his Community co-stars. I was raised on his movies, and it’s a hard pill to swallow when someone you think so fondly of turns out to be a jerk.

Not that it excuses it, but it sounds like this documentary gives us a little context as to why Chase has had such a chip on his shoulder throughout his life, and it sounds like a great watch.

I’m Chevy Chase, and You’re Not premieres this Thursday, January 1st, on CNN. The film streams live for pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN Connected TV and mobile apps on January 1.