Kevin Hart Talks About Being Rejected at the Comic Strip on Colbert

Kevin Hart came out to a standing ovation Monday night on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. The CBS host told Kevin that not every guest gets a standing ovation on the Late Show. Kevin Hart replied in typical Kevin Hart fashion, saying, “Not every guest is Kevin Hart.” Classic Hart.

The highest paid comedian of 2016 appeared on Colbert to talk about his new book, “I Can’t Make This Up – Life Lessons,” out today from Atria Books, part of the Simon & Schuster family. Stephen Colbert described the book as “a motivational seminar” and Kevin agreed saying it’s full of stories about his road to success and not just the good parts of his journey. Kevin Hart said that most celebrities become “selfish with information”, meaning that once people become successful, they’re no longer willing to pass down their stories of the ups and downs they went through to become a success.

Colbert asked Kevin Hart for one his more down moments in his career and Kevin went back to his early days in comedy and talked about the time he auditioned to get passed to perform at the Comic Strip in New York. Kevin Hart had to audition for the then-booker of the Strip, Lucien Hold who has since passed away. After his audition, Lucien took Hart into the office and had some sobering news for him. Not only did Lucien not pass Kevin Hart, according to Kevin, he told him, “I don’t think this is for you. I don’t think comedy is your thing. You should find a job. You should look to do something else with your life because this isn’t for you.” Kevin Hart said in that moment, he kept waiting for Lucien to say that it was a joke and he was in at the Comic Strip. That didn’t happened. He was ready to give up until a friend gave him some advice and the word “No” started rolling off his shoulders. You can watch the clip below from the Late Show with Stephen Colbert YouTube channel to see Kevin tell this story and hear the life changing advice he got. Of course, you could also buy Kevin Hart’s new book.

Kevin Hart also talked to Colbert about who he’s actually cheering for when you see him sitting at the NBA Finals acting very neutral. Kevin says he stays neutral at the games, “In case, I ever need money or something” from any of the star players on either the Cavs or the Warriors. Plus, Kevin Hart explains why his kids think he’s “the coolest dad on the planet,” and the “life lesson” he learned from working with Snoop Dogg on the movie, “Soul Plane“.

Kevin Hart’s new memoir, “I Can’t Make This Up – Life Lessons” is available everywhere today. And you can hear Kevin Hart in theaters nationwide in the new animated feature, “Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie“.