Saturday Night Live season 45: The five best cameos
By Matt Moore
Saturday Night Live season 45’s best cameos – 4. Dave Chappelle/Chris Rock/Tracy Morgan
Eddie Murphy’s return to host Saturday Night Live made headlines months before the episode ever aired. Then it blew expectations out of the water and became a record-setting show thanks to the SNL legend’s performance.
Murphy was the last host this season who needed a boost from a surprise cameo. Fans were going to tune in no matter what and regardless of how the show went it was going to be dissected the next day.
Still, Saturday Night Live wanted to hammer home the point of Murphy’s influence on comedy. There was no better way than to have comedy icons Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan to join him on stage.
Murphy had every right to keep the moment all to himself. He could have vetoed the idea of Chappelle, Rock, and Morgan participating in his monologue. But perhaps wanting to be the mentor he never had, Murphy was gracious enough to share the spotlight with those he influenced.
The visit from Chappelle, Rock, and Morgan only added to the hype of what was coming after the monologue. The studio audience was on the edge of their seats just like everyone watching at home. Murphy delivered and reminded everyone that a generation of comedians wouldn’t exist without his contributions.