Entertainment

LIVE FROM NEW YORK… Eddie Murphy Returns to Saturday Night Live!

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After a thirty year hiatus, Eddie Murphy will return to his comedic roots at Studio 8H, where he will participate with other notorious SNL alumni, on the 40th Anniversary Celebration of Saturday Night Live Special!


*source: nbc.com

Though a successful stand up comedian in his youth, Saturday Night Live is what really made Eddie Murphy a household name and mainstream success. Likewise, Murphy ‘s creative comedic contributions are accredited for revitalizing Saturday Night Live, which was experiencing somewhat of a ratings lull amongst audiences, as regular cast members of the first five seasons left the show for other opportunities. In spite of this apparent demand for a new breakout star with the power to really capture audience’s attention, Eddie’s road to SNL was not an easy one. Initially, Murphy was repeatedly turned away for a chance to even audition for the show, NBC executives claiming, “A black cast member had already been chosen” (Hill 391-392). Murphy’s resilience and persistence allowed him to persevere over the nay sayers, and when nineteen year old Murphy was eventually added as a regular cast member to Saturday Night Live in the fall of 1980, it was more than apparent that he was a much needed breath of fresh air. Even as the series continued to struggle to find it’s voice, with an ever rotating cast, Murphy’s star continued to mesmerize a new generation of viewers, radiating in comedic glory. From 1980 to 1984 Eddie Murphy consistently kept viewers cracking up, with his blunt, edgy, and honest approach to comedy. Though he left the show after only four years, his performances, original characters, and on air charisma were revolutionary, fortifying SNL’s legacy as the home for live comedy. He forever raised the bar for future comedians and made Saturday Night Live more than just another sketch comedy television show, but an iconic staple of American entertainment.


*source: rollingstone.com


*source: sodahead.com

After leaving Saturday Night Live, only returning once to host in winter of 1984, Eddie Murphy will finally come home to his comedic refuge, on the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special. In anticipation of this special occasion, I’ve posted some of my favorite Eddie Murphy Saturday Night Live moments below.

A Very Mr. Robinson’s Christmas

*source: tv.yahoo.com

The Gumby Story

*source: tv.yahoo.com

James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub Story

*source: tv.yahoo.com

Don’t forget to tune in to the Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special, airing LIVE, Sunday, Feb. 15 at 8 p.m. ET only on NBC, OTAY?!


*source: pinterest.com

Sources: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9

Doug Hill and Jeff Weingrad, Saturday Night, Beech Tree Books, 1986 (pg 391-392)