Episode 17: Fletch Lives (1989)

Chevy Chase dons the Lakers jersey once more as Mike White (The Projection Booth), Mark Begley (Wake Up Heavy), and Chris Stachiw (The Kulturecast) dig into Fletch Lives (1989). The long-delayed sequel to Fletch swaps the quick-witted investigative journalist’s L.A. backdrop for Southern Gothic eccentricity, televangelists, and KKK satire—sometimes with mixed results. The trio debate whether Gregory Mcdonald’s sharp creation survived the Hollywood comedy blender, why the sequel feels both broader and thinner, and whether Chase’s disguises still land. Along the way, they examine the film’s troubled production, its place in Chase’s career arc, and the curious legacy of this oddball follow-up.