He opened the monologue in a way a comedian of his caliber could. That is, with plenty of jokes and laughter as the audience chanted his name. Eddie Murphy’s return to Saturday Night Live (SNL) became the sketch comedy show’s highest ratings in two-years. The last time Murphy filled the same spot on stage was in 1984. Well before he went on to become a box-office movie star. At 58-years-old, he could easily pass for someone in their thirties or early forties. His signature laugh recognizable to the many fans around the world, so when he stood on SNL’s stage for the first time in 35 years, it felt like old times, 80s nostalgia.
Murphy joked that no black people watched the show after his departure, and of course, it drew laughs. “This is the last episode of 2019, but if you’re black, this is the first episode since I left back in 1984,” he said.
Aside from his much-anticipated return to the show that launched his career, there was another epic surprise. One by one, comedian greats like Tracy Morgan, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle joined the ‘Dolemite Is My Name’ star.
“Right now you are looking at half of Netflix’s budget right here on stage,” said Chappelle. Comedians and actors, Murphy, Rock and Chappelle were all paid attractively to do standup specials for Netflix including Murphy’s current film that debuted on October 25.
Kenan Thompson, the youngest of the group, and SNL’s longest-resident cast member humorously came onto the stage by removing fellow castmate Beck Bennett from the iconic moment of black comedic excellence. The show also featured song performances by singer/songwriter Lizzo.
Welcome back to Studio 8H Eddie if only for one night.
By BSM Team
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