Eddie Murphy’s first appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in 30 years was awkward and stilted, but according to Norm Macdonald, it could have been a whole lot different. Over the course of several tweets posted on Wednesday, Macdonald explained that there was, at one point, the idea to include Murphy in the “SNL 40” version of “Celebrity Jeopardy” as Bill Cosby.
As Macdonald wrote, he was disappointed that “Celebrity Jeopardy” had become about celebrity impressions for the “SNL 40” special. But writer Steve Higgins thought having Murphy mimic Cosby would help tie it all together. Wrote Macdonald:
Higgins had the idea. A video daily double.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
The category would be potent potables, a common one on Jeopardy, but one we somehow had never done.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
And the idea was that it would be a bar set. And the idea was that Cosby would be mixing a drink in a video that was taped 6 months ago.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
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Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rockstar even in a room with actual rockstars.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Without Murphy’s involvement, the sketch wound up happening with Kenan Thompson in the role of Cosby.
Murphy and Cosby memorably crossed paths before. During the 1987 concert film “Raw,” Murphy recalled how Cosby chastised him about using foul language in his stand-up routine.
For more “SNL 40” stories, head to Macdonald’s Twitter account.
