Simon Dunn

Scriptwriter and Comedian

e.phemera: Buckwheat

At the height of his popularity on Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy was becoming weary of the reaction to one of his most beloved characters, Buckwheat. So, he approached Dick Ebersol, then the Executive Producer of the show and said “I want to kill Buckwheat.”

It was one of the hottest characters in late-night television at that time. But he said ‘I can’t stand it anymore. Everywhere I go, people say, ‘Do Buckwheat, do this, do that.’ I want to kill him.
DICK EBERSOL, Live From New York

Along with writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield, Murphy sat down and wrote the two part sketch that was broadcast:

Part two:

Buckwheat
Buckwheat

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