Legendary ‘SNL’ Star Admits Leaving Hit Comedy Show Was ‘a Mistake’

Chevy Chase has admitted that leaving Saturday Night Live at the height of his success was a “mistake” in the new documentary about life.

The 82-year-old looks back over his career for new project, I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not from CNN Films, which is set to be released on New Year’s Day.

And in the trailer for the documentary he is seen saying: “It was a mistake to leave SNL.”

Chase was a breakout cast member in the first season of the sketch comedy show in 1975 but left midway through season 2 after establishing himself.

SNL boss Lorne Michaels tells the film: “The forces pulling him were money, power, and all of that. And when Hollywood wants you, they’re pretty good at it. And when Hollywood wants you, they’re pretty good at it.”

Chase’s impressions and physical comedy made him the most recognizable member of the cast to millions of viewers. After starring on SNL the movie offers rolled in, and he quit the series to star in films including in Foul Play (1978), Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983), and more.

“The forces pulling him were money, power, and all of that. And when Hollywood wants you, they’re pretty good at it,” Michaels confirms in the doc’s trailer. “And when Hollywood wants you, they’re pretty good at it.”

Previously Chase has been less gracious about his exit from the series.

He admitted in Susan Morrison’s 2025 biography Lorne, “Frankly, I always felt back then that I was smarter than” Michaels, “that I was really the guy who got the show going, not Lorne.”

But Chase didn’t quit SNL altogether, going on to host the show eight times, between 1978 and 1997.

Chase is expected to go into more detailed reasons for declaring his exit a “mistake” when the full film is released.

Another clip shows him seemingly happy with his career overall though, telling the cameras: “I don’t think a lot of people have the happiness I do.”

I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not premiere Thursday, January 1 at 8 p.m. ET on CNN.