Arliss stars Robert Wuhl, who also produces the show, as Arliss Michaels, the president of a sports agency and who tries to cater to his clients at everything they need as best as he can. It is his client's requests that often provide with the show's punchlines. Sandra Oh plays Rita Wu,an Oriental woman who sometimes is Arliss best friend and counselor, and who likes to dress with the best fashions available. Wu is notable for her liking of Hispanic males. Jim Turner plays Kirby Carlisle, a man in his middle years whose excesses cause him much suffering. Kirby enjoys women, alcohol and gambling. Afraid of needles, he later on discovers that he is, in fact, a diabetic that requires insulin shots. Michael Boatman plays Stanley Babson, an African-American financial advisor who is a conservative man, and who sometimes threatens Arliss office of closing by committing a few mistakes here and there on the office's clients' portfolios.
The show sometimes employs real athletes to appear on it, and other times, actors are hired. Among the famous athletes who have been in the show are Oscar De La Hoya, Dan Marino and Emmitt Smith.