Arsenio Performances...

VH1 to Debut 'Arsenio Jams,' Spotlighting The Most Memorable Musical Performances and Interviews from Late-Night TV's 'The Arsenio Hall Show'

Half-Hour Series Debuts With Back-To-Back Episodes Beginning Monday, November 12 at 11:00 p.m. (ET/PT)

NEW YORK, Nov. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- On January 3, 1989, late-night TV was changed forever when "The Arsenio Hall Show" debuted, bringing younger, hipper audiences to the talk-show genre with edgy monologues, a party atmosphere -- and musical guests like Madonna, Prince, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson, TLC, Janet Jackson, Elton John, Vanessa Williams and many more.

Now, VH1 presents "Arsenio Jams," a series of 30-minute episodes spotlighting the most memorable musical performances and interviews from more than 1,200 original episodes of "The Arsenio Hall Show," debuting back-to-back every weeknight beginning Monday, November 12, from 11:00 p.m.- 12:00 a.m. (ET/PT). VH1's premiere episode of "Arsenio Jams" features the legendary 1992 visit by then-presidential candidate Bill Clinton, whose performance on the saxophone proved to be a pivotal campaign move that greatly increased his popularity and influence among young voters. Among the many artists appearing on VH1's "Arsenio Jams" series are Patti Labelle, MC Lyte, Ice-T, Hammer, The Isley Brothers, Babyface, Toni Braxton, Sheena Easton, Melissa Etheridge, Eddie Murphy, Tom Cruise and Ellen Degeneres.

From January 1989 until May 1994, the syndicated late-night talk show "The Arsenio Hall Show" differentiated itself from mainstream talk shows in many ways, targeting audiences that had previously been ignored by other late-night talk shows, including African Americans, Latinos, and the younger generation of television viewers. Showcasing a wide variety of alternative celebrities, comedians, and the hottest rock, rap, and soul performers, Arsenio occasionally dedicated an entire show exclusively to musical performances.

NEWSFILE: 10 NOVEMBER 2001