Why is comedian Paul Scheer recreating classic moments from the original Arsenio Hall Show in a new YouTube series called The ArScheerio Paul Show? There’s really no explanation — beyond the fact that he’s doing it under the umbrella of JASH, an online comedy network devoted to offering all its partners “complete creative autonomy.” You know, just in case they want to do something like this. Weird comedy aficionados Sarah Silverman, Michael Cera, Reggie Watts, Tim Heidecker, and Eric Wareheim must approve — after all, they’re the “luminaries” who founded JASH.
Though Scheer steps into Hall’s shoes for his remake, the video manages to avoid any hints of minstrelsy — at least, until Will Arnett shows up as a mealy-mouthed Bill Clinton. The clip’s a fairly straightforward remake of Clinton’s famous 1992 Arsenio appearance, but Arnett’s interpretation of Slick Willie’s Arkansas drawl does give it a welcome hint of absurdity. Grab your shades and watch below.
