It would be an understatement to call The Arsenio Hall Show, which originally aired from 1989-94, a success. At the time, the breakout syndicated program ranked higher among a younger, more diverse demographic than David Letterman’s Late Show and Johnny Carson or Jay Leno’s Tonight Show. Then, at the height of his popularity, Hall and his Posse left the airwaves.
Two decades later, the now 57-year-old Hall is ready for a comeback. But the host knows that he’ll have to do a bit of revamping if the new incarnation of his program is going to compete.
“Back then, I was the guy Will Smith could say, ‘Hey, I want to come on your show and do ‘Parents Just Don’t Understand,’’ because I was the only game in town,” he shares.
But that was before hip-hop culture went mainstream. “Now we’re in a time when you can see Rick Ross on Jimmy Kimmel Live any night. I don’t get to step into this as that guy from the ’90s.”
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Watch Arsenio nationwide weeknights starting Monday, September 9. Check your local listings for times.
