The times have changed, but more than two decades after Arsenio Hall debuted his first late night show, the veteran host is still entertaining for the same reason. “I’m trying to do a show that fills a void for an audience that doesn’t have one. And so far, everything is working great,” he tells Hip Hop Wired.
Round one of The Arsenio Hall Show premiered in 1989 and ran until 1994. The show became known for diversifying the conversation in television by merging popular culture with socio-political topics like the Rodney King beating. He also pioneered a T.V. platform for Hip-Hop artists, long before the rest of late night world took notice.
“It’s much more crowded now than when I left.”
Today, there’s no surprise in seeing Jay Z joke around with David Letterman, yet there was a time –not too long ago — when rapper’s weren’t exactly late night material. Much of that change is credited to Hall. Although he doesn’t always get mentioned among Letterman, Jay Leno and Conan O’Brien, his influence is undeniable. “They leave me out of articles because I’m boring,” he explains. “But I have the youngest, consistent audience in late night. You know how important the young audience is? I have a great demographic and I think part of that is…I guess I always make good choices.”
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Photos: ArsenioHall.com/Facebook/YouTube
Controversial newsmakers have played a part in Hall’s story as well. Nation of Islam leader Min. Louis Farrakhan’s 1994 appearance was falsely rumored to have led to the show’s cancelation. The place where Bill Clinton famously played a sax solo (and made us all look at him a differently) was the same destination where rap fans plugged into the likes of N.W.A, Tupac Shakur, KRS-One, Salt-N-Pepa, LL Cool J (“Cool James” made his return to Hall’s show after 25 years this past February), back before they were legends.
The variety that followed Hall’s first late night run, has carried over into his new gig. The re-up of The Arsenio Hall Show premiered in Sept. 2013, and has seen names like Rick Ross, Kanye West, Kendrick Lamar, T.I., and Wiz Khalifa, fill the same guest list as Dr. Phil McGraw, Bill Mayer and Zooey Deschanel. The music however, is especially important to Hall, rap in particular. “Sometimes when I watch the show it’s a slight out of body experience because that’s a guy in his 50s with Kendrick Lamar and Mac Miller, and I look like I have boundless energy! When I watch myself it’s surreal.”
“We have meaningful conversations,” he continues speaking of a sit-down with Russell Simmons where the two touched on “everything from the n-word to misogyny, to where rap is right now.”
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On another show night Kid Cudi pinpointed what he believes is hindering Hip-Hop. “I’m the only guy that really can have a conversation with Kid Cudi, about the state of rap…this thing that I love. Not only love, but I’m kind of a pioneer in the the TV sector of it. I love this kind of TV,” notes Hall.”[Sitting] with Russell Simmons and talk[ing] about the dilemma of the n-word. I talk about the fact that my favorite song [Y.G.’s “My N***a] has the n-word in it. ”
Much of the talk shared between Hall and his guests also gets an extended life online, which intern widens Halls audience. In February, the show was picked up for a second season. In the same month, Prince helped the show snag a 50 percent ratings increase in the 18-46 demographic, to tie him with Jimmy Kimmel Live!, according to the Hollywood Reporter.
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YouTube, Twitter and Facebook updates adds to the viewers who come on via word-of-mouth, which is he says, is the only way the show will last. “I can’t be as good [as I was before]. I have to be better,” he asserts. “I can’t have as much support [as I had before], I’ve got to have more.”
When Hall walked away in 1994, he simply got tired of the race. He admits to having stiffer competition this time around (even though Letterman is retiring next year). “I don’t know if I can make this work. It’s much more crowded now than when I left,” he says.
Regardless of how crowded the late night stage has become, Hall hasn’t lost his lust for the process. Being with the live audience still excites him.
“That’s the spirit of the show,” he says. “That unconditional joy that moves your soul.”
