What I’ve Learned: Arsenio Hall

Arsenio Hall built a career as a stand-up comedian in the ’70s and early ’80s before landing notable roles in Coming to America (1988) and Harlem Nights (1989). In 1989, he started hosting The Arsenio Hall Show, which became a cultural touchstone of the era. The show lasted six seasons. In a newly published memoir, Arsenio, Hall sets the record straight on why he left the show and tells some wild Hollywood stories along the way. Our interview with Hall, 70, took place in Los Angeles on February 10. The following is Hall in his own words.