Inside the Feuds: Joel McHale's Confrontations With Chevy Chase on 'Community'

Joel McHale Got Into Physical Fights With Chevy Chase Filming Community

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Joel McHale shared that things could get pretty wild at Greendale Community College because of his rocky relationship with Chevy Chase, his costar. McHale, who is 52 years old, and Chase, who is 80, starred together on the NBC comedy for five seasons from 2009 to 2014. Sometimes, their on-screen drama even led to real-life conflicts.

On a recent episode of the “Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum” podcast, McHale shared that he and Chase had gotten into physical fights several times.

McHale jokingly referred to these altercations as "advanced horseplay" that would sometimes escalate into something more.

Things were not always light-hearted on set, as McHale revealed that tensions would sometimes arise between the two actors.

McHale shared a story of a time when he accidentally injured his co-star, admitting, "I got in trouble because I dislocated his shoulder."

The relationship between the actors was strained to the point where McHale wrote a whole chapter on how to deal with Chase in his book "Thanks For The Money" in 2016.

When Rosenbaum asked McHale if he believed Chase was aware that he could sometimes act unpleasantly, McHale replied, "I would assume so. I would think so."

Joel McHale Got Into Physical Fights With Chevy Chase Filming Community

Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank

We contacted Chase and Sony Pictures Television representatives for a comment, but we have not received a response yet.

McHale addressed Chase's recent remarks on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast in September 2023, where Chase mentioned that Community was "not funny enough for me."

McHale wasn't surprised by the revelation. He remembered Chase saying that the lines weren't funny enough for him to remember. According to McHale, it wasn't like being in prison or forced into a war. They were getting paid well and had free food all day. So, they could have just left if they wanted to.

It turns out that host Rosenbaum, famous for playing Lex Luthor on Smallville, had a noteworthy encounter with Chase. Rosenbaum mentioned that he had never seen the side of Chase that everyone else saw until they were introduced by mutual friend Beverly D’Angelo, who starred with Chase in Vacation, at a convention. When Rosenbaum mentioned that they had met before, he was met with a very cold response from Chase.

Rosenbaum remembered a funny encounter where he reassured someone that it's okay to forget him. The person responded by telling him not to talk in their face.

McHale and his former Community castmates, such as Donald Glover, Gillian Jacobs, Danny Pudi, Alison Brie, and Yvette Nicole Brown, are gearing up to film a long-awaited Community movie. This will finally bring to life the show's famous "six seasons and a movie" promise.

Chase, however, will not be participating.

Editor's P/S:

The article sheds light on the turbulent relationship between Joel McHale and Chevy Chase during their time on the comedy series, "Community." McHale's revelations about physical altercations and strained tensions on set paint a vivid picture of the behind-the-scenes dynamics that often overshadowed the show's comedic brilliance. It's clear that the on-screen chemistry between the two actors masked a deeper level of conflict that ultimately led to Chase's exclusion from the upcoming Community movie.

McHale's comments also highlight the complexities of working in a close-knit environment where personal differences can spill over into professional interactions. The fact that McHale felt compelled to write an entire chapter in his book about dealing with Chase suggests that their relationship had reached a boiling point. Chase's recent remarks about the show's humor not being up to his standards further illustrate the divide between the two actors' perspectives on the series.