Arsenio Hall

Template:Short description Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox person Arsenio Hall (born February 12, 1956) is an American comedian, actor and talk show host. He hosted a late-night talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> from 1989 until 1994, and again from 2013 to 2014.

He has appeared in Martial Law, Coming to America (1988), Coming 2 America (2021), and Harlem Nights (1989). He was also the host of Star Search and appeared as Alan Thicke's sidekick on the talk show Thicke of the Night.

In 2012, he won NBC's reality-competition game show The Celebrity Apprentice 5.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Early life

Hall was born in Cleveland, Ohio, the son of Fred and Annie Hall. His father is a Baptist minister.<ref name=filmref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall performed as a magician when he was a child. He graduated from Warrensville Heights High School in Warrensville Heights, Ohio, in 1973, after briefly attending John F. Kennedy High School. He later attended Ohio University<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Kent State University.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Career

Hall later moved to Chicago, and then Los Angeles, to pursue a career in comedy, making a couple of appearances on Soul Train. In 1984, he was the announcer/sidekick for Alan Thicke during the short-lived talk show Thicke of the Night (a role for which he has on occasion noted his confusion with Monty Hall).

He appeared on five weeks of episodes of the short-lived NBC game show Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour from 1983 to 1984. He was also the original voice of Winston Zeddemore in the animated series The Real Ghostbusters from 1986 to 1987. In 1988, he co-starred in the comedy film Coming to America with Eddie Murphy. During his career, he set up Arsenio Hall Communications in 1987, and then he had signed a two-year, multi-picture agreement with Paramount Pictures to develop films for an exclusive agreement.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Talk shows

In 1986, the Fox network introduced The Late Show Starring Joan Rivers, created to directly challenge The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. After a moderate start, ratings for the show sagged. Relations between Rivers and network executives at Fox quickly eroded, and she left in 1987.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The series was subsequently renamed The Late Show, and featured several interim hosts, including Ross Shafer, Suzanne Somers, Shawn Thompson, Richard Belzer and Robert Townsend, before it was canceled in 1988. Hall was also chosen to host the show in the fall of 1987, and his stint proved immensely popular, leading to his being offered his own show in syndication.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

From January 2, 1989, to May 27, 1994, he had a Paramount contract to host a nationwide syndicated late-night talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show. It was a breakout success, rating especially high among the coveted younger demographic, and it was known for its audience's distinctive alternative to applause in chanting, "Woof, woof, woof!" (which originated in the Cleveland Browns' Dawg Pound in the east end zone) while pumping their fists. The practice soon became such a ritual that by 1991 it had become a "pop culture stamp of approval"—one that Hall said had become "so popular it's getting on people's nerves".<ref name="crankit">Template:Cite web</ref> The gesture was so well known that it appeared in films such as Pretty Woman and The Hard Way.<ref name="crankit"/>

He also had a rivalry with Jay Leno after the latter was named host of The Tonight Show, during which Hall said that he would "kick Jay's ass" in ratings.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Support of gay rights and the fight against AIDS

Hall was a supporter of gay rights long before the movement had become overwhelmingly popular and supported in the mainstream, especially in black culture. In the early 1990s, this culminated in an episode of The Arsenio Hall Show where Hall was protested by gay rights activists, who criticized that he didn't have any gay guests on the show and that he would occasionally play gay characters; Hall was clearly upset by the accusation, saying he had famously put LGBT celebrities on his show, including Elton John, and had others on who preferred not to publicly advocate their sexual orientation.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> After passionately stating his points, Hall received overwhelming woof chants of support from his audience. Additionally, Hall used his fame during this period to help fight worldwide prejudice against HIV/AIDS after Magic Johnson contracted the virus. Hall and Johnson filmed a public service announcement about the disease that aired in the early 1990s.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Other television and radio work

Hall at the 1989 Emmy Awards

Between 1988 and 1991, Hall hosted the MTV Video Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Over the years, he has appeared as a guest on numerous talk shows, in special features, as a voice actor, on game shows and other award shows. Since The Arsenio Hall Show ended, Hall had leading roles on television shows such as the short-lived sitcom Arsenio (1997) and Martial Law with Sammo Hung (1998–2000), and hosted the revival of Star Search (2003–2004). While hosting Star Search, he popularized the catchphrase "Hit me with the digits!"

Hall appeared as himself in Chappelle's Show in March 2004 (convinced by Swedish comedy director Saman Khadiri) when Chappelle was imagining "what Arsenio is doing right now" in a dinner scene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall has guest co-hosted Wednesday evenings on The Tim Conway Jr. Show on KLSX 97.1 FM radio.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He hosted MyNetworkTV's comedic web video show The World's Funniest Moments and TV One's 100 Greatest Black Power Moves.<ref>Arsenio Hall Is Back with Two New Shows. November 9, 2008. Retrieved November 12, 2008.</ref> He also appeared on Real Time with Bill Maher in May 2012, in a discussion commemorating the 1992 Los Angeles riots.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Hall was considered the host of the syndicated version of Deal or No Deal and filmed a pilot (there were six taped).<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="notedguys">Template:Cite news</ref> However, by the time the syndicated series began on September 8, 2008, Howie Mandel was chosen as host.

Hall also appeared regularly on The Jay Leno Show, and was a guest on Lopez Tonight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> George Lopez credits Arsenio as the reason he had a late night show; Lopez appeared on The Arsenio Hall Show more times than any other comedian. Lopez requested Hall be a co-host on Lopez Tonight (November 25, 2009) since he regarded Hall as his inspiration and the first "late night party show host".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall has filled in as guest host for NBC's Access Hollywood Live (2011) and CNN's evening talk/interview program Piers Morgan Tonight in 2012.

In 2012, Hall was a contestant on the fifth edition of The Celebrity Apprentice, which began airing February 19, 2012.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall represented his charity, the Magic Johnson Foundation, which is dedicated to advancing economic and social equality by engaging minorities in every aspect of their communities; increasing academic and innovative achievement; and raising HIV/AIDS awareness, treatment and prevention. While Hall clashed with Aubrey O'Day, he befriended a majority of the cast.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On May 20, 2012, in the live season finale, he was chosen as the Celebrity Apprentice winner, being "hired" by Donald Trump over the other celebrity finalist, singer Clay Aiken. For winning The Celebrity Apprentice, Hall won the $250,000 grand prize for his charity, in addition to money for the tasks he and his team performed when he was a team leader.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

A revival of Hall's syndicated late-night talk show, The Arsenio Hall Show, premiered September 9, 2013, on Tribune owned stations and other networks via CBS Television Distribution.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It was canceled after one season due to low ratings. The last taping aired May 30, 2014.<ref>'The Arsenio Hall Show' Canceled After One Season Variety. May 30, 2014</ref>

Arsenio appeared in a bit in the January 2024 Emmys.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Personal life

In 1997, after being out of the public eye for three years, Hall gave an interview to dispel rumors regarding what had driven him off stage. "I went on the Internet," he said, "and read I was in detox at Betty Ford. I got online under a fake name and typed in, 'I know Arsenio better than anyone else and he's not in detox, you idiots!'"<ref name="philly">Template:Cite web</ref>

Hall has one son, born in 1998.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall says he took time off to raise his son before resuming The Arsenio Hall Show in 2013.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Hall had an interest in returning to the business eventually, but his decision was not confirmed until he appeared on Lopez Tonight in 2009 (although he initially considered a weekend show because he did not want to compete in ratings against his friend George Lopez).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On May 5, 2016, Hall filed a $5 million defamation lawsuit against Sinéad O'Connor after she claimed he had fueled Prince's drug habit and had also spiked his drink at a party at Eddie Murphy's house.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hall dropped the lawsuit after O'Connor apologized and retracted her allegations.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

Filmography

Film

List of film performances

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	Amazon Women on the Moon	Apartment Victim
1988	Coming to America	Semmi, Extremely Ugly Girl, Morris, Reverend Brown
1989	Harlem Nights	Reggie (The Crying Man)
1989	Paula Abdul: Straight Up	Himself	Music video
1994	Blankman	Himself
2005	The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie	Himself
2005	The Proud Family Movie	Dr. Carver, Bobby Proud
2006	Scooby-Doo! Pirates Ahoy!	Captain Crothers
2007	Heckler	Himself
2008	Igor	Carl Cristall
2009	Black Dynamite	Tasty Freeze
2017	Gilbert	Himself
2017	Sandy Wexler	Himself
2021	Coming 2 America	Semmi, Morris, Reverend Brown, Baba (witch doctor), Extremely Ugly Girl (archival footage)

Television

List of television performances

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Refs
1981, 1989	Soul Train	Himself	2 episodes	<ref name="soultrain">Template:Cite web</ref>
1982	Madame's Place	Himself
1982	Elvira's Movie Macabre	Dr. Mustapha Abdul Raheem Jamaal X Muhammad, Tyrone
1983	The 1/2 Hour Comedy Hour	Host		<ref name="berry">Template:Cite book</ref>
1983–1984	Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour	Celebrity panelist
1983–1984	Thicke of the Night	Actor / Himself (1984)
1985	The Motown Revue Starring Smokey Robinson	Regular		<ref name="newsok">Template:Cite web</ref>
1985	New Love, American Style	Actor		<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
1986	The New Alfred Hitchcock Presents	Cleavon	Episode titled Happy Birthday air date March 23, 1986
1986–1987	The Real Ghostbusters	Winston Zeddemore, Mooglie	seasons 1–3
1987	Uptown Comedy Express	Himself
1987	Comedy Club	Himself
1987–1988	The Late Show	Host
1988	Solid Gold	Himself
1989	Comic Relief III	Himself
1989–1994	The Arsenio Hall Show	Host	Also writer and producer
1990	Doogie Howser, M.D.	Himself
1990	Cheers	Himself
1992	Ebony/Jet Showcase	Himself		<ref name="google">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1992	The Jackie Thomas Show	Himself	Ep. "The Joke"	<ref name="tvguide">Template:Cite web</ref>
1993	Blossom	Himself
1994	Living Single	Himself
1997	Arsenio	Michael Atwood		<ref name="google2">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
1997	Behind the Music	Himself	Ep. "MC Hammer: Behind the Music #2"	<ref name="vh1">Template:Cite web</ref>
1997	Muppets Tonight	Guest	Ep. "The Cameo Show"
1998	Intimate Portrait	Narrator
1998–2000	Martial Law	Terrell Parker	36 episodes
2000	The Norm Show	Joe	Episode titled Norm vs. the Kid air date December 8, 2000
2002–2003	Hollywood Squares	Celebrity panel
2003–2004	Star Search	Host
2003	Tinseltown TV	Himself
2004	CBS Cares	Himself	PSA
2008–2009	The World's Funniest Moments	Host
2009–2010	The Jay Leno Show	Correspondent
2009	Brothers	Himself
2012	The Celebrity Apprentice 5	Contestant	Winner of competition
2013–2014	The Arsenio Hall Show	Host	Also producer
2015–2016	Real Husbands of Hollywood	Himself - Guest star
2016	Greatest Hits	Host		<ref name="billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
2017–2018	The Mayor	Ocho Okoye	Guest; 2 episodes
2018	All About the Washingtons	Himself	Guest; 2 episodes
2025	Crutch	Avery	Ep. "Community Crutch"

List of biography television shows and specials

Year	Title	Episode	Notes	Refs
1996–2008	Biography		5 episodes
2001	E! True Hollywood Story
2008	Pioneers of Television (PBS)
2012	American Masters

Guest appearances on talk shows

Year	Title	Episode	Notes	Refs
1989, 1992	Live! with Regis and Kathie Lee	Guest	2 episodes
1989	The Phil Donahue Show	Himself
1991	The Howard Stern Show	Guest
1996–2012	The Tonight Show with Jay Leno	Guest	Multiple appearances
1997	The Rosie O'Donnell Show	Guest
1997	The Chris Rock Show	Guest
1998	The Magic Hour	Guest
2003	Real Time with Bill Maher	Guest
2004	Tavis Smiley	Guest
2004	The Sharon Osbourne Show	Guest
2004	Chappelle's Show	Guest
2004	The Wayne Brady Show	Guest
2009	Up Close with Carrie Keagan	Guest
2009	Made in Hollywood	Himself
2010, 2012	Late Night with Jimmy Fallon	Alternate Reality Host	2 episodes
2010, 2012	Chelsea Lately	Guest (2010) / Soundtrack (2012)
2010	Tosh.0	Guest
2011	Lopez Tonight	Guest
2011	Access Hollywood Live	Guest Host
2012	Inside Edition	Himself
2012	The Wendy Williams Show	Himself
2012	Piers Morgan Tonight	Guest Host

Discography

As "Chunky A"

• Large and in Charge (1989)

Awards and nominations

NAACP Image Awards

Template:Main The NAACP Image Awards are awarded annually by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Hall has won 3 awards from 4 nominations, as well as an honorary award.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1988	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture	Coming to America	Template:Won
1991	Key of Life Award	Himself	Template:Won
1993	Outstanding Variety – Series or Special	The Arsenio Hall Show	Template:Won
1995	Outstanding Variety Series		Template:Won
2014	Outstanding Talk Series		Template:Nom

Primetime Emmy Awards

Template:Main The Primetime Emmy Awards are awarded annually by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Hall has received 2 nominations.

Year	Award	Nominated work	Result
1989	Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program	The Arsenio Hall Show	Template:Nom
1990			Template:Nom

Miscellaneous awards and nominations

Year	Organization	Award	Nominated work	Result
1989	American Comedy Award	Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture	Coming to America	Template:Won
1990		Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication	The Arsenio Hall Show	Template:Nom
	People's Choice Award	Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host	Template:Won
	Soul Train Award	Sammy Davis Jr. Award for Entertainer of the Year	Himself	Template:Won
	Hollywood Walk of Fame	Star at 6776 Hollywood Blvd.		Template:Won
1992	Central State University	Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>		Template:Won
1993	GMA Dove Award	Outstanding Mainstream Contribution Award		Template:Won
2014	People's Choice Award	Favorite New Talk Show Host	The Arsenio Hall Show	Template:Nom

Further reading

• Template:Cite book

External links

• Template:Official website
• Template:IMDb name