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Eddie Murphy's Triumphant SNL Comeback Chronicled in Netflix Doc
13 Nov
Summary
- Eddie Murphy returned to host SNL in 2019, over 35 years after his last appearance
- Chris Rock advised Lorne Michaels to quit after the successful episode, saying "it won't get better"
- Murphy's SNL career and return are the focus of Netflix's new documentary "Being Eddie"
In November 2025, Netflix released a new documentary titled "Being Eddie" that chronicles the legendary career of comedian Eddie Murphy. The film focuses on Murphy's return to host Saturday Night Live in 2019, over three decades after his last appearance on the show.
Murphy was a cast member on SNL from 1980 to 1984, and is credited with helping save the sketch comedy program during a period of declining ratings. After his final episode on February 25, 1984, Murphy returned to host the show just 10 months later, now a bona fide movie star thanks to hits like "Trading Places" and "Beverly Hills Cop." However, he then did not return to host SNL for another 35 years, after feeling burned by a joke made at his expense by David Spade in 1995.
When Murphy finally did come back to host in 2019, it was a major event for fans and cast members alike. The documentary reveals that it was SNL creator Lorne Michaels' idea to have Murphy's fellow comedians Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and Tracy Morgan join him for the monologue. All three expressed their excitement at being part of the episode with the comedy icon.
In fact, Rock was so impressed with the quality of the episode that he walked over to Michaels afterwards and told him, "You should quit right now. It's not gonna get any better than this." However, Michaels did not take Rock's advice, and is still overseeing the show's 51st season as of 2025.
The documentary also shows how Murphy's return to SNL was a full-circle moment for him. Cast member Kenan Thompson reminded Murphy of how far he had come, telling him, "Your life just came 360. This is where it all started." Murphy was only 19 years old when he first joined the SNL cast, and quickly became a breakout star with beloved characters like Buckwheat and Gumby.
"Going back to Saturday Night Live was a great experience," Murphy shares in the film. "My creative energy, everything had been turned back up to 10." The positive experience led Murphy to return again during SNL's 50th anniversary special earlier this year, where he appeared in two sketches, including an impersonation of his former castmate Tracy Morgan.
