Kevin Hart Explains How He Totally Bombed His 'SNL' Audition

By
TBS

Kevin Hart may be one of the biggest names in comedy today, but when he was younger his talents weren't as appreciated. Especially not by Saturday Night Live producer Lorne Michaels.

Sitting down with Conan O'Brien on Tuesday, Hart detailed his disastrous SNL audition all those years ago, revealing that the real problem came when he showcased one of his favorite impressions.

VIDEO: Kevin Hart & Will Ferrell Tease the Funniest Parts of 'Get Hard'

"I did an impression of a person that nobody knew," Hart recounted, laughing.

The celeb that Hart mimicked was Avery Johnson, a point guard for the San Antonio Spurs who is now a sports analyst for ESPN -- not someone most would consider a household name.

NEWS: 7 Amazing 'SNL' Fake Movie Trailers You Need To Watch Right Now!

"This is exactly what my audition was," Hart explained. "I said, 'Okay, I'm going to do an impression of Avery Johnson.' And I remember Lorne Michaels looking at me and he's like, 'Mmhmm. Okay…' He didn't say he didn’t know who that was, but I could tell he definitely didn't know."

As for the impression? It was short and simple, and not enough to get Hart a spot on the cast. Now, however, Hart is a two-time SNL host, most recently taking the reins in January.

VIDEO: Will Ferrell Twerks for Kevin Hart Behind the Scenes of 'Get Hard'

Hart has also been promoting his upcoming comedy Get Hard alongsideSNL alum Will Ferrell. Check out ET's interview with the comedy duo, in which they tease the funniest moments from their film.

Related Gallery