Arsenio Hall
Arsenio Hall is back on TV hosting The World's Funniest Moments on MyNetwork TV, as well as hosting TV One's limited five-part series 100 Greatest Black Power Moves (premieres Sunday, Nov. 9, 10 pm/ET) . The busy single dad of a 9-year-old son recently spoke to TVGuide.com about why he gave up his popular late-night talk show, his relationship with BFF Eddie Murphy and getting back on stage in what he calls his "Geritol" comedy tour...
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Arsenio Hall by Steve Granitz/WireImage.com
While it might have seemed that Arsenio Hall's big TV moments were over with the Clinton era, the comedian and late-night host is back this fall, just ahead of the next phase in presidential politics. Hall will be hosting MyNetworkTV's Funniest Moments (working title), which will feature comedic scenes from everyday life caught on tape, plus introductions and some stand-up from the host himself.Hall's new series will air Wednesdays at 9 pm/ET this fall, and is the latest in a series of "Funniest Moments" shows from the net. In the meantime, we'll just have to reminisce about Hall's shoulder-pad days, and ponder the uncanny parallel between this career move and that of Bob Saget in 1990. Do you think Hall's take on funny moments will fly? — Anna DimondUse our Online Video Guide to recall some of Hall's own funny moments.
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Conan O'Brien by Dana Edelson/NBC Photo
Did absence make our hearts grow fonder of late-night TV's hosts, missing in action for the last two months? I suppose it's possible, though I doubt anyone's preferences were changed by what they saw Wednesday night, when all of the network hosts finally returned to work, all but David Letterman and Craig Ferguson without writers. (If anything grew, it was facial hair, at least on Dave and Conan.)If you're the sort who for whatever reason prefers affable Jay Leno over cranky Dave, or chooses to stay up late for the delectable derangement that is Conan O’Brien, nothing about Wednesday’s opening night would likely have shaken you from your long-ingrained after-hours habits. The strike beards sported by Dave and Conan in solidarity with the still-striking writers (“and to prove that I still have some testosterone,” joked Conan) were the most noticeable changes on the late-night landscape.Here’s my report card on late-night’s opening night, keeping in mind ...
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With a spin-off of Deal or No Deal slated to go into syndication next fall, sources tell the Hollywood Reporter that in addition to performing some double duty, Howie Mandel (remember when he and I rode the Ferris wheel?) may get an assist in hosting. Among the names being bandied about are Arsenio Hall (whoop-whoop!) and Mark Curry [Crickets]. Hey, what about that available up-and-comer named... Barker, is it? Bobby Barker?
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Brenna Gethers, American Idol
American Idol Mandisa got the crowd on their feet with an incredible version of Heart's "Never." It could have been risky, but she pulled it off with strong and confident vocals. I noticed the same Burger King-inspired flame graphic on the screen behind her that Kimberly Locke had during 2003's "Heat Wave." Idol rakes in so much cash; can't they get some new backdrops?
Though the judges had mixed things to say about Kellie Pickler's performance, they loved her sincerity and "aw-shucks" demeanor. That kind of humility can make up for a few bad notes, so you might want to take note, Brenna. Paula Abdul got a few boos for correctly critiquing Becky — or maybe the crowd was rebelling against Paula's
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Video Music Awards
The VMAs hadn't even started yet, and Suge Knight had already been shot in the leg at a preshow party. Fortunately, the Death Row rec exec is expected to be OK, but it wouldn't be a bling-bling bash in Miami if shots weren't fired somewhere in town. It sure is a different show than it was in the late '80s, when Arsenio Hall was the go-to host, the performers actually sang and the biggest drama was Vince Neil punching Guns N' Roses' Izzy Stradlin backstage. Ah, the good old days… Still, the gala is always worth watching, if only to gape in amazement at who wore what, who said what and, oh yeah, who won.
But honestly, no one remembers who won. What matters is what kind of impression the performers made with their stage time, and this year only a few acts made me feel like I was seeing something special. Green Day proved that rock is still relevant when they opened with "Boulevard of Broken Dreams." No lip-syncing and no dancing, just
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After last week's poop-'n'-fartfest, there were absolutely no references to passing gas or bowel problems. I thought I was watching a different show. That being said…10:00 pm The episode opens with Whitney having a pillow fight with the kids while Bobby is sound asleep and snoring. Of course, Whitney has to comment, "What a man. What a guy."10:02 Bobby flies to L.A. to do Jimmy Kimmel and hasn't been on a talk show since Arsenio Hall.10:03 "Toxic" by Britney Spears comes on the radio and Bobby claims, "She stole my song so I stole hers." Inquiring minds like mine want to know what he is referring to.10:05 Whitney "surprises Bobby" by flying to L.A. as well. Lots of product-placement shots of Von Dutch clothes are shown before Whitney quietly sings a bit of "I'm Every Woman." A fan tells her, "Thanks for that."10:06 Bobbi Kristina tries on a much-too-small Von Dutch miniskirt, and Whitney te
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After years of virtual invisibility, Arsenio Hall is back in the TV game, hosting "not your father's" Star Search for CBS (Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8 pm/ET). And the 47-year-old ex-late nighter confesses that as far as gigs go, well, this one is a piece of cake. (No offense, Ed McMahon.)
"[As] the host, you're just the glue," he told reporters at the Television Critics Assoc. press tour in Hollywood. "You're the ring master for this live circus, and anybody can do it. You don't have an opinion; you read a teleprompter, and you try to look for an opportunity to throw in an ad-lib with the audience."
For their final judgment, the aspiring singers, comedians and models turn to the glib opinions of regular judges Ben Stein
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