Why Haven't We Seen Another Arsenio Hall type Show?

[WIA20XX]

Why hasn't there been a very popular and successful Black Late Night Show since Arsenio.

They tried. They even brought Arsenio back, and that fizzled out.

I've seen Wayne Brady, Trevor Noah, Eric Andre, Desus, etc... - they've all failed to a large extent.

Meanwhile Johnie Carson types have proliferated - Jay Leno, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, god awful Jimmy Fallon.

Bonus question, how come BET never had an Arsenio level figure, even after all them years of Comic View and access to every popular Black person in the industry?

 

[tremonthustler1]

because the medium is dying regardless.


BET DID have one for a time and it was Mo'Nique.

 

[Plankton]

Vibe hosted by Chris Spencer/Sinbad and Keenen Ivory Wayans were Black late night shows right after Arsenio left in the 90's. Magic Johnson also had a late night show in the 90's called the Magic Hour. The most cringiest episode was when Howard Stern was a guest.

 

[Kornball The Conqueror]

podcast>

 

[Wargames]

I hate to say it but Joe Rogan is basically the modern iteration of a late night show.

I think we could see a transition of some of the late night model to better black ran podcast, but the format isnt built to monetize anything but clickbait. Rogan spent years building not just his reputation but content so he doesn’t need to clickbait he’s interviewed enough people.

Any new show would have that same issue….. also being limited to black media on the internet is different than a tv show because algorithms are fukked up. They‘ll limit who they promote the show to only people who are already interested in black media. For every breakthrough social media star like the guy who reviews tech or the guy who reviews food in their car…. There are hundred of other black creators who the algorithm does not promote to mainstream audiences.

Arsenio being on TV back in the day got him access to mainstream audiences and made him a major show.

 

[BlackAchilles]

Its 2025 nobody checkin for traditional talk shows

All that shyts migrated to podcasts/streamers

 

[Po pimp]

Why hasn't there been a very popular and successful Black Late Night Show since Arsenio.

They tried. They even brought Arsenio back, and that fizzled out.

I've seen Wayne Brady, Trevor Noah, Eric Andre, Desus, etc... - they've all failed to a large extent.

Meanwhile Johnie Carson types have proliferated - Jay Leno, Conan, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, Bill Maher, god awful Jimmy Fallon.

Bonus question, how come BET never had an Arsenio level figure, even after all them years of Comic View and access to every popular Black person in the industry?

I don’t know how old you are, but there were WAY better successors to Arsenio than these guys. We had The Keenan Ivory Wayans Show and Vibe (hosted first by Chris Spencer, then later Sinbad). I remember Keenan even had Michael Jordan as his very first guest. Not sure why THOSE shows failed (as they were very good), but I know I watched them over Letterman and Leno.

 

[Plankton]

Its 2025 nobody checkin for traditional talk shows

All that shyts migrated to podcasts/streamers

Not late night but Wendy Williams did have the Black talk show game on smash all in the late 2000's/2010's/early 2020's and could have kept going had she not went completely bonkers.

 

[SNG]

Club Shay Shay is the closest thing to it tbh.

 

[Wargames]

Club Shay Shay is the closest thing to it tbh.

Yep, and Shannon might have fukked up the bag over to some white p*ssy. I could have definitely seen him hosting a late night show.

 

[SNG]

Yep, and Shannon might have fukked us the bag over to some white p*ssy.

Facts but I think since it’s still his platform and he continues to interview people of the culture he will be fine. He definitely fukked the bag up in getting that network money though.

 

[Address_Unknown]

I've seen Wayne Brady, Trevor Noah, Eric Andre, Desus, etc... - they've all failed to a large extent.

​

'cause all them cats uncharismatic and lame to some degree.
Also, if I'm not mistaken, all the white hosts you talkin' about inherited legacy slots to some extent so in a sense they never had the sword of Damocles hanging over them in terms of having their shyt cancelled. They'd just get replaced for some up and comer.
Out of all of them, Conan is the only one I'd honestly watch and respect since he's genuinely funny, has no problem being the butt of the joke and gives his guests enough leeway to be whatever level of comfortable/caged that they want and keep it going.

Also, talkshows nowadays are like wrist watches.
You had to grow up in the era of 'em to appreciate them it seems, 'cause everyone else who didn't, would rather cop a smart watch and be content with that. Wrist watches being talk shows and Podcasts being smart watches, or some shyt, I dunno.​

 

[Wargames]

Facts but I think since it’s still his platform and he continues to interview people of the culture he will be fine.

True, but it’s definitely a situation where he could have had a bigger bag. There could have a been a Sharpe show just like their is the Daily Show.

 

[SNG]

True, but it’s definitely a situation where he could have had a bigger bag. There could have a been a Sharpe show just like their is the Daily Show.

Honestly podcasts sit downs are much better because they are more raw and unfiltered. Talk shows are boring as fukk and conversations are more controlled by the network. I think if Shannon was smart he should showcase new talent in his show like have a guest and a musician and do like a tiny desk performance.

 

[Wargames]

I think Desus and Mero could have pulled this off too but they left Vice for Showtime and the weekly format didnt fit their off the top of the head humor. Dont even get me started on the fact they split up.