Arsenio Hall returns to TV in new ABC series

Jet, March 3, 1997

Arsenio Hall, the man who changed the landscape of latenight television for five years, is back. But this time it's prime time network television he's taking on instead of late night talk as the star of the ABC sitcom that bears his name.

In "Arsenio," Hall is cast as Michael Atwood, the host of an all-sports cable television program in Atlanta. Besides having a few problems on his job, Michael is adjusting to life as a newlywed.

Vivica A. Fox, who starred in the hit films Independence Day and Set It Off, is cast as his wife, Vivian Deveaux Atwood. Vivian is a brilliant and dedicated attorney at a major law firm in the Georgia capital.

Besides having to adjust to a hectic work schedule and marriage, Michael has to deal with the presence of Vivian's younger brother, Matthew (Alimi Ballard), a recent Harvard University graduate who has decided to delay his entry into the work force until just the right job comes his way, no matter how long it takes. Michael doesn't care much for that kind of attitude. He drops numerous not-so-subtle hints to Matthew that he needs to find a job--and his own place. The relationship between the two men goes back and forth from antagonism to friendship.

The newlyweds are still trying to figure each other out and deal with the ups and downs of marriage. In a recent episode, Vivian is up for a big promotion at the law firm. She and Michael are both convinced it is a foregone conclusion that she'll get it. However, when it goes to someone else, she tells her husband she just wants to be alone. Adhering to her wishes, he takes off to a sports bar. But, that makes her even more depressed. She doesn't actually expect him to leave. Eventually, they work through their communications snafus amicably.

Another adjustment Michael has to make is the fact that the love of his life is a pretty wild sleeper. Vivian moves all over the bed in her sleep. One night, she even pushes him on the floor. Michael takes a picture to show his wife how bad she really is. But, being a smart attorney, she quickly and humorously turns the tables on him.

The two have a pretty nice support system beyond each other. When Michael needs to unload his marital anxieties, he talks to his co-anchor and good friend Al O'Brien (Kevin Dunn). Al has a little trouble with his friend suddenly being married because he has buddy needs as well. For Vivian, there is her very good college chum Laura Lauman (Shawnee Smith), a free spirit of a woman who tries to get the very conservative Vivian to just let go and become a wild woman.

Besides acting in the series, Hall is also executive producer. It's not his first venture into i producing. Several years ago, he served in the same capacity for the film Bopha, a movie about the turmoil in South Africa that featured Danny Glover and Alfre Woodard.

Before getting his own show in 1989, the Cleveland native appeared in "Thicke of the Night" and "Solid Gold." He co-starred with buddy Eddie Murphy in the hit film Coming to America.

Vivica Fox, a native of Indianapolis, IN, starred with Patti LaBelle in the NBC sitcom "Out All Night." She has performed on such series as "Living Single," "China Beach," "Beverly Hills 90210" and "The Fresh Prince of gel-Air." Soon, fans will see her in the upcoming films Batman and Robin and Booty Call with Jamie Foxx and Tommy Davidson.

Hall was rarely seen in Hollywood after his show was canceled. His legion of loyal fans hoped his departure would be a short one. And while it's taken longer than many would like, he is definitely back.