Tracy Morgan and Marcello Hernández shared the studio for an unfiltered conversation on the seriesActors on Actors, from Variety and CNN. The 57-year-old veteran, who survived a serious car accident 12 years ago, has taken on the role of eccentric mentor to the 28-year-old young comedian, who has just wrapped his fourth season onSaturday Night Liveand launched the stand-up specialAmerican Boyon Netflix.
Auditions that marked careers
Morgan recalled the nervousness of his first auditions, influenced by the likes of Eddie Murphy. Hernández said he called his mother, who even started smoking again because she was so anxious about the test. The two laughed when comparing their experiences and celebrated the path they took to Studio 8H.
Morgan highlighted the cultural impact of his work onDef Jam, with jokes that represented a Latin generation. Hernández repeated in Spanish his colleague’s striking phrase: “Latinos are here and they’re not going anywhere.” The two even sang the chorus ofEl Africano, by Wilfrido Vargas, recalling childhood memories.
Intergenerational mentoring at SNL
The more experienced comedian said that if they had worked on the show together, it would have been “just the two of us.” Morgan praised Hernández’s natural talent, attributing the young man’s “voice” to a divine gift, and encouraged him not to limit himself to characters like Domingo. “Use your normal name onWeekend Update. Eddie Murphy taught me that”, he advised.
Hernández spoke about his nervousness when meeting Eddie Murphy and the difficulty of communicating with his idol. Morgan shared difficult moments on SNL, such as hearing sketch rejections and crying in the dressing room before going on stage pretending to be okay for her family.
Lessons in life, health and parenthood
The conversation took an unusual turn when Morgan advised Hernández on intestinal health, recommending a colonoscopy at age 50, and on fatherhood. “All I do is touch my wife and count money”, he joked, extending his colleague’s soft hands. He said he was “trying to give birth to a nation” and joked about breaking Bob Marley’s record.
Morgan also commented on the new role inThe Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, an NBC sitcom produced by Tina Fey, alongside Daniel Radcliffe. “My kids were fans ofHarry Potter, now I’m a cool father,” he said. Hernández highlighted the support he received from Kenan Thompson and the feeling of belonging in the cast.
Accident, overcoming and legacy
The two recalled Morgan’s serious accident in 2014, which left his friend Ardie Fuqua in a coma for 20 days. Hernández expressed gratitude for Morgan’s presence in the comedy. The veteran reinforced the importance of remaining funny and supporting the new cast members, citing the mentor role that Lorne Michaels played for him.
The conversation ended with a hug and mutual declarations of affection, symbolizing the connection between two generations of American humor.
