Arsenio: A Memoir -- Arsenio Hall, Hardcover

INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

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.

Author: Arsenio Hall
Publisher: Atria/Black Privilege Publishing
Published: 03/31/2026
Pages: 336
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 1.14lbs
Size: 9.33h x 6.39w x 1.27d
ISBN: 9781982191368

Review Citation(s):
Booklist 04/01/2026
Publishers Weekly 02/09/2026
Kirkus Reviews 02/15/2026
Library Journal 01/23/2026 pg. 1

About the Author
Arsenio Hall is a comedian, talk show host, producer, writer, and actor. He was the nation's most renowned Black late-night talk show host with The Arsenio Hall Show and has appeared in the beloved films Coming to America and Harlem Nights. Follow him on X @ArsenioHall.