Arsenio
A Memoir
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3 Months Free
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Arsenio
Narrated by:
Arsenio Hall
Buy Now for £14.37
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Narrated by:
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Arsenio Hall
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By:
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Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall, America’s beloved late-night TV host, reveals the ups and downs of his remarkable career as a trailblazing pioneer with this “vivid, outrageous” (The New York Times)behind-the-scenes, star-studded, no-holds-barred memoir of celebrity, race, and show business.
Arsenio Hall holds a uniquely prominent place in American culture—celebrated late-night host and comedic actor, famed for starring roles in the cultural touchstones Coming to America and Harlem Nights.
Now, he pulls back the curtain and takes us to a different time in Hollywood. Iconic scenes include: starting out as a young magician in Cleveland; hosting his first talk show in the basement of his apartment building when he was in elementary school; cutting his teeth at the world-famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, learning about comedy and life from legendary comedian Richard Pryor; forming lifelong bonds with legendary icons Muhammad Ali, Luther Vandross, Sammy Davis, Jr., and Eddie Murphy; tasting superstar success with Coming to America, the film that preceded The Arsenio Hall Show; conducting unforgettable, groundbreaking interviews with Magic Johnson, Bill Clinton, Tupac Shakur, Maya Angelou, Madonna, and Minister Louis Farrakhan; rescuing a family from a home-fire with Jay Leno; sharing hot sauces and blackjack with Patti LaBelle; and chilling with Prince.
And then, he made the difficult decision to walk away.
This bracingly candid memoir offers a new appreciation for this raw talent and gifted storyteller, who nightly, for six years, hosted what felt like a televised “party” that changed the landscape of late-night television and brought Black culture into living rooms across America.
With this book, he does it one more time.
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Critic reviews
“A compelling, entertaining memoir delivered by a pro who knows exactly how to share his story.”
He shares stories of his childhood, punctuated with dreams of being the next Johnny Carson. He's hilarious and riveting as he reflects on his strict religious upbringing. Hall is most interested in relaying the events surrounding his lightning-in-a-bottle TV program, perhaps the most prominent era of his long career as a comedian, actor, and talk show host. His show was electric counterprogramming to those of Carson and Letterman. He fought to find a balance between addressing a Black audience and the network's constant push to reach the widest demographic possible.”
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