Clean Slate leading man and comedian George Wallace wants us all to “love and let love”.
What could possibly happen when a parent and child reunite after 23 years of estrangement? Add the fact that who the father remembers as his son is now living her truth as a transgender woman, and you have the premise of the new Prime Video comedy Clean Slate. Laverne Cox stars as daughter Desiree and George Wallace plays her father Harry Slate. Harry owns the Slate Family Car Wash in Mobile, Alabama. Clean cars and the Slate name come together to offer the “Clean Slate” metaphor for the reunion of Desiree and Harry.
Harry’s employee, Mack (Jay Wilkison), is also living with a clean slate after completing a prison sentence and learning to be a dad to 11-year-old daughter Opal (Norah Murphy). Truthfully, Opal plays the parent role at times as she and her father navigate this new life together.
The entire cast, including living legend Telma Hopkins, is absolutely delightful in their roles on Clean Slate. Viewers can look forward to healthy doses of both humor and healing. The show offers much heart within the comedic format. And if you have any knowledge of southern living, the jokes land even better. If you know SEC football, you just might delight in seeing the Alabama vs. Georgia rivalry highlighted in the series, too!
Interview
I had the pleasure of interviewing Mr. Wallace at the SCAD TVfest 2025 in Midtown Atlanta, just one day after the show’s February 6 release. Read on for his comments on Harry and Clean Slate.
So Many Shows: We see several facets of Harry in this show. Would you want people, if they could take away one thing, would you want them to see you as a curmudgeon or crusader?
George Wallace: Both at the time because we can learn, you know. They’ve seen me evolve into a better person. Well, I’m always a good person to be honest. But the character Harry, Harry is learning and that’s what this [show] is all about – listen, learn, love and let’s laugh a little bit while we’re doing that. Let’s enjoy life. That’s what Harry does, and a lot of people that are watching [can say] ‘Okay, clean slate, I can start over. Clean slate, I can get a second chance. Clean slate, everything I think is not necessarily right. Clean slate, let’s all do better. Clean slate, let’s live and let live, let’s love and let love.’ Come on everybody, let’s get happy.
So Many Shows: Clean Slate showcases two different very beautiful father daughter relationships. What do you consider the importance of showcasing fathers and daughters.
George Wallace: All the fathers, all the daughters, all the kids, all the wives, the husbands, everybody – let’s just love each other. Once I was a kid at a revival in the state of Georgia and the preacher had everybody repeat after him ‘If everybody in this world were just like me, what kind of world would this be?’ I think I’m a good person, I love people, and that’s what I want you to be. I always say, ‘I love you, and there is absolutely nothing you can do about it.’
What a great opportunity it was to speak with George Wallace about Harry on Clean Slate. I challenge you to come away without a fondness for Harry after watching Clean Slate – he’s a gem – learning and loving all while cracking his “curmudgeon” style jokes!
All 8 eight episodes of Clean Slate are available to stream on Prime Video. The series was created by Dan Ewen, George Wallace and Laverne Cox and includes an executive producing credit to the late Norman Lear.
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