On a recent episode from his SiriusXM talk show Straight From The Hart, comedian and actor Fatherhood and Showtime's documentary The One and Only Dick Gregory.
In addition to on-screen work, Hart also founded the SiriusXM network Laugh Out Loud Radio, which hosts a range of comedic content from himself and fellow comedians. Included in LOL is Hart's show Straight From The Hart, featuring Hart himself alongside his group The Plastic Cup Boyz, which includes comedians Joey Wells, Na'im Lynn and Spank Horton. Hosts on the the weekly show discuss an array of topics about life and comedy.
As disclosed on SiriusXM (via ComicBook), Hart mentioned he was given the rare and unexpected opportunity to fly to space. The comedian didn't get into much detail regarding who was behind said offer, however he did explain that the project's focus was to document a celebrity's experience. When his fellow show hosts asked how much money he was offered, Hart never disclosed the amount. After posing the question of how many space shuttles make it back to Earth, Hart wasn't thrilled about the 1–12 odds. He further explained that in light of his age, his children, and where he's at in life, the venture simply did not seem worth it.
Now, if I'm on the other side of life — if I'm 60, 65, my kids are a certain age, I've, you know, seen all the flowers blossom, and I'd have lived life, that's something that you punctuate it with. At this point, when you've got these little ones — nah, I can't f--- around with space at this point.
Hart's role in Fatherhood served as a refreshing and heartwarming deviation from the over-the-top comedic roles fans are used to seeing him in. Some might argue his role as a father in real life could have something to do with this. When the conversation inevitably shifted to discussing Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson's recent space ventures, Hart made the point that he's "not mad at Bezos." After learning shortly after that Bezos has four children, however, Hart said, "Yeah, that's a gamble."
Talk of celebrities and space excursions seem to be all the rage these days. As such, it seems likely that listeners would be curious to know not only who was sponsoring the project that Hart turned down, but which other celebrities were given the opportunity. Though Hart may not be mad at Bezos, that's not necessarily the case for a large portion of the US population who feel that money would have been better spent on the people who need it here on Earth. As such, Hart's decision to forgo space may have helped him dodged more than just one bullet.
