Former Saturday Night Live cast member Norm MacDonald took to Twitter Wednesday night to discuss preparations for last weekend’s SNL40 reunion, revealing what work went into the special, the highs and lows, and why fellow former alum Eddie Murphy backed out of playing Bill Cosby in an 11th hour decision.
Murphy had apparently been tapped to play embattled comedian Bill Cosby by Norm and other writers in a bit that was eventually filled by Keenan Thompson. In a reprisal of the show’s once wildly popular Celebrity Jeopardy segment, fictional Cosby was to be played by Murphy and offer cocktail recipes during a Video Daily Double.
That never came to pass, per MacDonald, because Murphy didn’t feel comfortable with kicking a man while he was down, although he did consider it.
Norm tweeted:
It’s my job to talk him in to doing Jeopardy.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
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 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
Watch the segment below:
Bill Cosby spoke out about the revelation Thrusday, telling NBC News through a spokesperson that he is grateful that Eddie Murphy rejected the offer to impersonate him. “I am very appreciative of Eddie and I applaud his actions.”
There is Sarah Palin, gorgeous, and you can understand the charisma. She is irresistible.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015
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