B-MOVIE HOSTESS: SALLY THE ZOMBIE CHEERLEADER (2005-2007, 2009-present)

SALLY THE ZOMBIE CHEERLEADER – This horror hostess is portrayed by Nicole Galeano aka Nicole M. King aka Nicole M. Brooks. The Zombie Cheerleader started appearing on Public Access Cable around 2001, and in 2005 the undead pom-pom girl launched one of her best-known Movie Hostess programs – The Zombie Cheerleader’s School of Horror.

Sally cleverly used a black & white riff on the old MGM roaring lion logo on the production. “Hic Sunt Monstri” is Latin for Here be Monsters, making our subject’s motto a play on MGM’s “Ars Gratia Artis” – Art for Art’s Sake – and “Hic Sunt Dracones” – Here be Dragons, from very old maps.

The Zombie Cheerleader’s School of Horror lasted into 2007 and the supporting cast consisted of her daughter Genevieve Brooks as Zombette, an underclass and undead cheerleader who assisted the star, as did the monstrous Mr. Hairyhands, played by Daniel Brooks.

Letting her daughter be part of the show reminded me of the old Philadelphia Movie Host Dr. Shock making his child Doreen a co-star as “Bubbles.”

In 2009 our Movie Hostess returned with her new program The Zombie Cheerleader Show, which has been running on various outlets including TV stations from America’s northeastern states westward to Hawaii. The Zombie Cheerleader Show also enjoys runs on assorted cable and streaming platforms, YouTube, Vimeo, The Monster Channel, The Vortex, Tingler TV and Roku.

In the 17 years since 2009, Sally the Zombie Cheerleader has taken to presenting more than just the traditional movie-hosting schtick. Some episodes will feature her just reviewing horror films old and new instead of presenting them or visiting a horror convention or interviewing figures from the world of horror. Zombette (above left) eventually spread her decaying limbs and left the nest to attend college.

The charismatic walking and cheering cadaver Sally has done a stint as Honorary Mayor of Hell, Michigan. And believe it or not, that’s a real place!

Sally’s words of advice to her sister brain-and-gut-munching zombie cheerleaders include reminders to only eat players from the opposing team, never use your pom-poms to clean up a mess from your meals and store leftover brains in zip-lock baggies. It’s also important to never cheer with your mouth full.

As an athletic lady, Sally jogs and does calisthenics to keep ready to overtake “fleshies” (us living people) when her appetite kicks into high gear.

Sally TZC is also a savvy Entrepreneur from Beyond the Grave and knows that merchandising is important. Her site sells nearly every kind of product imaginable, plus she has written books like The Zombie Cheerleader’s Big Book of Brains and The Memoirs of (iconic Movie Host) Dr. Creep as Told to Sally the Zombie Cheerleader.

Sometimes the Zombie Cheerleader would truncate the horror flicks she hosted, like Laraine Newman did on The Canned Film Festival in 1986. Sally’s very first episode in 2005 used that approach while presenting Revolt of the Zombies (1936).

Highlights from other seasons included Midget Zombie Takeover (2013), I Eat Your Skin (1964), Sleepaway Camp (1983), Blaxploitation Horror’s The House on Skull Mountain (1973), Bigfoot vs Zombies (2016) and Equinox (1970), one of John Stanley’s favorites to screen on San Francisco’s Creature Feature in the 70s.

Our favorite undead cheerleader didn’t just host schlock. She also presented quality horror movies like the original Black Christmas (1974), Night of the Living Dead (1968) and others.