Early Eighties Saturday Night Live Was the Best Saturday Night Live

Appreciation for a vastly underrated era

Eddie Murphy’s return to Saturday Night Live on December 21st was a triumphant success.

Fans and critics loved his former characters in modern day like Mister Robinson and Velvet Jones, seeming not the least bit dated despite being nearly 40 years old.

Contemporary skits like Home For the Holidays, which examined the darker side of family reunions, and North Pole News Report, with high energy hilarity, may have been the high points of the show.

And by the time Gumby was barging on to Weekend Update, anchors Colin Jost and Michael Che couldn’t even keep up with Murphy, proving he was every bit the greatest cast member in the history of Saturday Night Live.