Eddie Murphy Set to Host SNL For First Time Since 1984

Eddie Murphy is set to host the December 21st episode of Saturday Night Live, his first time hosting the show since 1984. The musical guest for the episode has not been announced yet.

Murphy was, of course, part of the SNL cast from 1980 to 1984 and became known for his impressions of everyone from Bill Cosby to Jesse Jackson, as well as his many characters including Buckwheat, Gumby, Mr. Robinson, and others.

In an interview with Rolling Stone in 2011, Murphy expressed disappointment with how SNL would make fun of his career, explaining that that was partly why he didn’t return to the show.

“What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot,” Murphy said. “It was like, ‘Hey, come on, man, it’s one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career? I’m one of you guys. How many people have come off this show whose careers really are fucked up, and you guys are shitting on me?’”

Murphy’s next film, Netflix’s Dolemite Is My Name, is set to premiere at the 2019 Toronto International Film Festival. The film is about raunchy comedian Rudy Ray Moore.

Woody Harrelson will host the 45th season premiere of SNL on September 28th.