Gary Dell'Abate
Encyclopedia
Gary Patrick Angelo Dell'Abate (born March 14, 1961), also known as "Baba Booey", is an American
radio producer
, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey
, was released on November 2, 2010.
, New York
, on Long Island
. He comes from a large Italian-American family. His father, Sal Dell'Abate, was an ice cream
salesman. He attended Adelphi University
, receiving the Richard F. Clemo Award at the end of his senior year, where he interned at several radio stations. While interning with Roz Frank, a traffic reporter on WNBC
, he came into contact with Howard Stern
.
, then syndicated through K-Rock
in New York City
, and later broadcast on Sirius XM Radio.
Previously nicknamed "Boy Gary" (Howard called his college roommate Dr. Lew Weinstein "boy" when giving an order; preceded by "Boy" Lee Davis at WNBC), Dell'Abate's "Baba Booey" moniker originated on The Howard Stern Show on July 26, 1990, after telling a story of his prized collection of animation cels
. In the course of discussing a Quick Draw McGraw
cel he might purchase, he misstated the name of McGraw's sidekick
Baba Looey as Baba Booey. As is typical of the show, the rest of the cast "goofed" on his mistake, becoming especially merciless since he was mulling the purchase of a cel of a character without even knowing the character's correct name. Dell'Abate said something to the effect that they would forget the name by the next day, yet it has remained to this day. Eventually he named his autobiography They Call Me Baba Booey.
"Baba Booey" as a term has become a mantra
for fans of The Howard Stern Show and is often used during crank calls to live network television or radio broadcasts. For example, a call made to ABC News
during the low-speed police chase of O. J. Simpson
's Ford Bronco through the streets of Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
, signed off with "And Baba Booey to y'all!" Sportscaster Al Michaels
explained to anchor Peter Jennings
the significance of that phrase.
After Dell'Abate's brother, Steven, died of AIDS
in January 1991, Dell'Abate became a supporter of LIFEbeat The Music Industry Fights AIDS and serves on the charity's
Board of Directors
. Dell'Abate has had struggles with his weight, and is known for yo-yo dieting
.
He was featured in the May 2007 issue of Sound and Vision magazine where his home theater was profiled. In the article, he revealed that his favorite album is Aja
by Steely Dan
.
Dell'Abate is an avid New York Mets
fan, and, on May 9, 2009 he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Mets game. His effort resulted in a toss that almost hit the umpire, who was standing about four feet up the third-base line. This pitch was widely mocked not only on The Howard Stern Show but also on various television programs and news publications.
On Monday, March 14, 2011, Dell'Abate was elected to the Greenwich, CT Board of Parks and Recreation on a 119-64 vote margin.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio producer
Radio producer
A radio producer oversees the making of a radio show. There are two main types of producer. An audio or creative producer and a content producer. Audio producers create sounds and audio specifically, content producers oversee and orchestrate a radio show or feature...
, known for being the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show. His autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey
They Call Me Baba Booey
They Call Me Baba Booey is an American autobiography by radio producer Gary Dell'Abate with Chad Millman. In December 2010, infoMania interviewed Dell'Abate about the book. Published by Villard, an imprint of Random House, the book was released on November 2, 2010.-Pre-release:On April 28, 2010,...
, was released on November 2, 2010.
Early life and career
Dell'Abate was born in UniondaleUniondale, New York
Uniondale is a hamlet as well as a suburb of New York City in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island, in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 24,759 at the 2010 United States Census.-Geography:...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, on Long Island
Long Island
Long Island is an island located in the southeast part of the U.S. state of New York, just east of Manhattan. Stretching northeast into the Atlantic Ocean, Long Island contains four counties, two of which are boroughs of New York City , and two of which are mainly suburban...
. He comes from a large Italian-American family. His father, Sal Dell'Abate, was an ice cream
Ice cream
Ice cream is a frozen dessert usually made from dairy products, such as milk and cream, and often combined with fruits or other ingredients and flavours. Most varieties contain sugar, although some are made with other sweeteners...
salesman. He attended Adelphi University
Adelphi University
Adelphi University is a private, nonsectarian university located in Garden City, in Nassau County, New York, United States. It is the oldest institution of higher education on Long Island. For the sixth year, Adelphi University has been named a “Best Buy” in higher education by the Fiske Guide to...
, receiving the Richard F. Clemo Award at the end of his senior year, where he interned at several radio stations. While interning with Roz Frank, a traffic reporter on WNBC
WNBC
WNBC, virtual channel 4 , is the flagship station of the NBC television network, located in New York City. WNBC's studios are co-located with NBC corporate headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in midtown Manhattan...
, he came into contact with Howard Stern
Howard Stern
Howard Allan Stern is an American radio personality, television host, author, and actor 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...
.
The Howard Stern Show
Dell'Abate has worked on The Howard Stern Show since September 4, 1984: originally on 66 WNBCWFAN
WFAN , also known as "Sports Radio 66" or "The FAN", is a radio station in New York City. The station broadcasts on a clear channel and is owned by CBS Radio...
, then syndicated through K-Rock
WFNY-FM
WXRK , known on-air as "92.3 Now", is a radio station in New York City. Owned by CBS Radio, WXRK broadcasts a Contemporary Hit Radio format with a rhythmic lean...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, and later broadcast on Sirius XM Radio.
Previously nicknamed "Boy Gary" (Howard called his college roommate Dr. Lew Weinstein "boy" when giving an order; preceded by "Boy" Lee Davis at WNBC), Dell'Abate's "Baba Booey" moniker originated on The Howard Stern Show on July 26, 1990, after telling a story of his prized collection of animation cels
Cel
A cel, short for celluloid, is a transparent sheet on which objects are drawn or painted for traditional, hand-drawn animation. Actual celluloid was used during the first half of the 20th century, but since it was flammable and dimensionally unstable it was largely replaced by cellulose acetate...
. In the course of discussing a Quick Draw McGraw
Quick Draw McGraw
The Quick Draw McGraw Show is the third cartoon television production created by Hanna-Barbera starring an anthropomorphic cartoon horse named Quick Draw McGraw following their success with The Ruff & Reddy Show and The Huckleberry Hound Show. The show debuted in syndication in the fall of 1959,...
cel he might purchase, he misstated the name of McGraw's sidekick
Sidekick
A sidekick is a close companion who is generally regarded as subordinate to the one he accompanies. Some well-known fictional sidekicks are Don Quixote's Sancho Panza, Sherlock Holmes' Doctor Watson, The Lone Ranger's Tonto, The Green Hornet's Kato and Batman's Robin.-Origins:The origin of the...
Baba Looey as Baba Booey. As is typical of the show, the rest of the cast "goofed" on his mistake, becoming especially merciless since he was mulling the purchase of a cel of a character without even knowing the character's correct name. Dell'Abate said something to the effect that they would forget the name by the next day, yet it has remained to this day. Eventually he named his autobiography They Call Me Baba Booey.
"Baba Booey" as a term has become a mantra
Mantra
A mantra is a sound, syllable, word, or group of words that is considered capable of "creating transformation"...
for fans of The Howard Stern Show and is often used during crank calls to live network television or radio broadcasts. For example, a call made to ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
during the low-speed police chase of O. J. Simpson
O. J. Simpson
Orenthal James "O. J." Simpson , nicknamed "The Juice", is a retired American collegiate and professional football player, football broadcaster, and actor...
's Ford Bronco through the streets of Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
Brentwood, Los Angeles, California
Brentwood is a district in western Los Angeles, California, United States. The district is located at the base of the Santa Monica Mountains, bounded by the San Diego Freeway on the east, Wilshire Boulevard on the south, the Santa Monica city limits on the southwest, the border of Topanga State...
, signed off with "And Baba Booey to y'all!" Sportscaster Al Michaels
Al Michaels
Alan Richard "Al" Michaels is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades with ABC Sports, Michaels is one of the most prominent members of his profession...
explained to anchor Peter Jennings
Peter Jennings
Peter Charles Archibald Ewart Jennings, CM was a Canadian American journalist and news anchor. He was the sole anchor of ABC's World News Tonight from 1983 until his death in 2005 of complications from lung cancer...
the significance of that phrase.
Personal life
Dell'Abate has two sons.After Dell'Abate's brother, Steven, died of AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in January 1991, Dell'Abate became a supporter of LIFEbeat The Music Industry Fights AIDS and serves on the charity's
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
Board of Directors
Board of directors
A board of directors is a body of elected or appointed members who jointly oversee the activities of a company or organization. Other names include board of governors, board of managers, board of regents, board of trustees, and board of visitors...
. Dell'Abate has had struggles with his weight, and is known for yo-yo dieting
Yo-yo dieting
Yo-yo dieting or Yo-yo effect, also known as weight cycling The term "yo-yo dieting" was coined by Kelly D. Brownell, Ph.D., at Yale University, in reference to the cyclical up-down motion of a yo-yo. In this process, the dieter is initially successful in the pursuit of weight loss but is...
.
He was featured in the May 2007 issue of Sound and Vision magazine where his home theater was profiled. In the article, he revealed that his favorite album is Aja
Aja (album)
-Charts:AlbumPop Singles-Awards:Grammy Awards-External links:**, courtesy of The Museum of Classic Chicago Television...
by Steely Dan
Steely Dan
Steely Dan is an American rock band; its core members are Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. The band's popularity peaked in the late 1970s, with the release of seven albums blending elements of jazz, rock, funk, R&B, and pop...
.
Dell'Abate is an avid New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
fan, and, on May 9, 2009 he threw out the ceremonial first pitch at a Mets game. His effort resulted in a toss that almost hit the umpire, who was standing about four feet up the third-base line. This pitch was widely mocked not only on The Howard Stern Show but also on various television programs and news publications.
On Monday, March 14, 2011, Dell'Abate was elected to the Greenwich, CT Board of Parks and Recreation on a 119-64 vote margin.