IMDb > "The Arsenio Hall Show" (1989)

"The Arsenio Hall Show" (1989) More at IMDbPro »TV series 1989-1994


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Overview

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6.4/10   163 votes
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Writers:
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Release Date:
3 January 1989 (USA) more
Genre:
Plot:
Arsenio Hall hosts this hip, late-night talk show.
Awards:
Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 6 nominations more
NewsDesk:
(3 articles)
Brian McKnight Tosses His Hat Into The Late-Night Ring
 (From MTV Newsroom. 15 June 2009, 11:05 AM, PDT)

Knocked Down, Then Dragged Out
 (From IFC. 22 April 2009, 7:20 AM, PDT)

User Comments:
Decent talk show, hurt by the backlash of Americans against hip-hop culture. more (14 total)

Cast

 (Series Cast Summary - 1 of 33)

Arsenio Hall ... Himself - Host (96 episodes, 1989-1994)
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Additional Details

Runtime:
60 min
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2 out of 8 people found the following comment useful.
Decent talk show, hurt by the backlash of Americans against hip-hop culture., 10 October 1999
Author: Robert Morgan from Indianapolis

Arsenio Hall's talk show debuted after Joan Rivers' talk show failed- though syndicated, the show was carried mostly by Fox affiliates who had the empty time slot left by Joan Rivers. Riding the wave of popularity of "safe" hip-hop culture (represented by such things as the comedian Sinbad, Young MC, and DJ Jazzy Jeff & Fresh Prince), Arsenio struck a chord with a fairly large percentage of America's youth and wanna-be-hip; instead of the boring antics of Carson and the "establishment" Letterman, here was someone who represented the new popular element in American culture.

For a couple of years, the hype and excitement surrounding the show was akin to that of Saturday Night Live's first years. People stopped what they were doing to watch- there were parties centered around the show. The excitement carried through to the show, where the audience would be boisterous- catcalling, yelling at guests and Arsenio... meanwhile Arsenio played the genial, hip host. Jokes more risque than Carson, none of the self-deprecating humor or embarrassing stunts Letterman.

Unfortunately, within a few years, the party was over. White America decided they were tired of the hip-hop culture (probably because the very thing that made hip-hop exciting was sanitized by businessmen to appeal to white youth), and many others began seeing Arsenio as a sell-out- someone who pandered more to whites than blacks. Almost as quickly as the show's popularity flared up, it waned...

In retrospect the show isn't that bad. Arsenio was too genial to guests- much was made over his fawning- but the show was a breath of fresh air for an audience used to, and sick of, NBC's offerings.

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