For the first time in 35 years, Eddie Murphy is coming back to host Saturday Night Live. The former castmember has been away from the show longer than most of his colleagues who are still around today, so it's understandable that there's a bit of fanfare surrounding this event. People are eager to see what Murphy will do, and more importantly, which of his beloved characters will make a return.
Eddie Murphy recently went on Jimmy Kimmel Live! to talk about his Saturday Night Live return (and his new film Dolemite Is My Name), and revealed he doesn't know what all is planned for the show. Part of that, Murphy revealed, is the nature of the beast and part of the way the show is planned. Here's what Murphy said when Kimmel asked if he'd do any of his classic bits.
I hope so. I would imagine I'll do some of that stuff. That show, you can't really prepare, it happens on the Monday and it's over on Saturday. You can't really get ready.
According to Eddie Murphy, the ball won't really get rolling on what Saturday Night Live has planned until he goes in that week to host ahead of his return Saturday, December 21. That's not all that surprising given a lot of the point in doing the show live is so it can react to the current news cycle and what's happening around the world.
Even if that's the case, it does appear there are some things that Eddie Murphy is hoping to do regardless of what's happening. Murphy told Jimmy Kimmel that a couple of his characters would be utilized in the upcoming episode, and it sounds like he's hoping to do all the classics.
Oh yeah, I'm gonna do Gumby. I'm trying to figure out some reason to do a Velvet Jones, and Mister Robinson's Neighborhood. ... And a funny Buckwheat sketch. [laughs]
It sounds like Eddie Murphy is bringing out most of the characters audiences remember from his Saturday Night Live days, which should please a lot of folks who've been following the show since then. For a younger generation, this will be a look at the bits that helped skyrocket Murphy's career, and how he became the massively successful comedian he is today.
Of course, it will be interesting to see how Eddie Murphy meshes with the modern Saturday Night Live. Those characters were all crafted at a different time, and it'll be interesting to see how they're perceived in modern times. Murphy will likely go through with whatever regardless, as he's never been one to steer clear of controversy.
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Saturday Night Live airs new episodes on NBC Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. ET and will have Eddie Murphy appear December 21. Stick with CinemaBlend for updates on the show in the meantime, and for the latest news in general on what's happening in television and movies.
