Comedy Central to Give Eddie Murphy ‘Comedy Icon’ Award

Inaugural Comedy Awards to feature Tina Fey, Jimmy Fallon, Tracy Morgan, John Stewart, The Roots, others

Comedy Central announced on Monday that Eddie Murphy will receive a "Comedy Icon Award" at the inaugural "Comedy Awards" this weekend in New York.

Murphy will be honored as an "individual who has made an extraordinary contribution to comedy and whose impact and innovations have changed the landscape and inspired future generations of entertainers" — and for his work in "stand-up, sketch, film and television, among other numerous pioneering achievements." The somewhat elusive Murphy is expected to attend the March 26 taping, according to the network.

The network also announced a preliminary list of presenters and attendees, including "30 Rock's" Tina Fey, Tracy Morgan, Jimmy Fallon, "Saturday Night Live's" Andy Samberg, Bill Hader and Kristin Wiig, along with "South Park" co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and Comedy Central stars Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

The Roots, as they do on Fallon's "Late Night," will serve as the in-house band.

“30 Rock” leads the television category with seven nominations, followed by “The Office” and “Modern Family” with four nominations apiece.

Earlier this month, Comedy Central announced it would honor Johnny Carson by presenting an award in his name. The “Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence” will be presented to “an individual who embodies the comedic excellence of the renowned and beloved comedic powerhouse.”

The show will air April 10, 2011 on Comedy Central and MTV-owned channels Spike TV, TV Land, VH1 and Nick At Nite.

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