Norm Macdonald: Eddie Murphy Wouldn't Play Bill Cosby During SNL 40 Celebrity Jeopardy Sketch

Despite being given a hero's welcome back to Saturday Night Live during this past weekend's SNL 40 special, Eddie Murphy didn't appear in any sketches. He just awkwardly took the stage after Chris Rock's introduction and mumbled through a few words. According to Norm Macdonald, though, there were bigger plans for Murphy during SNL 40.

Macdonald spent two and a half hours tweeting about SNL 40 on Wednesday night, revealing behind-the-scenes details from the special. The kicker? Macdonald and former SNL writer Steve Higgins came up with the idea to have Murphy play Bill Cosby during the "Celebrity Jeopardy" segment. After much work, Macdonald thought they had Murphy locked in for the role, only for Murphy to decide against doing so.

"Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it," Macdonald wrote. "He will not kick a man when he is down."

Celebrity Jeopardy was about hope.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

In real life, Connery is the opposite of Darryl's take. Connery was the perfect gentleman, Burt was the funniest guy in the room.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Celebrity Jeopardy was about hope.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

It was about the hope of one man, Alex Trebek, the hope that never died. The audacious hope that never let the facts of the past interfere.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

It was a rhythm piece, as each disaster was signaled by the sound of a buzzer, and each new category signified more, new, hope.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And the 3rd contestant was the tough one. The third attitude always just out of reach of Higgins and me.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And now we were being told we would have to do a dozen impressions. The rhythm would be gone.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

It was what it was, though, and what it was to be. How could it be saved from becoming an episode of copycats?
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And then Higgins had an idea.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

An idea that would blow the show wide open.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

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

Every Saturday Night at 11:30 Eddie Murphy, a kid, would fill 90 minutes with comedy.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Impossible.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

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

Higgins had the idea. A video daily double.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

The category would be potent potables, a common one on Jeopardy, but one we somehow had never done.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

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

It was perfect. It was all Steve Higgins idea.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

At the end of the sketch, Darrel would choose potent potables. Homebase would be dressed as a bar.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

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

All the impressions are forgiven.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

The first thing to do is cut down the number of contestant/impressions and the second is to contact Eddie and to convince him to do it.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

The middle man to talk to Eddie was @BrettRatner, a cool guy who knows a great deal about comedy. He was with Eddie somewhere.
— 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

And on and on it went. I had not spoken to Eddie or @BrettRatner. I was dead sure Eddie would do it. Most others were not.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And Lorne was in his office,which overlooks 8H,which overlooks 40 years of memories.And he was looking out the window, down on to the floor.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And I was very nervous and he was perfectly calm. "Perhaps it would help if you called Eddie", and that was that.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Too many superstars to take in all at one time. So happy my son could see them all.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And then comes Eddie.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

I'm standing with my son, Lori Jo, and Chris Rock. We see Eddie from 100 yards away.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Rock says, "There he is. Like Ali in Zaire." Eddie, Bomaye.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

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

SNL 40 still went with the Cosby joke, having Kenan Thompson instead of Murphy play Cosby.



Head over to Macdonald's Twitter feed to read all about his behind-the-scenes work on SNL 40.