Famed talk show host Wally George has passed away in the hospital. He had just completed the 20th year of his show, "Hot Seat", which ran on KDOC in Los Angeles.
Picture taken from the LA Times.
Most of you are probably not familiar with George's show, but his style of "combat TV" (as he called it) really set the stage for confrontational talk shows of the present day.
At the height of its popularity in 1984, "Hot Seat" was a must-see for college students, who waited six months for tickets and hours for a choice spot among the 80 audience seats, where they waved U.S. flags and chanted, "Wah-lee!" on cue. George engaged guests whom he called "liberal lunatics" and "fascist fanatics," including 1960s drug guru Timothy Leary and Tom Metzger, a white supremacist leader.It's a great, hilarious, entertaining show, and reruns are still showing on channel 56 (KDOC) in Los Angeles at 12:30am, Tuesday through Saturday (that is, Monday through Friday nights).George called his delivery "combat TV," a phrase he used in an autobiography published in 1999. Johnny Carson, referring to the show's choreographed hysteria, once called George the William F. Buckley of the cockfighting set.
"Hot Seat" hit its stride in late 1983 when avowed pacifist Blasé Bonpane, there to oppose the U.S. invasion of Grenada, erupted in anger over George's taunts, flipping over the host's desk before storming off the show. A clip of the altercation aired on national news programs.
Good comments about Wally George. I am sad to hear he died. He lived very close to where I grew up in Orange County. In college, the Young Republican group, which I belonged to, would head to the Sam Yorty Show to whoop it up, clap, boo/hiss. That show was great entertainment-esp. in-person. Once, I even had the chance to be a hostess on the show, ushering-in Darryl Gates, and Tiny Tim (of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" fame). I wish I could have written Wally George before he died to share how he made a difference. He was a good, humble, and colorful man who shared his opinions openly, causing fireworkds to fly. Somewhere in my collection of old LP's is a autographed record that Wally George gave me of his political diatribes.
Susan
At one time I was timid when it came to speaking my heart, thats something I have no trouble at all with today and I know Wally had alot to do with that.
ps One advantage to being a Wally George fan is you lern how to debate, I miss him alot.
When I lived in LA I used to watch his show late nights when I couldn't sleep. Watching this man attempt to make valid arguments always made me laugh. The fact that he tried so hard so make himself look intelligent in front of his audience, and prove his guests to be fools only removed all doubt about who the true fool was. Too bad I left the city of angels before he died, I would have been a much happier man leaving a happier city.
William
W: Thanks for going out of your way to disparage a dead guy.
i've been in the service for alomst two years and was wondering what the hell wally george was up to... i used to stay up watching his ridiculous but oddly entertaining show when i got bored, drunk or stoned (or all).. can't do THAT anymore..
while i was on the comp. today, i just happened to think of wally george with a big grin on my face, and i was just wondering what that loudmouth was doing nowadays.. when i realized he had died not too long ago.. i thought he was a horse's ass, and he was! but behind all the ignorant comments and desperately dumb points of view was a surprisingly humble, good-natured man who really did love america and his fans.. i DID however really agree with him one issue and that was his abhorrence of animal cruelty.. in real life he was a champion of animal rights, which i respect.. i'm sad that he died, especially leaving behind a young teenage daughter.. my heart goes out to her, and i never thought i would say it, but i will miss that man.
I heard about his death a few months ago. I remember Hot Seat aired for a short time on one of our syndicated stations in New Mexico (You heard me, New Mexico).
I remember thinking it was one crazy show. People yelling, 'Wally! Wally!' and the audience going crazy whenever he told someone off. Even though my parents were staunch republicans, they thought Wally was way out of control sometimes.
I remember seeing him pop up years lated on a national show called Rollergames, which was modernized roller derby (those only with good memories will remember it). He would show up on the halftime show boasting about this or that. His commentaries (obviously made up like much of the show was) on Rollergames were also amusing.
The last time I saw him was when they did an E! True Hollywood Story on him. It was interesting. I only hope he is not up in Heaven tell God He's 'outta here' though lol.
Matt 22 is a stoned loser
Michael Williams, you can stop the act. Here's what Michael really thinks about Wally (what a Christian, huh?):
Date: Mon, 31 May 2004
From: "Michael Williams" Subject: Re: [unclassified]
WG is dead, so it makes sense that they'd stop running his show.
I really don't care if his show is suspended or not. There are lots of shows I like that aren't shown any more.
Michael
Wow, I had no idea Wally George died. My dad used to watch his show all the time back in the late 80s. The last time I remember seeing his show was sometime in high school. What a guy he was. One of his favorite lines was "bimbo." I remember he used to host the show "Roller Derby" or whatever it was called. It was kind of strange how he criticized strippers and most women in general, and then during commercial breaks he'd advertise for strip clubs among other things. Haha. I wish they'd show reruns. I'd probably better enjoy his shows now that I'm no longer a little kid. A friend's co-worker once wrote to Wally years ago telling him off and calling him names, and then ending his letter with a request for an autograph. Sure enough, Wally sent him an autographed picture.
i didnt keven know he died