The multifaceted host also paid homage to Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy.
And according to Steve Harvey, it is because of these people on and off his “Mount Rushmore of Comedians”—that we have reached such heights.
Harvey made it appear as though Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock had taken the place of the prior presidents on the monument during the recently aired show. “When you put stand-ups in a rock, it’s Dave Chappelle in that rock, it’s Chris Rock in that rock, it’s Kevin Hart in that rock, and the Kings of Comedy is a collective group in that rock.”
He also paid homage to the late Richard Pryor and the legendary Eddie Murphy. “Richard Pryor is a stand-alone dude,” he said in the episode. “You know, if there was a Mount Rushmore, he doesn’t even get on the mountain, according to The Bet reports.
He continued, “He’s a whole peak by himself; he’s Mount Hood. Now, you can come up with your Mount Rushmore of Comedy, and you can put some people up there you want, but not Pryor. Pryor is a standalone entity.”
The 65-year-old multifaceted performer would go on to speak about Eddie Murphy as well, saying, “[He] is a peak by himself. Nothing we can do with the boys. They not included; that ain’t gonna happen.”
His decisions represent a new hierarchy in comedy, where Rock, Chappelle, and Hart have dominated stage and film, charting in significant box office numbers whether on tour or through agreements with streaming services like Luminary and Netflix.
Harvey added that these statements reflect a “bad-a** Mount Rushmore” and that if anyone thought any otherwise, it’s because “you are a** don’t know what I know.” Harvey included his own group, which included himself, Bernie Mac, D.L. Hughley, and Cedric the Entertainer.
How do you feel about Steve Harvey’s choices?