Bill Cosby is the most hated comedian in America. But if you were looking for a runner-up, Chevy Chase has to be in with a shout. Over the 40 years of his career, from his time as the breakout performer from Saturday Night Live’s legendary original ensemble, to his movie star days, to his latter years as a sitcom cast member, Chase has insulted and assaulted co-workers, spouted racist, misogynistic and homophobic views, and been described, even by those who tolerate him, as a delusional egomaniac.

The comic actor Ed Helms is, by all accounts, a prince of a man: generous, talented, modest and hard-working. But watching Helms star in the remake of Chase's classic 1983 comedy National Lampoon’s Vacation, one fact becomes clear: Ed Helms will have a longer, more varied and successful acting career than Chevy Chase, but he does not possess the weirdly compelling qualities that briefly made Chase a national obsession.

When Saturday Night Live debuted on NBC in 1975, its impact on audiences was similar to the way punk was received in the UK. The show immediately drew a line separating young from old, smart from dumb and hip from square. Staying up late to watch and then quote it to classmates the following Monday was a badge of honour in adolescent America.