uesday, April 19, 1994
The Battalion
Page 5
rsenio gives it up
Talk show host falls victim to late-night ratings war
he Associated Press
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LOS ANGELES — Arsenic Hall
s quirting his fading television
[talk show, which fell victim in rat-
ngs and pres-
e to late-
ight competi-
David Let-
erman and Jay
eno, sources
aid Monda) - .
Hall has
[sent a letter to
Kerry McClug-
gage, chairman
of Paramount’s
television HALL
group, saying
he wants to end “The Arsenic Hall
Show,” according to a Paramount
executive who spoke only on con
dition of anonymity.
No date for the final show has
been determined, the source
added. The show debuted Jan. 3,
1989.
Another source close to the na
tionally syndicated show who also
requested anonymity said that Hall
planned tell his staff of his deci
sion to quit after the taping of
Monday night’s show.
Telephone calls seeking com
ment from Paramount, the show’s
producer, and from Hall were not
immediately returned.
Hall’s six-year contract was due
to expire this December and there
had not been any active negotia
tions with Paramount on renewing
the deal, the Paramount executive
said.
Paramount was considering
pulling the talk show after the May
television “sweeps,” the Para
mount executive said.
Hall was clearly a victim of the
late-night wars: his national rat
ings took a direct hit after Letter-
man’s “Late Show” debuted on
CBS last August.
Hall’s show no longer seemed
hip in comparison to the colorful
antics of Letterman and Leno on
“The Tonight Show.”
And Hollywood’s top-ranked
stars were no longer making “Ar
senic Hall” their first choice on
the talk-show circuit.
In January 1 993, “Arsenio
Hall” posted an average 2.9 rating,
according to Nielsen Media Re
search. A year later, that had
dipped 24 percent to 2.2 (with
each ratings point representing
942,000 homes).
During that period, the show
was dropped by about 20 of the
1 84 stations carrying it. In some
markets, such as Los Angeles, it
was pushed back to a later time
slot because of its ratings.
Hall was the replacement host
on Fox’s “The Late Show” after co
median Joan Rivers left that talk
show in the summer of 1 987.
Even though he proved an instant
hit, Hall’s 13-week contract was
not renewed.
Paramount picked up the ball
and launched “The Arsenio Hall
Show” against CBS’ “The Pat Sajak
Show,” and Hall quickly trounced
the “Wheel of Fortune” emcee.
Hall showcased a variety of
young musicians, including up-
and-coming rap and rhythm and
blues bands. When close friend
Magic Johnson announced that he
had contracted the AIDS virus,
Johnson immediately went on
Hall’s show to discuss his illness.
As a presidential candidate, Bill
Clinton played his saxophone on
the show. Hall was criticized re
cently for inviting Nation of Islam
leader Louis Farrakhan.
Hall has appeared in the films
“Coming to America” and
“Harlem Nights.”
Jurors question King’s legal fees
The Associated Press
LOS ANGELES — Jurors considering whether to
award Rodney King damages for his 1991 police
beating asked the judge Monday if they could
consider attorneys’ fees.
US. District Judge John Davies said no.
Attorneys said the jurors were obviously
concerned about how much of their award would be
given to King and how much would go to his
lawyers.
Details of King’s contingency arrangement with
his attorneys is private, but they will be paid a share
of any award he receives.
King’s lawyers have asked for $ 1 5 million in actual
damages and the city has suggested $800,000 would
be appropriate.
The jurors’ note came at midmorning on their
third full day of deliberations.
“I would assume they’re getting pretty close to
coming out with a figure,” said Deputy City Attorney
Bon Vincent.
“They probably want to give Rodney King a net
figure,” said defense attorney Ira Salzman.
Said King’s attorney, John Burris: “They’re moving
along in the right direction. . . . They want to make
sure King gets a certain amount.”
King's lawsuit is in its first phase, determining
how much he should be awarded in compensatory
damages.
The city is the sole defendant in the first phase.
The city cannot be held liable for punitive damages.
The second phase of the trial will determine
punitive damages to be paid by 14 individual
defendants including four officers who were charged
in King’s March 3, 1991, beating and former Police
Chief Daryl Gates. Nine other officers who were at
the scene are also defendants.
The judge told lawyers Monday to begin gearing
up for the second phase and scheduled a conference
Tuesday to discuss time estimates and the number of
witnesses who will be allowed to testify.
“Time is going to be very' short,” the judge said.
People in the news
Kathy Ireland stares down
shark, escapes unharmed
NEW YORK (AP) — Kathy Ireland is used to
people staring at her. A shark, on the other hand, is
a different matter.
The swimsuit model say's that she was scuba div
ing at 100 feet in the South Pacific" last spring, un
armed and unnoticed by companions, when a shark
came at her.
In what she called “the greatest physical chal
lenge of my recent life,” she says she held off the
killer by staring him down. Another diver eventual
ly shot and killed the shark.
“It was kind of frightening, but it was also excit
ing,” Ireland says in the May-June issue of Fitness
magazine. “Maybe fm sick, but I had no problem
diving again. I was upset that the shark got shot.”
Roseanne files for divorce
after argument with Tom
LOS ANGELES (AP) — TV star Roseanne
Arnold filed for divorce today' from her husband,
Tom, a spokeswoman said.
Papers were filed this morning for Mrs. Arnold,
who is out of town, said publicist Jennifer Allen.
The star of the ABC comedy “Roseanne” took
the action three days after a shouting match report
edly' erupted Friday between the couple on the set of
her series. The argument was reported by the trade
papers Daily Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.
Tom Arnold is executive producer of
“Roseanne” and also stars in his own sitcom,
“Tom,” on CBS. Allen, of PMK public relations,
which also represents Arnold, said they had no com
ment from him.
The couple were married in January 1990.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, the
Arnolds argued over the parameters of a three-way
“marriage” to the couple’s assistant, Kim Silva. The
Arnolds have described the “marriage” as a publicity
prank.
Mrs. Arnold fired Silva and changed the locks to
the door of the couple’s production office, the pub
lications said.
The Hollywood Reporter said Mrs. Arnold also
posted a security guard outside to the couple’s
Brentwood home. Daily Variety said she stationed a
guard outside Arnold’s office.
“Roseanne” taped the season’s final episode on
Thursday and the events did not affect taping of a
pilot of “Cheny Street South of Main,” a new show
produced by' the Arnolds, the publications said.
Arnold’s series, “Tom,” still has four episodes to
tape this year. Mrs. Arnold is the show’s executive
producer, but the Hollywood Reporter said her in
volvement in the show is minimal.
Mrs. Arnold didn’t make a scheduled appearance
on a local television news broadcast today'. Daily
Variety' reported that she planned to travel to Eu
rope on vacation.
Toothache forces Tucker to
cut performance short
PITTSBURG, Kan. (AP) — A hurtin’ tooth
took a bite out of Tanya Tucker’s concert.
Tucker cut short her Sunday night performance
after 30 minutes because of a painful toothache. She
apologized to the crowd, got into her tour bus and
left Pittsburg.
Several people in the crowd booed. Concert offi
cials did not say whether they’d give refunds.
Robert Haynes, Tucker’s tour manager, insisted
that Tucker had tried her best to complete the show.
“She tried hard,” he said. “She doesn’t like to
disappoint fans at all.”
Harding places ad in paper
to thank fans for support
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Tonya Harding still
has some fans, and she’s not letting them go unno
ticed.
The fallen figure skater
took out a $480 ad in The
Sunday Oregonian sports sec
tion with the headline:
“Tonya Says Thank You.”
“I appreciate the thousands
of cards, letters, faxes, gifts
and phone calls I have re
ceived,” the ad reads. “You
will always be very special
people to me, even if we never
met in person.”
Harding pleaded guilty last
month to hindering prosecution in the Nancy Kerri
gan attack and agreed to quit competitive skating.
She was fined $100,000 and put on three years’ pro
bation.
Harding
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