Arsenio Hall joined guest host Colman Domingo on Jimmy Kimmel Live! for a heartfelt and hilarious conversation about turning 70, the legacy of The Arsenio Hall Show, his admiration for Richard Pryor, unforgettable encounters with Michael Jackson and Bill Clinton, and his new memoir, Arsenio.

Domingo welcomed Hall by calling him the “blueprint” for late-night television, praising the legendary host’s influence on generations of entertainers. Hall, never one to miss a joke, immediately had the audience laughing as he poked fun at his outfit, joking that his trendy oversized pants were “death pants” for a 70-year-old.

When Domingo marveled at how youthful he looked, Hall hilariously credited one thing: “Smoking weed.”

The pair reflected on their first meeting during a tribute to Eddie Murphy, where Hall revealed his girlfriend is such a huge Colman Domingo fan that she insisted they see Domingo’s performance as Joe Jackson in theaters. Hall joked he had to remind her not to mention Domingo’s name quite so much.

As someone who redefined late-night television, Hall admitted he enjoys being both the host and the guest, saying his roots as a stand-up comedian make him feel at home on either side of the desk.

Looking back at the evolution of his signature style, Hall recalled how the Black community rallied behind him during the early days of The Arsenio Hall Show. Hairstylists and tailors reached out to help refine his iconic high fade and custom suits.

“The village stepped up and got my fade right,” he laughed.

Hall also shared that before becoming one of television’s most recognizable hosts, he dreamed of being a magician. Growing up in Cleveland, he worked in a magic shop and even made his first television appearance performing magic on PBS’s Soul. He also took a moment to recognize Ellis Haizlip, reminding viewers that the groundbreaking television pioneer paved the way for Black hosts long before late-night television embraced diversity.

Domingo praised Hall for changing the landscape of television by giving hip-hop artists a national platform when few others would. Hall recalled championing artists such as Snoop Dogg, Bow Wow, and even a young Bruno Mars, who appeared on his show as a child performing Elvis Presley.

Hall remembered convincing a reluctant Snoop Dogg to appear on late-night television after Dr. Dre recommended him, despite concerns it might hurt the rapper’s street credibility.

“I begged him to come on,” Hall recalled with a laugh.

When asked what stands out most from his groundbreaking talk show, Hall said one of the biggest surprises came years later when former President Bill Clinton personally called to invite him to a soccer match.

“It made me realize this experience was going to stay with me for the rest of my life,” Hall reflected.

The conversation also turned to Hall’s comedy hero, Richard Pryor. Hall described Pryor as the greatest comedian of all time and shared how the icon invited him to shadow him on the set of Jo Jo Dancer, Your Life Is Calling, giving him invaluable lessons that shaped his own career in film and television.

One of Hall’s favorite memories involved helping arrange a surprise appearance for Pryor at an awards show during the comedian’s later years. Even while battling illness, Pryor’s razor-sharp wit never faded. When an audience member shouted, “We love you, Richard,” Pryor instantly fired back, “What’s up, man?”—earning huge laughs and reminding everyone why he remains a comedy legend.

Hall also opened up about his close friendship with Michael Jackson and one of his mother’s most treasured memories. After Hall introduced his mother, Annie Hall, to the King of Pop, the two spent nearly an hour talking backstage. Decades later, it’s still one of her favorite stories to tell.

Domingo applauded Hall’s memoir for chronicling not only his remarkable career but also the dream that started in the basement of a Cleveland apartment, where a young Arsenio practiced interviewing neighbors long before becoming one of television’s most influential hosts.

Throughout the interview, Hall balanced humor with heartfelt reflection, proving that after decades in entertainment, his storytelling remains just as magnetic as the late-night legacy he helped create.