Actor Eddie Murphy is reportedly a leading candidate to host the 84th Academy Awards. (AP)
A perfect storm is brewing for Eddie Murphy to make his first appearance on this weekend’s “Saturday Night Live” since leaving the show in 1984 and igniting a feud with creator Lorne Michaels.
Work is going on behind the scenes for Murphy to pop up on the NBC show when his “Tower Heist” co-star, Ben Stiller, hosts Saturday night, we’re told.
Murphy’s hosting the next Oscar telecast, which happens to be produced by “Tower” director Brett Ratner.
Reports of bad blood between Murphy and “SNL” surfaced after cast member David Spade took a shot at him during a career slump.
In a mock entertainment news segment, Spade showed a picture of Murphy and joked around the time of his 1989 film “Harlem Nights,” “Look children, a falling star ... Quick, make a wish!”
Sources say Murphy was not amused at the time and complained bitterly to Michaels, “demanding an apology, but Michaels sided with his writers, saying he had to give them creative freedom.”
Murphy has never joined any “SNL” reunions or specials, sparking further speculation of a long-standing beef with Michaels.
But sources say Ratner eased the way to bring Murphy back and bury the hatchet.
Murphy was one of Saturday Night Live's biggest stars in the 1980s, starring in classic skits like "James Brown's Celebrity Hot Tub," "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood," and "I'm Gumby Dammit."
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