European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 7, 1991, Darmstadt, Hesse Arsinio Hall interviewing Madonna on his show last year is in the race to replace Johnny Carson who leaves no cd a tonight show in 1992.More to come from tvs Hall maybe a tonight by John j. O Connor new York times the King of the night is departing Long live the King of the night. But who will inherit Johnny Carsons 30-year-old _ Mantle of Success a Leno the clean Cut fellow next door who will actually take Over no cd a tonight show in May David let Turman the offbeat Prince of snide who keeps his own Abc late night show but is pouting about not getting the Carson Slot the Competition has already begun with names like Dennis Miller and Ron Reagan being bandied about. There is one contender who has earned special consideration Arsinio Hall. Several years ago Hall seemed to come out of nowhere when he became one of several hosts recruited to replace Joan Rivers on her failed Fox broadcasting talk show. With the help of guests like Eddie Murphy a Friend. Hall soared but Fox executives were too slow to catch him for More than a limited run. Paramount was More astute giving him his own hour Long show. Even though the program is syndicated not the easiest of television marketing modes Hall has managed to succeed where so Many other entertainers failed a surviving indeed thriving in direct Competition with the Carson show. His ratings have dipped Over the past several months but the shows audience is predominantly Young and that san invaluable plus with advertisers. Halls on camera Persona can be endearing or grating depending on your mood or his. Some of his established routines Are already a bit tired. The Woof Woof antics used to Rev up the audience at the beginning of each show could use a rest. The milking of audience hysteria might be toned Down though evidently the Host really does store up Energy from the spectacle. And the opening monologues Are embarrassingly uneven at their worst when Hall looks at the prompter cards and clearly realizes that the material he is about to deliver is weak.0 thais when he generally slips into a bad Case of the cutes stammering slightly laughing curiously to himself and assuring the audience that a a that so heh heh a this performer obviously likes to be liked. That can be his biggest asset especially when he goes one on one with a guest he himself likes watch out when the chemistry fizzles the simmering sense of boredom is palpable. At times he goes out of his Way to get guests whose resistance to his Boyish Charm might be formidable. A recent show offered Roseanne Barr now calling herself Roseanne Arnold the comedian who closed her last fico special with a largely unprintable tirade a a it a not often we gel to see a Black nerd on television against Hall for telling a Roseanne Barr fat All that was forgotten As the performers indulged in giggly Mutual admiration. Over the past couple of weeks with repeat shows on sunday Halls guest list has included playwrights actors baseball players television journalists and comics most of their plugging in the time honoured tradition of talk shows their latest ventures. In one repeal the playwright Anil actor Harvey Fierstein was brought on apparently in reaction to a protest Oman earlier broadcast by homosexuals. Sitting in the audience the group had suddenly accused Hall of homophobia. Fierstein dressed in lowing caftan Quot ill let you try it on later a he told his amused Host was clearly meant to defuse the situation. A Clay people should be allowed to be As dumb and Boring As you heterosexuals a Fierstein observed in his distinctive Gravelly voice adding to Hall Quot you should hear me in the pause. Quot maybe you As is not uncommon. Hall ended up hugging his guest. Much of Hall s routine is subtly deceptive. Slipping in and out of Brief characterizations male and female he owes More than a passing nod to flip Wilson. Playing the genial Host with a smile a Yard wide. Hall keeps a firm rein on the proceedings. His is probably the most racially integrated of talk shows. Its Black guests Span a professional Range from de Bradley of 60 minutes to George Vallace a comic Quot if the average life of a Black Man is 65, Why am i paying social Security a. Hall can even get pointedly political Quot China As most favored nation it be better if president Bush made his most favored nation the United states a when this talk show Host is on an emotional Roll there a no stopping him. That a what his Young audiences sense and that a what keeps him in Strong Contention for next years 7. 1991 sunday a Page 7
