by Arsenio Hall
First published 2023
Arsenio Hall opens his story as a young magician performing tricks in Cleveland, already dreaming of entertaining audiences. He moves through his early years hosting a makeshift talk show in his apartment building's basement, then cutting his teeth at Hollywood's Comedy Store under the guidance of Richard Pryor. Hall chronicles his breakthrough with Coming to America alongside Eddie Murphy, which launched him into his own late-night television show. He navigates the complexities of bringing Black culture to mainstream audiences while conducting memorable interviews with figures like Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Tupac Shakur, and Madonna. The memoir captures his friendships with icons including Muhammad Ali, Luther Vandross, and Prince, while revealing behind-the-scenes moments like rescuing a family from a house fire with Jay Leno. After six years of hosting what he describes as a nightly televised party, Hall faces the difficult choice to step away from his success. This raw account explores the intersection of celebrity, race, and show business through the eyes of a performer who changed late-night television.
Genres: african-american, autobiography, biography-memoir, comedy, 21st-century
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: behind-the-scenes, rags-to-riches
Setting: Cleveland, Hollywood, Comedy Store
Period: Late Night Television
Audiobook · Simon Schuster Audio