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Smart & Classy

Arsenio Hall

Netflix · 2019 · 63 min

A late-night veteran returns to his club-comedy roots.

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Arsenio Hall spends his first stand-up special trying to reconcile his nineties late-night legacy with a modern comedy landscape. Filmed at the San Jose Improv in April 2019, the set feels more like a casual weekend club gig than a grand career statement. Hall leans on his unique place in pop-culture history, joking about his role in “Coming to America” and his bizarre distinction as the only Black winner of Donald Trump’s “Celebrity Apprentice”.

The hour is anchored by an attempt to parse his feelings on his former mentor, Bill Cosby. Hall jokes about separating “Dr. Huxtable from Dr. Fuxtable” and discusses the pain of watching childhood heroes fall, grouping Cosby with O.J. Simpson and Tiger Woods. While critics noted that some of his jokes about Cosby’s accusers felt cheap, and his gripes about modern sensitivity felt recycled, Hall remains a comfortable, charismatic stage presence. Additional bits cover the trials of physical aging, dry skin, and the changing landscape of hip-hop.

The set list

5 bits

  1. Being mistaken for other famous Black celebrities

    Frames mistaken identity as God checking his Hollywood ego, expressing acceptance of Wesley Snipes comparisons but distress over being mistaken for Dennis Rodman, which segues into jokes about Kim Jong-Un.

  2. Separating the art from the artist with Bill Cosby

    Discusses having to separate 'Dr. Huxtable from Dr. Fuxtable' while acknowledging how painful it is for the Black community when rare heroes fall from grace, joking about Beverly Johnson and Andrea Constand.

  3. Modern comedy climate and Twitter outrage

    Comments that it is a scary time to do stand-up because any word could end a career, but notes that being old and rich frees him from worrying about blowback.

  4. Roseanne Barr blaming her racist tweet on Ambien

    Focuses on the absurdity of blaming a sleeping pill for racism, hoping Ambien does not actually turn people racist.

  5. Donald Trump and Breitbart

    Riffs on his status as the only Black winner of Celebrity Apprentice, connecting Trump quotes to Breitbart and hip-hop culture.

How it plays

Tone
Lighthearted, nostalgic, harmless, and conversational.
On stage
Joyful, self-deprecating, and relaxed veteran comic who exudes infectious charm, smiling through jokes about aging and avoiding vitriol.
Pace
Brisk and loose pacing, bouncing rapidly from topic to topic without lingering, walking the stage dressed in casual youth-oriented style.
About
Getting older and physical decline, Mistaken celebrity identity, Fall of disgraced Black heroes and icons, Social media and cancel culture, Donald Trump and Celebrity Apprentice

What the critics said

Received mild to moderately positive reviews; critics appreciated Hall's easygoing charm, warmth, and reliable jokes as a welcome distraction, while noting the material was largely safe, lightweight, and rooted in dated pop culture references.

In the room: Receptive and enthusiastic, featuring vocal members of his classic 'Dawg Pound' fist-pumping and woofing, though momentarily divided by references to Bill Cosby.

Summed up from reviews, articles and listings. Sources: uk.newonnetflix.info, sg.flixboss.com, wherever-i-look.com, decider.com, collider.com, rottentomatoes.com, upi.com, applevalleynewsnow.com, comedydynamics.com.

Backstory

Released 30 years after the debut of The Arsenio Hall Show, filmed while preparing for the sequel Coming 2 America and addressing the anxious, hyper-sensitive comedy climate of 2019.

Details

Released
Runtime
63 min
Where
Netflix
Director
Brian Volk-Weiss
Topics

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