The core study group at Greendale Community College has quite the tumultuous dynamic.
It seems as though every episode, there’s strained tension brewing amongst the crew, consisting of Pierce, Annie, Abed, Troy, Shirley, Jeff, and Britta. More often than not, the source of friction is caused by Pierce. And as we’re learning from the cast, much of that animosity translated behind the scenes as well.
Chevy Chase, who skillfully portrays Pierce Hawthorne, is known for his lewd remarks and politically incorrect jabs. “I just say what everyone else is thinking,” Pierce says. “That adds value.” Yet some of the former SNL star’s unfiltered remarks didn’t land behind the scenes. While the Community cast prides itself for being extremely goofy and borderline unhinged when the cameras stop rolling, Chase often took the horsing around amongst castmates a step too far.
Alison Brie Recalls Chevy Chase’s Offensive Behavior Behind The Scenes Of Community
When appearing on Dax Sheapord’s Armchair Expert Podcast, Alison Brie, who plays the neurotically lovable Annie Edison on Community, recalled Chevy Chase’s off-color humor on the set. “Sometimes the stuff that Chevy would say was so out there, to a degree that was so offensive, you didn’t know what to do but laugh. You were kind of like, ‘woah!’” She continued, saying, “I’ve never experienced this level of… sort of lack of social awareness.”
She added from a more sympathetic angle, “I do think there was this aspect of him being very disconnected from the cast. He was much older than anyone in the cast.”
Furthermore, the Glow star explained how Chase had a very competitive streak with the leading man of the show, Joel McHale, who plays ex-law student Jeff Winger. According to Brie, Chevy Chase felt a sense of insecurity over McHale snagging the handsome leading man role, when Chevy Chase used to be known for that in the 70s and 80s, during the height of his stardom. “Joel represented what he used to be as an actor. And (Chase) was famous at a time when the leading man was super macho,” Brie explained. She continued, saying he’d try to infuse his sense of humor with the other castmates, but it was rooted in dated stereotypes that just made everyone else uncomfortable.
Joel McHale Admits He Dislocated Chevy Chase’s Shoulder in a Physical Fight
In a violent turn of events, Joel McHale opened up in his memoir about how he got into multiple physical fights with Chevy Chase behind the scenes of Community. At one point, it had gotten so violent, that the National Lampoon star dislocated his shoulder.
“[We fought] multiple times,” McHale confessed on the Inside of You With Michael Rosenbaum Podcast. “There was pushing and shoving… It was advanced horseplay. You know horseplay… It wasn’t fun.”
He continued, confessing, “I got in trouble one time because I injured him. Yeah, I dislocated his shoulder.”
As to whether the entire cast will return for the Community movie is yet to be determined. Yet with all this off-screen tension, it seems rather unlikely that they’ll all be in the same room again without another fight ensuing off camera.
