Eddie Murphy Says He’ll Return to ‘SNL’ for 40th Anniversary Show

Eddie Murphy says he will revisit his comedic stomping grounds. On Feb. 15, Murphy will make his first appearance on Saturday Night Live for the first time in over 30 years for the show’s 40th anniversary, the comedian said in an interview with NewsOne Now host Roland S. Martin.

Murphy explained his reasoning for not making it back onto the show sooner: “It’s just timing. It just never worked out where the timing was right for me to do it.”

“They’re actually having a 40th anniversary I think in two weeks,” Murphy said. “I’m going to that, and that’ll be the first time I’ve been back since I left.”

The funnyman was a series lead from 1980-1984 before breaking into daytime TV and eventually staring in numerous films including The Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle 2, Norbit and animated projects Mulan and Shrek, amongst others.

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The actor further added: “I think when you come form the stage and you come from a show like Saturday Night Live, I think you always have that feeling. It’s nothing like connecting with a live audience. That feeling is the best there is.”

SNL has won 45 Emmys in the 40 years on air and has been the launching pad of numerous careers, including Kristen Wiig, Tina Fey, Will Ferrell, Amy Poehler, Jimmy Fallon, Mike Meyers, Andy Samberg and many more.

The three-hour, 40th anniversary broadcast will air on Sunday, Feb. 15 on NBC from 8-11 p.m.