George Wallace’s observational humor, and masterful storytelling have earned him a place among comedy’s most iconic figures. 

As a comic, writer and actor he has been casted in “Seinfeld,” “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” “Mr. Deeds” and so many more staple TV shows and films. Wallace is perhaps best known for his iconic “I Be Thinkin’ routines and his signature “Yo Mama” jokes. He currently stars alongside Laverne Cox in the comedy series, “Clean Slate.”

In 2004, Wallace headlined his own show at The Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. It was initially only greenlit for 30 days, but the show became so popular it ran for over a decade. That’s how he earned the nickname “The New Mr. Vegas.”

Wallace joined the The Metro to discuss all the things he appreciates most in his life.

He will take his impeccable timing and authentic insights to the Fisher Theatre stage Saturday October 25th.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and streaming on demand.

Subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.

More stories from The Metro

Special in-studio guest Madison McFerrin drops by to talk about her new album “Scorpio” as well as collaborating with her father Bobby McFerrin ahead of her show tonight at El Club in southwest Detroit—doors at 7 p.m., with Madison performing at 9 p.m.

Plus new music from Gerald Clayton, Say She She, Turbotito, Jeff Tweedy, Chronixx and more.

Check the playlist below and listen to the episode for two weeks after it airs using the player above.

In The Groove with Ryan Patrick Hooper playlist for October 22, 2025

• “Rush” – Gerald Clayton
• “Deep in the Woods” – Tennis
• “Cut & Rewind” – Say She She
• “Nainan Da Pyar De Gaya (feat. Piya Malik)” – Turbotito & Ragz
• “Weak In Your Light (Daniel Avery Remix)” – Nation of Language
• “Ride Around” – Goat Girl
• “Who By Fire” – Skinny Pelembe & Beth Orton
• “Three Hours” – John Parish & Aldous Harding
• “One Tiny Flower” – Jeff Tweedy
• “Under a Rainbow (feat. Elle Músa)” – SFJ
• “Survivor” – Chronixx
• “Tear It Down” – Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings
• “Bitter Streets” – SAULT
• “I & I” – Chronixx
• “Fighting For Our Love” – Madison McFerrin
• “Ain’t It Nice” – Madison McFerrin
• “Insane” – Madison McFerrin
• “Run” – Madison McFerrin & Bobby McFerrin
• “Spent” – Madison McFerrin
• “Don’t You Worry Baby (feat. Madison McFerrin)” – Tyler The Creator
• “Love Is Stronger Than Pride (Alexander Nut Remix)” – Sade
• “No Others” – Momoko Gill
• “Uno Punto Uno” – Women In Jazz & Rosa Brunello
• “Rosso Di Sera Bel Tempo Si Spera” – Causi Sui
• “Compared To What” – John Legend & The Roots
• “People Get Up and Drive Your Funky Soul (Remix)” – James Brown
• “Thrown Around” – James Blake
• “Somethin Here” – Terrence Parker
• “Rain Can’t Reach Us (feat. Tony Allen)” – Yannis & the Yaw

Listen to In the Groove with host Ryan Patrick Hooper weekdays from noon-3 p.m. ET on 101.9 WDET or stream on-demand at wdet.org.

Another stacked lineup for MI Local, with two trios, plenty of songwriters and amazing local musicians all around!

Let’s start with some new music! Andrew Dost is the lead singer/songwriter and musician from his evolving solo-project (but also, a band), known as Metal Bubble Trio. We premiered a new single by MBT, “Grey & Black Bee,” and even sampled a atmospheric, Eno-esque instrumental, “Let Me Tell You About My Universe.”

Both of these songs will be on Dost’s next album, “Metal Head Satellite Freakout.” This follows-up the official release of MBT’s debut album, Cucumber, which was when the project was in it’s Bossa Nova era. Now Dost says he’s fusing that intensively with his sincere love for metal!

Dost lives between Detroit and the Traverse City era, and while he’s in our neck of the woods, for about half of each year, he’s got collaborators like Deleano Acevedo and Ryan Clancy, both of whom will be joining Dost next Tuesday, Oct. 28, at the Paris Bar.

“Metal Head Satellite Freakout,” meanwhile, will be out at some point in the next 6 months, likely less. Dost, meanwhile, has been in notable groups, previously including the Mt. Pleasant based Anathallo, and Fun., a NY-based project with Jack Antonoff and Nate Reuss, (you might remember their hit song, “We Are Young”?).

Dost talked about the origins of Metal Bubble Trio, which formed about two years ago, along with the story of his debut album, “Cubumber.” While in-studio, Dost also performed a live, acoustic version of MBT’s song “Universal Themes,” on electric guitar.

After Dost, we had The Kate Hinote Trio hang out for an interview about their most recent album, “Stowaways.” This group features, as you might have guessed, Kate Hinote on lead vocals, having previously showcased her powerhouse vocals with groups like The Blueflowers and Ether Aura. Joining Hinote to round out the trio are guitarist David Johnson, also from the Blueflowers and violinist (and singer) Matthew Parmenter from Discipline.)

The Kate Hinote Trio talked about their 2nd full-length album, “Stowaways,” which was released a couple months ago, following up their debut, “Near.” While in-studio, the band treated us to a live acoustic version of their most recent single, “The Last Day I Went Crazy.”

You can see them live, on Wednesday, November 5 at the Detroit Public Library at 6 p.m.

Finally, singer-songwriter Mike Leslie swung by to talk about his upcoming debut solo album, as well as, yes, treating WDET listeners to even more live in-studio music, with the song, “Grand Haven.”

Leslie has been making music his whole life (he started on guitar at age 4), but some of his noteworthy past projects include the Mike Leslie Band, which started around 2012, and his stint touring and recording with Candlebox. He’s also quite a talented painter.

Several years ago, Leslie started developing a solo project, with a few singles released here and there, but now, coming up on Saturday, November 8, Leslie will be performing at an album release party for “Goodbye Forever: An Introduction,” hosted at Ant Hall in Hamtramck, with Emily Rose and Olivia Dear.

Stream the whole show up top for two weeks after it airs, and find details about the songs we featured below!

• “Grey and Black Bee” – Metal Bubble Trio
• “Let Me Tell You About My Universe” – Metal Bubble Trio
• “Universal Themes” – Metal Bubble Trio, live in WDET Studios
• “Love Comes a Flower”  – The Kate Hinote Trio
• “The Last Day I Went Crazy” – The Kate Hinote Trio, live in WDET Studios
• “If I Should Go” – The Kate Hinote Trio
• “Goodbye Forever” – Mike Leslie
• “Grand Haven” – Mike Leslie, live in WDET Studios
• “Blue Midnight” – Mike Leslie