The SNL band was playing. The opening monologue countdown had begun, and backstage, trouble was brewing. Chevy Chase had returned to host after a year’s absence from the show. By then, Chevy was a movie star. Bill Murray had been cast to take Chevy’s place on SNL. In Chevy’s opinion, John Belushi was the most talented cast member and was jealous of Chevy’s rise to stardom.

“This ate a little bit at John. Enough so that, I found out later, John had said things to Bill about me that simply didn’t happen,” said Chevy. “It worked Bill up a little bit. I went in and I was a little full of myself after a year of fame and Billy wanted to knock me down a couple rungs. He wanted to take me on and words were said just before the show.”

Cast member Jane Curtin recalled, “They both know the one thing that they could say to one another that would hurt the most. Then there were two bull mooses going at each other.”

Chevy continued, “Billy got up and charged me at the door. Belushi was there too, and I realized in that instant, because he gave me a look, that the total instigator was John. I was ready to fight and Billy was ready to scratch me up and suddenly John rushed to the door and puts his hands at the door to block it off. As I remember, I threw a glancing punch off Belushi’s forehead trying to hit Billy, then Billy hit John in the back of the head.”

Brian Doyle-Murray jumped in to break up the fight. In the end, Belushi had stolen the punch line. Both Bill and Chevy agree their relationship has never been adversarial as people like to believe. The two remain friends to this day.