The B-Sides of Eddie Murphy featuring Nicholas Gray and Alvin Keith

      Welcome to The B-Side! In this podcast, we focus on movie stars—not the films that brought them fame or maintained it, but the ones they made in between.

      Today, we’re discussing one of the most accomplished entertainers ever: Eddie Murphy! Our B-Sides include Metro, Holy Man, Life, and I Spy. Joining us are filmmaker and returning guest Nicholas Gray, along with the talented actor Alvin Keith.

      We explore Eddie’s incredible ascent, the misunderstood failure of the overlooked Harlem Nights, and his less impressive work in the '90s. During 1987-1988, Eddie’s stand-up special Raw was one of the highest-grossing theatrical releases of that year.

      We touch on the odd tone of Metro, the fact that Eddie isn't the main character in Holy Man, the subtle brilliance of Life, and the lackluster execution of I Spy.

      We also discuss how Eddie auditioned for Saturday Night Live solely as an actor, and recall his memorable moment at the Academy Awards in 1988 when he addressed the absence of Black representation.

      Carmen Ejogo shared a great quote about her experience working with Eddie on Metro: “He was completely charming but… did he tell me this? He gets approached with, ‘There’s this script, it’s kind of mediocre, are you interested?’ ‘No, not really.’ ‘Well, we’ll pay you $30 million to do it.’ ‘Sure, why not?’ That's his mindset. He's not aiming to become the next Poitier; it’s just how he approaches things. He shows up to earn his paycheck, while I was thinking, ‘What’s the motivation here?’”

      We discuss Eddie’s natural softness (and his edgy side) and how it benefits him, his choice to turn down Rush Hour for Holy Man, and his music career!

      Tune in below and subscribe here. Don’t forget to follow us on Bluesky at @tfsbside.bsky.social. Enjoy!