Quotes of the Day

Why have you disappeared from the movie screen for so long? Do you plan to direct? —Brock Thorson in El Cajon, Calif.

Good question. I have been asked to direct many times and usually said no. As is described in the new book, one of the reasons I moved East [to Bedford Corners, N.Y., in 1995] was because my daughters were about to reach puberty and I wanted to get them out of L.A. I had a great 20 to 25 years, and I figured I would come back later, which is happening now. But it was time to be a dad and do it the right way.

Of all the movies you appeared in, which is your favorite? —Kerri Reed, San Bernardino, Calif.

It is a very difficult question, but I think the answer has to be Fletch, because it allowed me to be myself. Fletch was the first one with me really winging it. Even though there was a script, the director allowed me to just go, and in many ways, I was directing the comedy.

If you had it to do again, would you have left Saturday Night Live after only one year? —Steve Hurd, Oakland, Calif.

No, I would not. It has been portrayed over the years as there being "lucrative deals" awaiting me in Hollywood. But if you look at the record, I didn't make a movie for two or three years. There were no lucrative deals awaiting me. I left because I was in love with a girl in L.A. I missed it very much. I should have hung around for years. And I feel bad about it now.

What's your reaction to Live from New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live, a book that describes you picking on a gay member of the cast? —Paul Dillon, Spokane, Wash.

It is totally untrue. I have letters from people like Will Ferrell and Colin Quinn apologizing profusely for what they "said" in that book. I've had gay friends all of my life and have never been a bigot. There have been so many books about me. None of them are true.

Were you surprised by the success and longevity of the Vacation movies franchise? —Andrew Berry, Henderson, Nev.

No. But I only thought the first one and the Christmas Vacation were the good ones. There were good parts of European Vacation, and Vegas was O.K. People to this day keep saying "When is the next Vacation movie?"

Why do you only play a buffoon? I'd like to see you as a bad guy. —Brian Powell, Houston

I just did that with Law and Order. I played a bigot who commits a murder. It was a darker role, and I actually enjoyed it. But once you are pegged as a comedian, you are going to be used as that. It's not a choice one makes as much as one the studio makes.

Would you agree your talk show was not a career high point? —Tracy Romine, Mckinney, Texas

The talk show [The Chevy Chase Show] that I went to Fox with was an entirely different concept than what was pushed on me. I would never do it again. What I wanted had a whole different feel to it, much darker and more improv. But we never got there.

What do you think of political comedians like Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert? —Crystal Bruneau, Los Angeles

I think we need it. My ego tends to think that, you know, I started it with my Weekend Update. But things are eclectic and come together from people without you ever knowing it.

Are you friends with Bill Clinton? Do you support Hillary or Obama, and why? —Harriet James, Orlando, Fla.

I am as close as one can say they are to a President. We formed quite a nice friendship, and I have tremendous feelings for him and his family. I find that there are three incredible Democratic candidates, but we could certainly use a woman in the White House.

When can we expect a challenge between you and Tiger for a blindfolded putting contest? —Cody Salinas, Reno, Nev.

[Laughs]. I would love nothing better than to meet Tiger Woods. I am not a golfer. I played with Bill Clinton a couple of times. At Camp David, I was hitting the ball all over the place in the woods. He has never asked me to play golf since.

• Carolyn Sayre
• The comedian who became a household name on Saturday Night Live is telling all in a new, authorized biography, I’m Chevy Chase ... and You’re Not