Eddie Murphy accepted the Mark Twain Prize for humor on Sunday evening, but it was his impression of Bill Cosby during his acceptance speech that made all the headlines on Monday morning. Video of the impression also hit the web and could cause headaches for PBS when they have to edit down the ceremony for broadcast on Nov. 23.
PBS typically has to edit the program down for time and "sometimes for randy on-stage comments," according to Deadline, but the outlet received a statement from the network saying it would broadcast the "entirety" of Murphy's acceptance speech.
"PBS, WETA, and the program producers are in the process of turning last night's The Mark Twain Prize live event into a broadcast show. Our intention is to include Mr. Murphy's acceptance speech in its entirety. In order to comply with FCC regulations regarding profanity, audio bleeps will be used as necessary."
Murphy refused to do the impression he made famous in his 1987 standup film "Eddie Murphy Raw" for the "SNL 40th Anniversary Special" earlier this year. He recently told The Washington Post that he turned down the offer by fellow "Saturday Night Live" alum Norm Macdonald to reprise the impression because there was "nothing funny" about the situation surrounding Cosby.
"It's horrible," Murphy said about the Cosby scandal. "There's nothing funny about it. If you get up there and you crack jokes about him, you're just hurting people. You're hurting him. You're hurting him. You're hurting his accusers. I was like, 'Hey, I'm coming back to "SNL" for the anniversary, I'm not turning my moment on the show into this other thing.'"
Continue reading for more of today's television news:
PBS Sets Return Dates for "Downton Abbey" and "Finding Your Roots"
PBS announced on Monday that the sixth and final season of "Downton Abbey" will premiere on Jan. 3. The final episodes are currently airing on Britain's ITV.
After ending its second season in controversy, "Finding Your Roots" will return for its third season on Jan. 5. The new season will feature Julianne Moore, Neil Patrick Harris, Julianna Margulies and "Scandal" and "Grey's Anatomy" creator Shonda Rhimes.
After host Henry Louis Gates Jr. removed mention of Ben Affleck's slave-owning ancestry at the behest of the actor, PBS programming chief Beth Hoppe calls the show's research process "much more transparent," but "at the same time, this series is not about embarrassing people," according to Deadline.
ABC Family Orders More "Baby Daddy"
The cable network has added 10 more episodes to the comedy's fifth season, bringing its season total to 20, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The new episodes will premiere under the channel's rebranded name "Freeform" in January.
The show, which stars Jean-Luc Bilodeau, Tahj Mowry, Chelsea Kane, Melissa Peterman and Derek Theler, is ABC Family's longest-running comedy and the second-longest-running series behind "Pretty Little Liars."
Spike TV Renews "Ink Master"
The tattoo-competition series hosted by Dave Navarro received an eighth season renewal. Production on the 15-episode season will begin in March 2016 and premiere next summer. The already scheduled seventh season will return in Spring 2016.
"'Ink Master' delivered yet again a compelling and entertaining season packed with incredible artistic expression and creativity mixed in with big drama," said Sharon Levy, Executive Vice President, Original Series, Spike. "The record ratings are a testament to our partners at Original Media and our phenomenal hosting/judging trio of Dave Navarro, Oliver Peck, and Chris Nunez. We are thrilled to this great team back for Season 8."
NBC Trims Order for Midseason Comedies "Superstore" and "Hot & Bothered"
NBC cut its episode orders for midseason comedies "Superstore" and "Hot & Bothered" from 13 to 11, according to Deadline. Both shows were halfway through production on their original 13 episodes, allowing for the reduction. The network's third midseason comedy "Crowded" was further along in production and will produce all 13 of its episodes.
America Ferrera stars in "Superstore," an ensemble comedy about people who work in a big box store. "Hot & Bothered" goes behind the scenes of a fictional telenovela and stars Eva Longoria as a soap opera diva whose off-screen personality rivals her on-screen storylines.
