Did Eddie Murphy Bail On A SNL 40th Anniversary Sketch?

"It was some week," tweeted SNL veteran Norm MacDonald of the hectic writing done leading up to the highly viewed 40th Anniversary Special last Sunday.

But did Eddie Murphy turn down the joke of the night because he's "a rock star among rock stars"?

Norm MacDonald's running tweet commentary of the behind-the-scenes writing pressures that results from putting together a three hour live TV comedy special is wonderful reading, even if it is difficult in the Twitter format.

Especially eye opening was his revelation that Eddie Murphy turned down the Bill Cosby date rape joke that was part of the "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketch.

He knew the laughs would bring the house down. Eddie Murphy knows what will work on SNL better than any one. Eddie decides the laughs are not worth it. He will not kick a man when he is down. Eddie Murphy, I realize, is not like the rest of us. Eddie does not need the laughs. Eddie Murphy is the coolest, a rockstar even in a room with actual rockstars.