Chevy Chase Says He Was Hurt After Being Left Out of SNL Anniversary Tribute

Chevy Chase, one of the original cast members who helped launch Saturday Night Live into American pop culture history, is opening up about being snubbed during the show’s 50th anniversary special and he’s not hiding his disappointment.

“Well, it was kind of upsetting actually,” Chase says in an upcoming documentary titled I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not. “I expected that I would’ve been on the stage too with all the other actors… No one asked me to. Why was I left aside?”

Now 82, Chase was a foundational part of SNL’s original lineup in 1975, earning two Emmy Awards for both acting and writing. He was the first Weekend Update anchor and became the show’s first breakout star, using that momentum to launch a successful Hollywood career in classics like Caddyshack, Fletch, and National Lampoon’s Vacation.

Although he left SNL halfway through its second season, Chase returned frequently for guest appearances and special episodes until now.

Despite being present at the taping of the “SNL50: The Anniversary Special”, Chase was not brought on stage with other original cast members like Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman, nor did he participate in any sketches or tributes.

“Why was Bill Murray there and why was I not?” Chase asked in the documentary. “I don’t have an answer for that… Somebody made a mistake. They should’ve had me on that stage. It hurt.”

Chase’s wife, Jayni Chase, confirmed that producers had been in communication with him about participating in the special all the way up to the day of filming. Plans apparently included two possible skit options but those were abruptly scrapped without explanation. “Then, all of the sudden, ‘No, there’s no bit,’” she said.

Even SNL creator Lorne Michaels addressed the situation in the documentary, offering only a vague rationale:

“There was also a caution from somebody that I don’t want to name that Chevy, you know, wasn’t as focused.”

That anonymous “caution” has fans speculating about behind-the-scenes drama or lingering resentment, but to many, it reads as a convenient excuse to exclude a comedy pioneer whose influence is undeniable.

Like many comedians of his era, Chase has been known for his sharp wit and unapologetic humor, which has occasionally ruffled feathers in today’s ultra-sensitive Hollywood. But whatever the backstage politics may be, ignoring one of the original architects of SNL is a glaring misstep one that hasn’t gone unnoticed by fans or fellow performers.

While Chase has always been a polarizing figure, he remains a legend in American comedy. He was Weekend Update before it was a cultural institution. He was the face of SNL when the show was still finding its identity and helped give it one.

Sidelining someone with that legacy, especially at a milestone celebration, feels like more than an oversight it feels intentional.

SNL may be a modern entertainment juggernaut now, but it stands on the foundation Chevy Chase helped build. And as the man himself said, it’s not just “silly” it’s wrong.

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