"The Arsenio Hall Show" (1989) TV series 1989-1994

Directors:

Sandra Fullerton
Scott Schaefer

Writers:

Nick Siracuse (writer)
Scott Schaefer (writer)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | unknown

Release Date:

3 January 1989 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Talk-Show

Tagline:

We Be Havin' a Ball!

Plot:

Arsenio Hall hosts this hip, late-night talk show.

Plot Keywords:

Late Night | Topical Humor | One Liner | Interview | Pop Culture

Awards:

Won 2 Primetime Emmys. Another 2 wins & 7 nominations

Cast

Arsenio Hall	...	Himself - Host (314 episodes, 1989-1994)
Burton Richardson	...	Himself - Announcer (312 episodes, 1989-1994)

Series Directed by
Todd Fischer		(49 episodes, 1992-1994)
Sandra Fullerton		(unknown episodes)
Scott Schaefer		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Arsenio Hall		(103 episodes, 1989-1994)
Rob Young		(103 episodes, 1989-1994)
Steven Alan Green		(103 episodes, 1989-1991)
Tim Kelleher		(82 episodes, 1989-1993)
Danny Zuker		(82 episodes, 1989-1993)
Dawna Kaufmann		(27 episodes, 1993-1994)
Paul Clay		(25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Barry Friedman		(25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Alec Sokolow		(25 episodes, 1989-1990)
Steve Spiegel		(25 episodes, 1989-1990)
J. Anthony Brown		(22 episodes, 1993-1994)
Davey DiGiorgio		(21 episodes, 1993-1994)
Hal Spear		(21 episodes, 1993-1994)
Philip Vaughn		(21 episodes, 1993-1994)
Larry Charles		(19 episodes, 1989-1990)
Marty Rudoy		(19 episodes, 1993-1994)
Scott Schaefer		(unknown episodes)
Nick Siracuse		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Arsenio Hall	....	executive producer (103 episodes, 1989-1994)
Mark Lipsky	....	executive producer (14 episodes, 1989)
Carole Chouinard	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)
David A. Hurwitz	....	segment producer (unknown episodes)
Kent Weishaus	....	associate producer (unknown episodes)

Series Cinematography by
Christian Santiago		(unknown episodes)

Series Costume Design by
Sandy Ampon		(unknown episodes)

Series Makeup Department
R. Christopher Biggs	....	special makeup effects artist (unknown episodes)

Series Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Paul Cockerill	....	field director (unknown episodes)

Series Special Effects by
Robert Cole	....	special effects (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Chuck Borden	....	stunts (unknown episodes)
Michael J. Sarna	....	stunts (unknown episodes)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Pascal M. Guillemard	....	lighting technician / best boy electric (27 episodes, 1993-1994)
Jenna Abrahamson-Minardi	....	lighting technician (21 episodes, 1989-1990)
Christian Santiago	....	camera operator: studio and field camera (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Monique Long	....	costumer (6 episodes, 1991-1992)

Series Music Department
Arsenio Hall	....	composer: theme "Hall or Nothing" (unknown episodes)

Series Transportation Department
Gina August	....	driver (13 episodes, 1989)

Series Other crew
Dailey Pike	....	audience warm-up (126 episodes, 1989-1994)
Marshall Boone	....	production assistant (74 episodes, 1990-1994)
Pamela Hyatt	....	communications liasion (70 episodes, 1991-1994)
Kim Swann	....	talent coordinator (37 episodes, 1989-1991)
Alan Abrams	....	business affairs director (unknown episodes)
Carole Chouinard	....	talent coordinator (unknown episodes)
Rick Law	....	creative consultant (unknown episodes)
Jack Edward Sawyers	....	additional footage (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• Arsenio Hall Communications
• Paramount Television

Distributors

• Paramount Television

Other Companies

• Paramount Studios  pre-recorded at

Also Known As:

Runtime:

60 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Mono

Filming Locations:

Stage 29, Paramount Studios - 5555 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Arsenio Hall Communications

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "The Larry Sanders Show: The Warmth Episode (#1.11)" (1992)

Woof! Woof! Woof!

I have to agree with everyone else that the first two years (1989 & 1990) were Arsenio's prime years. I used to watch it when I was younger and got a huge kick out of it. I actually have many of the wrestling interviews on tape he did (The ones with Ted DiBiase and Bobby Heenan stick out in my mind). But of course there was the constant brownnosing on the guests. Arsenio had a great interview technique, he just did too much kissing up. It's a bad habit that has followed him into other shows. It only appealed to a certain populi of the United States (Older people watched Carson, college kids watched Dave, people in the know watched Nightline, etc.). Then came 1992 when New Jack Swing was dying down and grunge was being to take form. Jay Leno took over The Tonight Show and made it hipper (and of course you had his agent, Helen Kushnick underbooking Arsenio's guests). Times were just changing and people started to forget about Arsenio.

There were a couple of positives that stood out though. His house band was really kickin'. He would always center certain members of the band out (There was Michael Wolfe of course, You had the "John B. Williams Poetry Moment", and Starr Parodi's one woman band jams). He was funny some of the time. And there is also the fact that a syndicated talk show went as long it did without network backing. But it was only a matter of time when the show got the death knell.