This ‘SNL’ Star Hosted the Show While Still Being a Cast Member

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Back in 1982, New York played host to a special episode of Saturday Night Live (SNL), famously titled The Eddie Murphy Show. With more than 150 individuals gracing the SNL stage, many have returned as hosts after moving on. However, there’s only one who had the unique distinction of hosting while still a part of the cast.

In December 1982, Nick Nolte was set to host Saturday Night Live (SNL) to publicize his action movie “48 Hrs”. However, Nolte withdrew and Eddie Murphy filled in instead. This seemingly trivial change is now seen as a significant catalyst for Murphy’s budding career, which would eventually lead him into conflict with the very same show that launched his stardom. The early ’80s were particularly challenging times for SNL, but Murphy stood out as one of the few shining lights. Here, we explore how a last-minute hosting swap might have influenced the subsequent four decades.

‘Saturday Night Live’ in the Early ’80s and Murphy as Host

As a movie buff reminiscing about TV history, let me share a fascinating tale about Saturday Night Live. By May 1980, the show had wrapped up its fifth season and underwent significant transformations. The original cast members, including Jane Curtin, Garrett Morris, Laraine Newman, and Gilda Radner, bid their farewells. Lorne Michaels, our beloved head honcho, also stepped down, leaving a gaping void. NBC appointed Jean Doumanian to fill his shoes and lead the show. She brought on an entirely new cast, but unfortunately, many of them couldn’t match the brilliance of their predecessors. Among the fresh faces were Joe Piscopo, Charles Rocket, Gilbert Gottfried, and a promising young stand-up comic named Eddie Murphy. Only Murphy, Piscopo, and a few others managed to stay until the end of the sixth season. Doumanian and several cast members were dismissed midway through, with Dick Ebersol taking over as EP. To add to the chaos, the season ended prematurely due to a Writers Guild strike.

In the turbulent 1980s, numerous critics concurred that Eddie Murphy was the driving force behind the continued success of the show. His characters Gumby, Mr. Robinson, Velvet Jones, and Buckwheat remain iconic even today. The exposure he received on the show propelled his public image and stand-up career, causing him to outshine his fellow cast members in terms of popularity. Consequently, when Nick Nolte was unable to host the December 11, 1982 episode due to illness, Eddie Murphy was selected to step in.

In an unprecedented move, since Murphy was a cast member at the time, he was asked to step up as the host, a role never before filled by a current cast member and one that hasn’t been since. This sudden turn of events came about due to Nolte’s cancellation. Ebersol directly requested Murphy to take over, an action that upset Piscopo, who felt Ebersol was leveraging Murphy’s rising fame and creating a rivalry between the co-stars. Instead of the usual exclamation, Murphy began the show with “Live from New York, it’s the Eddie Murphy Show!”. The episode also featured Steve Martin, who had offered to host but wasn’t contacted for the role.

A Multi-Decade ‘SNL’ Feud and Reconciliation

Eddie Murphy will stay on SNL up until halfway through Season 9. He departed to concentrate on his flourishing film career, although he came back in December 1984 to host the Christmas episode of Season 10. For a long time after that, there were no more appearances from Murphy. This wasn’t due to any animosity towards the show, but rather because he was too busy. However, this changed in 1995.

During an episode of Weekend Update, comedian David Spade jokingly remarked, “Look kids, there’s a falling star. Make a wish.” As he said this, a photo of Murphy was shown on the screen, subtly referencing his recent box office flops. This joke sparked Murphy’s ire, leading him to sever ties with SNL for two decades. The rift gradually eased, and eventually, Murphy made amends with Spade, Lorne Michaels, and the show. Murphy made a brief appearance during the 40th anniversary special in 2015, but he did not reprise any of his characters.

In the Christmas episode of the 45th season in 2019, Eddie Murphy officially came back, leaving behind any lingering negativity. On stage, he was hilarious and entertaining just as we remember him. He brought back several beloved characters, and his show was one of the most-watched in many years. These days, Eddie speaks positively about Saturday Night Live and is open to hosting again. With the 50th anniversary show happening in February, there’s a strong possibility that fans will see a new appearance from Eddie Murphy.

It’s plausible to argue that the unexpected illness of Nick Nolte on a Saturday night in the early ’80s indirectly propelled one of today’s top comedians into stardom, as Eddie Murphy was the most prominent cast member at the time. His increased exposure during hosting duties significantly boosted his popularity. However, it’s highly improbable that the show would allow another current cast member to host again, barring unforeseen circumstances like a last-minute cancellation. But if they did, it would almost certainly be Kenan Thompson who stays on the longest. Saturday Night Live airs on NBC and is available for streaming on Peacock.

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2025-01-25 19:04