Arsenio Hall has beef with a Gotti on “The Celebrity Apprentice”

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After competing on “The Celebrity Apprentice” and hearing Donald Trump talk politics, “I’m almost a Republican Lite,” says Arsenio Hall.

Updated: May 9, 2012 10:15AM

Ask Arsenio Hall what he learned on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” and the former talk show host isn’t joking. We think.

“I learned to hate China, because I listened to Mr. Trump a lot about politics. I’m almost a Republican Lite now,” he says with a laugh.

Yes, Arsenio is back on TV this Sunday, trying to avoid those two bad words: “You’re fired.”

The comedian is a fan of the show and wanted to compete, but “I live in L.A., and I’m a single dad. I didn’t think I could leave my home for two months at a time. I just didn’t think it was possible. My son is 12 now.”

But his longtime friend Magic Johnson was marking the 20th anniversary of his foundation, and Hall couldn’t pass up a chance to raise money for the charity.

How did he fare with his “Apprentice” rivals? “I had a problem with [Mafia daughter] Victoria Gotti,” Hall admits. “I’m happy to be alive today.”

More scoop? “Lou Ferrigno cried every hour,” he rats.

Hall says he’s proud of his talk show legacy. “I changed politics a little bit by not booking Kenny G one night and letting Bill Clinton play,” he says. “And now, I’m on a different show trying to be this season’s NeNe [Leakes] or Nay Nay. If you’re from Denver, they say Nay Nay.”

He also has fond memories of his Chicago past.

“I started stand-up in Chicago. I used to stand in talent lines with Bernie Mac back in the day,” Hall says.

“We’d stand in those lines,” he repeats. “Brother was a great guy. A great Chicago story, man.”

Cindy Pearlman,
Big Picture News Inc.