Yeah I agree. You look at Ed's first interview with Johnny Carson and he obviously has a sense for Johnny's less-evolved, Nebraska-boy take on race relations. And he calls Carson out on one of his questions about Murphy being able to "buy anything he wants" now that he's famous. Eddie was sharp enough to know that Carson probably used the word more regularly off camera and in Cavett's case it was just liberal guilt and awkwardness.
Especially with the level of ignorance, inpreparedness and insistent on using the N word. What a piece of shit this guy. Murphy is a genius at making light of these racist who thinks that they are not racist bc they consider an industry person who has never been to their homes, their kids have never played together. This is sad
It only seemed out of nowhere because he made a literary reference that went over Murphy's head. This was in Twain's book. Of course it is a vile word. But discussing its history in literature is not vile.
George Karst nah he definitely dropped it out of nowhere, he could have brought it up the use of the N word in a more more sophisticated way that he did
Naw, he was slowly working his way into that word. He first told Eddie about Mark Twain, then asked him about Huckleberry Finn, and went off the deep end by asking him about the N-word.
Indeed, Collin illustrates my point. Again, as vile as the n-word is we should still discuss its history. Since Eddie Murphy never read Mark Twain his reaction was tense. The sad irony is that Murphy, whose early career included masterful satire of bigotry, is unaware of this outstanding tradition he shares with Mark Twain.
@@cxidp I think the fact that Cavett is presenting to an audience that may have read HF, he knew those people would want to know his reaction to the fact that it's actually in the book, which Murphy doesn't know cause he hadn't read it. I think he was trying to rile him up to the point of either opening up as a person in front of millions of ppl, or he wanted a reaction due to shock. He got #2.
Eddie Murphy in the 80s could control a room like literally no person ever. Literally ever. Like Richard Pryor was like “man I’m worried about him he’s getting too funny” 🤣🤣🤣
Do it Effortless dick cavvett’s not racist at all. he had plenty of black guests including jimi hendrix . not only that but he was famous for arguing with this racist senator from the south
Different times man. Imagine stoning a person to death 2k years ago. Thankfully atleast in part. Humans change. Unfortunately not everyone and not everything.
@@officialgoogleyoutube He said "Humans change. *Unfortunately* not everyone and not *everything*. " I was pointing out the redundancy of "everything" in that sentence. Obviously not everything needs to change.
These type of questions were what young Eddie used to call, 'The Negro Files'. He called out Letterman for doing the same during an interview on his show.
@@eddyrocks probably not. Back then the word was just a word unless you were calling someone that to insult them. Anyone said it if it wasn't used to insult. Different times. Now the word is unspeakable.
I adore this interview for many reasons. It showed Eddie as a leader, and as the perfect guest to answer ill placed questions from a veteran interviewer. Dick was very odd this evening, but Eddie was graceful and full of class. Shows exactly why Eddie made the big time, talented, quick witted, and incredibly smart, even though he’s only 24-25 in this clip.
Wow it’s so weird because you’re a black comic but you’re not Richard Pryor. You’re twenty years younger! Isn’t that weird? That you aren’t the same person?
...sigh...no guys the thing with Eddie around this time was that he had achieved so much at a young age...he got his big break at 20 and achieved things in his early 20s that some comics took decades to achieve. In this interview he's only 23 or 24
@@barrontrump3943 how was eddie insecure? hes in a room full of white people in the 80s i would like to see how comfortable you would be with someone making it awkward in a room full of black people on tv
@@barrontrump3943 dick was just awkward about it don't blame it on eddie dick was making bad jokes not adding nothing to the convo don't tell me you didn't cringe/ eddie cringed he wasn't insecure i don't think you know what that means/if you gonna say it say it normally with confidence then they zoomed to his face to see his reaction it felt like dick wasn't comfortable saying it he should've just called it the n word
to say it doesn't matter who's around you is pretty ignorant because we as humans act diff depending who we with and how comfortable they makes us feel he made him uncomfortable he just said it out of nowhere no warning it he could've lead it there and then asked him and you know it
Dick was leaning towards that subject little by little “you like Mark Twain?” “Do you read? Have you read Huckleberry Finn” “Are you offended by the word Neega?” Like he was beating around the bush, trying to approach the question carefully but he FAILED really bad at it. This isn’t the way to go about asking that question. lmfao
I thought the same way. Like he happened upon the idea to use Mark Twain to get to the question. Because otherwise why are you asking Eddie Murphy about Mark Twain out of nowhere
@@jaypostsvideos4011 Mark Twain was a white author who was born about one hundred and thirty years before Murphy. Murphy is black stand-up comedian and comic actor. I don’t see any connection.
Seemed Cavett was more interested in interviewing 'a black man' than in talking amiably with Eddie Murphy. And Murphy comes off much more nuanced than Cavett.
When I watched Eddie Murphy as a kid in the 80s this is exactly what he was like in all his movies. Basically really relaxed and always had a good joke. This reminds me of Beverly Hills cop.
@@aminaismaiil what are you talking about?? dick cavett didnt call anybody the n word he was literally asking eddie what was his stance on the word within the movie/book . if your gonna get upset because someone was REFERENCING something then your too sensitive
I love Cavett I think he's a wonderful interviewer but this is far from his finest hour. Murphy is a class act. He had really funny responses to some not so great questions
Well, he is not a racist. His question was clearly extremely misconstrued on account of how he delivered it. He shouldn't have said the word like he did, as it completely derailed the conversation.
@@hasselett That, I think, was the problem when he interviewed pryor as well. He was so awkward about asking a straight question he tried to be funny and it just comes off terribly.
I love how eddie called him on it. Wanted to "get away saying the word on tv in front of him"..... it was so out of nowhere and the tone was almost aggressive...... and the way the camera held eddies face to make sure to get his reaction...... tell me that wasn't planned.....
Well spotted, the rest of the interview the camera is on who is speaking, at that moment camera turned to Eddie early and stayed on him... Not that it would be very likely that you d say that word in front of a black person on camera, by accident... Bunch of scumbags the producers of this show.
If i hadn't just seen the video of Eddie reminiscing about his friendship with Cavett and how Eddie would dare Cavett into all manner of things I too would have been a bit saddened. Now he seems like the most fearless man alive. Still a supremely weird piece of television
Wtf? Cavetts just dangling his age and “experience” over Eddy’s head the whole time, so weird, it’s not even an interview, it’s like he’s just sizing him up, intimidated and at a loss, trying to project his insecurity. And then the N word shit, which could’ve been an important discussion but was fumbled horribly by Cavett. Holy moly. Props to you guys for uploading this.
@islanti This is from the 80's - the N word wasn't acceptable then. One look at Eddie's face tells you that Cavett crossed the line, even by 1980's standards
So every rap song or black comedian who uses the word should be removed from the airwaves? When you allow some to say something while banning others you create more separation and segregation. Sweeping something under the rug and pretending it doesnt exist isnt effectively solving a problem.
Such a weird interview. Cavett is usually WAY better than this, and it's not like he's never had a brilliant black artist on his show before. Really strange. Eddie handled it beautifully, made Cavett instantly realize his awkwardness.
I think it’s because from his personal interactions with Murphy, it’s probably the first time he’s actually had to consciously talk his way through racial topics. Watch his interview with jim brown and Lester Maddox again or Richard Pryor he didn’t actually do much talking
An exceptional high school teacher of mine, asked me the same question in 1985, but in a matter of fact way. It happened after a lot of the very small percentage of Black students freaked out after reading Huckleberry Finn. The same teacher had my back some years earlier after the white students were whispering behind my back. Thank you Mr. Lind for being a man and great teacher. Rest In Peace.
When he said they had no shoes & then asked "your wife is from there?" That was the get back @ him part...so you married a barefoot woman? Hilarious...he tried to avoid answering too.
@@jayallen81 So you came to watch this video and scour through the comments to make this comment? You have a hate boner for Murphy you have to seek him out?
@@wellbuttermybiscuits7 Dick's interviews with white people are great. I don't know what he was trying to do here but I'm inclined to think he was... the original troll?
wow, I'm not american and just discovered who Dick Cavett is, but I got really interested in these interviews. But that's the first one I see Cavett so dull. He is so sharp in the 70's interviews.Can anyone explain me why?
Race baiting wasn’t as popular in the 80’s due to the party decade of the 70’s which was looked at as the first decade black people were “Completely Free” and fresh off the civil rights movement and it was easier to ask race baiting questions because most black celebrities were “super woke” and wanted to speak for their people, similar to what the media TRIES to RECREATE today with today’s black celebrities but these times don’t have the racial tension of times past.
3:33 I love how Eddie calls him out for using the n-word in such a funny way. "I like that Cavett boy! Did you see him say 'n****' right in front of him?"
He was the same way w Richard pryor....not trying to be offensive but white ppl in those days were like that. Not racist BUT very awkward with how they approached us. Something that's happened to me since I was a kid & I'm 44 was if I hold the door for a white guy 99% of the time they'll say " Thanks brotha or main man".😂 I KNOW he doesn't mean harm BUT I know he wouldn't say that if a white man holds the door. But why think that I speak like that? & mind you I always dress "regular" no saging pants etc. My parent didnt play that. But it could get awkward fast sometimes lol
Peyton Bell I am white and catch myself saying “I feel you” often with black people. It must be some kind of subconscious thing because of the stereotypes of blacks using jive talk. It’s weird because if I’m friends/coworkers with them I don’t say that. Of course I find the slang term “dead ass” to be in bad taste. Cavitt came across poorly here but this is how constructive discussions come about. No matter how much black media I consume I’ll never truly know the black experience. All we can do is empathize and try to understand.
Now what’s funny is Eddie did a WTF podcast interview with Marc Maron where he basically confirmed he was friends with Cavett but hasn’t seen him in years.
If anyone can read body language Eddie wasn't liking this corny interview, in-fact he made it better, or rather saved it from a complete mess of things hah
@fynes leigh not really, I've been a guest on the Tonight Show, other than a couple of flash cards the producer hands out for questions and the hidden "X"tape on the ground of where to stand, the special celeb' guests just literally show up and sit on the couch, they might be briefed on what to expect, I was literally walked through everything and showed up early for the rehearsals and even after the fact Leno still pranked me live on set but I was just speaking out of intuition on this one, ,watch it again such an interview would not in any way shape or form happen especially now that old racial wounds have been reopened.
@fynes leigh I'm not sure what exactly in my reply geared you in the direction of race. But I'm glad you see that it is imaginary it was actually a scientific invention of classification of hominids in the late 1700s and if words are mere words why are people protesting or reacting so much to moralistically priggish tweets? I was in the audience but I experienced everything the celebs do,I had my own limo driver waiting for me at LAx holding my name and had 5star lodging at the Sheraton and private chauffeur service, a powder room with my name tag. I'm an Earthed soul I don't care much about luxuries but my experience is totally different plus I have a first hand record of what I witnessed about celebrities there's a huuuuuge reason why NBC prohibits recording devices or cellphones all in all we see differently, plus you're speaking to an enlightened being I can see more even from just watching an old video, maybe if I could help you develop your intuition take this wisdom....watch a video without sound and then watch it with sound and youll have greater insight...peace and love
@@yezzzzzd-_-b yea true but it's just funny watching it with 2020 vision or rather 2021 vision..you should watch "The Blonde Captive" Science and exploration has come a looooong way
The Hendrix interview was absolutely NOT cringe-worthy like this one. Dick Cavett was in his prime in the late 60s and early 70s, an alternative to Johnny Carson who unlike Cavett wouldn't have (what were then considered) counter-culture musicians/ artists on his show. The Hendrix interview was great especially considering Jimi was high as a kite. By the time this Eddie Murphy interview aired (mid 80s?) Cavett was no longer considered the "young hip" alternative, he just plain sucked. The Richard Pryor interview was from around the same period. Cavett's dumb race comments were only one aspect of how much he sucked, he even made his George Carlin interview boring and almost unwatchable.
The Pryor interview cringe level = 7 The Murphy interview cringe level = 8 The Hendrix interview cringe level = 1 Anything 9 and over, wouldn't be surprised if a guest got up and walked off the set mid-interview BeeGees style...
Dick is a bit out of the loop but there were also different times, even if we would like to remember the 80s as not a part of the 60/70s the TV hosts were pretty old school.
That whole conversation was set up to be steered in the direction of the N word. I feel like the producers had put the pressure on Dick here but also, he’s a bit of a jerk pretending he doesn’t offend people. Eddie handled it all with class and he knew what was going on. Man to have to be put on a pole and be poked like this in front of the world, I don’t know how Eddie kept his cool.
When you see Eddie Murphy looking down at the ground at 3:23, you can tell he's genuinely taken aback but trying to keep his cool. Like, really? THAT'S the road we're gonna take, then?
UM... wow. Eddie's reaction was perfect to that very awkward question. "Where did that come from?" He really should have just asked if Twain's use of the "N" word was offensive to him, I don't know. That's not me being sensitive, that's completely based on Eddie's vibe after he's asked.
The term "the 'n' word" had not yet come into use. I recall hearing the actual word on TV, radio, & movies in throughout the 1980's. It's a fairly modern contrivance as far as I'm aware; I'd guess around the turn of the century. I live in the south & hear the word far too often, unfortunately.
@@rrbaggett7 Oh wow, I didn't know that. I grew up in the 90s, so I never thought of when it became more of a taboo. I know it was used on The Jeffersons pretty liberally. That's such a shame that it's said (I assume derogatorily) so often where you live :(
This is the type of awkward conversation you have when you're left alone with your friends friend
LMAO
No doubt, which is funny because Eddie once said they were friends outside the show.
This is how I talked with the chef at Lola55
LOL
They had no connection at all.
Why was it so hard for him to interview a black comedian? He had Pryor experience.
Omg that punchline is all kinds of dope!!! U a rapper by any chance bro?
raymond18 😂
Well done
Nice work, sir
He was awkward on the Pryor interview too though.
eddie spinning that n-word drop into a joke about racists watching the show with approval was brilliant
Eddie Murphy is a Smooth young brother and handled this with class
Yeah I agree. You look at Ed's first interview with Johnny Carson and he obviously has a sense for Johnny's less-evolved, Nebraska-boy take on race relations. And he calls Carson out on one of his questions about Murphy being able to "buy anything he wants" now that he's famous. Eddie was sharp enough to know that Carson probably used the word more regularly off camera and in Cavett's case it was just liberal guilt and awkwardness.
Can't wait to see The King back on SNL in a couple months.
Especially with the level of ignorance, inpreparedness and insistent on using the N word. What a piece of shit this guy. Murphy is a genius at making light of these racist who thinks that they are not racist bc they consider an industry person who has never been to their homes, their kids have never played together. This is sad
Yeah Eddie is cool
Eddie Murphy is a great man of character. He is miles above Dick Cavett.
This is like ‘Between Two Ferns’ but not on purpose. 😂😂😂😂
thatkenyannigga perfectly said
thatkenyannigga 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
thatkenyannigga lol
I assume most TV talk shows would be like this without the "Laugh" prompts for the audience.
that's what I thought too lmaoooo
eddie murphy dealt with that so well. used comedy to ease the awkwardness in the room and turn it into laughter. truly one of the greats.
they are both friends off stage. Eddie probably dared him to say it
@@tomservo5007 cap
Definitely discussed beforehand
It was not always a big deal to say the "n" word. If you weren't calling someone the word. Anybody said it. Now it's practically sacred.
@@monember2722 Definitely true it got worse over time.
Imagine Jimmy Fallon asking Kanye West this today.
Knowing Ye, he'd prolly find a way to make it more racist himself
Trump could call him that straight up and he'd be cool with it.
It would make jimmy worth watching?
@@GodWeenSatan: I'd pay money to see Jimmy Fallon say "neee GAH" like that.
Lol or asking Chappelle
He dropped the n word out of no where. Eddie is a class act.
It only seemed out of nowhere because he made a literary reference that went over Murphy's head. This was in Twain's book. Of course it is a vile word. But discussing its history in literature is not vile.
George Karst nah he definitely dropped it out of nowhere, he could have brought it up the use of the N word in a more more sophisticated way that he did
Naw, he was slowly working his way into that word. He first told Eddie about Mark Twain, then asked him about Huckleberry Finn, and went off the deep end by asking him about the N-word.
Indeed, Collin illustrates my point. Again, as vile as the n-word is we should still discuss its history. Since Eddie Murphy never read Mark Twain his reaction was tense. The sad irony is that Murphy, whose early career included masterful satire of bigotry, is unaware of this outstanding tradition he shares with Mark Twain.
@@cxidp I think the fact that Cavett is presenting to an audience that may have read HF, he knew those people would want to know his reaction to the fact that it's actually in the book, which Murphy doesn't know cause he hadn't read it. I think he was trying to rile him up to the point of either opening up as a person in front of millions of ppl, or he wanted a reaction due to shock. He got #2.
This is one of the most disjointed, awkward and at the same time weirdly entertaining interviews of all time
Word.
THIS WAS AWESOME
And they were actually friends that hung out together, weird huh
Eddie Murphy in the 80s could control a room like literally no person ever. Literally ever. Like Richard Pryor was like “man I’m worried about him he’s getting too funny” 🤣🤣🤣
Usually dick's jokes don't make me laugh but "we've told them this is new orleans" caught me.
Yes! That one got me
I don't usually laugh at dick jokes either but that was a knee slappa fosho
That joke was so mundane
@@ZamaraeNo it wasn't🙂
He said ni@&a like he had been holding it in all his life smh
correct
Fr
Man said it like he was trying to sound it out at a fucking Spelling Bee 😂
Do it Effortless yeah that was horrific
Do it Effortless dick cavvett’s not racist at all. he had plenty of black guests including jimi hendrix . not only that but he was famous for arguing with this racist senator from the south
Cavett’s interviews are usually excellent, even with challenging guests. This was so weird, even by 1980’s standards.
He said the n word like that teacher in the Boondocks.
Edit: Music. Listen to it. Channel. Click on it.
@1111111 11 I remember.
The insane part is that in his prime he worked with civil rights icons
Like the real teacher who said it lol yell
Now that’s spot on. Did a double take like wait he couldn’t be referencing that, it came out 30 yrs later
neegah
Imagine a talk show like Jimmy Kimmel talking to a black actor like, say, Denzel Washington, and saying "Are you offended by the word "NIGGEEUHH"?
Jimmy Kimmel wore blackface on his show. So, not much of a stretch.
Different times man. Imagine stoning a person to death 2k years ago. Thankfully atleast in part. Humans change. Unfortunately not everyone and not everything.
@@Fireoncityy It's not unfortunate that not "everything" changes. Don't throw the baby out with the bathwater.
@@euphoricatheist6694 ?
@@officialgoogleyoutube He said "Humans change. *Unfortunately* not everyone and not *everything*.
"
I was pointing out the redundancy of "everything" in that sentence. Obviously not everything needs to change.
This is the most bizarre interview I’ve ever seen
Totally - weird eh. Eddie Murphy is quick thinking - he punished him.
These type of questions were what young Eddie used to call, 'The Negro Files'. He called out Letterman for doing the same during an interview on his show.
DarkMsStress like x files but for blacks?
I think I saw that interview. Letterman asked him what he does with all his money, and Eddie said, would you ask Elizabeth Taylor that same question
@@Harley157d That was it.
Eddie's double-take blink when Cavett drops the N bomb on him nonchalantly is just perfect!
Exactly he was so caught off guard cause the way cavett. Said it made me mad too
@@blackmagic-kp6gd But when Eddie let them say it in Trading Places that was cool. Cause that was for money and all.
@@michaelcaraccia7819 was that not a film?
It was so out of no where too he was just as caught off guard by it back then as I am today
@@eddyrocks probably not. Back then the word was just a word unless you were calling someone that to insult them. Anyone said it if it wasn't used to insult. Different times. Now the word is unspeakable.
I adore this interview for many reasons. It showed Eddie as a leader, and as the perfect guest to answer ill placed questions from a veteran interviewer. Dick was very odd this evening, but Eddie was graceful and full of class. Shows exactly why Eddie made the big time, talented, quick witted, and incredibly smart, even though he’s only 24-25 in this clip.
Watch the interview he did with Ali and Frazier. He was trying to agitate them, Ali caught it early and put him in his place fast.
Someone who is confident Vs someone who is feeling anxious and insecure.
half the interview: "how old were you in this particular year?"
Wow it’s so weird because you’re a black comic but you’re not Richard Pryor. You’re twenty years younger! Isn’t that weird? That you aren’t the same person?
yeah really dumb interview
...sigh...no guys the thing with Eddie around this time was that he had achieved so much at a young age...he got his big break at 20 and achieved things in his early 20s that some comics took decades to achieve. In this interview he's only 23 or 24
@@amilcarballantyne thank you jesus people are dumb sometimes
Dick! Your'e falling
Apart"!
This period was not Dick's finest. On numerous occasions it felt like he had forgotten one of the fundamentals, namely, putting a guest at ease.
cant put a insecure colored to ease without giving him something for free
@@barrontrump3943 how was eddie insecure? hes in a room full of white people in the 80s i would like to see how comfortable you would be with someone making it awkward in a room full of black people on tv
humbl3hackn3y its a simple word that was said regarding a legitimate issue and he came off insecure about itDoesn’t matter who’s around you.
@@barrontrump3943 dick was just awkward about it don't blame it on eddie dick was making bad jokes not adding nothing to the convo don't tell me you didn't cringe/ eddie cringed he wasn't insecure i don't think you know what that means/if you gonna say it say it normally with confidence then they zoomed to his face to see his reaction it felt like dick wasn't comfortable saying it he should've just called it the n word
to say it doesn't matter who's around you is pretty ignorant because we as humans act diff depending who we with and how comfortable they makes us feel he made him uncomfortable he just said it out of nowhere no warning it he could've lead it there and then asked him and you know it
Dick was leaning towards that subject little by little “you like Mark Twain?” “Do you read? Have you read Huckleberry Finn” “Are you offended by the word Neega?” Like he was beating around the bush, trying to approach the question carefully but he FAILED really bad at it. This isn’t the way to go about asking that question. lmfao
Your comment made me burst out laughing too. Thanks hahahaha.
I thought the same way. Like he happened upon the idea to use Mark Twain to get to the question. Because otherwise why are you asking Eddie Murphy about Mark Twain out of nowhere
@@BelleTolles ...Because Mark Twain is the greatest comedic mind to come out of the US and Eddie Murphy was a comedian?
@@jaypostsvideos4011 Mark Twain was a white author who was born about one hundred and thirty years before Murphy. Murphy is black stand-up comedian and comic actor. I don’t see any connection.
That was a bit awkward lol
Dick trying to show how cool he was because he and Eddie were friends IRL.
It was less tense when Hitler tried explaining mein kumpf to his Jewish accountant.
A little bit I GUESS
@@Bitchtheman now that was hilarious🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣yell
Yeah cuz hes like aaay i remember MLK dieing?..What do tou think when I say the work n*****
3:11 😂😂😂 the way Eddie Murphy reacted was like wtf why did you jus say that 😂.
Ant Jonez 218 😂😂😂 like wtf
He seems to have genuine confusion and discomfort which makes it even more sad that it was said to him while he was on TV.
He seems like for a second he was about to go off and I dont blame hi.
Yea and you could tell that Eddie was having a good time and a lot of respect for Dick Cavett, before he made that fucking comment
It was normal back then.
3:35 the quick wit...it takes intelligence and perfect comic timing to come up with a tiny skit like that.... Genius
It would be nice to hear Eddie's thoughts about the interview today
@ducktravisty louisiana Interesting!
Absolutely!
@ducktravisty louisiana absolutely true. The majority of people here who are offended on Eddie's behalf don't know that at all.
@@kawaiiafangirl what did he say
@@olu7477 what did he say?
The class of murphy is off the charts here
At such a young age is what's crazy.
That was probably the most awkward thing I have ever seen. Eddie handled it like a champion.
I love them both, but this is unbearably uncomfortable
@@RPMcM09 no, he just wanted to set up a conversation for Eddie but Eddie gave short answers. I think dick was trying to be a bit too funny though lol
@@august6389 I think Dick is a dick
Watch them on letterman together.
They were actually friends
Ethan Colburn maybe Charlie was backstage getting ready to come out and whoop Dick Cavett’s ass.
Very uncomfortable
Dick Cavett immediately ran to the “I have black friends” defense.
Thinking the same damn thing! 😩
KMC Murphy did the same damn thing. Murphy would say: “I have black friends. I have black relatives.”
Did the same with Richard prior🙄
Oh bullshit. You can't be serious.
Seemed Cavett was more interested in interviewing 'a black man' than in talking amiably with Eddie Murphy. And Murphy comes off much more nuanced than Cavett.
When I watched Eddie Murphy as a kid in the 80s this is exactly what he was like in all his movies. Basically really relaxed and always had a good joke. This reminds me of Beverly Hills cop.
cavett is pretty lucky that murphy handled this so gracefully.
@fynes leigh I'm about 99% sure shows never had rehearsals back in the day.
Yeah, i swear he had Muhammad Ali on his show soo many times he never had the nuts to say it infront of him
@@aminaismaiil what are you talking about?? dick cavett didnt call anybody the n word he was literally asking eddie what was his stance on the word within the movie/book . if your gonna get upset because someone was REFERENCING something then your too sensitive
@Bleu Barclay 😐
@Bleu Barclay your trying too hard
I love how cool Eddie handled himself and kept out smarting him
There was no such tension between the parts, so by outsmarting what do you mean?
@@timmy4312 the host was being subliminal
@@samanthadavis8203 how can one even be that
@@timmy4312 same way one can be sarcastic
@@samanthadavis8203 exactly the fact that your explaining this to the fool shows how tone deaf and ignorant people are to this day lol
I love Cavett I think he's a wonderful interviewer but this is far from his finest hour. Murphy is a class act. He had really funny responses to some not so great questions
Yeah, Cavett must have not had his coffee yet or something. Well off his usual pace.
"And then I will spend the rest of our time trying to prove I'm not a racist...name drop, name drop, name drop, awkward giggle"
That's precisely what he tried to do.
Well, he is not a racist. His question was clearly extremely misconstrued on account of how he delivered it. He shouldn't have said the word like he did, as it completely derailed the conversation.
@@arthub9 exactly
waaaaah dont say de n word is waaassssiiiissstttt
@@hasselett That, I think, was the problem when he interviewed pryor as well. He was so awkward about asking a straight question he tried to be funny and it just comes off terribly.
I love how eddie called him on it. Wanted to "get away saying the word on tv in front of him"..... it was so out of nowhere and the tone was almost aggressive...... and the way the camera held eddies face to make sure to get his reaction...... tell me that wasn't planned.....
Well spotted, the rest of the interview the camera is on who is speaking, at that moment camera turned to Eddie early and stayed on him...
Not that it would be very likely that you d say that word in front of a black person on camera, by accident...
Bunch of scumbags the producers of this show.
I think it was. (Planned)
@@MustangRed1967 all tv is. All is propaganda
I believe Dick knew he was on his way out of the loop at this time and wanted to be more rad and edgy than before but it failed big time.
Logic wtf is wrong with you?
If i hadn't just seen the video of Eddie reminiscing about his friendship with Cavett and how Eddie would dare Cavett into all manner of things I too would have been a bit saddened. Now he seems like the most fearless man alive. Still a supremely weird piece of television
Wtf? Cavetts just dangling his age and “experience” over Eddy’s head the whole time, so weird, it’s not even an interview, it’s like he’s just sizing him up, intimidated and at a loss, trying to project his insecurity. And then the N word shit, which could’ve been an important discussion but was fumbled horribly by Cavett. Holy moly. Props to you guys for uploading this.
Perfectly put
What a creepy dude
Thats what great about this channel, they're putting flaws and everything in here for the rest of time, takes a brave man to do that
islanti why are you so triggered by the comments ?
@islanti This is from the 80's - the N word wasn't acceptable then. One look at Eddie's face tells you that Cavett crossed the line, even by 1980's standards
Cavett has had some tremendous interviews, many of which you can watch on TH-cam, but this one was terribly awkward.
Today Cavett would've been fired on the spot.
And deserved it
He should have been back then
So every rap song or black comedian who uses the word should be removed from the airwaves? When you allow some to say something while banning others you create more separation and segregation. Sweeping something under the rug and pretending it doesnt exist isnt effectively solving a problem.
Thomas Anderson no he wouldn’t deserve that it’s just a word
Ulf if it’s just a word then why do white people always want to say it so badly
Every person who has been in Eddie’s position knows exactly what his thinking and what he’s saying without saying it.
Yep.
Even tv audiences in the 70's were going yikes to this.
The Backup this was 1985
It was 85 you dummy
i dont care you didnt know this was the 80s your sentiment was bang on.
Coz they been trained to only use the n word when theres no black people around.
Retrospectively, the 70s and 80s are almost the same in that it was a politically incorrect, tell it like it is, pre-internet Cold War world.
Even in this interview Eddie was hilarious. It's definitely time for a comeback.
he has a new movie dropping on netflix this month or later this year and coming 2 america next year
@@mariahyohannes Omigosh, you've made my week with this news. Thank you!
Hosting SNL this Christmas too!
Such a weird interview. Cavett is usually WAY better than this, and it's not like he's never had a brilliant black artist on his show before. Really strange. Eddie handled it beautifully, made Cavett instantly realize his awkwardness.
I think it’s because from his personal interactions with Murphy, it’s probably the first time he’s actually had to consciously talk his way through racial topics. Watch his interview with jim brown and Lester Maddox again or Richard Pryor he didn’t actually do much talking
An exceptional high school teacher of mine, asked me the same question in 1985, but in a matter of fact way. It happened after a lot of the very small percentage of Black students freaked out after reading Huckleberry Finn. The same teacher had my back some years earlier after the white students were whispering behind my back. Thank you Mr. Lind for being a man and great teacher. Rest In Peace.
This is lovely. I'm glad you remember him fondly.
How the f'k did he jump to Mark Twain from JFK??? He really wanted to get that conversation started. 🙄
Watch the video again. It has to do with what they were exposed to as children, what their frame of reference was or came from.
@@tim3198no, he definitely wanted to get that conversation started.
"Elivs was from the deep south...back then there were no shoes in Tuppalo" - Eddie Murphy is damn funny.
When he said they had no shoes & then asked "your wife is from there?" That was the get back @ him part...so you married a barefoot woman? Hilarious...he tried to avoid answering too.
This moment we all got to see Mr. Murphys true talents. Owning a room. He ran this so well, and made Dick look stupid on his own long running show.
Murphy was boring. He is also a raving homophobe.
@@jayallen81 So you came to watch this video and scour through the comments to make this comment? You have a hate boner for Murphy you have to seek him out?
How’d he make him look stupid?
@@jayallen81 So what? Eddie can hold whatever opinion he likes. You're not the dictator
You know they were friends and used to hang out
this is the most awkward interview i’ve ever seen
Absolutely. And didn't Eddie handle it with class?.......wow.......
Oh, you haven't seen the Pryor one yet?
Check out this awkward tupac interview. Its really cringy. m.th-cam.com/video/GpPbYGJRg0Q/w-d-xo.html
@@yezzzzzd-_-b LOL, indeed.
@@yezzzzzd-_-b ty!
Damn he just came out of nowhere with that question 😂
I think Eddie should have gone to commercial right after Cavett said "We told them this is New Orleans." Kind of leave on a high note.
The George Constanza move.
@@EltonBeatles😆😆😆Exactly,/
after that one joke the whole thing went down the toilet so fast, Cavet was off his rocker here.
If you felt like you are bad at your job, take a look at this
Lol
i must have missed something
@@Ciridan clearly and you can't be black haha
@Respect/Walk talk show host calls person derogation insult that people literally have died over.... Great....
@@frostkid08 He didn't call him it.
1. Never seen Eddie flummoxed before, even though it was brief
2. That host lives up to his name
This comment wins the award
Dick Cavett was the one flummoxed, lol.
Dick Cavett was and still is a closet bigot.
@@politicaloutsider413 Cavett was never a bigot. You say this because he’s white?
@@coypu2005 it think this video alone shows how much of a bigot he was tho🙄
@@wellbuttermybiscuits7 Dick's interviews with white people are great. I don't know what he was trying to do here but I'm inclined to think he was... the original troll?
Wow, that was really awkward.
I like how Eddie Became the Interviewer. And them looks he was given Cavett. Priceless.
I think we can all agree that the way Eddie handled Cavett's ignorance in this pretty much saved the whole interview
They was friends
Go watch the Jimmy kimmel interview they were friends Lol
I think The Eric Andre show set looks alot like this one
3:11 in this moment he knew he was gonna have to make *Norbit*
Most of you commenting don’t understand Eddie and Dicks relationship. Eddie likely dared him to say it before the show lol
Context is everything.
Most likely not
Lmao he’s right. He dared him. They’ were super close. Look it up.
Came here to say this. Eddie dared him lol, their relationship was hilarious
@@amann3161 I'd say your thoroughly burnt lol...
That is a damn good bit and nobody got it
wow, I'm not american and just discovered who Dick Cavett is, but I got really interested in these interviews. But that's the first one I see Cavett so dull. He is so sharp in the 70's interviews.Can anyone explain me why?
Gabriel Bossei He got older, and consequently, more out of touch. Happens to the best of us!
@@VideoAmericanStyle Yeah and I bet he wasn't that dull even with the coming of age, probably was just a really uninspired day!
@@VideoAmericanStyle He wasn't old here. He was in his late 40's.
Take a wild guess
Race baiting wasn’t as popular in the 80’s due to the party decade of the 70’s which was looked at as the first decade black people were “Completely Free” and fresh off the civil rights movement and it was easier to ask race baiting questions because most black celebrities were “super woke” and wanted to speak for their people, similar to what the media TRIES to RECREATE today with today’s black celebrities but these times don’t have the racial tension of times past.
Eddie is a class act. Kept his cool and actually dominated the interview. I miss Eddie Murphy’s work.
3:09 this is the weirdest thing to imagine seeing on television from the year 2021.
Never seen this before; and I didn't think that I could love Eddie any more than I do and then he goes and shows me the greatest riposte ever.
wow Eddie handled that so well, with a smile and charm
That ‘uh huh’ Eddie drops at 4:20, along with that stare and comments afterwards, is so so telling.
The band was like "Man we're going to have to save him."
Ouch!. That went down as bad as it could be
3:33 I love how Eddie calls him out for using the n-word in such a funny way. "I like that Cavett boy! Did you see him say 'n****' right in front of him?"
Wow, WTF! What was Cavett smoking? What an embarrassing interview.
He was the same way w Richard pryor....not trying to be offensive but white ppl in those days were like that. Not racist BUT very awkward with how they approached us. Something that's happened to me since I was a kid & I'm 44 was if I hold the door for a white guy 99% of the time they'll say " Thanks brotha or main man".😂 I KNOW he doesn't mean harm BUT I know he wouldn't say that if a white man holds the door. But why think that I speak like that? & mind you I always dress "regular" no saging pants etc. My parent didnt play that. But it could get awkward fast sometimes lol
Peyton Bell I am white and catch myself saying “I feel you” often with black people. It must be some kind of subconscious thing because of the stereotypes of blacks using jive talk. It’s weird because if I’m friends/coworkers with them I don’t say that.
Of course I find the slang term “dead ass” to be in bad taste.
Cavitt came across poorly here but this is how constructive discussions come about. No matter how much black media I consume I’ll never truly know the black experience. All we can do is empathize and try to understand.
Jonathan Lane go watch the one with Richard Pryor for even more DC awkwardness.
@@BJMallory lmao that ep was horrible
@@onlyplayaseattacoswiththei9433 not racist?" are offended by the word Neegaar??"what kind of dam question is that
8:10 is literally how I felt for most of this video
Right lol
The guest fucking cut to commercial lmao
This feels like someone from the 50's interviewing someone from the today.
That’s like a really accurate feeling
Totally, really good observation!
The look on Eddie's face when Dick suggests they're friends...
Now what’s funny is Eddie did a WTF podcast interview with Marc Maron where he basically confirmed he was friends with Cavett but hasn’t seen him in years.
@@toddhensley880 yeah they went to baseball games together
Eddie turned that into a funny ass impression
I love how he's like "I've had all these people on the show" like it was an act of altruism and doesn't make him money.
That Memphis joke response had me rolling
It’s even worse that he had to defend himself by saying “oh....Ive interviewed Jim brown &....
Exactly
But the and was Lester Maddox and George Wallace - two prominent racists and pro segregationists.
@@SamQuentin yea hahahah
I'm 63, I love Eddie Murphy, I love Dick Cavett -- Eddie owned this interview.
Eddie reminds me that somehow Tyler, The Creator has been watching his manorisms
“Not a drop”
@E.A. de Ruiter i can memorize some expressions if it is like this always
out of pure randmomness I just bumped into a video where Eddie Murphy meets a jazz band from ARGENTINA... my home country. Crazy!!!
Cavett was so awkward .Murphy absolutely hilarious and still is
Generally love Dick Cavatt, but he did a really bad job here.
Peter Vadiveloo for serious
One of the most condesending people and I've met a lot! Love Cavett for how he evolved. Many think he's still a snob. RIP.
@@Ungrievable He's still around lol, he's 84
@@Ungrievable He's still alive ya know 😂😂😂
What an asinine question to ask about the N word 🤦♂️
Lmfao !! "Lil baby listen the presidents been shot " Hes the greatest...
Man there's a pretty stark contrast between his stuff from the late 70s/80s and from the late 60s/70s lol.
Iroc3132 he got worst
@@capoislamort100 He got depressed.
@@capoislamort100 He got worst? Tell me English isn't your first language. It's he got WORSE, not worst.
Dan Maler do you speak any Afrikan language?
If anyone can read body language Eddie wasn't liking this corny interview, in-fact he made it better, or rather saved it from a complete mess of things hah
@fynes leigh not really, I've been a guest on the Tonight Show, other than a couple of flash cards the producer hands out for questions and the hidden "X"tape on the ground of where to stand, the special celeb' guests just literally show up and sit on the couch, they might be briefed on what to expect, I was literally walked through everything and showed up early for the rehearsals and even after the fact Leno still pranked me live on set but I was just speaking out of intuition on this one, ,watch it again such an interview would not in any way shape or form happen especially now that old racial wounds have been reopened.
Why were you on the Tonight Show? Can you tell me the title of the video?
@fynes leigh I'm not sure what exactly in my reply geared you in the direction of race. But I'm glad you see that it is imaginary it was actually a scientific invention of classification of hominids in the late 1700s and if words are mere words why are people protesting or reacting so much to moralistically priggish tweets? I was in the audience but I experienced everything the celebs do,I had my own limo driver waiting for me at LAx holding my name and had 5star lodging at the Sheraton and private chauffeur service, a powder room with my name tag. I'm an Earthed soul I don't care much about luxuries but my experience is totally different plus I have a first hand record of what I witnessed about celebrities there's a huuuuuge reason why NBC prohibits recording devices or cellphones all in all we see differently, plus you're speaking to an enlightened being I can see more even from just watching an old video, maybe if I could help you develop your intuition take this wisdom....watch a video without sound and then watch it with sound and youll have greater insight...peace and love
@@yezzzzzd-_-b yea true but it's just funny watching it with 2020 vision or rather 2021 vision..you should watch "The Blonde Captive" Science and exploration has come a looooong way
Yeah. I notice the nervous rock from Eddie when asked about MLK. Then outta nowhere. And on top of that, dude drops the N-bomb like a ton of bricks
Eddie cringing the whole time.
Me cringing the whole time.
He’s so intimidated talking to African American stars. His Pryor and Hendrix interviews are equally cringe worthy!
Most def!
The Hendrix interview was absolutely NOT cringe-worthy like this one. Dick Cavett was in his prime in the late 60s and early 70s, an alternative to Johnny Carson who unlike Cavett wouldn't have (what were then considered) counter-culture musicians/ artists on his show. The Hendrix interview was great especially considering Jimi was high as a kite.
By the time this Eddie Murphy interview aired (mid 80s?) Cavett was no longer considered the "young hip" alternative, he just plain sucked. The Richard Pryor interview was from around the same period. Cavett's dumb race comments were only one aspect of how much he sucked, he even made his George Carlin interview boring and almost unwatchable.
The Pryor interview cringe level = 7
The Murphy interview cringe level = 8
The Hendrix interview cringe level = 1
Anything 9 and over, wouldn't be surprised if a guest got up and walked off the set mid-interview BeeGees style...
@@BenjaminGessel Accurate ratings
Dick is a bit out of the loop but there were also different times, even if we would like to remember the 80s as not a part of the 60/70s the TV hosts were pretty old school.
This shows how sharp Eddie is. Cavett just trying to be a little edgy, got put in place quick by the man.
I didn't think was going to stop laughing from Eddie Murphys mockery of country accents lol
Ugh Cavett is at his most cringe-y here. Too old and out of his element.
Not really. It just their styles didn't mesh good.
Dude was in his late 40's. That's old?
Mortifying
Has nothing to do with age. He was a racist
Carson would have never said such things or behaved like Dick. Carson always loved comic's, and treated his guests with respect!
The goat. He lived through history and made history. Comedy genius
The way he tiptoed to the question only to drop it like an anvil with the WORST emphasis on the syllables absolutely killed me 🤣
That whole conversation was set up to be steered in the direction of the N word. I feel like the producers had put the pressure on Dick here but also, he’s a bit of a jerk pretending he doesn’t offend people. Eddie handled it all with class and he knew what was going on. Man to have to be put on a pole and be poked like this in front of the world, I don’t know how Eddie kept his cool.
Yeah dick was being subtly aggressive even from the beginning, just a weird vibe to the whole thing.
@@LardGargantuus WHAT- how was he being subtly aggressive whatsoever
bruh what- literally dick just asked him what was his stance on the word💀
I’ve just paused this so I can read through the comments, and the look in eddie’s eyes as Cavett keeps digging that hole is very telling
Damn, this interview was done 8 days before I was born!
When you see Eddie Murphy looking down at the ground at 3:23, you can tell he's genuinely taken aback but trying to keep his cool.
Like, really? THAT'S the road we're gonna take, then?
“There was no shoes in Tupelo” probably the best joke on an interview show lost in the most awkward interview ever.
Eddie is the gold standard; a legend.
UM... wow. Eddie's reaction was perfect to that very awkward question. "Where did that come from?" He really should have just asked if Twain's use of the "N" word was offensive to him, I don't know. That's not me being sensitive, that's completely based on Eddie's vibe after he's asked.
Exactly! Wow. I can’t understand why he didn’t put the n word in context. That was awful.
The term "the 'n' word" had not yet come into use. I recall hearing the actual word on TV, radio, & movies in throughout the 1980's. It's a fairly modern contrivance as far as I'm aware; I'd guess around the turn of the century.
I live in the south & hear the word far too often, unfortunately.
@@rrbaggett7 I think the phrase "the N word" came into prominence during the OJ trial
@@rrbaggett7 Oh wow, I didn't know that. I grew up in the 90s, so I never thought of when it became more of a taboo. I know it was used on The Jeffersons pretty liberally. That's such a shame that it's said (I assume derogatorily) so often where you live :(
Rick Beck Do they bleep it out on reruns?
Just about the worst interview Cavett ever did.
Why is he trying so hard to be a fool?
3:09 Eddies reaction is priceless
5:30 pretty much confirms it.... Eddie was pissed.