The "Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special" had plenty of hits and misses, with many fans and critics disappointed that Eddie Murphy's only contribution to the celebration was a speech. However, it turns out the SNL legend nearly appeared in a sketch.
SNL veteran Norm Macdonald spent a good portion of Wednesday on Twitter revealing behind-the-scenes details of the special, explaining that the "Celebrity Jeopardy" segment was originally intended to include Murphy in a cameo as Bill Cosby.
As you can see in the clip, the actual segment featured Will Ferrell as Alex Trebek, Darrell Hammond as Sean Connery, Kate McKinnon as Justin Bieber, Alec Baldwin as Tony Bennett, Macdonald as Burt Reynolds, Taran Killam as Christoph Waltz, Jim Carrey as Matthew McConaughey and Kenan Thompson as Bill Cosby. Macdonald lays out what happened in the lead-up to Sunday's show:
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 doesn't.
— 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
Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rockstar even in a room with actual rockstars.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015