Kenan Thompson reprised his well-known Bill Cosby impression during the "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketch on the "Saturday Night Live" 40th anniversary special, but the writers originally approached Eddie Murphy to revive his impression of the disgraced comedian.
Norm Macdonald revealed the original plan for the beloved "Jeopardy" parody in a string of tweets on Wednesday night. He worked with Steve Higgins and Lori Jo Hoekstra on the sketch and Higgins had the idea to bring in Murphy, who would be making his return to the "SNL" stage for the first time in more than 30 years.
Darrel Hammond, performing as his infamous Sean Connery, would choose the category "Potent Potables" where a video daily double would appear. Macdonald predicted the audience "would know what to do" when Murphy stepped out on an adjacent stage dressed in a multi-color sweater à la Cosby.
The iconic doors would open and on to home base would step Eddie Murphy. The audience would know what to do.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Why is Eddie wearing a multi-colored sweater?He steps behind the bar, begins mixing a drink. The audience covers the fact he has not spoken. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
When he speaks, he is Cosby. Eddie Murphy doing a perfect Cosby impression. The audience does not let him finish. The sketch ends. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
The show, for all intents, ends. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Once they had a plan, someone actually had to call Murphy and ask him to participate. Macdonald waited until Saturday, the day before the show, to approach the man who many consider "single-handedly" saved 'SNL' when creator Lorne Michaels temporarily left the show in 1980.
To every comedian who ever performed on SNL, what Eddie accomplished was unthinkable.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Macdonald spoke with Murphy for an hour in his dressing room, though he couldn't convince him to do it. Murphy did make an awkward appearance during the show, but didn't appear in any sketches.
He knew the laughs would bring the house down. Eddie Murphy knows what will work on SNL better than any one. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down. — Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
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
