Norm Macdonald ‘SNL 40’ Twitter Rant: ‘Celebrity Jeopardy,’ Eddie Murphy And Much More

Former “Saturday Night Live” comedian Norm Macdonald went on an epic Twitter rant Monday about “SNL 40”-- the NBC's variety show's 40^th anniversary special. For more than two hours, the comedian sent dozens of tweets on his official page about different comedians and the planning process for “SNL 40.”

Macdonald, 51, who famously anchored “Weekend Update” on “SNL,” began his lengthy diatribe with, “It was some week.” The comedian started at the beginning and said writing for the anniversary special was a “massive undertaking” that left people “exhausted.”

A few tweets later, he brought up “Celebrity Jeopardy.” Macdonald claimed he came up with the idea after he stole it from someone else and he “received permission.” One of the hardest things to do was to find a celebrity -- at least, one with wit. To Macdonald, the funniest character was Will Ferrell’s impersonation of Alex Trebek, the real-life host of “Jeopardy.”

I came up with the idea of Celebrity Jeopardy years ago by stealing it, note for note, from an SCTV classic, Half-Wits.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

We never wanted a celebrity to be dumb, although many, even within the show, thought that was the idea.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

The funniest character in Celebrity Jeopardy, by far, is alex Trebek as played by Will.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

So we hunkered down to write it. 40th anniversary and all. Had to be the best one. Tough job. Very tough.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

About a dozen tweets later, Macdonald focuses his attention on Eddie Murphy. The “Beverly Hills Cop” star hadn’t returned to “SNL” for more than 30 years and fans were thrilled he attended the special. Macdonald described Murphy as an incredible comedian and also shared an anecdote, which involved David Spade, about why Murphy waited so long to come back.

Among many other things, this show was to be the return of Eddie Murphy.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Eddie, the man who, in Lorne's absence, kept the show alive. Singlehandedly.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

To every comedian who ever performed on SNL, what Eddie accomplished was unthinkable.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

The last anniversary was the 25th. Eddie did not attend due to a remark by David Spade. David is a very kind man, but his remark was not.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

He also raved about Mike Myers and “Wayne’s World.”

Mike and Dana showed up. They were going to do Wayne's World. I joined the writer's room, which Mike helmed, and tried to help.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Mike Myers has an incredible work ethic and no joke is ever good enough and must be beaten, must be beaten. This is what makes him so good.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

This is why he has created a half-dozen perfect comedies. Work ethic, remarkable taste, and never taking no for an answer. I
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

I didn't get a single joke into Wayne's World. It was a great sketch, and he did a top ten list, best things about SNL.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

Later he mentioned how Bill Murray would not be able to make it to the reunion because he was golfing at the Pro-Am tournament, and that was when he suggested to give Eddie Murphy a call.

With Bill Murray, golf always comes first.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And so it was Saturday and Bill Murray may not make it and Eddie Murphy may not do Jeopardy and who was in charge of Update?
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

And I was very nervous and he was perfectly calm. "Perhaps it would help if you called Eddie", and that was that.
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) February 19, 2015

More tweets by Macdonald to come, probably.

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