Arsenioooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo Hall returns to talk
March 7, 2013 3:46 PM Subscribe
Whether no one was paying attention because they don't care or just didn't expect it, Arsenio Hall announced a return to late night talk last year. Now, with 95% of all markets signed up to broadcast his syndicated show, debuting in September, he could be due for a full blown resurgence. Or a dramatic crash and burn, either way Dave Koz is staring at his phone expectantly.
woof! woof! woof! woof!
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:50 PM on March 7, 2013 [11 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 3:50 PM on March 7, 2013 [11 favorites]
This is going to be awesome. Seriously, no irony whatsoever, he was my favorite late night host in the early 90s, and I have missed him often. I mean really, while everyone in his day was doing something like what Jay Leno does today, Arsenio was doing something that was a little bit more like Daily Show than just yuk-yuks making fun of newspaper typos.
posted by mathowie at 3:50 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by mathowie at 3:50 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
Hmmmmm...
posted by zardoz at 3:53 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by zardoz at 3:53 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
What on earth has he been doing for a living, I wonder? Did he get wealthy enough to just retire? I guess maybe he did, he was pretty huge in the day.
posted by thelonius at 3:54 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by thelonius at 3:54 PM on March 7, 2013
Arsenio was great. I hope he still is.
Also, I kind of hope this is a calculated ploy to get his face out there in the hopes of getting the big Late Show gig whenever Letterman retires. (You know, to round out Bill Carter's trilogy.)
posted by Sys Rq at 3:59 PM on March 7, 2013
Also, I kind of hope this is a calculated ploy to get his face out there in the hopes of getting the big Late Show gig whenever Letterman retires. (You know, to round out Bill Carter's trilogy.)
posted by Sys Rq at 3:59 PM on March 7, 2013
What on earth has he been doing for a living, I wonder?
I remember seeing a lot of late-90s, early 00s interviews with him and he said it was to spend time raising his kids. Chances are they're college age by now, so I guess he has time to work again.
posted by mathowie at 4:00 PM on March 7, 2013
I remember seeing a lot of late-90s, early 00s interviews with him and he said it was to spend time raising his kids. Chances are they're college age by now, so I guess he has time to work again.
posted by mathowie at 4:00 PM on March 7, 2013
Wasn't he hosting or judging some short-lived Star Search revival awhile back?
posted by dismas at 4:03 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by dismas at 4:03 PM on March 7, 2013
Eddie Murphy's Best Friend and Don't You Forget It
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:04 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by snuffleupagus at 4:04 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
I loved his show as a teen, but wonder how he'll translate his style to today. It's funny that he kind of ended his show right around the time Leno took over the Tonight Show, and now he's coming up again, as Leno is getting ready to leave.
My idea for late night is this: think of a hybrid of The Daily Show and Live! With Kelly & Michael and SNL Weekend Update. It's 60 minutes. There's a news desk with co-anchors for the first 30 minutes, people *like* Tina Fey & Bob Costas (not them, but you know, funny AND smart). It's still just one guest at the end of the show, but you get a full 30 minutes with them, and you get two interviewers. You can have more clps/context/history, like the old Later.
Just try it, dammit.
posted by MoxieProxy at 4:09 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
My idea for late night is this: think of a hybrid of The Daily Show and Live! With Kelly & Michael and SNL Weekend Update. It's 60 minutes. There's a news desk with co-anchors for the first 30 minutes, people *like* Tina Fey & Bob Costas (not them, but you know, funny AND smart). It's still just one guest at the end of the show, but you get a full 30 minutes with them, and you get two interviewers. You can have more clps/context/history, like the old Later.
Just try it, dammit.
posted by MoxieProxy at 4:09 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
We just saw him on Tosh.0 (starting at 4:20) last night and I wondered about it because that audience (my teen boys & their vomit-joke-loving friends) has never heard of Arsenio Hall. It makes sense now.
posted by headnsouth at 4:11 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by headnsouth at 4:11 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Ah, yes, per wikipedia: In the wake of American Idol's success, Arsenio Hall hosted a new version of Star Search, which ran for two years: 2003 and 2004 on CBS, before ending up in reruns on cable channel GSN for one year from 2004 to 2005.
posted by dismas at 4:21 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by dismas at 4:21 PM on March 7, 2013
Local TV station has been showing some amusing commercials fr the new gig a few months now. I never paid them much mind until I noticed the show date was September. Seems weird to play it up so far ahead of the game.
posted by 2N2222 at 4:36 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by 2N2222 at 4:36 PM on March 7, 2013
Is this the place where I post the video of Living Colour tearing the roof off of Arsenio Hall's studio in 1989?
posted by vibrotronica at 4:38 PM on March 7, 2013 [29 favorites]
posted by vibrotronica at 4:38 PM on March 7, 2013 [29 favorites]
I prefer to showcase this, Radiohead performing their almost-assured-to-be-only-hit "Creep" on Arsenio. I very specifically remember this performance because of the way Arsenio is all "Are you all right?" after Thom Yorke's spastic performance.
posted by mediocre at 4:46 PM on March 7, 2013 [13 favorites]
posted by mediocre at 4:46 PM on March 7, 2013 [13 favorites]
Yes, but will he provide the voice of Winston Zeddemore again?
"Cthulhu? I heard of him. He's bad, right?"
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:49 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
"Cthulhu? I heard of him. He's bad, right?"
posted by RonButNotStupid at 4:49 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
These music clips are reminding me I watched a lot more Arsenio Hall than I remembered... and not in a "because it's on in the background" way but in a "tuned in specifically" way.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:59 PM on March 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by MCMikeNamara at 4:59 PM on March 7, 2013 [3 favorites]
I watched that show a lot. I remember him doing a show the night of the LA riots because he thought it seemed like a better idea than NOT doing a show that night. He was right. Magic Johnson did his show right after he retired due to having HIV. Arsenio was interesting.
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:04 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 5:04 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
First comeback show better have Bill Clinton playing sax or GTFO.
posted by mullacc at 5:10 PM on March 7, 2013 [22 favorites]
posted by mullacc at 5:10 PM on March 7, 2013 [22 favorites]
I'm really really hoping for the return of Larry Sanders next.
posted by plasticpalacealice at 5:21 PM on March 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
posted by plasticpalacealice at 5:21 PM on March 7, 2013 [10 favorites]
I prefer to showcase this, Radiohead performing their almost-assured-to-be-only-hit "Creep" on Arsenio.
Thom Yorke had Kurt Cobain's hair? That's really freaking me out, man.
posted by loquacious at 5:39 PM on March 7, 2013
Thom Yorke had Kurt Cobain's hair? That's really freaking me out, man.
posted by loquacious at 5:39 PM on March 7, 2013
His show was classic. It ran the gamut. It'd have kind of cerebral discussions one night and then Eazy-E or 2Pac the next and that was in 93 or 94.
They just don't do late night like this anymore.
posted by milarepa at 5:51 PM on March 7, 2013 [6 favorites]
They just don't do late night like this anymore.
posted by milarepa at 5:51 PM on March 7, 2013 [6 favorites]
Commence countdown to first use of the hackneyed segue "...Somebody told me...".
T minus 187 days.posted by blueberry at 5:52 PM on March 7, 2013
Is this the place where I post the video of Living Colour tearing the roof off of Arsenio Hall's studio yt in 1989?
I prefer to showcase this, Radiohead performing their almost-assured-to-be-only-hit "Creep" yt on Arsenio. I very specifically remember this performance because of the way Arsenio is all "Are you all right?" after Thom Yorke's spastic performance.
Both very good, but no. It's all about A Tribe Called Quest f/ Leaders of the New School (Busta Rhyme's original group) doing Scenario.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:12 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
I prefer to showcase this, Radiohead performing their almost-assured-to-be-only-hit "Creep" yt on Arsenio. I very specifically remember this performance because of the way Arsenio is all "Are you all right?" after Thom Yorke's spastic performance.
Both very good, but no. It's all about A Tribe Called Quest f/ Leaders of the New School (Busta Rhyme's original group) doing Scenario.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:12 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
It's all about A Tribe Called Quest f/ Leaders of the New School
Shit, now I really want a 1992 dream team olympics USA jersey.
posted by mathowie at 6:23 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Shit, now I really want a 1992 dream team olympics USA jersey.
posted by mathowie at 6:23 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Shit, now I really want a 1992 dream team olympics USA jersey.
Pretty sure you can find a Christian Laettner on the the cheap.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:42 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Pretty sure you can find a Christian Laettner on the the cheap.
posted by Ufez Jones at 6:42 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
Fun fact: After Paramount cancelled Arsenio in 94, they tried to replace it with a talk show hosted by Jon Stewart. That didn't last too long.
It's interesting that back then, three talk shows at 11pm hour were considered too much for the market to support, and now there's Leno, Letterman, Kimmel, Conan, Stewart/Colbert, Handler and Family Guy reruns all running profitably against each other. According to this, Hall's ratings in 1990 was a 3.9, which means about 4 million viewers, right? That's better than most current late night shows.
posted by riruro at 7:34 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
It's interesting that back then, three talk shows at 11pm hour were considered too much for the market to support, and now there's Leno, Letterman, Kimmel, Conan, Stewart/Colbert, Handler and Family Guy reruns all running profitably against each other. According to this, Hall's ratings in 1990 was a 3.9, which means about 4 million viewers, right? That's better than most current late night shows.
posted by riruro at 7:34 PM on March 7, 2013 [1 favorite]
Last summer I found a white satin Dream Team jacket in a Free Box. I strutted around like the king of fucking everything, I felt so cool. Then I realized that only people of a certain age group even recognized what the hell it was. All the kids laughed at my white satin jacket. Then, being an official old man (age 30+ is the definition by my understanding) and bound by social contract to do so, I cursed the teenagers and their music.
posted by mediocre at 7:36 PM on March 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by mediocre at 7:36 PM on March 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
Oh, and while we're talking about classic musical moments. Kick that ballistic Santa Claus!
posted by mediocre at 7:40 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by mediocre at 7:40 PM on March 7, 2013
My favorite failed show of this era was Dennis Miller, with Andy Summers as the house bandleader. They visibly despised each other,
posted by thelonius at 7:49 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
posted by thelonius at 7:49 PM on March 7, 2013 [4 favorites]
This is will be the perfect venue for Hillary Clinton to launch her presidential campaign!
posted by Chrysostom at 8:24 PM on March 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
posted by Chrysostom at 8:24 PM on March 7, 2013 [5 favorites]
Both very good, but no. It's all about A Tribe Called Quest f/ Leaders of the New School (Busta Rhyme's original group) doing Scenario .
Whoa, how'd they get away with "bust a nut inside your eye" on TV in 1992?
posted by DecemberBoy at 8:29 PM on March 7, 2013
Whoa, how'd they get away with "bust a nut inside your eye" on TV in 1992?
posted by DecemberBoy at 8:29 PM on March 7, 2013
This is will be the perfect venue for Hillary Clinton to launch her presidential campaign!
Yes. but what instrument should she play? I'm leaning toward flute...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:54 PM on March 7, 2013
Yes. but what instrument should she play? I'm leaning toward flute...
posted by oneswellfoop at 8:54 PM on March 7, 2013
At least it will make a few of Genie's pop culture references in Alladin relevant again
posted by JARED!!! at 9:42 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by JARED!!! at 9:42 PM on March 7, 2013 [2 favorites]
What I loved most about his show's opening was the shoutout to "the planet we call Earth".
posted by inturnaround at 9:44 PM on March 7, 2013
posted by inturnaround at 9:44 PM on March 7, 2013
Thom Yorke had Kurt Cobain's hair? That's really freaking me out, man.
When "Creep" came out I thought Radiohead were the English wannabe Nirvana just cashing in. I kept hearing about how good they were but didn’t listen to them for years because I hated that song, until well after OK Computer. Lesson learned. I’m not sure which one though.
posted by bongo_x at 11:05 PM on March 7, 2013
When "Creep" came out I thought Radiohead were the English wannabe Nirvana just cashing in. I kept hearing about how good they were but didn’t listen to them for years because I hated that song, until well after OK Computer. Lesson learned. I’m not sure which one though.
posted by bongo_x at 11:05 PM on March 7, 2013
does this mean Hypercolor shirts, C&C Music Factory, and Z. Cavariccis are coming back?
Eddie Murphy? Wasn't it he who got his friend Arsenio the talk show gig in the first place. Funny how the two careers tanked together as well and ironic if Hall is the one to make a comeback.
posted by three blind mice at 4:00 AM on March 8, 2013
Eddie Murphy? Wasn't it he who got his friend Arsenio the talk show gig in the first place. Funny how the two careers tanked together as well and ironic if Hall is the one to make a comeback.
posted by three blind mice at 4:00 AM on March 8, 2013
Whoa, how'd they get away with "bust a nut inside your eye" on TV in 1992?
posted by DecemberBoy at 11:29 PM on March 7 [+] [!]
Probably because the censors are old people, and didn't understand what it meant.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 4:42 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by DecemberBoy at 11:29 PM on March 7 [+] [!]
Probably because the censors are old people, and didn't understand what it meant.
posted by Elementary Penguin at 4:42 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
does this mean Hypercolor shirts, C&C Music Factory, and Z. Cavariccis are coming back?
Only if we're lucky. (We also get Far Side and Bloom County back, too.)
posted by Halloween Jack at 5:07 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
The show will mostly air around the country in 10 p.m. and 11 p.m. slots on Tribune Broadcasting and CBS syndicated stations.
What is a "CBS syndicated station" in 2013? I can't think of anything in my area that isn't an outright affiliate, but those have network programming at 10, local news at 11, and Letterman at 11:30 so presumably this is something different. Are these FOX and CW stations or something?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:16 AM on March 8, 2013
What is a "CBS syndicated station" in 2013? I can't think of anything in my area that isn't an outright affiliate, but those have network programming at 10, local news at 11, and Letterman at 11:30 so presumably this is something different. Are these FOX and CW stations or something?
posted by Lentrohamsanin at 5:16 AM on March 8, 2013
What is a "CBS syndicated station" in 2013? I can't think of anything in my area that isn't an outright affiliate, but those have network programming at 10, local news at 11, and Letterman at 11:30 so presumably this is something different. Are these FOX and CW stations or something?
The Tribune stations are overwhelmingly CW stations, with a handful being Fox. I'm guessing for CBS it's the stations on this list which aren't CBS affiliated (and aren't the one station broadcasting in Spanish).
posted by hoyland at 5:54 AM on March 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
The Tribune stations are overwhelmingly CW stations, with a handful being Fox. I'm guessing for CBS it's the stations on this list which aren't CBS affiliated (and aren't the one station broadcasting in Spanish).
posted by hoyland at 5:54 AM on March 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
I remember how at the very end, when he was doing the final shows, the quality of guests seemed to drop like a rock. Still better than Chevy Chase and Magic Johnson though.
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:07 AM on March 8, 2013
posted by ZeusHumms at 6:07 AM on March 8, 2013
Both very good, but no. It's all about A Tribe Called Quest f/ Leaders of the New School (Busta Rhyme's original group) doing Scenario .
Hip-Hop All stars Freestyle
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:21 AM on March 8, 2013
Hip-Hop All stars Freestyle
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:21 AM on March 8, 2013
25 Best Hip-Hop Moments on The Arsenio Hall Show
Arrested Development People Everyday
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:39 AM on March 8, 2013
Arrested Development People Everyday
posted by Golden Eternity at 8:39 AM on March 8, 2013
Afroblanco: "Jesus fuckchrist, does this mean Hypercolor shirts, C&C Music Factory, and Z. Cavariccis are coming back?"
Hey, C+C Music Factory had several catchy songs. Beats Bieber.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:08 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
Hey, C+C Music Factory had several catchy songs. Beats Bieber.
posted by Chrysostom at 9:08 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I don't keep a close track of such tings, but no matter how many shows I go to nothing will remove C&C Music Factory from the top 10.
However, the fact that I was 20 and in gay club in London may have more to do with it than the actual music.
But, to get back to Afroblanco's original point re: no retro 1990s revival, I understand it completely, but if you had told me in the 90s that I would have had as much wonderful nostalgia for that decade as this thread alone has engendered, I would have never believed you.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:24 AM on March 8, 2013
However, the fact that I was 20 and in gay club in London may have more to do with it than the actual music.
But, to get back to Afroblanco's original point re: no retro 1990s revival, I understand it completely, but if you had told me in the 90s that I would have had as much wonderful nostalgia for that decade as this thread alone has engendered, I would have never believed you.
posted by MCMikeNamara at 10:24 AM on March 8, 2013
C+C Music Factory can come back, but only if Martha Wash is on stage.
posted by Billiken at 10:36 AM on March 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
posted by Billiken at 10:36 AM on March 8, 2013 [2 favorites]
Milarepa, I want to click that + sign all day. That was dope! Thanks for posting!
I loved Arsenio back in the day! Carson was cool, and Letterman was alright, but Arsenio was all about people that I could relate to. Even my Mom liked him, which I thought was surprising, because she was a longtime Carson fan.
Funny story, my Mom used to SWEAR that he had to be Panamanian (like us.) Her reason?
"Arsenio is a Panamanian name. It has to be, because it sounds Panamanian. Where else would he get a name like that?"
I lost track of how many times she would bring this point up over the years. Back then, there was no quick Google search to confirm, no Wikipedia to check. Now? I know he's from Cleveland, But I don't know where his family comes from, or where he got the name from. But I'm sure my Mom still thinks that, because it's Mom Logic.
Ahhh, Mom logic. Don't argue with it. Don't fight it. Just...let it flow over you, because resistance is futile.
posted by KillaSeal at 11:31 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
I loved Arsenio back in the day! Carson was cool, and Letterman was alright, but Arsenio was all about people that I could relate to. Even my Mom liked him, which I thought was surprising, because she was a longtime Carson fan.
Funny story, my Mom used to SWEAR that he had to be Panamanian (like us.) Her reason?
"Arsenio is a Panamanian name. It has to be, because it sounds Panamanian. Where else would he get a name like that?"
I lost track of how many times she would bring this point up over the years. Back then, there was no quick Google search to confirm, no Wikipedia to check. Now? I know he's from Cleveland, But I don't know where his family comes from, or where he got the name from. But I'm sure my Mom still thinks that, because it's Mom Logic.
Ahhh, Mom logic. Don't argue with it. Don't fight it. Just...let it flow over you, because resistance is futile.
posted by KillaSeal at 11:31 AM on March 8, 2013 [1 favorite]
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posted by (Arsenio) Hall and (Warren) Oates at 3:47 PM on March 7, 2013 [49 favorites]