At a Glance
- Chevy Chase says he was hurt by being left out of the SNL50 special.
- He reveals the omission in a new CNN documentary airing Jan. 1 2026.
- The story sparked questions about the show’s historic celebration.
- Why it matters: Fans and industry insiders wonder how a founding star was omitted from a milestone event.
Chevy Chase, 82, was an original cast member of NBC’s live sketch comedy show in 1975 before leaving the show in its second season to focus on a successful movie career.
The Omitted Star
In the upcoming CNN Films documentary “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” Chase says he was disappointed that he was not on stage during the live three-hour birthday bash on Feb. 16.
Chevy Chase stated:
> “Well, it was kind of upsetting, actually. I expected that I would’ve been on the stage too with all the other actors. When Garrett (Morris) and Laraine (Newman) went on the stage there, I was curious as to why I didn’t. No one asked me to. Why was I left aside?”
He later texted SNL creator and producer Lorne Michaels about the omission, then retracted the message.
Chevy Chase added:
> “I did bring it up once in a text to Lorne and then took it back. I said, ‘OK, I take it back, silly.’ But it’s not that silly. Somebody’s made a bad mistake there. I don’t know who it was, but somebody made a mistake. They should’ve had me on that stage. It hurt.”
He also questioned why Bill Murray, who took over the “Weekend Update” segment in Season 2, was present at the birthday special while he was not.
- He was the first anchor of “Weekend Update.”
- Bill Murray hosted the segment during the SNL50 special.
- Chase has no answer for the discrepancy.
The Documentary Reveal
The film premieres on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on CNN, featuring Chase’s wife Jayni Chase and her own frustration about the omission.
| Milestone | Year | Event |
|---|---|---|
| Original cast | 1975 | Joined SNL |
| Left SNL | 1976 | Focused on film career |
| SNL50 special | 2025 | Live birthday bash (Feb. 16) |
| Documentary release | 2026 | “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not” |
Jayni Chase said:
> “They told Chevy up until that day that there were two bits (and) they were going back and forth, and then all of a sudden, there’s no bit.”
Key Takeaways
- Chevy Chase was omitted from the SNL50 live special, causing him emotional disappointment.
- He confronted the omission with Lorne Michaels, noting a mistake was made.
- The story is highlighted in a CNN documentary premiering Jan. 1 2026.
The revelation reminds fans that even founding members can feel sidelined during historic celebrations.
