The Arsenio Hall Show

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Arsenio Hall

Host: Arsenio Hall

Band: Michael Wolff

Announcer: Burton Richardson

Narrator: Burton Richardson

Sandra Fullerton & Scott Schaefer

Arsenio Hall - Executive Producer

Arsenio Hall & Marla Kell Brown

1,248

January 3, 1989 – May 27, 1994

Michael Wolff – bandleader & musical director

United States

English

American Comedy Awards, USA

1990 Nominated American Comedy Award Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication Arsenio Hall

Emmy Awards

1993 Won Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series Allan Wells (technical director); John Gillis, Larry Heider, Bob Highton, Dave Hilmer, Mike Malone, Bruce Oldham, Kenneth Patterson & David Plakos (camera); Steve Berry & Rick Edwards (video control) (Syndicated) for: episode "The 1,000th Show"

1990 Won Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or a Special Gordon Klimuck & Chiate, Barton Michael (production mixers) (Syndicated) for: show #292

1990 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series Arsenio Hall (executive producer/host); Marla Kell Brown (producer) (Syndicated) for: episode with guests Paul Reubens and Luther Vandross

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Sound Mixing for a Variety or Music Series or a Special Gordon Klimuck & Chiate, Barton Michael (sound mixers) (Syndicated) for: episode with guests 'LeVert', Patti D'Arbanville and Peter DeLuise

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Technical Direction/Camera/Video for a Series Clay Jacobsen (technical director); Greg Cook, Ken Dahlquist, Thomas Geren & Bob Highton (camera operators); Steve Berry (senior video control) (Syndicated) for: episode with guests Boy George, Mary Frann and Bruce Boxleitner

1989 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program Arsenio Hall (executive producer/host); Marla Kell Brown (producer); Arsenio Hall (host) (Syndicated) for: episode #74

Image Awards

1995 Won Image Award Outstanding Variety Series

1993 Won Image Award Outstanding Variety Series/Special

TV Land Awards

2007 Nominated TV Land Award Television's Greatest Music Moment Bill Clinton for: playing the saxophone during the 1992 presidential campaign

2006 Nominated TV Land Award TV's Greatest Music Moments Bill Clinton for: playing the saxophone during the 1992 presidential campaign

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Arsenio Hall had been the interim host on Fox's The Late Show during the summer of 1987 following Joan Rivers departure. Although he had started to build an audience, his 13-week contract was not renewed and he moved on to act in the theatrical film Coming To America with his buddy Eddie Murphy. By the time Fox decided they wanted him back, Arsenio had been signed by Paramount to host his own syndicated late-night talk show.

When The Arsenio Hall Show premiered early in 1989, one week before CBS' competing The Pat Sajak Show, there was much speculation about whether either show could dent the ratings of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show. Arsenio, whose core audience of urban blacks broadened considerably with this series, prospered, while Pat Sajak floundered for fifteen months and went off the air.

Although the basic format was standard talk show - opening monologue, chat with celebrity guests, musical or comedy act performances - The Arsenio Hall Show quickly set itself apart from the competition. Mr. Hall's hip monologues, contemporary attitudes, choice of musical guests, and generally party-like atmosphere drew a sizable and loyal audience of younger viewers. Unlike his competition, he showcased black celebrity guests and rock, soul, and rap musicians. Even the house band (which Arsenio referred to as his "posse"), led by Michael Wolff, had a distinctly upbeat rock 'n' roll look and sound.

By the time Jay Leno replaced the retiring Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show the ratings for Arsenio Hall were already starting to slide. Arsenio's well publicized feud with Leno over celebrity bookings and his threat to "kick Jay's ass" in the ratings provided more bad publicity than good. When David Letterman's new show on CBS started off by consistently winning the ratings war, many CBS affiliates that had previously been carrying Arsenio's show either canceled it or moved it to the wee small hours of the morning. In the spring of 1994 Arsenio announced that his show would air its last original episode in May. Among his guests during his last months were controversial black figures including Spike Lee, and Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan. Reruns of The Arsenio Hall Show continued to air until September.

In February 1994, Hall booked controversial Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan to be on the show. Despite a press release saying that Hall would have other guests appearing the night of Farrakhan's appearance, Hall instead allowed Farrakhan the entire sixty minutes for himself to be interviewed. The backlash from the appearance and subsequent ratings dip was enough for Paramount to finally cancel Arsenio after five years.

Arsenio Hall: Things that make you go hmmm....