MOBILE, Ala. — A highlight-reel play at a Senior Bowl practice can put a draft prospect on everyone’s radar, lift his draft stock or elevate him to a new level, still months before picks are made in April.
The play was a long throw from Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe down the right sideline, perhaps a bit underthrown. Bech, a 6-foot-2 receiver from TCU, came back, turned around and made a leaping catch with two defenders on him.
He did it wearing an orange No. 7 jersey, not the No. 18 he wore at TCU while enjoying a breakout 2024 season, with 62 catches for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns.
This week, he’s wearing his brother’s number.
Martin “Tiger” Bech, 27, a former Princeton receiver and New York stockbroker, was killed in the Bourbon Street attack in New Orleans in the early hours of New Year’s Day, one of 14 victims as a man drove a truck through a crowd. This week is the first time Jack has had the chance to return to the normalcy of football, playing in the showcase game for NFL prospects.
“Me and my family have definitely felt all the love and support from everybody, and it’s really helped us try to make the most out of this situation,” said Bech, who is from nearby Lafayette, La., and will have 30-plus family members and friends cheering for him at Saturday’s game.
Bech (rhymes with “mesh”) isn’t the only Senior Bowl player who will pay tribute to Martin at the game. Every player on both teams will have a sticker on the back of his helmet, with the number 7 in orange-and-black tiger stripes.
Bech also has a more permanent reminder of his brother. As he talked to reporters on the field after practice, he took the jersey off, showing a pair of new tattoos. The first, on his collarbone under his left shoulder, reads “7 To Heaven” in script, and over his heart, he has in Roman numerals the dates of his brother’s birth and death: “I.XVIII.MCMXCVII-I.I.MMXXV.”
“I’ve got angel wings on me,” Bech said when asked about wearing his brother’s number. “I’ve got the greatest guardian angel of them all, pulling me to where I am now. This was his last test for me, knowing if I can get past this, anything that’s thrown at me will be nothing compared to this.”
Jack Bech shows reporters the tattoos on his chest that he got in remembrance of his slain brother.
It has been a difficult month for Bech, dealing with the sudden loss of his brother, but it’s also given him a new sense of gratitude for the time he has, for the privilege to play the game he loves, knowing how quickly things can be taken away. This week is his best chance to convince the NFL he’s talented enough to continue playing on Sundays this fall and beyond.
“I’m so blessed to be in a position to be in front of these teams, so I love this,” Bech said. “I wake up every morning and I thank God for putting me in this position, to make the most of every opportunity I get.”
Bech is seen as a mid-round draft prospect, with physical play, sharp route-running and the skill to make contested catches in the air like the one he made Wednesday. Catching passes is a family business — Jack and Martin’s uncle, Brett, played receiver at LSU and for three seasons with the Saints from 1997-99.
A year ago, Bech wasn’t on the radar of the NFL or the Senior Bowl, having totaled four touchdowns in his first three years of college, including two at LSU. But he emerged in a big way, especially in the second half of the season, totaling 647 yards and six touchdowns in the final five games. In TCU’s season finale, he caught a touchdown pass in the fourth quarter to give the Horned Frogs the lead for good in a win over Stanford. That led to him declaring as an underclassmen for the draft, and Saturday is his big chance to introduce himself to the NFL.
“I want teams to know there’s a high level to my game speed. I can stretch the field,” he said. “I know the game super well, all the little nuances, being able to attack coverages. No matter who steps in front of me, I don’t flinch and give it my best every time.”
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He previously spent a decade covering the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. You can follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
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TCU wide receiver Jack Bech has always had a special motivation driving him to succeed on the football field: his late brother’s memory.
Bech’s older brother, a talented football player himself, tragically passed away before he could fulfill his own dreams of playing in the NFL. This loss has fueled Bech’s determination to not only honor his brother’s memory, but to also chase his own dreams of making it to the next level.
Now, Bech is showcasing his skills at the Senior Bowl, hoping to catch the eye of NFL scouts and coaches. With his speed, route-running ability, and strong hands, he has already impressed many with his performance on the field.
But for Bech, this isn’t just about football. It’s about carrying on his brother’s legacy and making him proud. As he continues to chase his NFL dreams, he knows that his brother will always be watching over him, cheering him on every step of the way.
Stay tuned as Jack Bech continues to make his mark at the Senior Bowl and beyond, inspired by the memory of his beloved brother. The NFL may be his next destination, but his brother’s spirit will always be his guiding light.
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Explore thrilling rescue missions with Chase and his Rescue Wheels Cruiser! Chase’s police toy car themed monster truck features oversized wheels, with authentic PAW Patrol design and styling, so it looks just like the vehicle from the show! Clip Chase in the driver’s seat before racing to the rescue. When it’s time for action, load the projectile launcher with one of two projectiles, then push the button on the launcher to fire and save the day! PAW Patrol toys for boys & girls are great gifts for kids who are fans of the show, to foster imaginative pretend play and enhance fine motor skills. Relive cherished moments from PAW Patrol seasons, such as the Mighty Pups and the PAW Patrol Movie or create entirely new adventures with individual PAW Patrol pups and their respective toy cars (each sold separately). Elevate the excitement with the complete Rescue Wheels team, including PAW Patrol vehicles, action figures and the all-new PAW Patrol Tower HQ for endless hours of turbo-charged adventures inspired by the series! BIG WHEELED TOY TRUCK: Rescue Wheels toy trucks feature genuine PAW Patrol styling and oversized truck tires, so you can take your exciting pretend play adventures off-road, just like in the show EXCLUSIVE ACTION FIGURE: Chase is geared up in his new Rescue Wheels uniform, complete with helmet and backpack Clip Chase in the driver’s seat before racing off on an action-packed rescue mission PROJECTILE LAUNCHER: Chase’s Rescue Wheels monster truck comes with 2 projectiles and projectile storage ports Load the projectile into the launcher, then push the button to fire and save the day LEARNING AND EDUCATION TOYS: PAW plush toys and toy cars are toys for boys and girls that enjoy building toys Great gifts for kids 3 and up, as an alternative to dolls, dinosaur toys or a train set COLLECT THEM ALL: For more fun, collect all the PAW Patrol toys like the Rescue Wheels kids toys, PAW Patrol movie toys, dragon toys, stuffed animals, toy figures and playsets (each sold separately) Includes: 1 Vehicle, 1 Figure, 2 Projectiles Covered by the Spin Master Care Commitment. See below for full details
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Introducing the Paw Patrol: Rescue Wheels Chase’s Cruiser!
Get ready for action-packed adventures with Chase and his trusty Cruiser toy truck. This set includes a projectile launcher for ultimate rescue missions and a collectible Chase action figure. Perfect for kids ages 3 and up, this toy is sure to bring hours of fun and imaginative play.
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As Alex Ovechkin chases down Wayne Gretzky’s all-time NHL goals record, the Edmonton Oilers made quite a gesture toward the Washington Capitals captain.
Ovechkin and the Capitals are visiting Edmonton for the first game of a lengthy Canadian road swing, and with No. 8 in town, the Oilers opened the glass cases at the Oilers Hall of Fame in Rogers Place, which features Gretzky’s game-used gear from his time with Edmonton. There, they let Ovechkin try on Gretzky’s gloves and hold his stick and jersey.
Ovechkin has long respected Gretzky as he continues his quest toward the record once thought to be impossible, and the 39-year-old also has a game-used stick from Gretzky in his evergrowing collection. He was gifted Gretzky’s stick in 2018 after meeting “The Great One’s” condition of winning a Stanley Cup first.
Gretzky played with Edmonton from 1979 to 1988, winning four Stanley Cups and scoring 583 of his 894 career goals. He was then traded to the Los Angeles Kings and also had stints with the St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers before hanging up the skates in 1999.
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Ovechkin currently sits 21 goals away from breaking Gretzky’s all-time goals record. He is on pace to break that record in April, and if he keeps up that current scoring pace, he’ll also hit 900 career NHL goals, becoming the only NHL player in history to reach that mark.
Through 30 games this season, Ovechkin has 21 goals. He became the second player in NHL history to record 20 consecutive 20-goal seasons, and he also recently broke the record for the most goaltenders scored on all time.
In a touching display of sportsmanship and respect for hockey history, the Edmonton Oilers recently allowed Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin to try on Wayne Gretzky’s game-used gear as he chases the all-time goals record.
Ovechkin, who is currently in pursuit of Gretzky’s record of 894 career goals, was given the opportunity to don the Great One’s equipment during a recent visit to Edmonton. The gesture was a nod to Gretzky’s legendary career and the impact he had on the sport of hockey.
The Capitals star, known for his scoring prowess and powerful shot, looked right at home in the iconic gear as he took to the ice for a practice session. The moment was a reminder of the history and tradition of the game, as well as the camaraderie and mutual respect among players.
As Ovechkin continues his quest to etch his name in the record books, moments like these serve as a reminder of the connection between past and present in the world of hockey. The Oilers’ gesture was a class act, showcasing the spirit of sportsmanship and admiration for those who came before.
Whether Ovechkin ultimately surpasses Gretzky’s record or not, the moment of trying on the Great One’s gear will surely be a cherished memory for the Capitals captain and a symbol of the bond shared by players across generations.
No one knows a Bengals-Steelers game like Cincinnati slot cornerback Mike Hilton.
He’s played in 14 of them, seven for each side, and won nine of them. He knows exactly what Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is preaching this week. Even if the Ravens wrap up the AFC North with a win over the Browns before Saturday’s nightcap, Hilton expects the Steelers’ full measure even though they’re in even if they lose to the Bengals.
“It’s going to be a bloodbath,” Hilton said after Tuesday’s practice. “One team is in the playoffs. We’re fighting for our playoff lives, so it’s going to be fireworks.
“If I know (Tomlin) he’s talking to the guys right now and getting them fired up before Saturday. We expect to be challenged. All their guys are going to be going. They’re on a three-game skid right now. I’m sure they want to catch some momentum in the playoffs.”
MORE IRON MIKE
And no one knows this Bengals defense better than Hilton.
Since coming over from Pittsburgh for the 2021 season, he has been one of the faces of it. He’s such a constant image, Hilton and safety Vonn Bell take turns running the players-only secondary meetings on off days, a ritual that grew out of the first playoff run in 2021.
Hilton became one of defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s core players while enhancing his rep as one of the best slot cornerbacks in the game and took it to the next level with brilliant playoff performances.
This season, his fourth with the Bengals and ninth in the league, has been a time of transition. Hilton has rarely been on the field on third down. While injuries rocked the front line and secondary, the Bengals lost four games in which they scored 33 points or more.
The last time was four weeks ago in a 44-38 loss to the Steelers at Paycor. Since then, the Bengals have won four straight during a stretch they lead the league with 12 turnovers and are third in opponent passer rating. It was about that time, coming out of the bye into the Pittsburgh game, the Bengals tweaked it a bit.
“Lou has simplified things. Kind of made guys settle down. Really just know their jobs and go out there and make plays. Obviously, the last month we’re playing a lot better,” Hilton said.
“Usually what happens, there are two calls when there’s motion,” Hilton said. “Now there’s one call. Just line up, know your assignment, know your matchup.”
Hilton says that hasn’t cut down on what they can use. By week 18, it’s all on tape, anyway, he says. And he says it’s not rocket science what they have to do Saturday after Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson check-downed to the second-best game of his career with 414 yards passing.
A total of 22 of Wilson’s completions went to tight ends and running backs for 245 yards as Pro Football Focus had the Bengals for 14 missed tackles.
“He was outside the pocket. That’s what he’s done his whole career,” Hilton said. “He’s a Hall of Fame quarterback throwing for 450 on us and made us look real bad.
“Guys are playing better. I think we’ll be locked in,” said Hilton of stopping the underneath stuff. “Just being tighter. The checkdown can be three, four, five yards. We need to limit that. Can’t miss any tackles and we have to get hats to the football.”
It turns out that Hilton believes he’s playing his best ball of the season at the same time his defense is. Maybe it’s no coincidence. Long believed to be one of the best blitzers in the game (Hilton says he’s the best), Anarumo has unleashed him since the bye, Hilton says, and he has been a scourge.
In the last four games, Hilton has 22 tackles working mostly on first and second downs. Five for loss, as many in that stretch as feared quarterback stuffers up front such as Nick Bosa, Cam Jordan and Leonard Williams. And one fewer than T.J. Watt.
And even when those blitzes don’t get there, they’ve altered a spate of plays.
“Those (blitzes) are called. A lot more than early in the year,” Hilton said. “I think that’s why my play has risen. I’ve been able to make a lot of plays. Lou is just opening me up and made me who I am.”
Hilton estimates he blitzed two or three times against Washington rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels in the third game of the year, when Daniels completed 91.3% of his passes in the Bengals’ 38-33 loss. Hilton thinks he did that on the first series against Denver rookie quarterback Bo Nix in a game the Bengals held the Broncos to six yards on six overtime snaps.
“Knowing the cadence. just me honing into my framework. Just learning the framework,’ said Hilton, whose goal is to time a blitz so well he swipes a handoff. “What I do, nobody else can do. I feel like I bring a lot of value to the team.”
SLANTS AND SCREENS
Hilton is certainly valued by the local media. On Tuesday, Mike Petraglia, head of the Cincinnati chapter of the Pro Football Writers, went to Hilton’s locker and presented him with the 2024 Media Cooperation Award.
“Mike Hilton’s willingness to always be available and professional with the media after wins, difficult losses, and during the week makes him a fitting selection for this honor,” said Petraglia, the veteran scribe who has covered both Tom Brady and Joe Burow on a daily basis …
Which brought up Hilton’s status as he heads into the last game of his contract year. On Tuesday, even though it’s been four years ago, he’s still salty about the Steelers letting him go. “They didn’t want me”.
So he sees himself as a Bengal, as does everybody else. His red-zone interception of Ryan Tannehill in the AFC Divisional in Tennessee in 2021 and his eight tackles and two hits of Josh Allen in the next AFC Divisional in snowy Buffalo are etched in Bengaldom.
Hilton, 30, isn’t sure what’s next.
“I would love to finish my career here,” Hilton said. “In this business, you never know when. When the time comes, we’ll figure it out.” …
If you want to know the status of running back Chase Brown (ankle), right tackle Amarius Mims (hand), and left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. (leg), check back later in the week because head coach Zac Taylor had nothing Tuesday. The injury report isn’t much to go on because it was an estimation of a walkthrough.
Chase Brown is listed as did not practice while Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. went as limited …
Orlando Brown Jr. played all 90 snaps last Saturday as they monitor his fibula …
Defensive tackle Kris Jenkins (knee) was limited …
So were Burrow (wrist/knee) and wide receiver Tee Higgins (ankle/knee), which is how they went most of last week. Higgins was even considered questionable heading into Denver even though Taylor indicated he was good to go. And he was with 131 yards and three touchdowns …
Joe Burrow Salutes Ja’Marr Chase’s Jewel Of A Season; In His 15th Bengals-Steelers Game, Mike Hilton Talks How Defense Has Regrouped
The Cincinnati Bengals have been on fire this season, and much of their success can be attributed to the dynamic duo of quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase. Burrow has been lighting up the field with his pinpoint accuracy and leadership, while Chase has been making spectacular plays week in and week out.
In a recent interview, Burrow couldn’t help but praise Chase for his incredible season, calling it a “jewel” of a performance. The chemistry between the two players is undeniable, and it’s clear that they have a special connection on the field.
Meanwhile, veteran cornerback Mike Hilton recently played in his 15th Bengals-Steelers game, and he spoke about how the defense has regrouped and improved throughout the season. Hilton highlighted the team’s resilience and determination to overcome challenges, and he believes that they are peaking at just the right time.
As the Bengals gear up for their upcoming matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers, fans are excited to see what Burrow, Chase, Hilton, and the rest of the team will bring to the table. With a strong offense and a resurgent defense, the Bengals are poised to make a deep playoff run and continue their impressive season.
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Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals, Steelers, Mike Hilton, defense, NFL, football, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, touchdown, rookie season, wide receiver, cornerback, rivalry, comeback, NFL playoffs, AFC North, team chemistry, game strategy, professional athletes
The Aussies have made a late change to their mixed doubles line-up.
Alex de Minaur will team up with Olivia Gadecki after Matt Ebden and Ellen Perez were initially listed on the team sheet.
The Brits have also made a change with Olivia Nicholls replacing Katie Boulter.
Nicholls will partner Charles Broom.
The switch made by Great Britain means de Minaur and Boulter won’t have to face each other on opposing sides of the net.
De Minaur and Boulter announced their engagement just prior to Christmas.
Brisbane International: Joint wins first set against Azarenka
Australian 18-year-old Maya Joint is meeting the challenge of playing Victoria Azarenka with relish.
Joint won the first set of the round-of-32 match in a tie-breaker (7/5).
She and Azarenka have traded breaks early in the second set.
United Cup: De Minaur levels tie for Aussies
Alex de Minaur has kept Australia in its tie against Great Britain.(Getty Images)
Alex de Minaur has made sure the mixed doubles is a live rubber with a resounding straight-sets win over Billy Harris.
De Minaur broke the Briton for a fifth time to complete a 6-2, 6-1 victory.
The Aussies are still a chance of reaching the quarterfinals, but it will come down to the mixed doubles.
United Cup: De Minaur keeps powering on
With a hometown crowd cheering him on, Alex De Minaur has gained a double break in the second set to lead 4-1 against Billy Harris.
A de Minaur win will see Australia level the tie against Great Britain at 1-1.
United Cup: De Minaur goes 2-0 ahead in second set
Alex de Minaur got an early break in the second set.(AAP)
Alex de Minaur is moving closer to victory in his singles match against Billy Harris.
Some breathtaking court coverage saw the Aussie win his most recent service game after he broke Harris at the beginning of the second set.
De Minaur, the world number nine, leads 2-0 in the second set after winning the first 6-2.
Brisbane International: Aussie Joint takes on Azarenka
It’s still early days, but Aussie young gun Maya Joint is getting on top of Victoria Azarenka in Brisbane.
While Joint was broken by Azarenka, she has grabbed two service breaks against the two-time Australian Open champion to lead 4-2 in the first set.
United Cup: De Minaur wraps up first set
Alex de Minaur is a set away from victory against Billy Harris.(AAP)
Alex de Minaur serves to love to see out the first set in 38 minutes.
De Minaur won the set 6-2, having twice broken Billy Harris’s serve.
United Cup: De Minaur secures double break
Alex de Minaur will serve for the first set at 5-2 against Great Britain’s Billy Harris.
The Aussie broke Harris’s serve for the second time in the seventh game.
United Cup: De Minaur gets the break
Alex de Minaur secured an early break against Billy Harris.(AAP)
Alex de Minaur is getting on top of Billy Harris in their singles rubber in Sydney.
The Australian men’s number one broke his British opponent in the fifth game of the first set to establish a 3-2 lead.
De Minaur’s partner Katie Boulter had earlier put Great Britain 1-0 ahead following her victory over Olivia Gadecki.
Great Britain has automatically advanced to the quarterfinals, courtesy of Boulter’s straight-sets win, but Australia is still a chance of reaching the knockout stage.
United Cup: De Minaur wins opening service game
Alex de Minaur has relaxed the nerves to win his first service game against Great Britain’s Billy Harris.
Harris had earlier held serve in front of a parochial Ken Rosewall Arena crowd who have — politely — let the Briton know they are behind their local hero de Minaur.
Brisbane International: Kasatkina wins marathon match
In a match lasting a gruelling three hours and 21 minutes, world number nine Daria Kasatkina was pushed to the brink before prevailing against American Peyton Stearns.
Russia’s Kasatkina, seeded three in Brisbane, drew upon all of her energy reserves to win 7-6 (9/7), 4-6, 7-5.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian 16th seed Dayana Yastremska departed the tournament after a 7-5, 6-4 loss to Russia’s Anastasia Potapova.
United Cup: De Minaur on court as Aussies look to level tie
Australia’s top-ranked men’s player Alex de Minaur is warming up for his singles rubber against Great Britain’s Billy Harris on Ken Rosewall Arena.
We’ll keep you updated throughout the match.
United Cup: Great Britain claims lead after Boulter triumphs
Katie Boulter has put Great Britain in front.(Getty Images)
Katie Boulter breaks Olivia Gadecki’s serve to put an exclamation mark on an impressive victory in the opening singles rubber.
Boulter was victorious 6-2, 6-1 over Gadecki to give Great Britain a 1-0 lead over Australia.
The straight-sets win put Great Britain into the quarterfinals, but Australia can still advance — as the top second-placed team in Sydney — via results in the remaining singles and mixed doubles rubbers.
Boulter will now watch on as her partner, Australian men’s number one Alex de Minaur, faces her British teammate Billy Harris.
United Cup: Tough night so far for Aussies
Australia captain Lleyton Hewitt (left) gives words of encouragment to Olivia Gadecki.(AAP)
Australia has its back to the wall early in their final group tie against Great Britain.
United Cup: Boulter steaming towards victory
Katie Boulter is well on top in the opening singles rubber.(AAP)
She won the first set comfortably, now Great Britain’s Katie Boulter has two service breaks early in the second against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki.
Boulter leads 3-0 in the second set on Ken Rosewall Arena.
She won the first set 6-2.
United Cup: Boulter wins first set against Gadecki
Katie Boulter has put Great Britain in the driver’s seat.(AAP)
Great Britain is edging closer to going 1-0 up in its group tie against Australia at Ken Rosewall Arena in Sydney.
Highlighted by securing a double break, Katie Boulter dominated the first set of the opening singles rubber against Olivia Gadecki, winning 6-2.
Boulter landed 75 per cent of her first serves and posted three aces.
United Cup: Boulter gives Brits early edge
Katie Boulter has a service break up her sleeve in her singles rubber against Australia’s Olivia Gadecki.
The Briton leads 3-2 in the first set.
United Cup: Gadecki faces Boulter in opening singles rubber
Play is underway in Australia’s United Cup tie against Great Britain.
Australia’s Olivia Gadecki is facing Katie Boulter in the opening singles rubber.
Later, Gadecki’s compatriot Alex de Minaur will meet Billy Harris in the second singles match.
The doubles run of Nick Kyrgios and Novak Djokovic has come to an end in Brisbane at the hands of top seeds Nikola Mektić and Michael Venus.
Kyrgios and Djokovic sent the contest against into a match tie-breaker after winning the second set 6-3.
But the doubles experience of Mektić and Venus shone through when it mattered most, with the duo clinching the tie-break 10-8.
They won the first set 6-2.
The tournament isn’t over for Djokovic, however, as he remains in the hunt for the singles title.
He faces French veteran Gaël Monfils in the last 16.
United Cup: Poland advances to quarterfinals
Hubert Hurkacz (left) and Iga Swiatek won the mixed doubles rubber.(Getty Images)
Poland has moved through to the knockout stage of the United Cup with a 2-1 triumph over Czechia.
Iga Swiatek and Hubert Hurkacz teamed up to defeat Karolina Muchova and Tomas Machac in the deciding mixed doubles rubber, 7-6 (7/3), 6-3.
The singles matches had earlier between shared between Poland and Czechia.
Machac got past Hurkacz 7-5,3-6, 6-4 in the men’s rubber, but Swiatek levelled for Poland with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Muchova.
Exciting news from day six of the Brisbane International, United Cup! Australia is set to face off against Great Britain in a thrilling match as they aim to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Stay tuned for live updates and all the action as it unfolds on the court. Who will come out on top in this epic battle between two tennis powerhouses? Follow along to find out! #BrisbaneInternational #UnitedCup #AustraliaVsGreatBritain #QuarterfinalsBound
The Saturday Night co-writer and director revealed original SNL cast member Chevy Chase‘s reaction to the film, which fellow sketch comedy alum David Spade called “an exact Chevy thing” to say.
“So, Chevy comes in to watch the movie, and he is there with [wife] Jayni and they watch the film, and he’s in the group, and he comes up to me after and he pats me on the shoulder and goes, ‘Well, you should be embarrassed,’” he told Spade and Dana Carvey on their Fly on the Wall podcast.
Spade said of Chase’s response, “You couldn’t even write it better.” Carvey added that Chase “knows that’s funny, like that’s the roughest thing you could say to a director in the moment, or right up there.”
Reitman recounted of the conversation: “I’m trying to balance it, because, in my head, I know, ‘Alright, I’m getting my own Chevy Chase moment that’s 1,000 percent only for me right now.’ And from a comedy point-of-view that’s really pure, and that’s kind of cool. But also, I just spent like two years of my life recreating this moment and trying to capture Chevy perfectly, and also even in the ego, find the humanity and give him a moment to be loved — no, none of that shit played. He’s not talking about that stuff.”
Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin and Cory Michael Smith as Chevy Chase in Saturday Night (2024) (Hopper Stone/Sony Pictures Releasing/Courtesy Everett Collection)
Explaining his decision to cast Cory Michael Smith as Chase, Reitman said he “tried to identify one thing” about each character, which for Chase was “an ego that needs to be humbled.”
Although Smith previously admitted he “didn’t have the privilege of talking to Chevy” before crafting his portrayal, he’d gotten word the 2x Golden Globe nominee had seen the film.
“I do hope that he saw a younger version of himself, which maybe that’s a joyful experience or not,” Smith told People. “But this man played such a huge part in me wanting to be a performer and loving movies, so it was an honor to play him.”
Saturday Night takes place on Oct. 11, 1975, as a ferocious troupe of young comedians and writers change television forever. Formerly titled SNL 1975, the film tells the true story of what happened behind the scenes that night in the 90 minutes leading up to the first-ever broadcast of SNL.
The film also stars Gabriel LaBelle as Lorne Michaels, Rachel Sennott as Rosie Shuster, Dylan O’Brien as Dan Aykroyd, Ella Hunt as Gilda Radner, Emily Fairn as Laraine Newman, Matt Wood as John Belushi, Lamorne Morris as Garrett Morris, Kim Matula as Jane Curtin, Nicholas Braun as Andy Kaufman/Jim Henson, Cooper Hoffman as Dick Ebersol, Kaia Gerber as Jacqueline Carlin and Willem Dafoe as David Tebet.
Jason Reitman, director of the upcoming film “Saturday Night,” recently shared Chevy Chase’s reaction to the highly anticipated project. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Reitman revealed that Chase, who famously starred in the original “Saturday Night Live” cast, was thrilled about the film and excited to see how it would all come together.
Reitman explained that Chase had a great sense of humor about the project and was eager to see how the film would capture the essence of the iconic sketch comedy show. Chase, known for his deadpan delivery and sharp wit, is sure to bring a unique perspective to the film.
Fans of “Saturday Night Live” and Chevy Chase can look forward to seeing the beloved comedian’s reaction to the film when it hits theaters. Stay tuned for more updates on “Saturday Night” and Chase’s involvement in the project.
