Woof Woof Woof! Arsenio Hall Takes Stage at Talking Stick
Who is Arsenio Hall?
That’s the Jeopardy answer for “He’s the only entertainer who has both worked for President Trump and hosted former President Clinton on his talk show?”
Hall won Trump’s reality TV show “Celebrity Apprentice” in 2012 and Clinton played saxophone on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in the 1990s.
Now Hall is touring and offering his takes on today’s pop culture and current affairs. Hall will take to the Showroom stage at Talking Stick Resort this Friday, Feb. 17.
Hall has worn a variety of hats in show business, from his role alongside Eddie Murphy in “Coming to America” to serving as a longtime host of the MTV Music Awards.
Frontdoors corresponded with Hall about some of his charity work and his ties to the Valley. A condensed version of the exchange follows:
FRONTDOORS: I know that you helped fight prejudice against HIV/AIDS (filming a PSA about the disease after Magic Johnson contracted it) and you also represented the Magic Johnson Foundation on “Celebrity Apprentice.” Are you still helping Magic’s foundation?
ARSENIO: I have associated myself with The Magic Johnson Foundation since its inception, and I will be on board helping my friend until there is no longer a need for research and awareness.
FRONTDOORS: How much in total have you raised for it and how much did “Celebrity Apprentice” appearance help you help raise awareness for that cause?
ARSENIO: It’s hard for me to measure how much Celebrity Apprentice helped the MJ Foundation. Trump will tell you it always got “big league” ratings when he was the host…and I have to think there is nothing better for a good cause than major primetime NBC TV exposure! Helping my friend’s foundation was the best and only reason to spend four grueling weeks in a hot intense boardroom with Donald Trump, Lou Ferrigno and a real housewife of New Jersey! It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in show business.
Over the years, through the MJF comedy benefits, banquets, benefits and shows like NBC’s “Apprentice,” it would be impossible to estimate a specific figure of how much I’ve personally helped to raise.
Television is a beast. It’s still the greatest way to reach the most people! Winning did a great job helping raise awareness for the cause, because at that time Magic had specific goals and plans on creating free HIV mobile testing units in the inner-city neighborhoods … and other innovative attempts to send poor at risk youth to college opportunities they otherwise might not get to attend. MJF has expanded its reach beyond HIV and AIDS.
FRONTDOORS: Are there other causes that you give time, resources or donations to, whether large or small
ARSENIO: Recently I’ve also tried to involve myself more with The George Lopez Foundation and The HollyRod Foundation — both as a result of my personal relationships with my little brother from another mother, George Lopez … and Holly Robinson/Rodney Peete. But for the most part I have a personal connection to the Magic Johnson Foundation. Magic Johnson is healthier than ever! But the year I agreed to do “Apprentice” … I lost my first cousin Sharon in Cleveland, to AIDS!
FRONTDOORS: Do you any connections to Phoenix?
ARSENIO: My kid’s mom was raised in Phoenix. So I have family there!
For tickets to see Arsenio Hall at Talking Stick Resort this Friday, call (480) 850-7734 or visit www.Ticketmaster.com.
