"The New Mr. Las Vegas"
WHITFIELD: A look at our top stories right now. Rutgers University will hold a vigil tonight for a freshman who committed suicide after a video of his sexual encounter with another man was posted online. Tyler Clementi killed himself by jumping from a bridge into the Hudson River. His roommate and another student are charged with invasion of privacy, and police say they taped Clementi's sexual encounter without his knowledge and broadcast it live on the web. China's premiere says his country's huge stimulus plan has created economic growth. Premiere Wen Jiabao appeared on CNN's "FAREED ZAKARIA GPS" earlier today, and Wen also said despite the financial crisis in the U.S., he has not lost faith in the economic management of the world's largest economy. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is urging Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas to keep peace talks going after Palestinian leaders call for an end to the talks. At issue, Israeli settlement building. A settlement construction freeze expired last Sunday. Palestinian leaders say they want it extended or they will leave the talks. Israel has not yet agreed to reinstating the freeze. So if you want a good laugh, actor and comedian George Wallace is your man. He's been part of some of the most popular sitcoms of our time, shows like "Seinfeld," "Red Foxx Show". And for the past seven years, he's had his own show at the Flamingo in Las Vegas, and we're lucky</s>GEORGE WALLACE, COMEDIAN: I live in New York. I live - yes. I live everywhere. I live at United and Delta. That's where I live, at the - at the airports.</s>WHITFIELD: And they love that.</s>WALLACE: I'm at the airport in Atlanta. Have you gone through the new metal detector?</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: They got a new one where you don't have to take your shoe off. You don't have to take your hat -</s>WALLACE: And a lot of people don't like it. They say it's an invasion of privacy. Well, it didn't bother me. I walked through that machine. I found out I had a ruptured spleen, two slip disk and enlarged prostate. And - because it saved me $2,800. I was on my way to the doctor. So -</s>WHITFIELD: So by being in so many airports, being in so many cities, you get a lot of your material just in your travels, don't you? The stuff just kind of falls in your lap.</s>WALLACE: It's just - you know, life is good, and that's what's good about living. And, you know, you can just laugh about everything, you know, like just coming to Atlanta, you can laugh and get off the plane and some of the stupid stuff that - sort of some of the things people say. Like I just saw my uncle, and he lives in</s>WHITFIELD: That happens all the time.</s>WALLACE: All the time.</s>WHITFIELD: Just excited about talking. They really want to hear themselves.</s>WALLACE: He'll ask a stupid - how did you all get up here? Walk? Well, where your dad, at work?</s>WHITFIELD: And you're like are you going to let me answer this time (ph)?</s>WALLACE: What time you get off? Six o'clock? No, he answers them. He - all - what's your mama cooking, chicken? Why you walking like that, boy? Your feet hurt? They ask you the question and answer it at the same time, so you can just laugh. And then another thing here in Atlanta. I'm at the 7-Eleven store today.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: I'm the only customer in the store. Cashier says to me, you next? And I'm looking around -</s>WHITFIELD: Like, who else is here?</s>WALLACE: I says - I says, excuse me? Are you next? Well, why don't we just wait until the next customer come through the door. Now, I'm at the 7-Eleven. I had a pint of Haagen-Dazs ice cream, a loaf of bread, three bananas, six Coca-colas -</s>WHITFIELD: Oh my gosh.</s>WALLACE: -- "Wall Street Journal", honey bun, moon pie -</s>WHITFIELD: You've gone birthday shopping.</s>WALLACE: -- and three bags of pork rinds. Cashier says, you want a bag? I just - I just laugh at stuff like that.</s>WHITFIELD: So just common, everyday occurrences become, you know, part of your material. You keep it current, not just because it's funny little things that happen in your moments. I call them kind of "Seinfeld" moments. You were on "Seinfeld Show" so I think you could probably appreciate that. Just regular, ordinary stuff, but at the same time, you know, you try to incorporate kind of current events, news events into, you know, your - your show. But you say, you know what? It's something that the entire family can enjoy.</s>WALLACE: You can bring everybody at my show in Las Vegas. You can - five years up. It's a PG show. Five years up. I take everybody's money. Because the kids coming to my show, they're going to fall asleep late at night, you know? So I don't care. So we talk about everything. I have the most diversified group in Las Vegas. I have young people, old people, black people, white people, hip-hoppers and gang bangers. And my generation - I'm so blessed to have all these people and all these - we just talk about everything, from the - the stupid commercials that are on. Well, it's not a commercial, but I went into the Verizon store the other day, Fredricka. There were 20 people in line, but only two people working. Twenty people in line, only two people working. You know me, I'll be thinking. And I shout out as loud as I could, "Hey! Where's that network? Where are those 2,000 people supposed to be following me around everywhere I go?"</s>WHITFIELD: And are people looking at you like, who is this crazy guy? Or are they realizing, oh, OK. We get that (ph).</s>WALLACE: Well, they know - they know - well, yes, yes, yes.</s>WHITFIELD: George Wallace.</s>WALLACE: I may - I'm just going, yes, yes, yes. So anything in life - I go to church, I laugh. I go to - if you can't do anything in church - I'm a serious person, but you got to laugh</s>WHITFIELD: So how do you keep it clean? Because, you know, there are - you know, when you - when you talk about going to stand ups, or, you know, people think comedy this - in this day and age, whether it's on HBO, that it's got to be dirty. It's got to be risque in order to be funny. How to you keep it clean and keep it humorous and why do you do that as opposed to kind of -</s>WALLACE: You did a "Seinfeld" moment there, didn't you? Why -</s>WHITFIELD: Why? I tell, I love "Seinfeld".</s>WALLACE: Well, that my best friend for 35 years. You didn't know that, did you?</s>WHITFIELD: I didn't.</s>WALLACE: That's my best friend for 35 years. Yes.</s>WHITFIELD: Oh? It's fantastic.</s>WALLACE: And he'll be - he's watching us right now.</s>WHITFIELD: OK.</s>WALLACE: Matter of fact, he already - everybody's texting me, going, "Are you going to be on with that beautiful lady in the black dress?" I'm going, yes.</s>WHITFIELD: No.</s>WALLACE: But you keep it clean. It's harder to do clean jokes. And Seinfeld, Jay Leno and myself and few others, we grew up - Letterman, we grew up in an era when you had to do jokes to get on "The Tonight Show."</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: And that's - it's tougher to do clean jokes, but it's much more rewarding, and we just know - that's how we do it now because you just make a joke like - I did a clean joke the other night about the people in my show from New Orleans.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: And there were - and some of the people down there were still complaining about Mr. Obama. They say he didn't do enough about the oil spill. So I take a - what do you want him to do? I mean - I mean, what do you want him to do? Put on - you know, put on a life jacket and get his little skinny butt out in the ocean and then plug it up with a sham wow. You know, little things like that. It doesn't - it's just moments -</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: -- that pop out of my head that are just funny. You know, I'm saying, he's the president. He's not Aquaman. And you just - you just roll with it. Stupid things people say, you know? I'm walking through the airport in Atlanta and some lady said to me this morning - I got my luggage. Say, "Mr. Wallace, what are you doing at the airport? Are you going somewhere?" I mean, stupid stuff like that. That's right.</s>WHITFIELD: Like why else would I be here?</s>WALLACE: I just - I come out here to do my laundry. I just make up stuff, you know? So -</s>WHITFIELD: Do you like being called the New Mr. Las Vegas?</s>WALLACE: Mr. - I'm the new Mr. Vegas. Wayne Newton is new - is Mr. Las Vegas.</s>WHITFIELD: Las Vegas.</s>WALLACE: And when I came there many years ago, I wanted to be like Wayne. I wanted to be like all of those guys, you know? And I'm blessed to be working the same stage that Sammy Davis Jr. worked. And every night, I mention that on stage, how I'm blessed, because - he walked on that stage every night and had to go through the kitchen to work that very stage. And every night I think about it. I said he would be surprised today if he were alive to know that we're still going through that damn kitchen.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. So what is the transition been like for you? You know, being in Vegas, you know, Wayne Newton, you know. He's still performing there. You've got a lot of, kind of, you know, vintage Vegas, and then you've got Prince. You also have this kind of private shows.</s>WALLACE: No. We've got some new people in now. There's a new group.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: I'm one of the first people to go on there. You've got Bette Midler, who's one of my favorites. Man, she just left. She's there. Cher's there. Prince came in and blew the place away. He would come to my show, like, four or five times. I just -- that's - that's what my show is like. You never know who's going to show up. Tom Jones, Aretha Franklin -</s>WHITFIELD: So do you like people on the stage? I mean, take me there, because I</s>WALLACE: Prince comes up on stage with me. Tom Jones come up on stage. William Shatner, Denzel Washington. You ever heard of Denzel Washington? The one</s>WHITFIELD: Right.</s>WALLACE: He goes to my church.</s>WHITFIELD: I'm sure.</s>WALLACE: He goes to my church and - so we'd make - I make jokes about him coming to church.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: Like, at my church, if you ever come to Los Angeles, you go to West Angeles Church of God in Christ. You'll see people like Magic Johnson, OK? We built a new church, and Magic Johnson donated $5 million. Denzel Washington gave $7.5 million. I don't make as much money as they do, but I'm just as blessed as they are. I pledged $1 million.</s>WHITFIELD: Wow.</s>WALLACE: That's what I tell - well, you know, that's what I pledged.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes. Oh, I see. You didn't give it yet.</s>WALLACE: No. I might send it in -</s>WHITFIELD: You haven't written the check yet (ph).</s>WALLACE: -- I might not. I could have pledged $10 million.</s>WHITFIELD: But it's bold to make a pledge.</s>WALLACE: It's going to be $30 a week, if anybody</s>WHITFIELD: Yes. It counts for something.</s>WALLACE: Stevie Wonder goes there.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: Oh, my God, is he a nice man. He loved to tell jokes. He's going to come out in Las Vegas and do jokes on my stage.</s>WHITFIELD: So do they make it for - do they make it known to you that, hey, you know, George, you know, Stevie Wonder's just walked in? Do they sit right up front? Because, you know, nobody wants to sit --</s>WALLACE: They sit in my booth. They sit in my booth because I have to pay for their drinks.</s>WHITFIELD: They send to your booth, so you know they're there?</s>WALLACE: Yes.</s>WHITFIELD: And then do you sometimes just invite them on the stage and say come and join me?</s>WALLACE: Always. For the first time in 25 years, I had Sly and the Family Stone on my stage. Jennifer Holiday. You never know who going to - you never know what's going to happen.</s>WHITFIELD: Has it ever gone wrong?</s>WALLACE: No. Never goes wrong, because it's all about fun. And you never know what I'm going to do. I give away diamonds. I give away trips, cruises. It's just a fun show. I gave away a car last month.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: I gave away the little smart car. You know the little smart car?</s>WHITFIELD: Yes, yes. I love that.</s>WALLACE: A lady won it in Tucson, Arizona, and I put it in an envelope and I mailed it to her.</s>WHITFIELD: Wow.</s>WALLACE: Just fold it right there (ph).</s>WHITFIELD: So how do you keep it fresh? OK, so seven years. Do you see, you know, the next seven years, next couple years? When folks come to your show, what should they expect?</s>WALLACE: That's what I - I got people coming back 17 times now. It's just - that's why I have to change it up.</s>WHITFIELD: You have to change it every time.</s>WALLACE: I have to watch TV every day. I have to watch Paula Dean, and I got to watch, you know, food shows.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: I got to - I got to pay attention to food. I got to do everything. I got to do sports. I mean, like I had Barry Bonds on my show. He's still in good shape and - and I was asking him about it because they said he was -</s>WHITFIELD: You had him talking about the serious stuff? Like do you talk -</s>WALLACE: Well, I ask him about - you know, because they said he was on steroids, and I said I don't know what you're on, but any time anybody can bunt the ball out of the park, you're doing something.</s>WHITFIELD: Well, what a pleasure.</s>WALLACE: And I talk about the people - just - just, this is life. It's a lot of fun. Just - just living every day and enjoying life. That's what it's all about.</s>WHITFIELD: You have to feel very proud that for a few decades now, you've been able to, you know, stay funny and just reinvent yourself and stay current, whether it's "Seinfeld," whether it's "Red Foxx Show," whether it's being on "Leno" and -</s>WALLACE: No. You know what's staying current? Staying current is watching CNN. That's what we do. We call this the Comedy News Network. That's what - that's all -</s>WHITFIELD: You really watch us (ph)?</s>WALLACE: Yes.</s>WHITFIELD: OK.</s>WALLACE: You - we have to take the serious news and take the twist on it.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: That's what we do.</s>WHITFIELD: Isn't that tough, though? Aren't there certain topics that you want to stay away from?</s>WALLACE: No. You can talk about everything. You can talk about death. You make people happy, and my job is to make people happy.</s>WHITFIELD: Yes.</s>WALLACE: Talk about the economy, like I went to McDonald's this morning. I ordered a double cheeseburger, and they took the one I had and just folded it over, you know? You can talk about anything. You just - you can talk about the people in the - in the audience sometimes, they're looking for jobs. I say, well, there's going to be some more jobs because I was talking to Mr. Obama this morning and he said he was going to build some more unemployment offices, so there's going to be some work in the construction industry. You can just - you can take all kinds of things. Just stupid things people say in the commercials and -</s>WHITFIELD: Well, thank goodness you still have that job in Las Vegas.</s>WALLACE: Well, something good is going to happen to you whether you like it or not. I'm at the Flamingo.</s>WHITFIELD: At the Flamingo.</s>WALLACE: At the fabulous Flamingo. And I tell you, I want everybody listening and watching now, call that - 702-733-3333.</s>WHITFIELD: OK.</s>WALLACE: 702-733-3333. Ask for the George Wallace BFF code, best friend forever, and you get $20 off the VIP ticket. I'm - I just gave somebody</s>WHITFIELD: I love it. You sure did.</s>WALLACE: And when you come to the show - and anybody - you come to the show. You're my guest, OK?</s>WHITFIELD: Yes. I'm coming.</s>WALLACE: I'm going to take you to dinner. And - are you married?</s>WHITFIELD: I like it. Yes. My husband will come. No? Not interested? OK, hubby will you let me go to Vegas? Hang out with George Wallace.</s>WALLACE: Yes. I'll bring - I'll bring - bring your husband. I'm just kidding there. But you were wonderful.</s>WHITFIELD: OK. George Wallace, good to see you.</s>WALLACE: Thank you so much for having me.</s>WHITFIELD: Thanks so much.</s>WALLACE: And God bless you, and something good's going to happen to you, whether you like it or not.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Thanks so much. Appreciate it.</s>WALLACE: Any time.</s>WHITFIELD: See you next in Vegas. We'll be right back.</s>WALLACE: You're good (ph).