UB Celebrates: 35th Anniversary of ‘The Arsenio Hall Show’

Arsenio Hall moved from Ohio to Chicago in 1979, where he tried his hand at stand-up comedy and was discovered by Jazz singer Nancy Wilson.

In the following few years Arsenio toured, opening for twenty major headliners including Patti LaBelle, Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, and Stevie Wonder.

A versatile talent, Arsenio first became involved in the performing arts at The Cleveland Playhouse and he continued to hone his craft through his Kent State University years.

Arsenio Hall later moved to Chicago and then to Los Angeles to pursue a career in comedy – making appearances on “Soul Train”, “Solid Gold” and “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson”.

His first film cameo was in “Amazon Women” on the Moon directed by John Landis. In 1984, he was the announcer and sidekick for Alan Thicke during the short-lived talk show “Thicke of the Night.”

In 1987, Arsenio was asked to replace Joan Rivers on the Fox Network series “The Late Show.” On the strength of his work as interim host, he was signed to a film and television deal with Paramount Pictures, which subsequently led to the opportunity to co-write and co-star in the hit comedy “Coming to America.”

Arsenio Hall at first did not want to return to the talk format following his 13-week grind as Joan Rivers’ replacement on The Late Show. But a buttering up from Paramount chairman and CEO Frank Mancuso, who expressed a desire to see Arsenio headline a talk show, hooked him.

On January 3rd, 1989, 35 years ago today, “The Arsenio Hall Show” made its debut. The Arsenio Hall Show debuted in syndication and almost immediately established itself as the younger viewer’s alternative to The Tonight Show.

Virtually overnight, Arsenio changed the face of late night television by captivating young viewers across the country. During his successful five-year run as Executive Producer, Arsenio provided a forum for cutting edge comedy, politics and the television debut of such pop superstars as Snoop Dogg and Boyz to Men, along with musical legends Prince, Whitney Houston, Patti LaBelle, and countless others.

In 1994, Arsenio was again ready to grow and diversify. He resigned from the late night gabfest to pursue other personal and professional interests.

“The Arsenio Hall Show” busted down the door for R&B and hip-hop acts on mainstream TV. In fact, when he invited Bobby Brown to perform his then #1 hit “My Prerogative,” in January 1989, it was the first time he had ever played as a solo act on national television.

Arsenio Hall changed the game for black artists. Artists who performed on Arsenio, usually got a sales burst in the following week.

The show provided a way station for rappers to express themselves, both creatively and philosophically, the show helped narrow the gap of understanding between parents and their children.

It also served to improve cultural understanding in America to some degree by exposing mainstream America to black men and women on a pretty regular basis.

No other media person has provided consistent national exposure of young black musicians in a forum that encourages candid dialog.

Take A Trip Down Memory Lane with “The Arsenio Hall Show!”