Wack Pack
The Wack Pack is the name given to an assortment of personalities heard throughout the history of The Howard Stern Show, American entertainment talk radio show. As a parody of the Rat Pack or Brat Pack, they are considered part of what the radio show became notable for.[1] Members tend to be unusual in some way such as being blatantly racist, mentally disabled, having a comical appearance, voice or ability. As of 2016, twenty four living individuals are designated "Wack Packers"[2] (along with a number of deceased). Not every regular guest on or caller to the show is considered a member, nor are any of the show's staff members; Stern has stated that Wack Packers are not defined by having any disability or peculiarity, but by their inability to understand why they are funny.
Through their appearances on the radio show, some Wack Packers have gained notoriety for personal appearances around the country and occasionally, played roles in films and television programs.[3]
History
In the 1993 book Private Parts, Howard Stern lists early members of the Wack Pack, including Irene the Leather Weather Lady, who is essentially the first Wack Packer, having met Stern in May 1980 when he was broadcasting from WWWW in Detroit, Michigan.[4][5] Upon the introduction of Fred the Elephant Boy on the radio show on November 28, 1988, among a collection of others, Stern began calling the group of show personalities the "Wack Pack" on July 6, 1990, as documented in Stern's The History of Howard Stern radio series. Since moving to Sirius XM Radio, Stern has offered some members of the Wack Pack their own shows.[6]
Official list
 | This section needs additional citations for verification. (July 2018) |
On February 24, 2015, Stern and crew voted on an "official" list of Wack Pack members.[2]
Living Wack Packers
The following individuals were determined as official Wack Pack members:
- Angry Alice (formerly Crazy Alice)
- Asian Pete
- Ass Napkin Ed
- Beetlejuice, named "Greatest Wack Packer of All Time"[7] (Lester Green)
- Bigfoot (Mark Shaw, Jr.)
- Fred the Elephant Boy (Fred Schreiber)
- Gary the Conqueror (formerly Gary the Retard) (Gary Loudermilk)
- High Pitch Erik (Erik Bleaman)
- Jeff the Drunk (also known as Jeff the Bore)
- Jeff the Vomit Guy (Jeff Levy)
- John the Stutterer (Not to be confused with Stuttering John Melendez)
- Marfan Mike (Mike Diamond)
- Mark the Bagger (Mark Rothenberger)
- Medicated Pete (Pete McHeffey)
- Melrose Larry Green
- Miss Howard Stern (Andrea Ownbey)
- Monotone Matt
- Siobhan the Transsexual
- Sour Shoes (Michael DelCampo)
- Tan Mom (Patricia Krentcil)
- Underdog Lady (Suzanne Muldowney)
- Wendy the Slow Adult (formerly Wendy the Retard)
Former Wack Packers
- Hanzi (Imran Khan) (permanently banned from show, April 2016)
"Not Wack Pack Material"
The following individuals were at one time considered Wack Pack members; however, since 2015, they were excluded by Stern and his staff from the Wack Pack:
- Angry Black
- Big Black
- Bobo (Steve from Florida, Steve Bowie), Bobo lost his name temporarily and was known as Steve from Florida. In June 2017, Bobo endured a humiliating act to win his name back on the show.[8]
- Captain Janks (Tom Cipriano)
- Daniel Carver
- Eddie the Produce Guy
- Elegant Elliot Offen (permanently banned from show, 2006)
- Gay Ramone
- Ham Hands Bill
- Hate Man
- Hate Woman
- The Iron Sheik
- Joey Boots (Joseph Bassolino)
- The Kielbasa Queen (Denise Miller)
- King of All Blacks (Lawrence Coward)[9]
- Mariann from Brooklyn (Mariann Tepedino), considered the #1 super fan.
- Mick the Nerd (currently considered a candidate)
- Speech Impediment Man
- Ted the Janitor (Ted Green)
- Vin the Retard
- Wheelchair Steve
- Wood Yi
- Yucko the Clown
Deceased Wack Packers
| This section needs additional citations for verification. (February 2017) |
The following individuals were determined to be Wack Pack members either by Stern and his staff or by other sources prior to their death:
- Bigfoot (Matthew McGrory)[2]
- Blue Iris[2]
- Celestine[2]
- Cliff Palete (also known as Lispy Lynn to North Texas listeners) (Lynn Zimmermann)[2]
- Debbie the Space Alien (Debbie Roach)
- Fran the Singing Psychic (Frances Baskerville)
- George "Crackhead Bob" Harvey[2]
- Eric the Actor (formerly Eric the Midget)[10]
- Fruity Nutcake (formerly Rappin' Granny)
- Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf (Henry J. Nasiff, Jr.)[2]
- Joe Cancer
- Joey Boots (Joseph Bassolino)
- Kenneth Keith Kallenbach[2]
- Nicole Bass
- Riley Martin
- Ted the Janitor (Ted Green)
- Evil David Letterman (also known as Evil Dave)
References
- ^ Mintzer, Rich (2010). Howard Stern: A Biography. Greenwood Biographies. p. 86. ISBN 9780313380327. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "Choosing the official Wack Pack". HowardStern.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
- ^ Mintzer, p. 88
- ^ Lucaire, Luigi (1997). Howard Stern A To Z. St. Martin's Press (Google Books). p. 100. ISBN 0-312-15144-6. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
- ^ Stern, Howard (1997). Private Parts. Pocket (Google Books). pp. 159, 162. ISBN 978-0671009441. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
- ^ Edgers, Geoff (January 7, 2007). "A year after getting Sirius, Stern's entertaining as ever". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
- ^ "Wednesday, March 18, 2015". HowardStern.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
- ^ "Walk of Shame: Steve From Florida Hits the Streets of NYC Wearing Next to Nothing". Howard Stern. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
- ^ "Howard Stern personality 'King Of All Blacks' files discrimination suit against City of Englewood". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
- ^ Lindelof, Bill (September 22, 2014). "Sacramento resident and Stern show regular Eric the Actor dies". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 9, 2017.