The cop from Beverly Hills, the crown prince of Zamunda, The Golden Child himself, the Saturday Night Live veteran Eddie Murphy returns to the late-night sketch comedy stage at 30 Rockefeller Center.
In the first promo for Murphy’s upcoming hosting gig this weekend, the Coming to America and Dolemite Is My Name star makes a grand ol’ entrance to Studio 8H, the famed stomping grounds of SNL. Dramatic music and a black-and-white filter herald his arrival before Lizzo‘s voice comes belting onto the scene—the same Lizzo who’s one of EW’s Entertainers of the Year and also appearing on Murphy’s episode as musical guest.
This Saturday, Dec. 21 will mark the comedian’s first SNL hosting turn in 35 years. Murphy made his debut on the show in 1980. He served as host two times but kept his distance from SNL when he made the leap to film. Following the premiere of Dolemite Is My Name on Netflix, Murphy, also with multiple projects on the horizon, now makes his long-awaited comeback in season 45.
Scarlett Johansson, Jennifer Lopez, Will Ferrell, and Harry Styles were among the previous hosts of season 45.
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Episode Recaps
Previous
S45 E8 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Jennifer Lopez is seeing green in that iconic Versace dress for third hosting gig
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E7 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Will Ferrell joins Five-Timers Club
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E6 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Harry Styles turns the lights up as host and musical guest
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E5 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Kristen Stewart and Coldplay are back!
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E4 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Chance the Rapper pulls double duty for Halloween episode
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E3 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Stranger Things star David Harbour turns things upside down
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E2 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Fleabag’s Phoebe Waller-Bridge kills it in hosting debut with musical guest Taylor Swift
By Andy Hoglund
S45 E1 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Woody Harrelson and Billie Eilish kick off season 45
By Andy Hoglund
b-
S44 E21 Recap
SNL recap: Paul Rudd toasts Saturday Night Live in season 44 finale with musical guest DJ Khaled
By Mary Sollosi
S44 E20 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Emma Thompson is underused in lackluster episode
By Adrienne Onofri
b+
S44 E19 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Adam Sandler makes hosting debut, sings about being fired 24 years ago
By Piya Sinha-Roy
b-
S44 E18 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Emma Stone and BTS do their best to try and save the night
By Renée Camus
c+
S44 E16 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Sandra Oh leads a surreal and confused episode
By Christian Holub
c+
S44 E11 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: James McAvoy brings his personalities to a middling episode
By David Canfield
c+
S44 E11 Recap
‘Saturday Night Live’ recap: Halsey shines musically while sketches fail
By Adrienne Onofri
b-
S44 E10 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Rachel Brosnahan hosts first show of 2019
By Lynette Rice
b-
S44 E8 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Jason Momoa makes a splash in an uneven episode
By Shirley Li
c+
S44 E6 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Steve Carell is best as Bezos in a ho-hum episode
By Dan Snierson
c
S44 E5 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Liev Schreiber leads a directionless post-midterms episode
By Christian Holub
b
S44 E4 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Jonah Hill hosts an episode dominated by midterms mania
By David Canfield
c+
S44 E2 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Awkwafina and the best and worst moments
By James Hibberd
b-
S43 E21 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Tina Fey returns for star-studded season 43 finale
By Jillian Sederholm
S1 E9 Recap
Saturday Night Live recap: Scarlett Johansson is back in a cheeky SNL holiday episode
By Andy Hoglund
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