Comedy specials are dropping left and right these days, and Netflix has been leading the charge in that department for the past year or so. And returning to the stage on October 29 is none other thanArsenio Hallfor a new special,Smart & Classy. He’s the guy fromThe Arsenio Hall Show, not the guy fromBlade(see trailer below).
Netflix has been on a roll with these specials, and they’re making an effort to appeal to the broadest audiences they can. Families can laugh together at the clean performances ofJim GaffiganorNate Bargatze, whileDave Chappelle,Ali Wong, andBill Burroffer more, shall we say, mature humor.
Now there’s Arsenio. A trailer premiered today forSmart & Classy. And he appears ready for some taboo material, likeBill Cosby, and the fear—or lack thereof—of leaving your kid at the mall.Smart & Classyarrives on Netflix October 29th;add it to your watch list here.
The 63-year-old Hall has been in and out of the public eye over the course of his career. He kept a low profile after his show went off the air the first time in 1994, only emerging for the occasional interview.The Arsenio Hall Showfound its way back to air in 2013, but it only lasted one season due to low ratings. Since then, we haven’t heard from him much.
A bastion for controversy in his day (remember that obscene fist-pumping and whoot-whooting?), Arsenio has left his mark on the annals of American entertainment. He’ll also forever be linked to two U.S. presidents, oddly enough. He famously featured then PresidentBill Clintonon his program in 1992, where the commander-in-chief, in a pair of black sunglasses, played “Heartbreak Hotel” and “God Bless The Child” on the saxophone. Hall then went on to winThe Celebrity Apprenticein 2012, chosen by future PresidentDonald Trump.
You can check out the trailer below.
Here’s how Netflix sums up the special:
Actor, talk show host, producer, and comedy legend Arsenio Hall makes his Netflix comedy special debut with Smart & Classy. Over the course of his illustrious career entertaining audiences around the world, Arsenio reflects on stand-up in today’s political climate, Coming to America, winning “Celebrity Apprentice”, his favorite drug, and more! Arsenio Hall: Smart & Classy launches globally on Netflix Oct 29.
