Emmys 2020: Maya Rudolph and Eddie Murphy win for SNL performances

Maya Rudolph and Eddie Murphy picked up well-deserved Emmys for their Saturday Night Live performances

The Emmy Awards got off to a fantastic start for Saturday Night Live. Maya Rudolph and Eddie Murphy both picked up well-deserved wins in their respective categories, setting the stage for more potential SNL victories during tonight’s Primetime Emmys.

While the Primetime Emmy Awards, hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, will air tonight on ABC, there have already been several trophies handed out.

Maya Rudolph had a big night on Saturday. She won Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance for her role in the Netflix animated series Big Mouth. She followed that up with a win in the Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series category for playing Senator Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live.

SNL fans were ecstatic when former Vice President Joe Biden tapped Senator Harris as his running mate on the Democratic ticket. It meant that we were guaranteed to get more of Rudolph in season 46, squaring off against Beck Bennett’s Vice President Mike Pence.

An Emmy wasn’t necessary to validate Rudolph’s talents as a comedic performance or how entertaining she was on SNL. But it’s a nice addition to a resume fo Rudolph who has been a fan-favorite and outstanding contributor to the world of SNL for over 20 years. It will also add even more hype to Rudolph’s return in season 46, set to kick off on Oct. 3.

Eddie Murphy’s incredible Saturday Night Live return recognized by the Emmys

When the goodnights were done and the credits rolled after the Dec. 21, 2019 show, Eddie Murphy and Saturday Night Live couldn’t be happier. Murphy’s return to the stage after 35 years was one of the most entertaining episodes in years.

Murphy reprised iconic characters like Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, and Gumby in a way that didn’t feel like pandering nor outdated. The hype that had been building since Murphy was first announced as host was far exceeded by the performance of the comedian and the cast.

Then the stats started to roll in, proving that Murphy’s episode was really something to celebrate. Over nine million people watched live and with DVR views calculated, the total topped 16 million to make it the most-watched SNL episode since 2008.

Now Murphy has his first ever Emmy Award as the cherry on top. He took home the award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series in another well-deserved victory for SNL.

Saturday Night Live will hope to build on the momentum from Maya Rudolph and Eddie Murphy taking home Emmys when the show airs tonight. SNL also added Emmys for Outstanding Variety Sketch Series, Outstanding Directing, Outstanding Lighting Design, and Outstanding Production Design in a Variety Series on Saturday night. Tonight, Kenan Thompson, Kate McKinnon, and Cecily Strong are all up for individual awards.

Did you expect Maya Rudolph and Eddie Murphy to win an Emmy? Which cast member nominated tonight do you think has the best chance of winning? Share your thoughts in the comments below!