Arsenio Hall's memoir was everything I wanted and didn't expect
Talk show trip down memory lane for an '80s baby who vaguely recalled the '90s show and loved the reboot in 2013
Arsenio Hall has always been a big deal to me. I’m an ‘80s baby who considers him the “King of Late Night” no matter who Stephen Colbert gives the title to. 😤 But I didn’t realize how big of a deal he was even after his first talk show ended in 1994 — until he circled the block and completed 89 episodes of “The Arsenio Hall Show” from 2013 to 2014. I was going to watch the second show regardless of what went on, but I was pleasantly surprised when a guest on his show was asked online audience questions.
The millisecond he said “Maroonsista,” every single tooth in my mouth was visible. Anyone who knows me, especially during my late high school and college years, knows this was my alias. Everything from my prom dress to my microwave was maroon. Maroon + Black woman = Maroonsista
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I don’t recall who the guest was, but I was excited to hear Arsenio Hall say my nickname. But I looked on then-Twitter and saw a tweet from a user claiming he “knows” me and how smart I am. I was so confused. I’d talked to the guy a handful of times, never met him in person and just randomly replied to a couple of tweets. But the way he went on, you’d swear he was opening my refrigerator door. I chuckled. Not only was Arsenio Hall a big deal to me, but it had Twitter strangers trying to claim me as a celebrity friend. (And Arsenio Hall damn sure does not know me nor will he recall my alias.)
But I loved how excited Twitter users were that day. A bunch of us were handpicked to get Arsenio Hall to recite our questions. It made me understand why some of my marketing and journalism clients over the years have been adamant about engaging in the “community” and making sure to include coverage highlighting readers. People like to see themselves — even if the larger goal is about the other person. A written or live video question on a podcast or show slows down the interview, in my opinion, but it can also make that person go tell all their friends. (Ironically, this is the first time I’ve ever written about this and don’t think I ever told any family members or friends — who are also Arsenio Hall fans— about that Maroonsista question.)
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That memory has stuck around for well over a decade even though I didn’t recall plenty of much bigger moments in his memoir about his show in the ‘90s and the second one. I still recall a few random moments. For example, I always wanted to know why the talk show host played “shy brother” (salute to anyone who has seen “The Five Heartbeats”) with actress Sanaa Lathan. I hoped he would cover that in his book, even though I didn’t know what his relationship status was. He didn’t. 🫤
However, after being so disappointed in Brandy’s book “Phases” that I almost returned it to the library three times, I didn’t want to use my Audible credit on the “Arsenio” memoir either. What if it was like “Phases” and I didn’t enjoy it? “Phases” annoyed me so much that I almost wanted to rejoin Instagram just to apologize for being anti-Monica out of loyalty. Oof! Minus “Thea” and Wanya Morris, there were more holes in Brandy’s everybody-did-me-wrong stories than fishnet stockings.
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So, I reserved Arsenio Hall’s memoir at the library and skeptically read the first page. Then two. Then three. By page 30, I returned to the library bin, put the book inside so the other 40 people on the waiting list could read it and bought the memoir online while I walked home. In 2026, Arsenio Hall’s memoir is one of the best books I’ve read since “Will” five years ago. Oprah Winfrey said “Will” was “the best memoir I’ve ever read.” I’m wondering if the talk show legend’s memoir topped all the wild stories Will Smith shared.
At the very least, Prince wearing all white and going to “Miss Mary’s” house party with Arsenio Hall in a stretch limousine should’ve given the Fresh Prince a run for his writing money. And Patti LaBelle chasing Arsenio Hall through a casino because he wouldn’t give up her gambling money had to get a couple of chuckles.
Arsenio Hall’s memoir was a trip down ‘90s political, hip-hop and pop memory lane
I don’t remember half the stories in this book. I vaguely remembered former President Bill Clinton playing the saxophone. However, I hadn’t even turned 11 years old yet, so voting wasn’t my top priority. I do think it’s sweet justice that former President George H.W. Bush significantly downplayed Arsenio Hall’s show and didn’t understand the Dog Pound or the fans. To no one’s surprise, both Bill and Hillary Clinton fully understood Arsenio Hall’s impact.
And although anyone who followed pop culture in the ‘80s could recognize Bobcat Goldthwait’s voice as easily as Pauly Shore’s “buddy” and “weasel” ad-libs, I was either not allowed to watch or completely forgot how Goldthwait tore up the Paramount set when he found out the show was ending. I stopped reading the book long enough to watch this chaos on YouTube. My mouth dropped. Arsenio Hall clearly didn’t have security or his security was fed up with having to find a new job and said, “Let Goldthwait cook!”
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And there were many other moments when I had to stop reading to refresh my memory via YouTube:
Whitney Houston claiming she was having Arsenio Hall’s baby
Minister Louis Farrakhan answering questions about Malcolm X’s death
Magic Johnson explaining his HIV-positive status
“Hall Or Nothing” opening — and why Eddie Murphy made this an ongoing joke
Bobby Brown performing “My Prerogative”
Confrontation with an audience heckler saying Arsenio Hall doesn't have gay guests
Comedic performances from then-lesser-known comics George Lopez and Chris Rock
Michael Jackson presenting an MTV plaque to Arsenio Hall while Eddie Murphy presented MJ with a plaque for “Thriller”
Response to the L.A. riots after the Rodney King verdict
Those moments made me understand why O.J. Simpson was so annoyed about not being invited onto the show that he confronted Arsenio Hall in the Paramount parking lot.