Would Eddie Murphy be successful if he returned to standup comedy?

Shawn Wayans believes Eddie Murphy would "rock" if he returned to standup, despite the challenges of modern media exposure.

What was Shawn Wayans' experience with "Eddie Murphy Raw"?

Shawn Wayans saw the taping of "Eddie Murphy Raw" when he was 15 and called it the best show he'd ever seen.

How has the comedy landscape changed since Eddie Murphy's early career?

Social media now means any public appearance is instantly captured and shared, unlike the private development time comedians once had.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Shawn Wayans: Eddie Murphy's Standup Return? "He'd Rock!"

Shawn Wayans: Eddie Murphy's Standup Return? "He'd Rock!"

19 Nov, 2025

•

Summary

Shawn Wayans believes Eddie Murphy would excel at standup today.
Early open mic nights allowed Eddie Murphy to hone jokes privately.
Shawn Wayans witnessed the taping of Eddie Murphy's "Raw" special.

Shawn Wayans: Eddie Murphy's Standup Return? "He'd Rock!"

Shawn Wayans recently shared his thoughts on a potential standup comeback for Eddie Murphy, following his viewing of a new documentary about the comedian. Wayans is optimistic, suggesting that Murphy possesses the raw talent to succeed, even with the vastly different media environment of today.

Wayans elaborated that in his early career, comedians like Murphy had the advantage of developing material in intimate settings, away from constant public scrutiny. This allowed for a more organic growth of their acts before facing large audiences, a contrast to the immediate exposure from social media present now.

Despite these changes, Wayans remains convinced that Murphy could still deliver a triumphant return to standup. He shared a personal anecdote, recalling his experience as a 15-year-old attendee at the taping of Murphy's iconic special, "Eddie Murphy Raw," which he described as the greatest performance he had witnessed.