Hot Seat (talk show)
| Hot Seat | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | ''The Wally George Show'' |
| Genre | Talk show |
| Created by | Michael Volpe |
| Directed by | Jeff Bingham Brian Lockwood |
| Presented by | Wally George |
| Theme music composer | John Coleman (1984–1992 theme) |
| Opening theme | "World in Action" (1984–1992 theme) |
| Country of origin | United States |
| Original language(s) | English |
| Production | |
| Executive producer(s) | Wally George |
| Location(s) | KDOC-TV Studios Anaheim, California |
| Running time | 50 minutes (without commercials) |
| Production company(s) | Wally George Productions |
| Distributor | Channel America |
| Release | |
| Original network | KDOC-TV |
| Picture format | 1.33 : 1 (Full screen) |
| Audio format | Monoaural |
| Original release | July 16, 1983 – June 2003 |
Hot Seat is a Saturday late night syndicated, politically oriented, though often satirical and comedic television talk-show that began in the early 1980s, hosted by conservative commentator Wally George. It was shot in the studios of KDOC, a UHF television station licensed to (and, at the time, having their studios in) Anaheim, California. The first edition of the series aired on Saturday July 16, 1983.
George hosted the show sitting behind a desk and wearing a red, white, and blue necktie, and his completely white hair in a curious comb over. Behind him was a photo of a space shuttle launching with the caption that read, "USA Is #1."
Each episode was videotaped before a live audience on Wednesday night, as stated on the show by Wally himself. The tape was then reviewed by the production staff and network, before it could be edited and finalized for air three days later on Saturday night.
Originally only seen locally, the show gained national attention on the November 5, 1983 episode, when a self-proclaimed pacifist named Blase Bonpane, who was discussing his opposition of the U.S. invasion of Grenada, suddenly erupted in anger over George's taunts, flipped over the host's desk and stormed off the show. A clip of the altercation aired on national news programs, and attracted attention from program directors at TV stations nationwide, leading to syndication.
George engaged guests whom he called "ludicrous liberal lunatics" and "fascist fanatics," including 1960s drug guru Dr. Timothy Leary and Tom Metzger, a white supremacist leader who was a particular target of George's ire. In many ways, Hot Seat inspired and was the precursor of other similar shows hosted by Morton Downey, Jr., Jerry Springer and Stephen Colbert. Downey actually appeared on Hot Seat on one occasion; he and George traded barbs numerous times over items ranging from who was a true conservative to the nature of the audience before Downey was tackled by "police".
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