Arsenio (TV series)

Arsenio
GenreSitcom
Created byDavid S. Rosenthal
Written by
  • Randall Balsmeyer
  • David S. Rosenthal
Directed by
Starring
Composers
  • Starr Parodi
  • Jeff Eden Fair
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons1
No. of episodes7
Production
Executive producers
Producers
Running time30 minutes
Production companies
Original release
NetworkABC
ReleaseMarch 5 (1997-03-05) –
April 23, 1997 (1997-04-23)

Arsenio is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC.[1] The series starred Arsenio Hall and Vivica A. Fox. It aired from March 5 to April 23, 1997, with a total of 7 episodes produced.

Synopsis

Set in Atlanta, Georgia, Hall starred as Michael Atwood, the host of a sports cable show on ASTV in Atlanta. Michael is also newly married man with his lawyer wife Vivian Deveaux Atwood (Vivica A. Fox). His co-host is Al (Kevin Dunn), who Michael sometimes asks for advice on his home life. Living with Michael and Vicki, is Vicki's younger brother Matthew (Alimi Ballard), a Harvard graduate who is not ready to take on the real world. Shawnee Smith also co-starred as Vicki's free-spirited old college friend Laura who is always encouraging Vicki to let loose.

Cast

  • Arsenio Hall as Michael Atwood, the host of a cable sports television network
  • Vivica A. Fox as Vivian Deveaux-Atwood, a brilliant and dedicated attorney at a major law firm in the Georgia capital and Michael's wife
  • Kevin Dunn as Al O'Brien, Michael's co-anchor and good friend
  • Shawnee Smith as Laura Lauman, Vivian's best friend from college; a free-spirit
  • Alimi Ballard as Matthew Deveaux, Vivian's younger brother

History

Arsenio was one of six shows produced by DreamWorks Television in the lead up to the launch of the more successful DreamWorks Pictures, which started releasing movies in September 1997 with The Peacemaker.[2][3][4] It was a mid-season show for ABC, premiering in March 1997. On April 2, 1997, it was announced that the show was going to be pulled from ABC's schedule later that month.[5] When this announcement was made, DreamWorks Television and ABC were in talks to retool Arsenio for the 1997–98 television season (which was starting in September 1997). However, this never eventuated.[5]

In February 2006, Viacom (now known as Paramount Skydance) purchased the rights to Arsenio and all other television shows and live-action movies DreamWorks produced since their inception.[6][7]

Episodes

No.TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateProd.
code
1"Overtime"Thomas SchlammeDavid S. RosenthalMarch 5, 1997 (1997-03-05)101
2"Secrets and Lies"UnknownUnknownMarch 12, 1997 (1997-03-12)104
3"Lisa's First Script"UnknownUnknownMarch 19, 1997 (1997-03-19)102
4"We Can Still Be Friends"UnknownUnknownMarch 26, 1997 (1997-03-26)106
5"Show Me the Money"John FortenberryLester LewisApril 2, 1997 (1997-04-02)105
6"Throw Momma From the House"Thomas SchlammeBruce RasmussenApril 9, 1997 (1997-04-09)103
7"Mike's Nightmare"UnknownUnknownApril 23, 1997 (1997-04-23)107

References

  1. ^ Arsenio Hall Returns to TV in New ABC Series Jet Mar 3, 1997
  2. ^ Despite a Sluggish Beginning, Dreamworks Is Viewed as a Potential Hollywood Power The New York Times, January 20, 1997, accessed August 7, 2025.
  3. ^ 'Peacemaker': Bombs Away The Washington Post, September 26, 1997, accessed August 7, 2025.
  4. ^ Dream Schemes Variety, September 15, 1997, accessed August 7, 2025.
  5. ^ a b https://variety.com/1997/scene/vpage/abc-to-show-arsenio-hall-1117434915/
  6. ^ https://ir.paramount.com/node/57336/html
  7. ^ Copyright notice in the credits for Arsenio, 1997.