Eddie Murphy Will Host SNL for the First Time in 35 Years

Details on Saturday Night Live Season 45 are finally here -- and it seems the show couldn't wait to announce one shocking return.

NBC revealed Monday that Eddie Murphy is scheduled to host SNL on Dec. 21, the first time Murphy will have returned as host since leaving the venerable sketch comedy series in 1984. Murphy, who had a falling out with SNL and producer Lorne Michaels after being mocked by David Spade during a 1995 episode, previously appeared during the show's 40th anniversary celebration in 2015.

"They were sh--ty to me on Saturday Night Live a couple of times after I'd left the show," Murphy told Rolling Stone in 2011 about SNL. "They said some sh--ty things."

Murphy took issue with Spade, who joked about Murphy's career after the actor's infamous flop, Vampire In Brooklyn. "Look, children, a falling star," Spade said during a Weekend Update segment while a photo of Murphy was shown.

"There was that David Spade sketch. I made a stink about it, it became part of the folklore," Murphy recalled. "What really irritated me about it at the time was that it was a career shot. It was like, 'Hey, come on, man, it's one thing for you guys to do a joke about some movie of mine, but my career? I'm one of you guys. How many people have come off this show whose careers really are fucked up, and you guys are shitting on me?' And you know every joke has to go through all the producers, and ultimately, you know Lorne or whoever says, 'OK, it's OK to make this career crack...'

At the time, Murphy said he didn't hold a grudge toward Spade, Michaels, or SNL -- something that proved true when he appeared during the 40th anniversary special.

Murphy is the latest SNL figure to return as host after an extended absence. Earlier this year, Adam Sandler hosted for the first time since he was fired in 1995, an episode that garnered numerous Emmy nominations and strong reviews.

Murphy is poised to have a big comeback this fall. In addition to the SNL episode, he'll also star in the Netflix film Dolemite Is My Name as Rudy Ray Moore.

This season of SNL will premiere on Saturday, Sept. 28, with Woody Harrelson making his fourth appearance at Studio 8H as host, to promote the upcoming release of Zombieland: Double Tap. Harrelson will be joined by musical guest Billie Eilish, who is making her SNL debut.

The following week, on Oct. 5, Fleabagcreator and star Phoebe Waller-Bridge will host for the first time, alongside Taylor Swift, who marks her fourth turn as musical guest and will perform songs from her newest album Lover. Swift was happy with the news:

On Oct. 12,Stranger Things star David Harbour will host for the first time, with the night's musical guest being pop star Camila Cabello. Then, on Nov. 2, Kristen Stewart will host for a second time -- no musical guest has been announced. Murphy will host on Dec. 21, a twist for a show that normally keeps its planned roster of emcees close to the vest in case scheduling conflicts arise.

Saturday Night Live returns to NBC for Season 45 on Saturday, Sept. 28.