Though he rose to fame in at the end of the 1980s as Eddie Murphy’s sidekick in Coming to America, Arsenio Hall is known for his plethora of activities on and off the screen. His own Arsenio Hall Show, which aired originally from 1989 through 1994 was a cultural sensation that brought Bill Clinton’s saxophone playing to the masses. Since then, Hall kept a relatively low profile in order to focus on his family, until the 2013 rebirth of his iconic TV show. His 2.0 version was met with varying degrees of success, and was cancelled a year later. But what Hall hasn’t lost is his knack for humor. People forget that he was the first African American late night host, and that alone— along with his sharp humor—makes him one of the most important comedians in recent memory.
Sun., April 19, 7 p.m., 2015
Daniel Kohn is a writer based in Southern California. With bylines in an assortment of outlets, Kohn primarily specializes in music with other interests ranging from sports to food. As a transplant, Kohn loves the beautiful weather and is glad he no longer has to deal with brutal winters. If you see him, say hi and of course, he’s always willing to down a beer or two…if you’re paying.