Podcast Summary: Your Mom's House Ep. 841 – "Jeans-Mas Vacation w/ Chevy Chase"

Date: December 24, 2025
Hosts: Christina Pazsitzky and Tom Segura
Guest: Chevy Chase
Studio: YMH Studios

Episode Overview

In this special Christmas episode, comedians and hosts Christina P. and Tom Segura welcome legendary comedy icon Chevy Chase to "Your Mom's House." The discussion flows through holiday memories, favorite Christmas traditions, reflections on classic comedy films, behind-the-scenes stories from Chevy’s storied career, and deeper insights into comedy itself. Along the way, the tone is irreverent and playful—with plenty of candid moments, nostalgia, and absurdity. The episode also celebrates the release of the new CNN documentary "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not" (premiering January 1st), and gives devoted fans a firsthand look at the man behind the myth.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Holiday Banter & Christmas Traditions

[00:41–04:47]

• Tom and Christina begin by riffing on Christmas celebrations, Jewish holidays, and reminisce about childhood traditions.
• Christina shares a personal story about her Hungarian and German heritage—her father's penchant for playing German Christmas albums, much to the chagrin of her stepmother.
  • “She just hated German music and the language and stuff. ...he would play the whole album and just drink more and more, and I would get to watch that dynamic play out.” – Christina [04:34]
• Tom describes differences between American and European ways of doing Christmas, such as gift-opening practices and midnight mass.
  • “The whole thing is that you wait for Sandy Claus to come down the chimney on the night of the 24th, and on the 25th, you wake up and you're like, holy shit. And you have presents under the tree. That's how we do it here.” – Tom [06:51]

2. Observations on Internet & Social Media

[09:08–10:36]

• The hosts reflect on the evolution of internet humor, noting an uptick in women participating in gross-out or absurd content.

• Tom comments on trends he sees on Threads (Instagram’s Twitter competitor): comedians complaining about the business and people obsessing about their post engagement.

  • “Twitter’s undefeated because it’s got pornography, it’s got hate, it’s got racism, it’s got crazy shit.” – Christina [10:20]

3. TV & Movie Recommendations

[13:05–16:32]

• Tom raves about the Peacock series "Day of the Jackal," praising its production values and recommending it for the holiday break.
  • “If you want something to watch this holiday break...I would highly recommend the Day of The Jackal.” – Tom [15:55]
• Both gush about Timothy Chalamet’s performance in the new "Willy Wonka" and discuss his surprisingly winning charm ("He just melted my cold ice heart." – Christina [16:35])
• Sincere, if unserious, debate over which celebrity women Chalamet 'should' be dating.

4. Safety Tips for the Holidays (w/ Larry)

[21:21–23:33]

• Inserted safety PSA from Larry: importance of “situational awareness,” particularly for international travel and elevators after showing a dangerous elevator video.
  • “Cars are coffins when they aren’t moving.” [23:33, quoting Larry’s book]

5. Feature Interview: Chevy Chase Joins the Show

[26:40–65:12]

The Roots of Comedy Taste

• Tom and Christina thank Chevy for inspiring their passion for comedy:
  • “The foundation of why you fall in love with comedy is...when you're a kid...you are a huge reason why we fell in love with comedy.” – Tom [27:00]

Behind the Scenes: Favorite Films and Improv

• Chevy’s favorite film is "Three Amigos" because it included his close friends Steve Martin and Martin Short.
  • “I think that is my favorite. Even Fletch doesn't quite come up.” – Chevy [27:51]
• Improvisation was central to his work. Classic bits such as calling for “Russ,” Clark Griswold’s recurring line, were ad-libbed:
  • “I've been doing that since the very, very first one. Oh, there you are. He's always right next to me when I do it.” – Chevy [29:45]
• Chevy asserts that “all comedy is physical,” from eyebrow raises to pratfalls:
  • “It has to do with a certain amount of athleticism and timing, and that's kind of how comedy comes about.” – Chevy [30:14]

Candid Reflections: SNL, Career Choices, and Regrets

• Addresses SNL Departure and Hindsight
  • “In retrospect, yeah, I've always felt that it was too soon.” – Chevy [31:27]
• Misses the energy and thrill of live TV:
  • “I missed being that guy who said, live from New York...” – Chevy [31:48]
• When asked which SNL cast members he enjoys since, he playfully refuses to choose but finally praises Kate McKinnon and Kenan Thompson.
• He shares the story of writing the iconic “word association” sketch with Richard Pryor:
  • “We wrote that thing where I said all the bad words...and he just played it so well.” – Chevy [51:31]
• On turning down roles, reveals he passed on “Forrest Gump,” a part written with him in mind, but never felt it fit:
  • “No, that was written for me...But I just didn’t think I was the guy...I’m too smart.” – Chevy [40:46 & 41:09]

Industry & Comedy Commentary

• On the decline of big studio comedies:
  • “You guys were putting out really funny movies and then something happened in the last 15 years...they're not putting out funny stuff.” – Tom [37:25]
  • “Make me laugh. And I'm not an easy laugher...It's got to be a surprise, for one thing.” – Chevy [36:48]
• Credits writing as the heart of SNL and comedy, explaining his own journey from writer to performer.

Fond Memories & Fan Interaction

• Recounts being close to President Ford, who invited him to the White House despite Chevy’s relentless SNL lampooning:
  • “I was just raking him over the clothes every week...But he was so sweet and invited me to the White House and to stay overnight in the Lincoln Bedroom...” – Chevy [47:50]
• Details a bomb scare at his apartment after SNL fame, which turned out to be homemade soup left by a fan.
  • “So that was a pretty funny experience. Of course, it ended up being...vegetable soup...from some fan.” – Chevy [54:30]

On Set Stories & Iconic Scenes

• Confirms numerous memorable scenes were improvised, like “Big Ben, Parliament” in European Vacation:
  • “Just improv. I just. Yeah, because we couldn't get out of...That was the traffic. And I really was caught in that situation. Look, kids. Big Ben, Parliament.” – Chevy [46:01]
• Discusses directors who let comedians play and find comedy in the moment.
• Recalls scenes and actors he worked with—speaks fondly of castmates like Beverly D’Angelo and Eric Idle.

Chevy’s Take on Fame, Comedy and Legacy

• Age and perspective: “I'm 82 now, so...” [37:12]
• On the longevity of "Christmas Vacation":
  • “That one just seems to have lasted over 39 years, I think, last 40 years.” – Chevy [61:23]
• Reminisces with affection about favorite (and least favorite) co-stars, keeps the self-deprecating comedy going throughout.

Promotion for Upcoming Projects

• Reminds listeners about the January 1 CNN documentary (“I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not”) and last live show (December 29, Richmond, VA).
  • “The doc...does recap a lot of, of from the beginning...to now of things that I did.” – Chevy [59:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On all comedy being physical:
  • “Well, I think all comedy is physical, frankly...from the lifting of an eyebrow to, you know, biting the lip to smiling to...Prattful...they’re all physical.” – Chevy [30:10]
• On SNL regrets:
  • “In retrospect, yeah, I've always felt that it was too soon [to leave SNL].” – Chevy [31:27]
• On not doing Forrest Gump:
  • “No, that was written for me...But I just didn't think I was the guy...I'm too smart.” – Chevy [40:46 & 41:09]
• On writing vs. performing:
  • “When I was first hired, it was as a head writer, not as an actor. Lorne didn't want me to act...” – Chevy [38:14]
• On comedy today:
  • “Make me laugh. And I'm not an easy laugher.” – Chevy [36:48]
  • “It's got to be a surprise, for one thing.” – Chevy [37:00]
• On his legacy:
  • “That's very nice...We fell in love with comedy and you're a big reason why, man.” – Tom [65:02]
• On staying in the Lincoln Bedroom:
  • “But he was so sweet and invited me to the White House and to stay overnight in the Lincoln Bedroom and all of that.” – Chevy [47:50]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:41–04:47] – Holiday banter, Christmas traditions, and German/Hungarian music memories
• [09:08–10:36] – Reflections on social media and internet humor
• [13:05–16:32] – Movie and TV recommendations
• [21:21–23:33] – Larry’s situational awareness PSA
• [26:40–65:12] – Full feature interview with Chevy Chase
  • [27:51] Chevy’s favorite movie (“Three Amigos”)
  • [30:10] Comedy as physical art
  • [31:27] SNL departure regrets
  • [33:05] Christina’s crush on Chevy
  • [36:48] On what makes comedy work
  • [40:46] Turning down Forrest Gump
  • [46:01] Improving “Big Ben, Parliament” scene
  • [47:50] White House stories
  • [51:31] Writing iconic sketch with Richard Pryor
  • [61:23] Longevity of Christmas Vacation
  • [62:09] Praise for costars and improv stories
  • [65:02] Hosts express gratitude for Chevy’s influence

Tone & Language

• Irreverent, conversational, and playful.
• The trio trade barbs, veer into raunchy humor (as expected from YMH), and Chevy displays his signature blend of mischief and wit.
• Despite the jokes, there’s clear affection and respect.

Closing Thoughts

The episode is a true holiday treat for comedy fans—rich in behind-the-scenes tales, earnest reflection on comedy’s craft, and uproarious asides. Chevy Chase not only entertains with anecdotes and sharp responses but also provides genuine insights into the art and soul of making people laugh, wrapping up with reminders of his lasting legacy and ongoing projects.