Arts & Entertainment
Celebrity Interview: Kevin Hart — ‘Let Me Explain’
B
orn in Philadelphia on July
6, 1980, Kevin Hart is one
of the most versatile
comedic actors in both television
and film. He’s recently delivered
memorable performances in Think
Like a Man which grossed over 90
million dollars in theaters, as well
as in Judd Apatow’s The Five Year
Engagement.
He previously appeared in Little
Fockers, Death at a Funeral,
Fool’s Gold, Along Came Polly and The 40
Year Old Virgin. And his additional film
credits include: Soul Plane, Not Easily Bro-
ken, Extreme Movie, Drillbit Taylor, Epic
Movie, The Last Stand, Scary Movie 4, In
the Mix, Meet Dave and Superhero Movie.
Kevin’s stand-up DVD Seriously Funny
went platinum four times, after the Comedy
Central presentation of the same name
became the highest rated comedy
special of 2010. Last summer,
fans across America were treated
to Kevin’s side-splitting stand-up
comedy in Let Me Explain, an
international tour to nearly 100
cities across the United States,
Europe and Africa.
Here, he talks about Kevin
Hart: Let Me Explain, a concert
film shot mostly at his final stop,
Madison Square Garden.
Kam Williams: Hey Kevin,
thanks for the interview. I really
enjoyed this film.
Kevin Hart: Thank you, Kam,
thank you.
KW: What inspired it?
KH: I had a helluva year. This tour pretty
much exceeded my expectations of what I
was going to accomplish. It started off in
5,000-seat venues and eventually escalated
to larger arenas with 15,000 seats and more,
once I got to major cities and left the coun-
C ELEBRITY
I NTERVIEW
by Kam
Williams
try and began
selling out in
places like Oslo,
Copenhagen and
Amsterdam. The
support that I
received from
my fans was
unreal.
KW: How do
fans in countries
like Norway and Denmark, where they
speak another language, understand you?
Did you talk slower or change your delivery
for them?
KH: No, I don’t have to change anything.
I think that’s the secret to comedy. You want
to be universal and appeal to everyone. You
want to put yourself in a position that no
matter what you’re talking about, everyone
convincing your fans that success hasn’t
gone to your head. But isn’t life a lot differ-
ent for you now than a couple of decades
ago? After all, you’re from North Philly and
started out as a shoe salesman.
KH: Well, things changed, but only to a
certain degree. Just because your environ-
ment or living space changes doesn’t mean
that your attitude necessarily has to change.
By attitude, I mean the way you interact
with others. You don’t have to treat people
differently. You may be living a different
lifestyle, but the person living that different
lifestyle still can relate to anybody and have
the same amazing personality of the guy
from North Philly. The people around me
haven’t changed. The people who have been
in my life since the beginning are still in my
life now. I think that has a lot to do with my
staying grounded and humble despite the
success I’ve achieved.
KW: You talk a lot about dating in
the movie. Is there a Kevin Hart rela-
tionship advice book in the works?
KH: [Chuckles] Funny you should
mention that, Kam. I don’t know if
I’m at the relationship advice stage
yet. I do have a lot of information to
share, and a book is definitely in the
works, but I don’t know whether it’ll
be geared towards relationships.
Film still featuring Kevin Hart
can relate to it and understand it, because
it’s an experience that everyone can go
through. That’s what I pattern my writing
material and jokes after. I’m trying to main-
tain a level of realness that my fans can
appreciate.
KW: One of the themes of this show was
KW: In the film you cried at the end
of the concert at Madison Square Gar-
den. What was the emotion that over-
whelmed you at that moment?
KH: I never thought in a million
years that I’d ever sell out back-to-
back shows at The Garden. That’s not to
say, I never expected my career to take off.
Still, it was a “Pinch Me, Wake Me Up”
moment. I was like, “Wow! I can’t believe
this. That I’m actually here, and this is actu-
ally happening.” And in that moment, when
I was about to thank my fans for supporting
me, I noticed that they were standing up
clapping. It was overwhelming, and became
a very emotional moment when I tried to
thank them.
KW: I also liked how you had pyrotech-
nics going off onstage during the show peri-
odically.
KH: [Laughs] That was my way of joking
around by saying, “I’m about to jump into a
different level, because I have fire.” Ain’t
no other comedian ever had fire.
KW: When did you know you had made
it?
KH: The beauty of it is that I don’t think
I’ve ever really relaxed. I want to do too
much within the business. And there’s so
much you can achieve with a launching pad
like stand-up comedy. You can literally go
from acting to hosting to being a personali-
ty to…
KW: To the Real Husbands of Holly-
wood?
KH: [Chuckles] To the Real Husbands of
Hollywood. It all depends on what you’re
willing to invest time and effort in and put
your mind to. That’s what separates winners
from losers. Winners are the ones who want
the most out of their opportunities.
KW: Is there any question no one ever
asks you, that you wish someone would?
KH: [Laughs] No, I’m pretty much an
open book. I’ve pretty much talked about
anything I’m going through onstage.
Between interviews and curious fans, I’ve
been asked everything. And I always give
answers. I don’t shy away from anything.
KW: The Teri Emerson question: When
was the last time you had a good laugh?
KH: I have good laugh every day. I enjoy
life. I’m surrounded by love and positivity.
Page 8 The Portland Skanner July 10, 2013
Kevin Hart
KW: What is your guiltiest pleasure?
KH: Creation, getting behind a project
from start to finish, and being able to see it
blossom into a success.
KW: What is your favorite dish to cook?
KH: I can’t cook, but I can make a turkey
and cheese sandwich like nobody else.
KW: The Sanaa Lathan question: What
excites you?
KH: Seeing my kids happy.
KW: The bookworm Troy Johnson ques-
tion: What was the last book you read?
KH: “Act Like a Lady, Think Like a
Man.”
KW: The music maven Heather Coving-
ton question: What was the last song you
listened to?
KH: Salt-N-Pepa’s “Push It.”
KW: The Uduak Oduok question: Who is
your favorite clothes designer?
KH: Right now, I’d have to go with two:
Lanvin and Yves St. Laurent.
KW: The Mike Pittman question: What
I have a good laugh
every day. I enjoy life.
I’m surrounded by love
and positivity
was your best career decision?
KH: Focusing on stand-up comedy 100
percent.
KW: When you look in the mirror, what
do you see?
KH: I see a man with drive and determi-
nation who wants to go down in history.
KW: If you could have one wish instant-
ly granted, what would that be for?
KH: For a better-looking pair of feet.
KW: The Jamie Foxx question: If you
only had 24 hours to live, how would you
spend the time?
KH: I would spend absolutely every last
minute with my kids, telling them how
much I love them and how much I would do
for them.
Read the rest of this story online at
www.theskanner.com