Wally George (born George Walter Pearch; December 4, 1931 – October 5, 2003) was an American conservative radio and television commentator. Calling himself the "Father of Combat TV," he was a fixture on Southern California television for three decades (1950s–1980s) as the host of Hot Seat, which began as a local show on KDOC Channel 56, a local Southern California based UHF TV station in Anaheim, Orange County in 1983. His other nicknames were "Mr. Conservative" and "Mr. America" in the 1960s–1990s and he represented the strong conservative fan base of Orange County and the Coachella Valley of California where he was also on their local TV stations. Early life George was born George Walter Pearch in Oakland, California. His father, Walter George Pearch, worked in the marine shipping industry. His mother, Eugenia Clinchard, had been a vaudeville performer and child movie actress, in Essanay Studios westerns starring Broncho Billy Anderson. George grew up in San Mateo and was in high school when his parents divorced, after which his mother moved to the Hollywood Hills in Los Angeles. He was educated at the Hollywood Professional School. Career By age 14, George was working as a disc-jockey at AM radio station KIEV in Glendale, California, followed by work at other local stations. In 1965, he was credited with writing an episode of the long-running television series Bonanza. In 1969, he launched The Wally George Show on FM radio station KTYM in Inglewood, California. Three years later, he became producer and co-host of The Sam Yorty Show on Los Angeles television station KCOP with his political mentor Sam Yorty, the former mayor of Los Angeles. By 1979, George had his own talk show at KCOP, and when it moved to fledgling UHF station KDOC in Anaheim, he launched Hot Seat in 1983. George was known for his combative, almost farcical interview style and shocking antics on Hot Seat. He played to an eager studio audience and often ejected guests from the set, using uniformed private security guards. Hanging behind him were pictures of John Wayne and the U.S. Space Shuttle, both with strong links to Orange County, California, where the episodes were taped. He staunchly supported then-president Ronald Reagan, and his show was sponsored mostly by local Orange County businesses. George's gray slacks, navy blue blazer, white dress shirt and U.S. flag tie along with his platinum blond hair—combed straight down at