Real tomato ketchup, Eddie?
By Dan on Oct 7, 2008 in Movies
The answer to this week’s trivia question is Jed Leland, as portrayed by Chevy Chase in a season one Saturday Night Live skit entitled: Citizen Kane II. When a deli delivery boy arrives at the newsroom, Leland peaks into the bag and says:
“Let’s see here, what am I, chopped liver?”
It’s a throwaway line, but as delivered by the gawkily cocky Chase, it got a good laugh. I still trot this one out from time to time when the situation dictates.
Speaking of Chase, what happened? He was undeniably great on SNL and in his early movies (Caddy Shack, Fletch, Vacation.) Yet he’s fallen on unfunny times. Some trace his downfall to his ill-fated talk show. I’ve also heard he can be a tad difficult, so maybe he’s not someone that director’s are lining up to work with.
In sports, we’re used to seeing the play of past greats deteriorate before our eyes. You wouldn’t think that age would have that effect on comedic actors. Who knows, maybe Chase gave us his best and simply doesn’t have anything left.
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Fletch is one of the funniest movies I’ve seen. Great one liners abound in that movie. Who can ever forget…”are you using the whole fist doc?” I think comic actors/actresses seem to fade away more quickly than their more dramatic counterparts. Or they go through a slow period where roles are few and far between, but maybe something comes along to revive or reinvent their careers. Maybe that’s just me. I think maybe their style wears out after a while, gets old and screen writers and directors run out of ideas to work around that style.
Look at Jerry Seinfeld, where’s he been since his sitcom ran it’s course? Eddie Murphy had to reinvent himself after the success he had in the 1980’s with 48 hrs, Bev-Cop, etc. He was relegated to second-class status for a while. Dr. Doolittle and Shrek revitalized that man’s career. But that’s only been within the last decade or so. Will Farrell has had a nice run, but his antics will run thin, just wait. We won’t see him for a while, he’ll fade, but somewhere he’ll reinvent himself along the way. I just don’t think that these comedy greats have the versatility and range to stay on top of things. Adam Sandler is kind of fading out a bit, nice run in the 1990’s but his recent efforts have been lackluster at best. He’s on the way out. Hey, maybe it’s an SNL thing? Dana Carvey, David Spade, Joe Piscapo, etc. Well Mike Meyers has been successful lately. Maybe he’s the exception to the rule, or maybe he’ll be “gone” soon as well. Or maybe I’m just way off base. Ask Roger Ebert.
Bill Murray seems to have had the most consistant success of the group perhaps. Or maybe Billy Crystal. Luck of the draw or just the ability to change styles. Who knows.
This makes for some interesting conversation though. Whatever happended to…? Chevy Chase is still funny as hell in Caddy Shack, Vacation and Fletch.
Chaz | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
Dana Carvey’s act was always best suited to four minute sketches. Meyers may have put the nail in his coffin with the Love Guru, which looks truly awful. Sandler is and always was a hack.
I agree that Murray has had the best run. Belushi probably would have had long-term success, had he stayed away from the speed balls, because I think he could have crossed over into serious roles.
As much as Will Farrell cracks me up at times, he’s really starting to repeat himself at a high rate.
While Billy Crystal has done some good stuff, there’s always too much Billy Crystal in everything he does. I do, however, recommend his mockumentary, “Don’t Get Me Started” featuring the great Brother Theodore.
Dan | Oct 7, 2008 | Reply
I vaguely remember watching Continental Divide and thinkinng to myself this isn’t at all like the John Belushi I knew. Of course, I was probably 9 or so and the John Belushi I knew dressed in a giant bee costume.
SNL cast members really need to sate themselves with the fact that they have achieved immortality, since we all will quote them until the day we die, but it just doesn’t come with wealth.
Gish | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
I agree, it’s tough to watch some of these comedians just simply dry up before our eyes. But I would say it is human nature – we grow or we die (so to speak). Someone like Bill Murray is still relevant because he has continued to develop and expand his range. His roles in Life Aquatic, Lost in Translation and The Royal Tenenbaums - while you may or may not like them - are clearly of a different tenor than Caddyshack, Stripes and Ghost Busters. Many of the other actors mentioned above have yet to prove that they are not one-trick ponies . . .
Rock-Robster | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
I loved Lost in Translation and the Royal Tenenbaums. The Life Aquatic wasn’t up to usual Wes Anderson standards.
I get your point though. Steve Martin was able to extend his career by going from the Jerk to sensitive guys.
I think a guy like Phil Hartman could have had an extended career as a strictly comedic actor because of his ability to play characters, not just perform impressions. Although he probably could have never been a lead in a movie.
Dan | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
I liked Phil Hartman a lot. But in the few roles he played “straight” he always seemed to be doing an impression of a normal guy. I heard him comment once that he had been doing impressions for so long that he forgot what his own “voice” was . . .
Rock-Robster | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
Without Chevy Chase, we would never know that the Poon name is Comanche Indian. For that, we should be forever grateful.
Unpainted Huffhines | Oct 8, 2008 | Reply
That’s a good point Nick. Chase brought respect to Poons everywhere.
Dan | Oct 9, 2008 | Reply
I’m sure he did, Dan. I’m sure he did.
Unpainted Huffhines | Oct 9, 2008 | Reply