Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, April 20, 1994 TAG: 9404200086
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: EXTRA-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: LYNN ELBER ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: LOS ANGELES LENGTH: Medium
Arsenio Hall, who saw the younger, hipper audience he brought to late-night television drained off by new rivals David Letterman and Jay Leno, is ending his syndicated talk show after more than five years.
``Everything must change and it's time,'' Hall said in a statement issued Monday by Paramount Television Group, which co-produces ``The Arsenio Hall Show'' with him.
The show, which made its debut on Jan. 3, 1989, will air its last original program on May 27. Reruns of the best shows will air through September.
Hall, the first successful black late-night host, didn't mention his decision to the audience that packed his studio for Monday's show. But his performance was uncharacteristically flat and his monologue stopped at a few weak jokes about the Singapore caning controversy.
Although Hall's statement referred to a new contract and seventh-year offer from Paramount, his decision to quit may have kept Paramount from canceling the show. His contract was to expire in December.
Hall's ratings had dwindled in the past year and his show drew TV audiences that were less than half the size of either Leno's ``Tonight Show'' on NBC or Letterman's ``Late Show'' on CBS.
In January, ``Arsenio Hall'' got an average rating of 2.2, down from a 2.9 in January 1993. Leno and Letterman are each averaging 4.5 or better. (One ratings point equals 942,000 homes).
As his show's luster dimmed, Hollywood's top-ranked stars no longer made ``Arsenio Hall'' their first choice on the talk-show circuit.
Leno had kind words for his competitor Monday, although they once clashed in a fierce guest-booking war.
``Arsenio Hall is a very talented performer and I'm sure he'll be successful in whatever he chooses to do in the future,'' Leno said in a statement.
Hall said in the statement that he will concentrate on developing and producing series, specials and films for Paramount. Last year, his projects included ``Bopha!'' a film set in South Africa, and a Magic Johnson TV special.
Kerry McCluggage, Paramount Television Group chairman, lauded Hall as a producer and performer ``unafraid to take risks,'' and said he looked forward to a long working relationship.
On ``Arsenio Hall,'' the trademark arm-pumping ``whoof'' of audience approval symbolized the party atmosphere that Hall prided himself on bringing to late-night TV.
The dapper Hall was named the sexiest of the late-night hosts in a Redbook magazine survey last year.
His musical guests tended to be the newest, most cutting-edge, with one major exception: Presidential candidate Bill Clinton donned shades and blew saxophone riffs during a 1992 appearance on the show in an effort to enhance his image with the twentysomething crowd.
Hall also tackled serious topics on occasion. During the 1992 Los Angeles riots, he brought Mayor Tom Bradley on to help calm the city.
When basketball star Johnson announced that he had contracted the AIDS virus, the athlete immediately went on Hall's show to discuss his illness with his close friend.
However, an appearance by Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan during the last ratings sweep drew criticism. Hall let Farrakhan speak unchallenged.
It was inevitable that Hall's slice of the viewership pie would dwindle, said Phil Goodman, president of Western Media Corp. of San Diego, a consulting firm that analyzes demographic trends.
``When Arsenio came on the scene and his popularity was rising a few years ago, consider what he was up against,'' Goodman said. Letterman was tucked away at 12:30 a.m. on NBC and Johnny Carson was still master of ``Tonight.''
``Carson was super, super popular - but he carried much of the 50-plus crowd,'' Goodman said. For a time, Hall enjoyed a clear field with the baby boomer and younger audiences.
``Then Leno comes on the scene, then Letterman,'' the analyst said. ``No matter how you shake the dice, it's a numbers game.''
Hall was the replacement host on Fox's ``The Late Show'' after Joan Rivers left that talk show in the summer of 1987. Even though he proved an instant hit, Hall's 13-week contract was not renewed.
Paramount picked up the ball and launched ``The Arsenio Hall Show'' against CBS' ``The Pat Sajak Show,'' and Hall quickly trounced the ``Wheel of Fortune'' emcee.
by CNB