At a Glance
- Chevy Chase says he was hurt after being left out of the SNL50 special.
- He later texted Lorne Michaels to discuss the omission.
- The story appears in the upcoming News Of Fort Worth Films documentary airing Jan. 1, 2026.
- Why it matters: Fans of the original 1975 cast will see his reaction and learn why the omission mattered.
In a surprising move, the legendary 1975 SNL cast member Chevy Chase has spoken out about his disappointment after being omitted from the network’s televised 50th-anniversary celebration. The 82-year-old revealed his feelings in the new News Of Fort Worth Films documentary, which premieres on Jan. 1, 2026.
Chevy Chase’s Shock at the Omission
During the live three-hour birthday bash on Feb. 16, Chase watched former co-stars Garrett Morris and Laraine Newman take the stage, but he was not called on. Chevy Chase stated:
> “It was kind of upsetting, actually… I expected that I would’ve been on the stage too… No one asked me to… Why was I left aside?”
- He was surprised to see co-stars on stage.
- He felt excluded from the celebration.
- He questioned the decision.
Attempted Resolution with Lorne Michaels
Chase says he texted Lorne Michaels once about the omission, then retracted the message. Chevy Chase added:
> “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 reached out to Lorne Michaels via text.
- He later retracted the message.
- He expressed that the mistake hurt him.
Family’s Perspective
Chase’s wife, Jayni, also expressed frustration. 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.”
- Jayni felt the omission was unfair.
- She was surprised by the sudden change.
- She highlighted the lack of communication.
Historical Context
Chase was the first to anchor the show’s “Weekend Update” segment, and Bill Murray, who took over in Season 2, hosted the “Weekend Update” portion of the birthday special.
| Segment | Original Host | Special Host |
|---|---|---|
| Weekend Update | Chevy Chase | Bill Murray |
The documentary, titled “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not”, airs on Jan. 1 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on News Of Fort Worth.
Key Takeaways
- Chevy Chase felt hurt by his exclusion from the SNL50 special.
- He reached out to Lorne Michaels about the omission.
- The documentary offers fans insight into the behind-the-scenes decision.
Chase’s candid admission sheds light on the behind-the-scenes decisions that shaped the historic SNL celebration, and it offers fans a rare glimpse into the emotions of one of the show’s founding stars.
