With new comedic actors like Kevin Hart on the scene, one would think that Eddie Murphy’s name and gap teeth wouldn’t ring as many bells as back in the 80s. Spike TV’s special, Eddie Murphy: One Night Only, proved just the opposite when it premiered November 14th on the TV network. Eddie Murphy: One Night Only was the highest-rated and most-watched special event in Spike TV history.
The tribute to Murphy delivered 1.9 million viewers, 1.5 household rating and ranked #3 in all of cable television with Men 18-49 in its time slot.
“Eddie Murphy is a modern icon and one of the greatest comedic storytellers of all time from stand-up, to sketch, to feature films, to animation,” said Casey Patterson, Executive Vice President, Event Production, Talent Development & Studio Relations – Viacom Entertainment Group. “He’s the king of it all and we’re thrilled his fans turned out in such a big and meaningful way for this incredible show.”
The event was star-studded and many A-list celebrities made appearances such as Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, Adam Sandler, Tyler Perry, Keenen Ivory Wayans, Russell Brand, Samuel L. Jackson, Tracy Morgan, Brett Ratner, and Jeffrey Katzenberg.
Eddie Murphy: One Night Only honored Murphy’s journey from a 15-year-old aspiring comedian, to the record-breaking Raw, which remains the highest grossing stand-up film of all time. The event also paid homage to his Saturday Night Live and successful movie career.
I guess ole Eddie showed that he is still the real king of comedy.
