A perfect storm is brewing for Eddie Murphy to make his first appearance on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” since leaving the show in 1984 and igniting a feud with creator Lorne Michaels.
Work is going on behind the scenes for Murphy to pop up on the NBC show when his “Tower Heist” co-star, Ben Stiller, hosts Saturday night, we’re told. Murphy’s hosting the next Oscar telecast, which happens to be produced by “Tower” director Brett Ratner.
Reports of bad blood between Murphy and “SNL” surfaced after cast member David Spade took a shot at him during a career slump. In a mock entertainment news segment, Spade showed a picture of Murphy and joked around the time of his 1989 film “Harlem Nights,” “Look children, a falling star … Quick, make a wish!”
Sources say Murphy was not amused at the time and complained bitterly to Michaels, “demanding an apology, but Michaels sided with his writers, saying he had to give them creative freedom.”
Murphy has never joined any “SNL” reunions or specials, sparking further speculation of a long-standing beef with Michaels. But sources say Ratner eased the way to bring Murphy back and bury the hatchet.
But reps for both Murphy and Ratner said it wasn’t definitely in the cards yet. “There are no plans for Eddie to appear on ‘SNL’ at this time, but perhaps in the future he will make a return,” said a rep for Murphy, which was echoed by Ratner’s rep.
“Eddie rarely does appearances, and nothing is scheduled,” said another source. A different spy close to the show noted, “He hasn’t been on ‘SNL’ for over 25 years, it would be astonishing if he did it.”
Another source denied tension between Murphy and Michaels, claiming, “There was never any hatchet to be buried. Eddie has never had any issues with Lorne.” An “SNL” rep didn’t get back to us.
