KDOC Suit Puts Wally George in Hot Seat

Around the KDOC-TV studios in Anaheim, they like to remind you that their contribution to the airwaves is good, clean programming suitable for family viewing.

At Orange County’s only commercial television station, where Pat Boone is president and a major stockholder, even the music videos get censored.

“We look on ourselves as being a family oriented station,” said Calvin Brack, director of business affairs. “Our motion pictures are the classics.”

So what was all this stuff they were saying in Orange County Superior Court this week?

As former employees of KDOC paraded into a Santa Ana courtroom, the testimony centered on on-the-job favoritism, sexual harassment, brutal intra-office politics and the use of fake ratings to boost ad sales.

Unfair Firing Alleged

It was all brought about by the firing of Steve Conobre, 66, an ad salesman who helped open the station in 1982. He claims in a lawsuit that he was fired unfairly two years later when he protested irregularities in management and then flatly refused, as ordered, to use phony ratings.

Brack, former General Manager Michael Volpe and controversial talk show host Wally George are all defendants in the case.

George, 50, is the conservative, superpatriotic inquisitor whose invective-laden attacks on liberal and fringe causes are a trademark of his show, “Hot Seat.” In addition to KDOC, Channel 56, the show can be seen on 209 cable channels, according to the station, which claims that its signal can be received as far away as Ventura and San Diego Counties.

George, who has announced tentative plans to run for mayor of Los Angeles in 1989, has occupied center stage so far in the trial of Conobre’s lawsuit.

The lawsuit alleges that George “went ga-ga” over an account executive named Linda Ford at the station and pursued her relentlessly with flowers, gifts and amorous notes. Ford told Conobre about it, according to the lawsuit, and he confronted George. From that point, George--who was then and remains divorced--repeatedly demanded that Conobre be terminated, according to the lawsuit.

Assured, Combative

When he took the witness stand Tuesday in blue blazer and red tie, George was his old television self--assured, combative, pounding hand in fist to make a point, laying emphasis with a waggling finger. Ford was a “liar” who had pursued him “since the day I came to KDOC” in 1982, George maintained.

But 10 minutes into his two hours of testimony, George developed a stutter when Conobre’s attorney, Eileen C. Moore, surprised him with more than 70 cards and notes he allegedly had written to Ford.

Sometimes asking him to read one aloud, Moore produced the exhibits slowly, page by page. Ford had testified earlier, but Moore carefully kept her away from the collection of letters, saving that for George himself.

The first of the notes was designated Plaintiff’s Exhibit 37; the last, Plaintiff’s Exhibit 113.

Exhibit 42 was one sheet of paper, to which had been glued six small cards.

“This is a series of cards that appear to be the kind that come with flowers,” Moore began.

“How do you know that? That’s your assumption,” George interrupted.

“They appear to be in your handwriting?”

“Yes,” said George.

“Thank you,” said Moore, reaching for the paper.

“I’m still reading them,” George snapped, holding it away.

Moore paused for 20 seconds until George handed the page back, without looking at the lawyer.

“OK,” George said.

Regained His Stride

Eventually, with the help of KDOC attorney and director Thomas Sheridan, George regained his stride, insisting that he had merely responded to Ford’s pursuit and claiming that he had refused her amorous offers because she was married.

But Moore bounced right back, asking George to describe WALINDA Enterprises. It was to be a business partnership between himself and Ford, George testified, its name a combination of their first names. WALINDA, which was to be formed “after she left her husband,” never got off the ground, George testified.

Ford left KDOC in 1985. She also has sued KDOC, claiming that she resigned under duress and also that she refused to use phony ratings.

George’s appearance dominated the short Thanksgiving trial week, but it was only the beginning of the drama.

They real target of Conobre’s lawsuit is Michael Volpe, station manager from 1983 to 1986. Conobre claims that he was fired because he refused to participate in a scheme of Volpe’s involving phony broadcast ratings.

Fake Ratings

Two workers have testified that they heard Volpe order the use of his fake ratings figures to lure advertisers. The sales staff was instructed to refer to them as ARB figures--a phrase understood in the broadcast industry to refer to Arbitron Ratings Co., one of two nationally recognized viewer measurement services. KDOC did not subscribe to Arbitron.

Volpe told sales people that, if sophisticated clients probed, they should say the figures were from the “Anaheim Research Bureau,” which did not exist, Ford testified.

Ford testified that she eventually sent letters disclosing Volpe’s practices by registered mail to all the directors of Golden Orange Broadcasting Co. Inc, which owns the station. One of the directors was Boone, who was reported to be in Japan this week and unavailable for comment.

Conobre also has claimed that Volpe--who left the station last year after his contract was not renewed--showed favoritism toward an account executive with whom he was romantically involved. Conobre’s protest was another of the allegedly improper bases for his dismissal, he claims.

So far the trial, expected to last another two weeks, has not attracted large crowds.

The only Wally George fan to attend was Raul Elizalde, who appeared on Tuesday. As George entered the courtroom that day, he urged: “Go Wally.”

Elizalde said he liked George because of his “frankness and truthfulness.”