A strong case could be made that Eddie Murphy is the most important cast member in Saturday Night Live history.
That dynamic was referenced a bit last night when Murphy rolled out Gumby, and the bit really worked well.
He wasn’t the only talented person hired to fill the void left by Bill Murray, Gilda Radner and others, but he was the one who struck a chord with viewers and proved many would be willing to give new faces a shot.
He may not have stayed the longest, but many historians credit him with saving the show from cancellation after the original cast members left following the fifth season.