UPDATE: Bill Cosby released a statement on Thursday, Feb. 19, praising Murphy for not partaking in the SNL sketch. “I am very appreciate of Eddie and I applaud his actions,” Cosby told NBC News through a spokesperson.
Secrets from the set! Saturday Night Live cast member and writer Norm Macdonald detailed the making of SNL‘s 40th anniversary special in more than 100 tweets on Wednesday, Feb. 18. Among his revelations: that Eddie Murphy almost played Bill Cosby in a sketch for the 40th anniversary special.
Macdonald, 51, told his 500,000-plus followers that Murphy — who appeared on Sunday’s special as himself in his first time back to SNL since 1984 — turned down the offer to do an impression of Cosby as the embattled comedian is accused of sexually assaulting dozens of women.
Among many other things, this show was to be the return of Eddie Murphy.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Eddie, the man who, in Lorne’s absence, kept the show alive. Singlehandedly.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
To every comedian who ever performed on SNL, what Eddie accomplished was unthinkable.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Macdonald rehashed when Murphy did not partake in SNL‘s 25th anniversary special in 1999 due to an offending statement made by David Spade. (During a Weekend Update segment in the early ’90s, Spade made fun of Murphy, flashing his image in the background and remarking: “Look children, a falling star.” The comment upset Murphy, and resulted in his refusal to host the show for many years.)
The last anniversary was the 25th. Eddie did not attend due to a remark by David Spade. David is a very kind man, but his remark was not.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
So Eddie never came back.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Until last week.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
The comedian then revealed that fellow writer Steve Higgins came up with a “perfect” idea for a sketch, in which Murphy would play Cosby in a bar setting, since the comic has been accused of drugging some of these women.
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
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
So, the talks were underway. “Brett says Eddie doesn’t feel comfortable”, “Eddie says ‘maybe it’s ok since he’s doing pre-allegation Cosby”
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
The discussions were still up in the air in the week leading up to the special, to the point that Macdonald went to Executive Producer Lorne Michaels to voice his concern about Murphy playing Cosby. Michaels told Macdonald to simply talk to Murphy, and when the two sat down in his dressing room, the final decision was made.
We talk in his dressing room a good hour. When it’s over, I’m convinced he’ll do it.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
He doesn’t.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
In Murphy’s place, Kenan Thompson played the part of Cosby, making an appearance at the end of the Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch with Will Ferrell.
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
Quite a week.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
Murphy, now 53, showcased his comedic talents when he joined SNL at age 19 in 1981. At the time, SNL was almost canceled due to poor ratings, and it was Murphy’s lending hand that helped catapult the NBC program to a solid spot. Four seasons later, he left.
