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

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., not to be confused with the late actor Matthew McGrory, who previously had the name "Bigfoot" on the show.)
  • Fred the Elephant Boy (Fred Schreiber)
  • Gary the Conqueror (Gary Loudermilk, previously known as Gary the Retard)
  • High Pitch Erik (Erik Bleaman)
  • High Register Sean (named in 2019)[8]
  • Jeff the Drunk (Jeff Curro, also known as Jeff the Bore)
  • Jeff the Vomit Guy (Jeff Levy)
  • John the Stutterer (not to be confused with former staff member and Tonight Show announcer 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 for reasons including their ability to hold a job and function in society, while still having a funny or unusual personality.

  • Angry Black
  • Big Black
  • Bobo (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.[9]
  • 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 (Hossein Khosrow Ali Vaziri)
  • Joey Boots (Joseph Bassolino)
  • The Kielbasa Queen (Denise Miller)
  • King of All Blacks (Lawrence Coward)[10]
  • Mariann from Brooklyn (Mariann Tepedino), considered the #1 super fan and den mother to the Wack Pack.
  • Mick the Nerd (currently considered a candidate)
  • Speech Impediment Man
  • Vin the Retard
  • Wheelchair Steve
  • Wood Yi
  • Yucko the Clown (Roger Black)

Deceased Wack Packers

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 (Lynn Zimmermann, also known as Lispy Lynn to North Texas listeners)[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)[11]
  • 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[12]
  • Riley Martin[13]
  • Ted the Janitor (Ted Green)
  • Evil David Letterman (Dave Van Dam, also known as Evil Dave)[14]
gollark: No.
gollark: Sure.
gollark: And yet your "Macron" doesn't exist. You're not on the Committee.
gollark: You're just jealous.
gollark: The Committee.

References
  1. Mintzer, Rich (2010). Howard Stern: A Biography. Greenwood Biographies. p. 86. ISBN 9780313380327. Retrieved 2012-11-02.
  2. "Choosing the official Wack Pack". HowardStern.com. Archived from the original on March 10, 2015. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  3. Mintzer, p. 88
  4. Lucaire, Luigi (1997). Howard Stern A To Z. St. Martin's Press (Internet Archive). p. 100. ISBN 0-312-15144-6. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  5. Stern, Howard (1997). Private Parts. Pocket (Google Books). pp. 159, 162. ISBN 978-0671009441. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  6. Edgers, Geoff (January 7, 2007). "A year after getting Sirius, Stern's entertaining as ever". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2012-10-10.
  7. "Wednesday, March 18, 2015". HowardStern.com. Retrieved 21 March 2015.
  8. "AUDIO: High Register Sean Teaches Howard About 'Dog Men' and the Dangers They Pose". Howard Stern. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  9. "Walk of Shame: Steve From Florida Hits the Streets of NYC Wearing Next to Nothing". Howard Stern. 2017-06-28. Retrieved 2017-07-13.
  10. "Howard Stern personality 'King Of All Blacks' files discrimination suit against City of Englewood". NJ.com. Retrieved 2016-12-24.
  11. Lindelof, Bill (September 22, 2014). "Sacramento resident and Stern show regular Eric the Actor dies". The Sacramento Bee. Retrieved February 9, 2017.
  12. Ryan, Satin (February 17, 2017). "Nicole Bass — Passes Away While Surrounded by Friends and Family After Life Support Was Removed". Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
  13. "Howard Stern Show's Alien Expert Riley Martin Dies". tmz.com. December 11, 2018.
  14. "Obituary for David J. VanDam  — Skokie, Ill". www.donnellanfuneral.com. Retrieved December 11, 2018.
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