When legendary local journalist Brandy Simms wished Arsenio Hall a happy 70th birthday on Facebook, he also asked a great question… “Who remembers an episode of Hall’s late-night talk show that was filmed right here in Montgomery County?” That curiosity sent us digging into one of the more fun and unusual TV moments in local history.
The episode was taped at a private home in Derwood on August 13th, 1993, turning a quiet Montgomery County neighborhood into a full-blown late-night television set. Guests for the night included DC native musical artist Johnny Gill, actor and comedian Bobcat Goldthwait, and legendary singer Patti LaBelle.
The Montgomery County taping was the result of Hall’s nationwide “Arsenio in the House” contest, which invited viewers to send in videos explaining why the show should be taped at their home. According to 1993 reporting from the South Florida Sun Sentinel, thousands of entries poured in, but the winning pitch came from the Payton family of Montgomery County, proprietors of Peachee Klene carpet and upholstery cleaning service…