Wally George

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Wally George

Birth name	George Walter Pearch
Born	1931-12-04
Died	2003-10-07
Notable roles	Host of Hot Seat

George Walter Pearch, known as Wally George (4 December 1931 – 7 October 2003) was an American conservative radio and television commentator. He was known as the self-proclaimed "Father of Combat TV". George became famous as the host of the television talk show Hot Seat, where he was famous for his combatative interview style and shocking antics. For example, he often brought strippers onto his show to denounce them for being "sluts"; when the strippers would (almost inevitably) begin to strip, George, with obviously feigned outrage, would wait until the very last moment to have them escorted out by security while his fans chanted: "Sick! Sick! Sick!" George also advertised "gentlemen's clubs" on his show and, in his later years, made many staged appearances at them around Southern California.

Born in Oakland, California, George's father was a shipping company owner, and his mother had been a vaudeville performer. His trademark appearance included gray slacks, navy blue blazer, white dress shirt, and an American Flag tie. Many of his critics insisted his hair was actually a wig; he had a particularly vicious, ongoing feud with Howard Stern, who famously called George a "wig wearing hump". George was a longtime Garden Grove, California resident, often seen around town running errands.

Following years of declining health, George died from pneumonia at Fountain Valley Hospital on 2003-10-07. His memorial service was held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove, California with the evangelist Robert H. Schuller presiding over the service, which had over 100 mourners. He was laid to rest at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills, California.

For over fifteen years prior to his death, he had been estranged from his actress daughter Rebecca De Mornay. He also had another daughter, Holly, with whom he was very close, and Debra, who resided on Guam.

[edit] Trivia

He was a staunch supporter of Ronald Reagan and always touted the Reagan Revolution, even after Reagan left the White House.
He appeared in a few motion picture films, mostly as himself, including Repossesed, Grunt! The Wrestling Movie, Club Fed, and A Nightmare on Elm Street 5: The Dream Child.
He released a four track 12" (30 cm) EP entitled Wal-ly! Wal-ly! on Rhino Records in 1984.
He was the subject of a The E! True Hollywood Story documentary in 2000.
For many years, a framed portrait of John Wayne graced the Hot Seat set.
In 2006, The Daily Show (under Jon Stewart) began a segment called "The Seat of Heat", possibly meant as a referential parody of George's Hot Seat.
George was a contributor to a TV Roller Derby program known as Rollergames in 1990, on the show, George provided halftime 'studio analysis'.