Tommy Davidson Compares Himself To Michael Jordan + Says ‘SNL’ Exec Told Him: Eddie Murphy Was A Mistake

Tommy Davidson, Michael Jordan, Eddie Murphy

Tommy Davidson Compares Himself To Michael Jordan + Says ‘SNL’ Exec Told Him: Eddie Murphy Was A Mistake

Comedian Tommy Davidson is serving no holds barred interviews at every outlet in promotion of his revealing memoir, “Living In Color: What’s Funny About Me.”

During today’s Breakfast Club interview, Tommy acknowledged that there are many other anecdotes – like his Jamie Foxx and Will and Jada Pinkett-Smith stories – included in the book that may ruffle a few feathers:

“They don’t hardly talk to me no way…I’m the kind of person that will have a conversation with you…the conversations aren’t what they used to be, but that doesn’t mean they won’t be.”

An example of that might be his recollection of auditioning for veteran sketch show, “Saturday Night Live.” He says an executive from the show told him they’d already muddied their brand with one now-icon funnyman – Eddie Murphy:

“When I broke into the comedy scene, I broke into all the white clubs…killin’ it! And what they would tell me is, ‘You’re not the one we want. You’re not what we’re looking for.’ And I was like, ‘Well, what you looking for?’ Even Lorne Michaels when I went to audition for SNL- he was like, ‘I’m not looking for a Black comedian. Eddie Murphy was a mistake.’…if you think Eddie Murphy was a mistake, what do you think would have happened to your show? That kind of craziness I was already used to because of how I came up.”

Tommy Davidson then went on to compare himself to NBA legend, Michael Jordan. He said:

“I wanna be the best that I can be- not just in my profession. I’ve pretty much proven that I’m, like, the Michael Jordan of comedy. I dunk with both hands, I go left, I steal, I don’t miss threes…come on. Look at the stats. But he doesn’t have to go around saying that!”

He also opens up on his drug addiction.

“It [rehab] was necessary. I could end up like Elvis or Hendrix or Prince or- there’s a long list…the dark side is there for all of us…it was where I was in my life- it was like the perfect storm…”

He explained why he suddenly took issue with jokes about homosexuals on “In Living Color.”

I didn’t feel anyhting from it [the jokes] until my brother was dying. I let people be what they are and express themselves. If the writers wanna put that stuff- if I don’t agree with it, I ain’t gotta say nothin’. But my brother was dying of AIDS, so my family suggested, ‘Hey, why don’t you not be in those gay sketches that they have, ’cause it might bother Michael.’ So I went to the producers and I said, ‘Hey, I don’t wanna be in those sketches.'”

“Living In Color” by Tommy Davidson is available everywhere books are sold.

What are your thoughts on what he had to say? Tell us in the comments!

Written by Miata Shanay