I don't want to say too much about the actual crime Chevy Chase's character commits on Friday's Law & Order. But it's safe to say that neither he nor the L&O producers will be on Mel Gibson's Christmas card list this year.

Chase is surprisingly good in a straight dramatic role, eliminating the ironic wink that marks a lot of his comedic performances. You almost wonder if he could make a late-career switch to this sort of thing.

As you've probably heard, the episode is the Law & Order take on Gibson's DUI arrest last summer, and the anti-Semitic remarks he made, then repeatedly apologized for, following his booking. The show apparently didn't feel much need to alter Gibson's reported statements -- I guess you don't mess with good material -- so a long rant about a Jewish conspiracy and the epithet "sugart*ts" are a big part of the case Cassady (Milena Govich) and Green (Jesse L. Martin) build against him. Even the blood alcohol level is close: .12 percent for Gibson, .13 for Chase's Mitch Carroll.

This being L&O, of course, there's more to the case than a DUI. Mitch, a washed-up sitcom actor, is pulled over wearing blood-soaked clothes, and he's soon the prime suspect in a murder.

The casting of Chase works on a couple of levels. Yes, he's a stand-in for Gibson, but like his character, it's been a while since he had a major role, and longer since he was a serious go-to star. I've heard the stories that he's not the easiest guy to work with, but as a person who can recite large chunks of Caddyshack and Fletch from memory, it's nice to see him turn in a strong performance here.

Comments

Chevy ROCKS! He was a riot on SNL, all his Vacation movies were GREAT, and now... he shows us how talented he is, pulling off great drama too! He deserves an Emmy for this role on Law and Order. What a
surprise from Chevy, once again.

Charles Archer, M.A. | Nov 4, 2006 8:26:38 PM | #

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I thought Chevy Chase surprised me when he was on Law & Order. I think he had a serious look to doing this part, WOW!!!!!!!

David Kotowski | Nov 24, 2007 11:42:40 AM | #

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