Look up crone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

The crone is a stock character in folklore and fairy tale, an old woman. In some stories, she is disagreeable, malicious, or sinister in manner, often with magical or supernatural associations that can make her either helpful or obstructing. The Crone is also an archetypal figure, a Wise Woman. She is marginalized by her exclusion from the reproductive cycle,^[1] and her proximity to death places her in contact with occult wisdom. As a character type, the crone shares characteristics with the hag.

The word "crone" is a less common synonym for "old woman," and is more likely to appear in reference to traditional narratives than in contemporary everyday usage.^[2] The word became further specialized as the third aspect of the Triple Goddess popularized by Robert Graves and subsequently in some forms of neopaganism, particularly Wicca in which she symbolizes the Dark Goddess, the dark of the moon, the end of a cycle. In new age and feminist spiritual circles, a "Croning" is a ritual rite of passage into an era of wisdom, freedom, and personal power.

Etymology[link]

As a noun, crone entered the English language around the year 1390, deriving from the Anglo-French word carogne (an insult), itself deriving from the Old North French carogne, caroigne, meaning a disagreeable woman (literally meaning "carrion"). Prior to the entrance of the word into English, the surname Hopcrone is recorded (around 1323–1324).^[3]

In hero-journey[link]

In Joseph Campbell's classic work The Hero with a Thousand Faces, the first encounter of the hero on his journey is with a protective figure who provides him with amulets or magic devices against the dangers he will face. The crone is one of the most common of these protective figures.^[4]

Campbell links the "helpful crone" to the fairy godmother.^[6] The wicked fairy godmother sometimes appears in the guise of a crone.

Examples[link]

Baba Yaga rides a pig and fights the infernal crocodile

In Norse myth, Thor wrestles the crone Elli who personifies old age.^[7]

The Slavic witch Baba Yaga is a crone and liminal guardian to the Otherworld.^[8]

In the local folklore of Somerset in southwest England, The Woman of the Mist is said to appear sometimes as a crone gathering sticks; sightings of her were reported as late as the 1950s.^[9] In the Scottish Highlands tale "The Poor Brother and the Rich," a crone refuses to stay buried until her son-in-law provides a generous wake, after which he becomes as wealthy as his more fortunate brother.^[10]

See also[link]

• Hag
• La Befana

References[link]

Billy Crone (born Belfast, 1864) also referred to as William Crone was an Irish footballer who played for Distillery and Ireland during the 1880s and 1890s. After retiring as a player he also coached both Distillery and Ireland. On February 20, 1897 he became the first coach in the history of modern football to take charge of a national team. Crone’s younger brother Bob Crone was also a notable footballer, playing for Glentoran, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion and Notts County, as well as Distillery and Ireland. Crone, an all-round athletic, was also a useful cricketer and distance runner.

Playing career[link]

Distillery[link]

Crone spent sixteen seasons at Distillery playing as a defender. His club team mates included fellow Irish internationals Olphert Stanfield, Jack Reynolds and Samuel Johnston. Crone could play anywhere across the back-line, but was most familiar as a left-back or left-half. He made 290 appearances for Distillery and helped the club win the Irish Cup four times. He also played for Distillery during the inaugural Irish League season of 1890-91 and went onto make 35 league appearances for the club before he retired in 1893.

Irish International[link]

Between 1882 and 1890 Crone also played 12 times for Ireland. He made his debut on February 25, 1882, while still in his teens, in a 7-1 defeat to Wales. This was only Ireland’s second ever international. He remained a regular for Ireland throughout the following eight seasons. On April 7, 1888 he scored for Ireland in a 5-1 defeat to England. All of his 12 international appearances ended in defeat, a statistic which results in Crone holding the unfortunate record of finishing on the losing side more times then any other international player during the 1800s.

Coaching career[link]

After retiring as a player, Crone became a coach at Distillery, a post he held for fifteen seasons. On February 20, 1897 he also took charge of the Ireland team for the 6-0 defeat against England. This was the first time in the history of modern football that a coach took charge of a national team.

Honours[link]

Distillery

Player

• Irish Cup
  • Winner 1883-84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1888-89: 4
  • Runner Up 1887-88: 1
• County Antrim Shield
  • Winner 1888-89: 1
  • Runner Up 1889-90: 1
• Belfast Charities Cup
  • Runner Up 1883-84, 1889–90, 1891–92, 1892-93: 4

External links[link]

• Northern Ireland’s Footballing Greats
• Distillery fansite
• IFFHS
  • Player Stats
  • Irish Cup appearances

Throughout its run spanning four decades and multiple media, The Howard Stern Show has gone through a number of staff members and contributors.

Current staff[link]

These staffers currently work for and appear on the show on a regular, if not hourly basis.

In-studio[link]

These people currently sit in the studio throughout the entire broadcast.

Howard Stern[link]

Howard Stern is host of the show, which essentially is a discussion of topics that include world affairs, celebrity gossip, self-deprecation, bodily functions, conflicts among his staff, his own personal family matters, and the antics of the show's Wack Pack.^[1] Self-proclaimed "King of All Media".

Robin Ophelia Quivers[link]

A former nurse and Captain in the United States Air Force, Robin Quivers first met Stern after being assigned as his newswoman at WWDC in March 1981, and has been his co-host and news reader ever since. Quivers briefly left the show towards the end of her time at WWDC when Stern made a deal at WNBC in 1982, and did not realize WNBC initially refused to hire her. Quivers returned to the show at WNBC a month after Stern.^[2]

Stern once said that Quivers is the only person on the show that he would allow to talk freely during the broadcast, although comedian Artie Lange was allowed this privilege as well during his years on the show.^[3] Quivers is often teased by Stern for her luscious chest.

Fred Norris[link]

Of the show's staff, Stern met Norris first, in 1979, when the two worked as disc jockeys at WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut. Norris would work the overnight slot, after which Stern would host the morning slot.^[4] Although Stern left shortly afterwards, Norris stayed at WCCC until joining Stern and Quivers at Washington, D.C.'s WWDC in 1981.^[1] The "Earth Dog Fred" nickname originated in Washington, as Norris replaced an engineer nicknamed "Earth Dog Brent."^[5]

Norris is married to Allison (nee Furman) and they have one daughter, Tess.

Norris' current role on the show is to provide sound effects, organize and direct commercials and live reads, and occasionally perform writing duties. Norris also provides impersonations of show regulars, celebrities and others.^[6][7]

Benjy Bronk[link]

Bronk began working on The Howard Stern Show as an intern/ He eventually earned a paid position conducting pre-interviews of show guests and gathering articles for Robin Quivers' news. In 2000, Benjy was given an in-studio slot next to writers Jackie Martling and Fred Norris, writing on-the-spot jokes for Stern as the show transpired.^[8] After Martling left the show in early 2001, Bronk continued as an in-studio joke writer with Norris.

George Takei[link]

George Takei

George Takei serves, one week per quarter, as the show's announcer. Before joining the show, Takei became popular among the cast after soundbites of his audiobook about his career on Star Trek were played on the show. The clips stood out due to his deep, baritone voice, and were frequently played. In 2006, when the show moved to Sirius, it was announced that Takei would be the show's official announcer. Once every quarter, Takei will sit in the studio (often for a week at a time), often doing an "announce" as the show goes into commercial.^[9]

Outside the studio[link]

These are the behind the scenes (though in the Stern world even the behind the scenes folks are frequently on air) staffers who keep the show ticking.

Richard Christy[link]

While working as an electrician in Florida and playing as a drummer in a number of heavy metal bands including Iced Earth and Death, Christy began calling into the show from October 1999, initially sending voice mails to the show's assistant producer K. C. Armstrong which would get played on-air. From 2001 to 2003, Christy would send song parodies and bits about Armstrong and show co-host Robin Quivers including some like "It's K.C.'s Sausage Party" (a parody of "It's My Party")^[10] and "Gay Photograph" (a parody of the Def Leppard song "Photograph")^[11] that continue to be played on the show to this day. Christy would also make his first visit to the show on April 24, 2003 where he played a round of blackjack to win a date with a porn star.

In July 2004, when the show was holding a "Win John's Job" contest following the departure of Stuttering John from the show, Christy won the position as voted by fans. Since joining the show, Christy has become known for his prank calls, song parodies, unique personality, and "show stunts" he's performed with Sal the Stockbroker.^[12]

Christy is currently the drummer in the heavy-metal band Charred Walls of the Damned.

Steve Brandano[link]

Steve The Intern is an associate producer, former intern, and host of the Thursday night intern show.

Gary Dell'Abate[link]

Gary Dell'Abate, aka Baba Booey, serves as the show's head producer. Hired right after graduating from Adelphi University in 1984 and briefly anglicizing his name to Gary Dell, he has worked for the show ever since. Dell'Abate is mocked on the Stern Show for his appearance, gullibility (he once booked a mentally challenged woman who claimed to be Madonna's sister), and frequent mispronunciations (for example, insisting that actor Nick Nolte's last name was pronounced "Nolt"). He earned the nickname "Baba Booey" after insisting it to be the correct name of the cartoon character Baba Looey.^[13]

Sal Governale[link]

Salvatore "Sal" Governale (aka "Sal the Stockbroker") was originally a frequent caller who worked on Wall Street as a stockbroker. Stern took notice after numerous calls mocking Gary Dell'Abate. He later came in second in the "Win John's Job" contest. Sal was hired as a prank caller/writer man for the show, though he is now credited as a producer. He is frequently mocked on the show for his incredibly inappropriate public behavior, a total lack of common sense, being a racist and his obsessive, borderline-psychotic, need to be Howard's friend.^[12]

JD Harmeyer[link]

Jamie David "JD" Harmeyer is Howard's head media producer. He records television shows, pulls clips from the internet and edits together highlights from recent happenings in movies and TV. He attended Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida. JD is best known for his mumbling and stammering speech pattern. He is often heard on air due to Howard's fascination with his strange life and introverted personality, which he feels is similar to himself at a young age.^[14]

Jon Hein[link]

Jon Hein.

Jon Hein has made guest appearances on the show since May 3, 2001,^[15] discussing television shows that have "jumped the shark", a term he uses to describe when a show has passed its prime (based on an episode of the show, Happy Days, where a previously popular and well-done show clearly and memorably began to go downhill). In late 2005, while experimental programming was broadcast on Howard 100 and Howard 101, Hein presented the first edition of Superfan Roundtable. His success in on-air hosting led him to become the co-host of the The Wrap-Up Show when the show moved to Sirius XM in January 2006.^[16]

Hein is also a cohost on the weekly Thursday show, "John Hein's TV Program" with Jenny Hutt, J. D. Harmeyer and Steve Brandano as well as the weekly Friday show "Geek Time" with Jason Kaplan and Ralph Cirella.

Jason Kaplan[link]

Jason Kaplan is an associate producer for the show and daily marijuana smoker. He has many duties, including writing the daily show rundown that appears on the show's website, and taking photos that appear alongside the daily rundown. Starting in September 2007, Jason and HowardTV director Scott Depace engaged in an intense feud stemming from their political differences; Jason is a liberal Democrat, Depace is a staunch conservative.

Jason was married to his girlfriend, Janis on November 8, 2008. Notable guests at the ceremony included Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, Gary Dell'Abate, as well as the majority of Stern's staff. The reception featured speeches from fellow staff members, Ronnie Mund and J. D. Harmeyer. Kaplan hosts "Page 69" along with Will Murray. On the wrap-up show on August 19, Kaplan stated that he grew up in Stanhope, NJ and attended Rutgers University, where he was mocked relentlessly for his use of the word "dude".

Kaplan, whose weight is around 300 pounds, hosts a monthly show called The Fat Guy Show, wherein he discusses subjects such as specialized clothing for the morbidly obese and trends in fast food.^[17] Kaplan is also a producer of the monthly show Geek Time that airs on certain Saturdays with Jon Hein and Ralph Cirella.^[18]

Tracy Millman[link]

Tracy Millman is the office manager and self-described "intern wrangler". Her coworkers admire, respect, and fear her for her sharp wit and angry vocalizations. Her infamous evisceration of Steve Grillo is considered one of the all-time classic staff fights in Stern Show history.^[19] She briefly hosted a show on SiriusXM Channel 101 called "Tracy Millman's Happy Hour", in which she called out other staff members for poor or inappropriate behavior. The show quickly became controversial and Millman cancelled it due the stress it was causing her and her co-workers.

Ronnie Mund[link]

Ronald Mund, commonly referred to as Ronnie the Limo Driver, is Howard's limousine driver and bodyguard, and the head of security for the Stern show complex at Sirius Radio.^[20][21][22] Ronnie first met Howard after being contracted to drive him to a live show, and, because of his ridiculously low prices, Howard eventually hired Ronnie as his regular driver even though he was greatly disturbed by the handwritten (in crayon) thank you note that Ronnie hand-delivered to his house. Ronnie quickly became a show regular thanks to his low IQ, borderline personality disorder, constant inappropriate behavior, lack of class, and his hair trigger temper, and he was soon responsible for a number of still famous memes including "what's your problem?!", "topless... T-O-P-L-E-S-S!", and "Whoa, whoa, whoa, stop the clock!". Ronnie's limo company is most famous for maintaining cars with "pep cocks", which means, on any given day, the car can only have heat or air conditioning but not both, which Ronnie finds useful in the spring and fall when his passengers often want (and cannot have) both heat and air conditioning in the course of the same day.

During the week of Sept. 8, 2008, Ronnie was voted "the angriest" person related with the show. On the October 27th, 2009 Wrap Up Show, Ronnie revealed that he was formerly a Staff Sergeant in the United States Air Force. Ronnie is known for making appearances at strip clubs and flirting with many of the women there. In late 2010, Ronnie was half-jokingly reprimanded by Howard for nicknaming the only female intern with the name "Smiles." Starting on May 9, 2011, Ronnie commenced a weekly (and immediately popular) "Hot Chick of the Week" contest via Twitter.^[23] Mund is also known as a spokesman and on-stage personality at Rick's Cabaret, a chain of gentlemen's clubs. He was recently tested on Joe Overlines' "Ugly Meter App" for the iPhone and received a zero (lowest score available) for his facial physical appearance. While Joe swears there was no sabotage by him or anyone else to cause the low score, Ronnie believes otherwise.

Will Murray[link]

Will Murray is the show's researcher and segment producer. He preinterviews all guests, and compiles pages of notes of research for Howard to use during interviews. Sometimes Will also operates on the phones. When a member of the show is being ridiculed on-air, Will sends Howard an instant message on Howard's computer screen, with other back-office staff usually joining in. He and fellow producer Jason Kaplan host the Howard 100 News segment "Page 69."

Will is now married as of September 5, 2008 to his long time girlfriend. Will is from the Philadelphia area and is a huge Philadelphia sports fan. He first appeared on the show while battling cancer as a child.^[24]

Will won the staff IQ test contest with a score of 130.

Scott Salem[link]

Scott the Engineer is the show's long-time engineer, having joined on February 10, 1986.^[25] Having previously worked at WABC (AM) and WPLJ in New York City, Salem received a voice mail from Jimmy Fink, then the morning personality at WXRK informing him of his new position.^[26] Salem is responsible for editing recordings for the show. He is usually only heard from when there are technical problems, for which Stern blames him.

On January 7, 1998, Salem competed in a challenge set by Stern in which he had to perform 17 push-ups for $31,000.^[27] Though controversial, Salem was eventually paid the money due to poor refereeing. In 1996, the Austin American-Statesman wrote that Scott is "always threatening to quit or on the verge of being fired, he's the show's whipping boy for technical problems".^[28] In 2007, Salem made a onetime appearance on tour with the Killers of Comedy, performing stand-up followed by a Q&A session with the audience. Stern defended Scott's skill and contribution to the show and makes a point of saying in his second book Miss America "just because we are always so brutal to Scott, I must go on record to say Scott is the best engineer I've ever worked with."

Salem is an avid bowler and has competed in and appeared at several PBA tour events.^[29]

Tim Sabean[link]

Tim Sabean is the program director for Howard 100 & 101. He manages the channels and their personnel for Howard. Before coming to Sirius he was the program director at Stern's Philadelphia affiliate WYSP-FM.^[30] He is constantly mocked on-air for his inappropriate behavior, inability to control his weight and his chronic overeating. In January 2012, for example, it was disclosed that he secretly steals cupcakes and eats them in the bathroom to avoid being seen by staff and reported to Howard.

Howard TV[link]

Howard TV is the video companion to the Stern radio show broadcast via the subscription video-on-demand service iN DEMAND.

Ralph Cirella[link]

Ralph Cirella

Ralph Cirella is paid by Howard TV to be Howard Stern's personal stylist, a job he previously held for Stern's E! show. Cirella was first hired to construct a "talking penis", for a broadcast at the Felt Forum on New Year's Eve 1986.^[31] He has been a listener since Stern's time at WNBC from 1982 to 1985.^[32] Cirella did not make on-screen appearances until 1990, when he worked on costumes, special effects and make up on The Howard Stern Show on WWOR-TV. Throughout 2006, Cirella briefly co-hosted the now defunct The Friday Show with Gary Dell'Abate and Jon Hein, on Howard 100 and Howard 101. He is currently host of "Geek Time" which airs on Howard 101 on Fridays with Jon Hein and Jason Kaplan, and, in Stern's opinion, his obsession with "Geek Time" is having a clear and strongly negative impact on his stylist responsibilities. As a result, it was rumored that "Geek Time" will be cancelled on or before Memorial Day 2011, but as of December of 2011 is was still broadcasting new shows.^[33]

Cirella is known for his collection of movie memorabilia, particularly science fiction films such as Star Wars. In 2008, he asked Dell'Abate for a life-sized cardboard cutout of Iron Man; he has a similar decoration of David Hasselhoff from the show Baywatch.^[34]

Scott DePace[link]

Scott DePace is the television director for the daily broadcast of The Howard Stern Show for Howard TV. He is known for his staunch but obtuse support of George W. Bush and the Republican Party. He has a vanity business selling a product called "The VideoCaddy",^[35] a clamping system to attach a video camera to a golf cart, which Howard claims is little more than a C-clamp and on which DePace typically spends part of his workday updating the product webpage. His wife, Pamela, won an Emmy for her work on "The Daily Show". He is originally from Delaware. His hobbies include playing the video game "Halo 3" on Xbox 360. He has played against Howard Stern Show Producer Gary Dell'Abate's children Jackson and Lucas online. His employment at former Chuck E. Cheese's competitor Showbiz Pizza Place is frequently referenced on the show; his on-air appearances are often accompanied by the Showbiz Pizza Place jingle.^[36] In January 2012, HowardTV staffer, Brian Phalen, revealed that he and the entire staff of HowardTV strongly dislike DePace due to his overbearing and obnoxious personality and poor management skills. One disgruntled employee went so far as to anonymously send him a box of elephant dung.

Mike Gange[link]

Mike Gange started at the show as an intern, and, after years of toil, worked his way up to cameraman/interviewer for the former Stern TV show on E! Mr. Gange is now supervising producer for Howard TV, but remains most famous for creating the meme "so, how did it go in there?" while first working for E!.^[37]

Doug Goodstein[link]

Doug Z. Goodstein was Stern's E! show producer and is currently executive producer for Howard TV On Demand. He is best known for being a completely ineffectual manager, and, as a result, he is usually bullied by co-worker and subordinate Scott DePace. He was the former manager of the now-deceased Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf. He also caught a lot of heat for letting his daughter sit in Howard's ON-AIR chair for a photograph. His enthusiasm for amateur photography led him to document Ground Zero during the World Trade Center attacks in 2001.^[38]

Howard 100 News[link]

The Howard 100 News team reports on events that relate to the Howard Stern Universe.

Brad Driver[link]

Brad Driver was the News Director at Howard 100 news and was responsible for managing the news team.^[39] According to sources at Sirius/XM, Driver resigned the position effective October 8, 2011.

Shuli Egar[link]

Shuli Egar is a comedian who first appeared on the show in June 2003. When Stern announced his planned move to Sirius and created Howard 100 News in 2005, Egar was an early hire. He was quickly promoted to The Wack Pack beat and also filled in for Lisa G and Steve Langford when they are out.^[40] Among other duties, he has served as foil and nemesis to the ineffectual Doug Goodstein as well as hosted the Miserable Men Show on Howard101 from 2006 through 2011 when the show was discontinued.

Lisa Glasberg[link]

A former co-host with Dr. Dre and Ed Lover on New York hip-hop radio station WQHT-FM, known as Hot 97, Lisa Glasberg, known informally as Lisa G or New York's Lisa G an on-air reporter for Howard 100, updating live news headlines each morning and filing reports for hourly Howard 100 news updates.^[41][42]

Glasberg is a native of Woodmere, New York.

Ralph Howard[link]

Ralph Howard is the anchor who reads the Howard 100 News every afternoon. He underwent lung transplant surgery.^[43]

Michael Morales[link]

"High Pitch" Mike is Howard 100 News producer, reporter, and on-air regular. Publicly came out as gay on the show.^[44]

"The Tapes" Department[link]

The Tapes Department produces specials out of the archives of the Howard Stern Show, such as "Howard Stern: The Peacock Years", "The Gayest Week Ever", and the annual (and award winning) "History of Howard Stern".^[45] Members of this team do not appear on the air.

• David Heydt: Executive In Charge of Production
• Rich Gibbons: Senior Producer
• Paul Grassini: Senior Producer
• Jeremy Lipkin: Head Writer
• David LeClaire: Producer
• Ben Barto: Coordinating Producer
• Ryan Rasmason: Editor
• Rahsaan Rogers: Production Assistant
• Frank Fernandez: Production Assistant
• Ryan O'Connell: Production Assistant
• Brandon Williams: Production Assistant
• Mark Nowak: Production Assistant

Hosts of Other Howard Stern Channel Shows[link]

Scott Ferrall[link]

Scott Ferrall is the host of The Scott Ferrall Show heard weekdays at 8pm EST on Howard 101.^[46]

Greg Fitzsimmons[link]

Greg Fitzsimmons is the host of The Greg Fitzsimmons Show heard Mondays at Midnight EST on Howard 101.

Abe Kanan[link]

Abe Kanan is host of the Abe Kanan Show, which airs on Howard 101 weekends and late nights. Kanan's show originates in Chicago. It began as a series of podcasts and was picked up by the Stern channels in February 2011.^[47] Kanan's show has not achieved the level of acceptance with Stern fans as Bubba's or Ferrall's show.

Riley Martin[link]

Riley Martin it is a self-described alien contactee, author, and host of The Riley Martin Show heard Tuesdays at Midnight EST on Howard 101.^[46] He is infamously and persistently drunk on the air, and his shows consist mostly of his pleading to Tim Sabean for additional air time (and thus more money)^[33]

Jackie Martling[link]

Jackie Martling is the former head writer and in-studio laugh track of the Howard Stern Show. He is now the host of Jackie's Joke Hunt. The show, co-hosted by fellow friar Ian Karr, premiered on October 3, 2006 at 7pm EST. It continues to air, live, every Tuesday at 7pm EST on Sirius Howard 101, with reruns scheduled for Thursday mornings at 12AM EST and Saturday afternoons at 2pm EST.

While touring as a national headliner, Jackie Martling recorded several joke LPs that became the resume he submitted to Howard Stern and which led to his hiring as a show castmember. After three years, he rose to the position of head writer, a job he held for 15 years. He is famous for pioneering joke writing "on the fly", a technique of instant scripting where he wrote jokes and funny lines for Howard Stern while the show was in progress. Jackie also wrote dialogue for the infamous "Jackie Puppet", voiced by Billy West. West has remarked how surreal it was to sit behind Jackie, viciously attacking him as the puppet, with lines Jackie had just written himself.

After several earlier disagreements over compensation, Martling left the Stern Show in March 2001, over a salary disagreement with the show's employer WXRK. He has since admitted that the amount of money under dispute was fairly small, but still caused him to refuse to sign a new contract.

Martling's chair on the Howard Stern Show was eventually filled by former MADtv cast member Artie Lange; however, Lange did not take over Martling's job as head writer, as primary writing duties are shared by Fred Norris and Benjy Bronk. After leaving the show, Martling pursued his other interests, including acting, music, and stand-up comedy. He also expanded his line of electronic joke products. Martling can also occasionally be heard on Howard 101 on Sunday evenings when Sirius airs Master Tape Theatre, selected, "best-of" recordings from Howard's shows from the WXRK days.

Martling has since returned to the Stern show to roast producer Gary Dell'Abate and on March 13, 2007, Martling made a long-awaited guest appearance on the show. In May 2007, the Stern show aired a two day salute to Jackie Martling on Stern 100. The show contained dozens of classic Jackie moments intercut with new interviews with Jackie and others. Martling appears with his Stern Show successor Artie Lange in the 2003 film Mail Order Bride. Martling last appeared on the Howard Stern Show on February 10, 2010, during an interview that became a continuous 40-minute "plug" of everyone he has ever met. After the "interview," show writer Fred Norris shared his feelings for Martling, comparing having him on the show to walking into a plane propeller.^[48]

Mutt[link]

Mutt is the founder of the Stern Fan Network message board and host of The Super Fan Roundtable heard Wednesday's at 7pm EST on Howard 101.^[49]

Jeff Probst & Natalie Maines[link]

Jeff Probst is best known for his role as the host of the U.S. version of the reality show Survivor and Natalie Maines is best known as the lead singer of The Dixie Chicks. Together after each season of Survivor has wrapped-up they host a two hour Celebrity Superfan Roundtable on Howard 101, where they bring in big name Hollywood stars such as actor David Arquette, LA weatherbabe Jillian Reynolds, producer Damon Lindelof, singer Mark McGrath, actor Jerry O'Connell, actor Ryan Phillippe, comedienne Sarah Silverman, actor Steven Weber to discuss their favorite moments on the Stern show.^[50]

Jay Thomas[link]

Jay Thomas is an American actor and comedian who hosts The Jay Thomas Show Monday through Thursday at 3pm EST on Sirius Starz 102 and Friday mornings at 7am EST on Howard 101.^[46]

Chuck Zito[link]

Chuck Zito is an actor, amateur boxer, martial artist, celebrity bodyguard, stuntman, former boxing trainer and former president of the New York chapter of the Hells Angels, and is host of the monthly Chuck Zito's View at 7pm EST on Howard 101.^[51]

Former staff and associates[link]

The following people all saw significant air-time when they worked with Howard. Some were either show staffers who went on to bigger and better things, interns, Howard's bosses, and station support staff who for a time were all integral to the show.

Former radio staff[link]

K. C. Armstrong[link]

Kyle Casey "K. C." Armstrong (born July 17, 1975) began as the show's intern in 1997 and later became associate producer from 1998 to 2004.^[52][53] Growing up in Suffolk County, New York, his father was the head football and wrestling coach at Port Jefferson High School.

Armstrong now lives in Newport Beach, California, where he is trying to start a career in acting. He has his own comedy DVD called Die Laughing. He has acted in three movies – Death4Told, Grace and the Storm and Secret War and stars on the comedy DVD series Meet the Creeps.

Lee Davis[link]

"Boy" Lee Davis was the original Stern show producer at WNBC before Gary Dell'Abate. He left to become the producer of the Soupy Sales show.^[54]

Steve Freid[link]

Steve "the Engineer" Freid first worked with Ben Stern and later worked with Howard when he arrived at K-Rock. He gained notoriety performing as the character Wood Yi, a parody of actor/director Woody Allen. Billy West came up with the idea for the character in the early 1990s and Steve was chosen to play the part due to having a similar sounding voice. When performing as Wood Yi, Steve would read lines supplied to him by the shows' staff, reciting them in a deadpan manner. He would ask the guests unusual or inappropriate questions, often sexual or racist. He would also do various bits and prank calls. This persona as Wood Yi is in stark contrast to his shy and mild mannered personailty. Steve stayed at K-Rock when the Stern Show moved to Sirius in 2006, but still makes occasional calls to the show, although more often, the staff would use clips of his voice.^[55]

Gary Garver[link]

Gary Garver was a West Coast based correspondent for The Howard Stern Show. He was sent to awards shows, movie premieres and television conventions to ask "Stuttering John"-type questions to celebrities and has-beens. It was revealed in an on-air exchange with Howard Stern and Gary Dell'Abate on the November 16, 2009 broadcast that he was dismissed because Garver's interviews were too confrontational and when the Stern show asked him to reel it in, he did not comply.^[56]

Steve Grillo[link]

Former Stern Show intern and associate producer at WXRK. Known as "Gorilla", Steve was famously in charge of preparing Howard's daily baked potato. Howard dedicated his second book Miss America to Steve.

After the Stern show, he pursued acting and worked as a bartender. Currently, is unemployed (as of 1/31/12). On June 11, 2010 a benefit concert was held for him at Pasha in New York City in an effort to raise the $5000 needed to save the trailer, as he had fallen behind on his payments to lease space in the trailer park^[57] He is also the former co-owner/delivery boy for Hell's Kitchen Pizza.^[58] Coincidently, one of his few acting roles was a pizza worker on The Sopranos.

Grillo also conducted movie reviews for Howard 100 News in 2006. As an homage to his former duties as an Stern show intern, he would rate the films by awarding them a certain number of potatoes. He interviewed Jodie Foster on-air, which was a very impressive "get" for Grillo's show; regrettably, the interview was one of the worst in the history of radio.^[59]

Gorilla, on occasion will ask random "man on the street" questions for the Stern show.^[60]

Steve continues to take acting classes in Manhattan at CnC studios.

Steve is the announcer for Howard 101's "The Intern Show".

Artie Lange[link]

Artie Lange

Lange's first appearance on the show was as a guest alongside fellow comedian Norm Macdonald on January 8, 1998, following a bit involving Scott the Engineer and his challenge to perform 17 complete push-ups. Although appearing with Macdonald to promote the film Dirty Work, Lange had been a fan of Stern since the 1980s when on one occasion following the paralysis of Lange's father in 1987, show producer Gary Dell'Abate sent Lange an autographed jacket which Lange auctioned off for $2,000 to support his family.

Following the departure of the show's writer and comedian Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling in 2001, several comedians "auditioned" for Martling's seat by sitting in for a couple of shows. Lange's first appearance in what became known as "The Jackie Chair" occurred for 2 days, on May 7 and 8, 2001. The temporary appearance consisted of being Stern's sidekick along with Quivers, and Lange frequently told personal stories, usually regarding alcohol, drugs, food and prostitutes. On October 29, 2001, Lange joined the show full-time.

Lange left the show in December 2009. At first the leave was thought to be temporary, but in early 2010 he attempted suicide at his apartment in Hoboken, New Jersey.^[61] The incident has not been discussed in great deal on the show and for much of 2010, Stern mentioned that Lange would return when he was healthy. However, in 2011 the show and the Howard 100 News began to reference Lange as a "former" staffer. On October 3rd, 2011 Lange began co-hosting The Nick and Artie Show with comedian Nick DiPaolo. This show airs on Sirius XM.

John Melendez[link]

In 1988, Stuttering John was attending New York University's film school, and belonged to a band called "Rock Slide". His college roommate, Mitch Fatel, was on the verge of quitting his internship with The Howard Stern Show, when Melendez begged him for a recommendation for an internship on the show, whose producer, Gary Dell'Abate, interviewed Melendez and mentioned his stuttering problem to Stern, who decided to hire him as a field reporter.

On Stern's show, Melendez conducted outrageous street interviews and appeared at press conferences, asking off-the-wall questions to various celebrities, including Gennifer Flowers, Ringo Starr, Burt Reynolds, Tommy Lasorda, Larry King and the Dalai Lama. He also provided comic relief on the show itself with his misadventures, poor grammar, and sloppy pronunciation. Melendez left the show after being offered a half-million dollar contract as the announcer for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.

Though Howard states during his radio show that his relationship with Melendez is fine, much focus was spent in a February 2008 broadcast in which Stern replayed a recent radio interview between John and radio show host Adam Carolla. During the interview, Melendez stated that Stern and former radio station WXRK (K-Rock) never paid him enough. Stern became infuriated, using several expletives to describe the former intern/phone screener, and even going so far as to order Melendez's wife to stop calling Stern's then-fiancée Beth Ostrosky, who were friends.^[62]

Al Rosenberg[link]

Al Rosenberg was a writer/performer for Howard on WNBC^[when?], and also worked for Imus in the Morning during that period^{[citation needed]}. He did numerous voice impressions including Sue Simmons and Dr. Ruth Westheimer. In The History of Howard Stern, Howard stated that he hired Al after Imus fired him so that he (Imus) could hire his girlfriend to replace Rosenberg. He stayed on at WNBC after Howard was fired because he was still under contract to the station. Al also worked on WNEW-AM radio as one half of the morning team with Bob Fitzsimmons. He also worked with Ted Brown. He would later work again for Howard on the "Channel 9 Show" as a writer^[when?]. Al called in to Howard's show in 2007 (during a Paul Mooney interview) to discuss Imus' racism.^[63] He currently works doing speaking engagements and voice-over work.^[64] He also appeared on Howard 101's defunct "Miserable Men" program.^[65]

Billy West[link]

Billy West

Billy West provided the show with comedy impersonations, part time, beginning on November 7, 1988.^[31] He would be known for his impressions for Marge Schott and show comedian Jackie Martling. West's final appearance was on November 1, 1995, before he left the show over contract and salary disputes.^[66][67] On February 19 and February 20, 2007, a special two-part retrospective of West's work on the show was broadcast on Howard 100 and Howard 101, covering over 11 hours.^[68]

West has also been an occasional contributor to The Adam Carolla Show, a syndicated morning radio show that replaced Stern along cities in the West Coast.

Former Radio Associates[link]

Bubba The Love Sponge[link]

Bubba the Love Sponge is both the title of, and name of the host of, a radio show airing on Howard 101 from 2005 to the end of 2010. Bubba (actual legal name Bubba The Love Sponge Clem, born Todd Clem) had previously been "exiled" from radio after a great deal of controversy over his terrestrial radio show, based in Tampa, Florida. Stern brought Bubba's show aboard and in so doing relaunched Bubba's career and show. Bubba credits Stern for reviving his career.

The show left Sirius XM at the end of 2010^[69] and moved to RadioIO Internet Radio and syndicated terrestrial radio. Sirius and Bubba's show were not able to reach agreement on a contract, and Bubba had complained frequently that Sirius XM was censoring his show and limiting its content. Stern still considers Bubba part of the family and they have made guest appearances on each other's shows since 2011.

Donna Fiducia[link]

Donna Fiducia was an on-air reporter on WNBC radio during Stern's tenure there. They had frequent by-play while she was on the air.

Rev. Bob Levy[link]

"Reverend" Bob Levy is a standup comedian who was a frequent on and off air contributor to the Sirius XM radio show from the show's debut until around 2009. He hosted the Miserable Men show and created a series of roasts, which sometimes were unforgettable (Artie Lange) and sometimes unlistenable (Daniel Carver). After Artie's departure, Levy complained on air that some details of the situation were being "covered up" and blamed Howard Stern for the suicide attempt. Levy's departure from the Stern channels soon followed and he is almost never mentioned on the air.^[70]

Former TV staff[link]

Scott Einziger[link]

Scott Einziger is a former Producer of Howard's syndicated Saturday night TV show and E! show. Left the show in November 2001 to become a producer on The Amazing Race. He has since worked on other reality shows such as Kid Nation, Big Brother, and Are You Hot? for which Stern sued for ripping off his "The Evaluators" bit.^[71]

Robin Radzinski[link]

Robin Radzinski is a former E! network executive and former Producer of Howard's E! show who has also worked for G4, HBO, and TBS.^[72]

Former Howard 100 News Staff[link]

During June 2006, at least four employees of the Howard 100 News were "let go". Penny Crone and George Flowers left Howard 100 News in January 2007 due to budget cuts.^[73]

• Liz Aiello (Oct 05 – Aug 06)
• Erica Phillips (Oct 05 – Nov 06)
• Mike Piazza (Oct 05 – Jun 06)
• Phil Iazzetta (Oct 05 – Jun 06)
• Michelle Jerson (Oct 05 – Jun 06)
• Penny Crone (Oct 05 – Jan 07)
• George Flowers (Oct 05 – Jan 07)
• Steve Juchnevcius
• Steve Langford (Oct 05 - Jul 11)
• James Kouledianos
• Lou Pelligrino
• Lisa Zerbo

Former bosses[link]

Randy Bongarten[link]

Randy Bongarten^[74] is a radio executive and former Vice-President and General Manager at WNBC who was later promoted to be President of the entire NBC Radio Network.Robin said that Randy's tenure at WNBC were the "good years" at the station because Randy "understood the show, and was interested in letting the talent do the things that would let the talent be successful."^[75]

Tom Chiusano[link]

Tom Chiusano was the general manager at WXRK, the frequent target of Stern show jokes, and in the later years of the show the master of the "dump button" to prevent content he deemed inappropriate from reaching the airwaves.^[76]

John Hayes[link]

John Hayes is a radio executive, famously named "The Incubus" by Howard during his days as Vice-President and General Manager at WNBC replacing Randy Baungarten. He and Kevin Metheny were portrayed by Paul Giamatti as a composite character under the name Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton in the 1997 movie, Private Parts. It was Hayes who actually fired Stern from WNBC-AM in 1985 on the orders of NBC network executives. In 2002, Hayes once again pulled Stern's show from CILQ-FM in Toronto.^[77]

Kevin Metheny[link]

Kevin Metheny is a radio executive, famously named "Pig Virus" by Howard during his days as Program Director at WNBC. He and his replacement John Hayes were portrayed by Paul Giamatti as a composite character under the name Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton in the 1997 movie, Private Parts.^[78]

Les Moonves[link]

Les Moonves is the head of CBS Programming. Howard calls him a snake because he's done some things to him over the years that were not too cool. Howard claims that Les told him to go ahead with his lawsuit against some former co-workers, but then Les hired the same guys to produce shows for CBS. In February 2006 Les, and CBS Radio, filed a $500 million lawsuit against Howard and his agent.^[71][79]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Howard Stern Stern Show Cast and Crew at the Yahoo! Directory
• Howard Stern's Official Web Site at HowardStern.com

Howard Stern
Stern at WXRK in New York City, 2000
Born	Howard Allan Stern (1954-01-12) January 12, 1954 (age 58) Jackson Heights, New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Radio personality, television host, author, actor, photographer
Years active	1975–present
Political party	Libertarian during 1994 Governor of New York campaign
Spouse	Alison Berns (1978–2001; div.) Beth Ostrosky Stern (2008–present)
Website
www.howardstern.com

Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio personality, television host, author, actor and photographer best known for his radio show which was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2005. He gained wide recognition in the 1990s where he was labeled a "shock jock" for his outspoken and sometimes controversial style. Stern has been exclusive to Sirius XM Radio, a subscription-based satellite radio service, since 2006. The son of a former recording and radio engineer, Stern wished to pursue a career in radio at the age of five. While at Boston University he worked at the campus station WTBU before a brief stint at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts.

He developed his on-air personality when he landed positions at WRNW in Briarcliff Manor, WCCC in Hartford and WWWW in Detroit. In 1981, he was paired with his current newscaster and co-host Robin Quivers at WWDC in Washington, D.C. Stern then moved to WNBC in New York City in 1982 to host afternoons until his firing in 1985. He re-emerged on WXRK that year, and became one of the most popular radio personalities during his 20-year tenure at the station. Stern's show is the most-fined radio program, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued fines to station licensees for allegedly indecent material that totaled $2.5 million. Stern has won Billboard's Nationally Syndicated Air Personality of the Year award eight times, and is one of the highest-paid figures in radio.^[1]

Stern describes himself as the King of All Media for his ventures outside radio. Since 1987, he has hosted numerous late night television shows, pay-per-view events and home video releases. He embarked on a five-month political campaign for Governor of New York in 1994. His two books, Private Parts (1993) and Miss America (1995), spent 20 and 16 weeks respectively on The New York Times Best Seller list. The former was adapted into Private Parts (1997), a biographical comedy film that starred Stern and his radio show staff that earned $41.2 million in domestic revenue. Stern performs on its soundtrack which topped the Billboard 200 chart.

Early life and education[link]

Stern graduated from the College of Public Communications at Boston University in 1976.

Stern was born on January 12, 1954 into a Jewish family who lived in Jackson Heights, Queens in New York City.^[2][3] His parents Ben and Ray (née Schiffman) are children of Austro-Hungarian immigrants, and his sister Ellen is four years older than he.^[2] The family moved to the hamlet of Roosevelt on Long Island in 1955,^[4] where Stern developed an interest in radio at five years of age.^[5] While Ray was a homemaker and later an inhalation therapist,^[6][7] Ben was a co-owner of Aura Recording, Inc., a recording studio in Manhattan where cartoons and commercials were produced.^[8] When he made occasional visits with his father, Stern witnessed actors Wally Cox, Don Adams and Larry Storch voice his favorite cartoon characters,^[9][10] which influenced him to later talk on the air rather than play records.^[11] Ben was also an engineer at WHOM, a radio station in Manhattan.^[8] On completion of sixth grade, Stern left Washington-Rose Elementary School for Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School.^[12] In June 1969, the family moved to nearby Rockville Centre and Stern transferred to South Side High School.^[13]

Stern spent the first two of four years at Boston University in the College of Basic Studies.^[14] In 1973, he started to work at WTBU, the campus radio station where he spun records, read the news, and hosted interviews.^[14] He also hosted a comedy program with three fellow students called The King Schmaltz Bagel Hour.^[15] Stern gained admission to the School of Public Communications in 1974^[16] and earned a diploma in July 1975 at the Radio Engineering Institute of Electronics in Fredericksburg, Virginia which allowed him to apply for a first class FCC radio-telephone license.^[17][18] With the license, Stern made his professional debut at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts, performing airshift, newscasting and production duties between August and December 1975.^[19] He graduated magna cum laude from Boston University in May 1976 with a degree in Communications^[3][14] and now funds a scholarship at the university.^[20]

Career[link]

Early professional radio career (1976–1981)[link]

After his graduation in 1976, Stern declined an offer to work evenings at WRNW, a progressive rock station in Briarcliff Manor, Westchester County, New York.^[21] He was unsure of his talent, and questioned his future in the professional industry. Stern took creative and media planning roles at Benton & Bowles, a New York advertising agency, followed by a job in selling radio time to advertisers.^[22] He realized the mistake of declining on-air work and contacted WRNW a second time where he agreed to work covering shifts over the Christmas holiday period.^[19][23] Stern was hired full time in 1977 and worked a four-hour midday shift, six days per week a $96 weekly salary.^[17] He subsequently worked as the station's production and program director for an increased salary of $250.^[19][24]

In 1979, Stern spotted an advertisement for a "wild, fun morning guy" at rock station WCCC in Hartford, Connecticut.^[25] He submitted a more outrageous audition tape with Robert Klein and Cheech and Chong records mixed with flatulence routines and one-liners.^[26] Stern was hired with no change in salary with a more intense schedule. After four hours on the air he voiced and produced commercials for another four. On Saturdays, following a six-hour show, he did production work for the next three. As the station's public affairs director he also hosted a Sunday morning talk show which he favoured.^[27] In the summer of the 1979 energy crisis, Stern held a two-day boycott of Shell Oil Company which attracted media attention.^[28] Stern left WCCC a year later after he was declined a pay increase.^[29] Fred Norris, the overnight disc jockey, has been Stern's producer and writer since 1981.^[30]

Management at rock outlet WWWW in Detroit, Michigan praised Stern's audition tape in their search for a new morning man.^[31] Stern was hired for the job which he started on April 21, 1980.^[13] He learned to become more open on the air and "decided to cut down the barriers...strip down all the ego...and be totally honest", he later told Newsday.^[32] His efforts earned him a Billboard award for "Album-Oriented Rock Personality of the Year For a Major Market" and the Drake-Chenault "Top Five Talent Search" title.^[33][34] The station however, ran into problems after Stern's quarterly Arbitron ratings had decreased while it struggled to compete with its stronger rock competitors. In January 1981, WWWW switched to a country music format much to Stern's dislike, who left the station soon after.^[35] He received offers to work at WXRT in Chicago and CHUM in Toronto, but did not take them.^[34][36]

Washington and WNBC New York (1981–1985)[link]

Stern moved to Washington, D.C. to host mornings at rock station WWDC on March 2, 1981.^[37][38] He wanted to develop his show further, and looked for a co-worker with a sense of humor to riff with on news and current events.^[39] The station paired Stern with Robin Quivers, a newscaster and consumer affairs reporter from WFBR in Baltimore.^[40] Though he felt restricted and controlled by management who enforced a strict format, Stern had the second highest rated morning radio program in January 1982.^[41][42] Impressed with his ratings success, NBC approached Stern with an offer to work afternoons at WNBC in New York City. After Stern signed a five-year contract worth $1 million in March,^[43] his relationship with WWDC management worsened,^[44] and his contract with the station was terminated on June 25. He had more than tripled the station's morning ratings during his stay.^[45] In its July issue The Washingtonian named Stern the area's best disc jockey.^[46] Stern released 50 Ways to Rank Your Mother, a comedy album of his radio bits. The record was re-released as Unclean Beaver in November 1994.^[47]

On April 2, 1982, a news report by Douglas Kiker on raunch radio featuring Stern aired on NBC Magazine.^[48] The piece stimulated discussion among NBC management to withdraw Stern's contract. When he began his afternoon program in September,^[49] management closely monitored Stern, telling him to avoid talk of a sexual and religious nature.^[50] In his first month, Stern was suspended for several days for "Virgin Mary Kong", a segment featuring a video game where a group of men pursued the Virgin Mary around a singles bar in Jerusalem.^[48] An attorney was hired to man a "dump button", and cut Stern off the microphone should potentially offensive areas be discussed. This became the task of program director Kevin Metheny, who Stern nicknamed "Pig Virus".^[48] On May 21, 1984, Stern made his first appearance on Late Night with David Letterman, launching him into the national spotlight.^[13] A year later he claimed the highest ratings at WNBC in four years with a 5.7% market share.^[51]

On September 30, 1985, Stern and Quivers were fired for what management termed "conceptual differences" regarding the show.^[52] "Over the course of time, we made a very conscious effort to make Stern aware that certain elements of the program should be changed...I don't think it's appropriate to say what those specifics were",^[53] said program director John Hayes, who Stern nicknamed "The Incubus". In 1992, Stern believed Thornton Bradshaw, chairman of WNBC's owner RCA, heard his "Bestiality Dial-a-Date" segment and ordered his firing.^[50] Stern and Quivers kept in touch with their audience throughout October and November where they toured club venues with a stage show.^[52]

K-Rock, early television endeavors and Fartman (1985–1992)[link]

Stern signed a contract with Infinity Broadcasting worth around $500,000^[54] and returned to afternoons on its New York rock station WXRK on November 18, 1985.^[52] The show moved to mornings on February 18, 1986 and entered national syndication on August 18 when WYSP in Philadelphia first simulcast the program.^[52] In October 1992, Stern became the first to have the number one morning radio show in New York and Los Angeles simultaneously.^[55] In the New York market The Howard Stern Show was the highest-rated morning program for seven consecutive years between 1994 and 2001.^[56] In 1994, Billboard magazine added the "Nationally Syndicated Air Personality of the Year" category to its annual radio awards based on entertainment value, creativity and ratings success.^[57] Stern was awarded the title from 1994 to 2002.^[58][59]

In May 1987, Stern recorded five television pilots for Fox when the network planned to replace The Late Show hosted by Joan Rivers.^[60] The series was never picked up; one executive having described the show as "poorly produced", "in poor taste" and "boring".^[61] Stern hosted his first pay-per-view event on February 27, 1988 named Howard Stern's Negligeé and Underpants Party.^[52] Over 60,000 homes purchased the two-hour special that grossed $1.2 million.^[62] On September 7, 1989, over 16,000 fans packed out Nassau Coliseum for Howard Stern's U.S. Open Sores, a live event that featured a tennis match between Stern and his radio show producer, Gary Dell'Abate.^[52] Both events were released for home video. From 1990 to 1992, Stern was the host of The Howard Stern Show, a Saturday night program on WWOR-TV. The series ran for 69 episodes to 65 markets nationwide.^[63] In February 1991, Stern released Crucified by the FCC, a collection of censored radio segments following the first fine issued to Infinity by the FCC over alleged indecency.^[64] He released a third video tape, Butt Bongo Fiesta, in October 1992 that sold 260,000 copies for a gross of over $10 million.^[64][65] He returned to Saturday night television that November with The Howard Stern "Interview", a one-on-one celebrity interview series on E!.^{[citation needed]}