Kevin Hart stepped into the spotlight with his usual swagger on Sunday night to accept the Mark Twain Award for American Humor, occupying a stage illuminated by his signature pyrotechnics.
“Can I pee?” Mr. Hart delivered a heartfelt eulogy from his friend, comedian Dave Chappelle, as he toddled backstage at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. . Later, he reappeared and received a bust of Mark Twain from David M. Rubenstein, the outgoing president of the Kennedy Center.
Mr. Hart, 44, is the 25th comic to receive the award from the Kennedy Center, an honor given annually to the greatest humorist in American comedy. Mr. Hart, joined by his wife and four children, shed tears but smiled broadly at the poignantly funny roasts and emotional tributes from his friends and industry colleagues.
“I played in arenas with Chris Rock, but I never played in arenas until I saw you do it,” said Chappelle, who said after a career of arena tours and sold-out tickets. , credited Hart with changing the business of stand-up comedy. A football stadium in his hometown of Philadelphia. “You gave me big dreams, and you're younger than me. It's humiliating.”
Mr. Hart has sold millions of tickets over a nearly 25-year career (notably, he has been doing comedy since the Mark Twain Award was created in the late 1990s). He has built a loyal fan base through movies, television series, and many live events (some enhanced by fireworks). This includes his eight comedy specials about relatable stories, physical comedy, and playful reenactments. But even when he lashes out at the characters who come in and out of his life, he's usually the punchline to his own jokes.
Colleagues on Sunday praised his work ethic, which includes casting friends in Hollywood movies like the “Jumanji” sequel, dramas like “Fatherhood” and “Night School,” and numerous comedies and action films. did. movie.
“I didn’t start what I did to win awards,” Hart said. “I fell in love with the idea of comedy. When I heard that, I said, 'Oh my God, I'm hooked on what I can do for the rest of my life.'”
Sunday night's show featured Chappelle, a fellow cartoonist who won the Mark Twain Award in 2019. Chris Rock headlined the tour with Mr. Hart and the subsequent 2023 documentary “Headliners Only.” Mr. J.B. Smoove met Mr. Hart at a rough house in Philadelphia, where he got his start. Jimmy Fallon, wearing a heavy twang and a cowboy hat, performed a tribute in the form of an original country song. So are Jerry Seinfeld, Tiffany Haddish, Regina Hall, Chelsea Handler, Nick Cannon, and Keith Robinson. Singer Robin Thicke and rappers Nelly Byrd and Dave Byrd performed.
The Plastic Cup Boys, a stand-up sketch group that worked for Hart for 17 years, also paid tribute.
Hart said winning the Mark Twain Award, considered by many to be a lifetime achievement award in comedy, meant so much more because of his colleagues who showed up to honor him. After hitting back at several speakers who criticized his comedy style, played pranks, or reminded the audience of his small size (Ms. Haddish is just a few inches taller than 5 feet tall) (He compared the comedian to a leprechaun) and tearfully accepted the award.
“All jokes aside, thank you for coming out on a really dope night. It wouldn't be as dope without real relationships and real energy,” Hart said.
The ceremony will be streamed on Netflix starting May 11th.
