Jere Hester is Director of News Products and Projects at the City University of New York Graduate School of Journalism. In the meantime, check out a preview of the Twain Prize show, which celebrates Murphy’s legacy on the medium that spawned his career. Perhaps the tribute will inspire Murphy like he inspired others, and spur him to get back to the business of being one of the funniest people on the planet. Unlike his brief “SNL” anniversary show appearance, this marked vintage Murphy – back on the big stage, making jokes. Did you all make Bill give his back?' he said before launching into a Cosby impersonation: 'I would like to talk to some of the people who feel like I should give back some of my trophies!'). Murphy reportedly was comfortable enough at the Kennedy Center to forgo any qualms about lampooning previous Twain Prize winner Cosby (“Bill has one of these. The Twain ceremony drew devotees from Murphy’s crowd: comedians – among them former SNL stars Rock, Tracy Morgan and Kevin Nealon, along with Dave Chappelle, Trevor Noah and Murphy’s “Coming to America” co-star Arsenio Hall. Murphy’s bowing out of hosting the 2012 Academy Awards didn’t endear him to entertainment moguls. He’s likely still smarting from not getting an Oscar for his stunning dramatic turn in 2006’s “Dreamgirls” (not that the winner, Alan Arkin, didn’t do a great job in “Little Miss Sunshine”). While Murphy seemed to enjoy a Spike TV tribute three years ago, there’s no love lost between him and the Hollywood establishment whose pockets he helped line. Fey was there and so was Will Ferrell – both great performers who inexplicably got the Twain Prize before Murphy. Murphy didn’t return to the show until February’s special. “Look, children,” Spade said, with a picture of Murphy behind him.

The long career has included some bombs, which prompted a David Spade quip during “Weekend Update” that soured Murphy on “SNL” for two decades. Dolittle,” before bringing his voice to the wisecracking Donkey in the “Shrek” animated hits. He extended the no-holds-barred standup approach of Richard Pryor with “Delirious” and “Raw.” Still, Murphy also proved himself a family friendly performer by playing the title roles in remakes of “The Nutty Professor” and “Dr. Murphy’s star quickly rose in Hollywood, where the “48 Hours” and “Beverly Hills Cop” franchises helped establish comedy as a major box office force. $1.73 billion Powerball jackpot goes to lucky lottery player in California As part of the first post-original cast lineup, he helped reinvent and reinvigorate the show with his caustic take on Gumby and his streetwise Mister Rogers takeoff, Mister Robinson. He got an early start, beginning his standup career at age 15 and joining “SNL” four years later. But Murphy’s packed huge accomplishments and laughs into his 54 years. It seems odd, in some respects, to give what amounts to a lifetime achievement award to someone still relatively young. That changed, in part, last month when Murphy notched the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. The ceremony, to be broadcast on PBS Monday, offers Rock and other fans a whole 90-minute show to celebrate the man who kept “SNL” alive and changed comedy. But more importantly, Rock's brief salute underscored that Murphy hasn't always gotten his proper due as one of the major comedy powerhouses of the last 35 years. It marked another chapter in Murphy's uneasy post-departure relationship with the show that launched his career. The backstory that perhaps explained the awkwardness later emerged: Murphy had balked at playing the embattled Bill Cosby in a sketch that night and was left with nothing to do other than accept Rock's plaudits. Murphy appeared touched, though his own short, unfocused remarks didn't come close to matching Rock’s introduction. If not for Murphy, Rock noted, 'I'd be like the funny UPS driver in Queens – and Tina Fey would be the funniest English professor at Drexel University.' Chris Rock, in his funny and heartfelt tribute to Eddie Murphy during February's 'Saturday Night Live' 40th anniversary special, credited his friend with inspiring a generation of comics – and saving the show.

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