James Brown, the Hardest Working Man in Show Business, was an Eddie Murphy staple, both in his stand-up comedy…
…and on Saturday Night Live, where Murphy played Brown multiple times — most famously on James Brown’s Celebrity Hot Tub Party. Originally, Murphy wasn’t convinced the sketch was a good idea. “I actually didn’t think that was funny until we did it,” he told Jimmy Fallon in 2011.
The concept was the brainchild of Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, two SNL writers who would go on to co-write several Murphy movies, including Coming to America, Boomerang and Nutty Professor. “You know, I think it was an herb-induced sketch,” Murphy said, remembering the pitch going something like this:
BLAUSTEIN/SHEFFIELD: (inhaling a joint) You know, if he was James Brown in a hot tub…
MURPHY: James Brown in a hot tub?!?!
BLAUSTEIN/SHEFFIELD:No, listen. (Taking another hit and holding in the smoke) If James Brown’s in a hot …