Kevin Hart: The 60 Minutes Interview

Summary

Kevin Hart, a renowned comedian and actor, discusses his journey to success, from stand-up comedy to building an entertainment empire. At 44, he received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American humor. Hart's comedy is conversational, often self-deprecating, and relatable, drawing from his personal life and experiences. Despite setbacks, including a controversial Oscars hosting debacle, Hart's relentless work ethic and business acumen have led him to establish ventures in nutrition supplements, fast food, and a venture capital fund, all under his production company, Heartbeat, which is now worth over $650 million.

Takeaways

• 🎭 Kevin Hart is a successful stand-up comedian who has also become a movie star and built an entertainment and business empire.
• 🏆 At age 44, Hart was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor, a prestigious recognition akin to a lifetime achievement award.
• 🗣️ His comedy style is conversational, often including self-deprecating humor and cursing, focusing on personal stories about family and insecurities.
• 🤷‍♂️ Hart has a complex relationship with his height, jokingly disputing various reported measurements and using it as a recurring theme in his comedy.
• 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 He often discusses his family life, including his wife and children, on stage, using these relatable experiences to connect with his audience.
• 🎤 Hart's confidence on stage is a stark contrast to his early life in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia, where he developed his comedic skills.
• 🏡 His mother, Nancy Hart, played a significant role in shaping his work ethic and discipline, while his father's struggles with addiction were also influential.
• 🎬 Hart's career had its ups and downs, including a failed sitcom and a controversial Oscars hosting gig, which he had to step down from due to past homophobic comments.
• 💼 Beyond comedy, Hart has diversified his business interests, including a production company, nutrition supplement company, fast-food chain, tequila brand, and venture capital fund.
• 💰 Hart's production company, Heartbeat, is now worth over $650 million, and he is actively involved in various entertainment ventures, aiming to set a new standard in the industry.

Q & A

What significant award did Kevin Hart receive at the age of 44?

Kevin Hart was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor at the age of 44.

How does Kevin Hart describe his comedy style?

Kevin Hart describes his comedy style as conversational with a lot of cursing, telling revealing stories about his personal life, insecurities, and shortcomings.

What is the height controversy mentioned in the script about Kevin Hart?

The height controversy mentioned in the script is about the varying reports of Kevin Hart's height, with GQ stating he is 5'5", the LA Times saying he's 5'4", and another source claiming he is 5'2". Hart himself insists he is 5'5" with shoes on.

How does Kevin Hart approach the creation of his comedy material?

Kevin Hart approaches the creation of his comedy material by starting from scratch, performing in small comedy clubs, and working with two collaborators, Harry Ratchford and Joey Wells, who help structure and refine his jokes.

What is the name of Kevin Hart's production company?

Kevin Hart's production company is called Heartbeat.

How did Kevin Hart's upbringing in North Philadelphia influence his confidence on stage?

Kevin Hart's upbringing in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia did not dampen his confidence. Friends from his teenage years recall him as always having a strong sense of self-assurance.

What was the impact of Kevin Hart's father's addiction and imprisonment on his life?

Kevin Hart's father's addiction and imprisonment were challenging aspects of his life that he addressed in his stand-up comedy. His father's actions, including a moment of running away from Kevin on the subway to avoid being seen in a bad state, influenced Hart's storytelling and eventually led his father to seek help.

What was the turning point for Kevin Hart's career after the rejection from ABC's sitcom 'The Big House'?

The rejection from ABC's sitcom 'The Big House' led Kevin Hart to start his own production company, Heartbeat, and market himself aggressively through social media, which eventually caught the attention of Hollywood studios.

What controversy led to Kevin Hart stepping down as the Oscars host in 2018?

Kevin Hart stepped down as the Oscars host in 2018 due to controversy over comments he made about gay people years earlier on stage and on Twitter.

How does Kevin Hart's business empire extend beyond his comedy career?

Kevin Hart's business empire extends beyond comedy to include a nutrition supplement company, a fast-food chain, a tequila brand, and a $100 million venture capital fund. His production company, Heartbeat, is also involved in various entertainment projects.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Kevin Hart's Comedy and Business Empire

Kevin Hart, a successful stand-up comedian and movie star, has built an entertainment and business empire. At 44, he received the Mark Twain Prize for American humor. His comedy is conversational, often including personal stories about his family and insecurities, delivered with humor and relatability. Despite the controversy over his height, Hart's confidence and storytelling ability have made him a bankable star. He has sold out arenas and even football stadiums, and his comedy tours involve a meticulous process of developing material with his team, often starting in small comedy clubs. Hart's approach to comedy is to provide a relatable experience, saying things others might not have the heart to say.

05:02

🎭 The Journey and Influences of Kevin Hart

Kevin Hart's journey began in a rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia, where he was known for his confidence despite the challenges. His mother, Nancy Hart, played a significant role in his life, instilling discipline and a strong work ethic. His father, Henry Witherspoon, struggled with addiction and was in and out of prison, which Hart addressed in his comedy. Hart's early comedy career included performing in unconventional venues like strip clubs, where he faced rejection and disappointment. However, these experiences fueled his determination to succeed. His breakthrough came when he started his own production company, Heartbeat, and began creating his own stand-up specials. His friends, known as the 'plastic cup boys,' have been with him since his teenage years, and they continue to collaborate and support each other in the entertainment industry.

10:03

🏆 Kevin Hart's Career Milestones and Business Ventures

Kevin Hart's career has seen him transition from a stand-up comedian to a business mogul with a diverse portfolio. He has been involved in various businesses, including a fast-food chain, a tequila brand, and a venture capital fund. His production company, Heartbeat, is now worth over $650 million. Hart's relentless self-promotion and marketing through social media have helped him gain recognition in Hollywood. Despite a controversy that led to him stepping down as the Oscars host in 2018, Hart has continued to grow his brand and influence. He has become more than just a comedian; he is an investor, a partner, and a mentor, setting a new standard for those in the entertainment industry. His daughter's perspective on his jokes adds a personal touch, showing that Hart's humor is a part of his family life as well.

Keywords

💡Stand-up comedian

A stand-up comedian is a performer who tells jokes and humorous stories, typically on stage, to entertain an audience. In the context of the video, Kevin Hart is highlighted as a successful stand-up comedian who has not only made a name for himself in comedy but has also expanded his influence into film and business. The script mentions Hart's conversational style and his willingness to share personal and often self-deprecating stories, which is a common characteristic of stand-up comedy.

💡Bankable movie star

A 'bankable' movie star is an actor whose name and popularity are considered to guarantee the success of a film, often in terms of box office revenue. The script refers to Kevin Hart as a 'bankable movie star,' indicating that his involvement in a film project significantly increases its potential for commercial success. This is evident from Hart's ability to sell out arenas and football stadiums for his comedy shows, showcasing his broad appeal.

💡Entertainment and business empire

An 'entertainment and business empire' refers to a large and successful business operation that spans various aspects of the entertainment industry and possibly beyond. The script describes how Kevin Hart has built such an empire, not only as a comedian and actor but also through ventures like his production company Heartbeat, which has a value of over $650 million. This keyword illustrates Hart's diversification and influence beyond the stage, into areas like film production, marketing, and investment.

💡Mark Twain Prize for American humor

The Mark Twain Prize for American humor is a prestigious award given to individuals who have made significant contributions to humor in America. In the script, it's mentioned that Kevin Hart was awarded this honor at the age of 44, which is a testament to his impact on American humor and his status as a leading figure in the comedy world.

💡Insecurities

Insecurities refer to feelings of doubt, anxiety, or uncertainty about oneself. The script mentions that Kevin Hart often talks about his insecurities in his comedy, such as his height, which he humorously discusses with the audience. This self-deprecating humor is a way for Hart to connect with his audience and make light of his perceived shortcomings.

💡Plastic Cup Boys

The 'Plastic Cup Boys' is a term used in the script to refer to a group of comedians who are close friends with Kevin Hart, including Harry Ratchford, Joey Wells, Will Spunk Horton, and Naim Lynn. They are called the 'Plastic Cup Boys' because they used to perform in small venues with makeshift stages, symbolizing their humble beginnings in the comedy scene. This keyword highlights the camaraderie and support among comedians starting their careers.

💡Laugh at My Pain

'Laugh at My Pain' is the title of Kevin Hart's 2011 stand-up special, which the script mentions as a significant part of his career. The special is notable for its candid and humorous storytelling about Hart's life, including his challenging childhood and relationship with his father. This keyword is important as it represents Hart's ability to turn personal hardships into relatable and humorous content that resonates with audiences.

💡Oscars controversy

The 'Oscars controversy' refers to the incident where Kevin Hart stepped down from hosting the Oscars in 2018 due to backlash over past homophobic comments he made. The script discusses how Hart initially did not apologize but later did so after understanding the impact of his words. This keyword is significant as it showcases the public scrutiny and accountability that comes with fame and the importance of learning and growing from past mistakes.

💡Heartbeat production company

Heartbeat is Kevin Hart's production company, which started small and has grown to be worth over $650 million. As mentioned in the script, it is involved in a wide range of entertainment ventures, including movies, shows, podcasts, and commercials. This keyword is crucial as it exemplifies Hart's business acumen and his transition from being just a performer to a major player in the entertainment industry.

💡Venture Capital fund

A 'Venture Capital fund' is a pool of capital used to invest in startups and other early-stage companies considered to have high growth potential. The script mentions that Kevin Hart has a $100 million Venture Capital fund, indicating his involvement in the business world beyond entertainment. This keyword highlights Hart's diversification into the financial sector and his role as an investor.

Highlights

Kevin Hart has built an entertainment and business empire in addition to his stand-up comedy and movie stardom.

At 44, Hart was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American humor, a prestigious recognition.

Hart's comedy style is conversational, often including self-deprecating humor and cursing.

He shares personal and revealing stories about his family and life on stage.

Hart discusses the controversy over his height, humorously addressing discrepancies in reported measurements.

He has been telling jokes about himself for over two decades, highlighting his confidence and stage presence.

Hart's comedy focuses on relatable experiences and pushing boundaries with his material.

He has sold out arenas and even football stadiums with his comedy tours.

Hart's creative process involves working with a small team and refining his material in small comedy clubs.

He prefers to have a loose structure for his performances, allowing for improvisation.

Hart's collaborators, the 'Plastic Cup Boys', help him refine his jokes and stage presence.

His mother, Nancy Hart, played a significant role in shaping his work ethic and determination.

Hart's father's struggles with addiction and their complex relationship have influenced his comedy.

He has faced career setbacks, such as a failed sitcom, which fueled his drive for success.

Hart's business ventures include a production company, nutrition supplement company, fast food chain, and a venture capital fund.

He promotes his businesses and comedy through relentless self-marketing on social media.

Hart's controversies, such as his resignation as Oscars host due to past comments, have shaped his public image.

He aims to create a new norm in the entertainment industry, not just as a performer but as a business owner.

Transcripts

there have been plenty of successful

stand-up comedians but few who' managed

to do what Kevin Hart has in addition to

becoming a bankable movie star he's also

built an entertainment and business

Empire and last month at 44 he was

awarded the Mark Twain Prize for

American humor as close to a Lifetime

Achievement Award as you can get Hart's

comedy isn't particularly controversial

it's conversational with a lot of

cursing thrown in he tells revealing

stories about his wife and four kids his

embarrassing insecurities and his many

shortcomings on stage Kevin Hart is an

open book but when we sat down with him

on one Topic at least he was a bit hard

to pin

down the story will continue in a

moment GQ said you're 55 the LA Times

says you're 5'4 and some other Place

said you were 5'2 well that place is

bull uh GQ finally got it right five

five5 55 all right 5 foot five like with

a shoe on like a sneaker now if I put a

boot on I can get the 5'5 and a half

Kevin Hart has been telling tall tales

about himself on stage for more than two

decades 43 years old I've been 5'5 My

Whole Life 54 52 and a half my whole

life it's talking about the things that

you aren't afraid to laugh at about

yourself I'm really confident that the

laugh that I'm getting you're not

laughing necessarily at me as if I'm a

joke you're laughing at the experience

I'm giving you an experience through a

story that is relatable and more

importantly I'm saying things that other

people just don't have the heart to say

I mean you told a story about your wife

watching tall people porn yeah t he was

taller than me that was me is yeah why

is he so tall is that what you want it

was real we had a real conversation off

of that is that what you're looking for

if you're search starts withall you

can't you can't fix that yeah no I can't

fix that we got a problem one of the

sites wasn't even porn one of the sites

was a bunch of tall men being active

they were changing light bulbs putting

on shelves hanging paintings what kind

of sick is this what the is this she was

like what you can't do none of that

stuff I like that

stuff heart is the highest grow comedian

today he sells out Arenas around the

world and the occasional football

stadium we sold a football stadium out

tonight so I need to hear that the wall

is full of great comedians when we first

met him in January at his offices in Los

Angeles he was working on new material

for an upcoming comedy tour to do an

hour comedy special how long does it

take how many need to really work on a

set8 to nine months are you sitting in a

room with your team no I'm going back to

Ground Zero just com small comedy clubs

comedy clubs rooms and I got two guys

Harry rashford Joey Wells they act as my

writers um and what they do is they grab

my material as I say it but you can't

write it down for me like I don't I

don't like the long jokes or the long

sentences so it has to be in bullet

points um

travel

bad bad travel why bad travel makes me

drive

uhuh

driving good versus bad everything has a

good and a bad my rule is when I get on

stage I would much rather have the

dismantled picture in my head of kind of

what I think it is and it not be good

and then figure it out in real time and

walk off stage and go it was something

there a few hours later 3,000 people

showed up in Pasadena to hear Hart

figure out his new jokes on on stage

everyone had to hand over their

phones before he began Hart explained

why like 90% of what I'm going to do

tonight I feel like is really good the

reason why I took your phones is because

of the other

10% right like just in

case just in case some of is not you

don't have no

proof we agreed not to record any of his

routine either but backstage we found

his collaborators Harry Ratchford and

Joey Wells taking a lot of notes

appreciate you I'm Kevin har I love you

good

night how was this audience this

audience was great great like you could

feel the laughter never stop that's the

beauty of a theater the theater lets you

really feel the highs and lows of a set

there's so much that he wants to do Joey

Wells and Harry Ratchford along with

comedians will spank Horton and Naim

Lynn are among Hart's closest friends

they're also known professionally as the

plastic cup boys what are you actually

looking for when he's on a stage and

telling a joke What notes do you have

Harry is always structured yeah we

should put the joke here and move it

around and for me I'm always just like

how can it be just a little funnier he

might get a standing ovation I go that

was great that was great what if you try

this spank and Naim have known heart

since he was a teenager growing up in a

rough neighborhood in North Philadelphia

was Kevin always as confident as he is

today yes I mean it was perplexing in in

the beginning like why does this little

ugly dude have this much confidence I

didn't get it North Philly North Philly

I don't know what he thinks he's doing

he swears he can dance home movies his

mom made Show Hart was always the family

Entertainer he lived in a one-bedroom

apartment with his brother Robert and

his mom Nancy Hart she kept a close eye

on Kevin she planned every moment I had

no free time after finishing my homework

I had to get to swim practice me and my

mom would walk home from practice the

homework that I was supposed to do

beforehand she would go over and check

and end up making me redo it because

nine times out of 10 I rushed through it

just to get it done she would then make

me read and I would skip Pages not

expecting the quiz of the book to come

the back half what she would give me

when I said I was done and then she

would make me read it again do you

credit her with the drive you have

absolutely absolutely his mom also kept

Kevin's dad Henry Witherspoon at a

distance he was in and out of prison and

addicted to drugs which Hart talked

about in a 2011 standup special called

Laugh at My Pain I was in a weird like

spelling bees debates now here's the

thing my dad would show up in my events

and treat them as if they were athletic

Events first of all you can't cheer for

no kid at a spelling be it's a spelling

be it's quiet I'm focused I'm in the

middle spelling a very difficult word my

Dad shows up late bust through the back

door high as hell making c-ad noises all

right once again I cannot make this up

all right this this is all I heard I'm

in the middle of spelling some out of

nowhere all I heard was all right all

right all

right yeah the actual details of stuff

he did are really heartbreaking yeah and

yet you tell it in a way that's funny is

it heartbreaking to you no because it

must have been at the time I say it for

what it was as a kid that's

dead by the way in my environment that's

the norm it's normal to see a parent

drunk or whatever your dad even in the

depths of his drug use he wanted to see

you and your brother absolutely there

was a period where he disappeared when I

didn't see him in a long time and I saw

him on the subway and he was in bad

shape and I was like Dad he turned

around and saw me and doors open my dad

walked off and and ran later told me I

ran cuz it just hurt me for you to see

me like that and that was one of his key

factors in the going and getting help

Hart was eventually able to help his dad

get clean before he died in 2022 my dad

is crazy Kevin said his father loved to

hear the stories he told about him in

front of thousands of people so we talk

about my dad we celebrate my dad but

when Hart started doing standup at 18 He

struggled to find places to perform

you would take gigs wherever you could

get them like you're talking bowl and

alleys you're talking cabaret strip

clubs I did Club there a lot of comedy

and strip clubs no Anderson why you

think there's a lot no I don't know who

thought that comedy and strippers mixed

but I remember one of the most

heartbreaking moments for me on stage is

like in the middle of my set this was at

a strip club and I remember hearing this

lady going oh

baby I after you told the J oh baby like

like basically so disgusted and

heartbroken that this is what I chose to

do with my life hardt thought he was

about to make it big when he shot a

sitcom for ABC called The Big House in

2003 my God it's little the network flew

him out to The Upfront to present the

show to advertisers and the media I'm

next to walk on stage so they getoun the

big house you're the guy with the

microphone that's backstage managing the

this is what I

see he's right here I'm with him all

right I'll tell him right now uh Kevin

hold up one second they just said

they're not they're not going to go

through or pick it up somebody should be

back here to talk to you shortly what

does that mean the guy with the

microphone is telling you that your

series is not being picked up by the

network not the network exact not the

CEO of Disney coming out saying hey no

no no no a guy named

Barry in the back holding the curtain it

was only because of that rejection I

don't want to feel that I don't like

that you got to hire me when you're

ready you're saying that my

career is basically determined off of

the needs of people that I don't

know and that I don't talk to I might be

sitting here all day if I don't go grab

it and I don't go make what I feel

should be mine and that is what he did

he started a small production company

now called heartbeat and began making

his own hour-long standup specials he

also marketed himself relentlessly

through social

media Hollywood Studios took

notice get on my back what I would

rather die jump on my back no I'm going

to

die Kevin what's up when he was picked

in 2018 to host the Oscars it seemed

like a high point in his career I have

nothing against gay people be but then

comments he made about gay people years

earlier on stage and on Twitter cause

controversy but me being a heterosexual

male if I can prevent my son from being

gay I will har stepped down is the

Oscar's host initially you didn't

apologize later on you did well later on

the understanding came from the best

light bulb ever wesite said there's

people that are being hurt today because

of comments like the ones that you made

then and there's people that will think

it's okay to make those comments today

based off of what you did then it was

presented to me in a way where I

couldn't I couldn't ignore that so in

those moments of

Despair great understanding and

education can't come out of it if you're

given the

opportunity these days it's hard to keep

track of all the businesses heart has a

hand in the weekend we spent with him he

was in constant motion and promotion

starting with his daily pre-dawn workout

60 Minutes is this what you want huh

this what you want I'm going give you

what you want so the good thing is that

we make it out of here then he was off

to Walmart to publicize a nutrition

supplement company he owns to reach

people finally you're a real

person he's also got a fast food

chain a tequila brand and 100 million

Venture Capital fund cheers and

heartbeat that little production company

he started is now worth more than $650

million I'm no longer just a comedian

I'm an investment I'm a student

I'm a partner looking for

Partnerships work for hire is not in my

best interest if it's a oneandone

situation that means the endless stream

of movies shows podcasts and commercials

Kevin Hart pops up

and chances are heartbeat is making

money off them too even my stunt double

has a stunt doubl are you a billionaire

yet none of your business and you trying

to get me

robs trying to get me knocked you will

be a billionaire I mean hopefully and

even if I don't or if I'm not I think

the better sides of what I've done is

create what can become the new Norm for

other people in the business of funny

for other people in the business of

entertainment right not just being a

part of the business but learning and

understanding how to be the

business Kevin Hart's daughter on the

jokes he tells about her why is he

blowing my business off out there at 60

minutes overtime.com