Howard Stern

Fartman, sexual innuendo, lesbians, jokes about airplane crashes and other telephone pranks: these are but a few of the items that a listener might have heard during Howard Stern's radio shows. These days, Howard Stern's show is broadcast on Sirius Satellite Radio. However, prior to Stern's jump from terrestrial radio, any American with a radio could hear the self described "King of All Media" talk about things that might shock normal people.

First, Howard has been known to add sexual innuendo into his broadcast. During a snowy day in New York Stern asked his sidekick Robin Quivers how many inches (of snow) she was hoping for. Robin replied that she was hoping for twelve inches however she said that she could handle more because the weekend was near. Also in terms of sex, Stern discovered a woman who could swallow a twelve inch Kielbasa sausage. Finally, there are Stern's public discussions on the air with Lesbians. Comedy bits called "Lesbian-Dial-A-Date," "The Lesbian Love Connection," and one on-air conversation with a woman about her first lesbian seduction were all broadcast on Stern's radio or television show.

Then there is Fartman. Farting is reported to be Stern's favorite pastime. This is due to Howard smacking his lips and chewing with his mouth open while eating. The Fartman character started in Washington, DC when he called the Polish embassy and farted into the phone while talking to the Polish ambassador. After that, calls by Fartman were made to the Iranian embassy and Chinese consulate. Prank calls escalated to an appearance during the 1991 MTV awards. Stern, dressed as Fartman, flew onstage by means of cables. The Fartman costume was designed to be "the most disgusting thing people had ever seen," according to Stern. It was a yellowish outfit with an exposed beer gut and butt cheeks as well as a rather large codpiece.  

Phone pranks are an old reliable method of humor on the radio. Howard Stern is no exception to this comedy bit. He, along with Captain Janks and Stern's other minions are known to shout “Baba Booey” during a telephone conversation. “Baba Booey” is the nickname for Stern's producer, Gary Dell'Abate. The name originates from Gary's collection of cartoon cells. The name comes from Quick Draw McGraw's sidekick, Baba Looey. During the course of a phony phone call the phrase “Baba Booey” or the name “Howard Stern” can be heard just before the end of the phone call.

Captain Janks, whos real name is Thomas Cipriano, is described as being a "rabid Stern fan." Janks has been known to record many phony phone calls to radio and television shows. The end of each conversation during the phony call is Captain Janks blurting out Stern's name on the air. Some of the shows that have been victims to the phony call are the Larry King Show, CNN news, and any show that allows live phone calls during a crisis or tragedy.  

Then there was humor in light of a plane crash. After an Air Florida jet crashed into the Potomac River in January 1982, Stern called the airline to ask about the price of a one-way ticket to the 14th Street Bridge.

Love him or hate him, Howard Stern is a true shock jock, even though some people may call him a dumbass.







Paul Colford. "Howard Stern: King of All Media." New York: St. Martin's Press, 1996.

Luigi Lucaire. "Howard Stern A to Z." New York: St. Martin's Press, 1997.

Howard Stern. "Private Parts." New York: Simon and Schuster, Copyright 1993, One Twelve, Inc.