Almost 35 years to the day, Eddie Murphy will return as host of Saturday Night Live.
SNL announced part of its fall slate of hosts and musical guests on Monday, a list that includes Murphy as host of this year’s Christmas episode. This means that after more than a three-decade hiatus from the sketch show, funny man Murphy is heading back to the show the rocketed him to fame.
Murphy first appeared on SNL in November 1980. Some would say that he saved the show, which happened to be in a series slump. In 1982, Murphy stepped in to host the show when scheduled host Nick Nolte fell ill. To this day he is the only person to host SNL while still a cast member.
“Out of nowhere, Eddie saved Saturday Night Live, ” comedian Chris Rock said during the NBC show’s 40th-anniversary special. “If Saturday Night Live hadn’t hired Eddie Murphy, this show wouldn’t have lasted half as long as Baywatch.”
SNL returns for its 45th season on September 28.
