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They Call Me Baba Booey
One of pop culture’s great enduring unsung Gary Dell’Abate, Howard Stern Show producer, miracle worker, professional good sport, and servant to the King of All Media, for the first time tells the story of his early years and reveals how his chaotic childhood and early obsessions prepared him for life at the center of the greatest show on earth.
Baba Booey! Baba Booey! It was a slip of the tongue—that unfortunately was heard by a few million listeners—but in that split second a nickname, a persona, a rallying cry, and a phenomenon was born. Some would say it was the moment Gary Dell’Abate, the long-suffering heroic producer of The Howard Stern Show, for better or worse, finally came into his own. In They Call Me Baba Booey , Dell’Abate explains how his early life was the perfect training ground for the day-to-day chaos that comes with producing the most popular radio show on earth.
Growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, the youngest of three boys born to a clinically depressed mother, Gary learned how to fend for himself when under attack. Obsessed with music, he listened with religious intensity to Casey Kasem's Top 40 every Sunday morning, compulsively bought 45s of his favorite songs, and nerdily copied the lyrics into a notebook. Music became an ordering principle to his life, even as the chaos at home got out of hand. Dell’Abate’s memoir sketches the trajectory from the obsessive pop-music trivia buff to the man in the beekeeper’s mask who handily defeats his opponents playing “Stump the Booey.” We learn about the memorable moments in his life that taught him to endure epic bouts of humiliation and get his unique perspective on some of his favorite Stern show episodes—such as the day he nearly killed the Mets mascot while throwing out the first pitch, or the time his mother called Howard’s mother and demanded an apology.
Hilarious, painful, and eye-opening, it’s Gary as you’ve never seen him before, telling a story that even Stern show insiders can’t begin to imagine.
Baba Booey! Baba Booey! It was a slip of the tongue—that unfortunately was heard by a few million listeners—but in that split second a nickname, a persona, a rallying cry, and a phenomenon was born. Some would say it was the moment Gary Dell’Abate, the long-suffering heroic producer of The Howard Stern Show, for better or worse, finally came into his own. In They Call Me Baba Booey , Dell’Abate explains how his early life was the perfect training ground for the day-to-day chaos that comes with producing the most popular radio show on earth.
Growing up on Long Island in the 1970s, the youngest of three boys born to a clinically depressed mother, Gary learned how to fend for himself when under attack. Obsessed with music, he listened with religious intensity to Casey Kasem's Top 40 every Sunday morning, compulsively bought 45s of his favorite songs, and nerdily copied the lyrics into a notebook. Music became an ordering principle to his life, even as the chaos at home got out of hand. Dell’Abate’s memoir sketches the trajectory from the obsessive pop-music trivia buff to the man in the beekeeper’s mask who handily defeats his opponents playing “Stump the Booey.” We learn about the memorable moments in his life that taught him to endure epic bouts of humiliation and get his unique perspective on some of his favorite Stern show episodes—such as the day he nearly killed the Mets mascot while throwing out the first pitch, or the time his mother called Howard’s mother and demanded an apology.
Hilarious, painful, and eye-opening, it’s Gary as you’ve never seen him before, telling a story that even Stern show insiders can’t begin to imagine.
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2010
85 people are currently reading
475 people want to read
About the author
Gary Dell'Abate
2 books9 followersGary Patrick Dell'Abate, 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.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 169 reviews
March 9, 2011
So I've lived in the city for almost five years now and have read probably hundreds of books on the subway, and how many times have people asked me what I was reading or commented on what I was reading??? ZERO times. Soooo here I am with the Baba Booey book, trying to be oh so discreet about it because, well, you know... So onto the G train walks a guy, stands next to me and says, "And what are we reading today?" I very reluctantly show him. "Baba Booey? Oh, Howard Stern, right??" Yeeeees. Then he starts spitting out every little factoid he knows about Howard Stern - and he knows a lot. I look to the left: eye-rolling hipster. I look to the right: disapproving oldster. Oh god. And he continues on & on, finally stopping at, "And he's made a BILLION DOLLARS out of working on the radio, getting women to come in and take off their panties and show their ta-tas!" And thank god there was my stop so I could slink off the train.
Anyway, it's as you would expect from Gary. He's very sweet, humble, gracious, a little bit self-deprecating, able to laugh at himself. And he knows how lucky he is to be where he is today, but he's also proud of the good job he does. Very appreciative towards Howard and what he's learned from him and the relationship they have on and off the air. Some interesting revelations about his family life growing up on Long Island, but basically nothing earth-shattering.
Another guilty pleasure.
Anyway, it's as you would expect from Gary. He's very sweet, humble, gracious, a little bit self-deprecating, able to laugh at himself. And he knows how lucky he is to be where he is today, but he's also proud of the good job he does. Very appreciative towards Howard and what he's learned from him and the relationship they have on and off the air. Some interesting revelations about his family life growing up on Long Island, but basically nothing earth-shattering.
Another guilty pleasure.
November 26, 2011
Pulls up short. And understandably so. No need to read this unless you're a Howard Stern fan. So when Dell'Abate glosses over his relationship with Howard, professionally and personally, it's disappointing. But, again, I understand why. The show is still a success and Howard is still his boss. Not much incentive to be candid when you've been the show's punching bag for 20+ years.
However, the first half of the book is well down. Great insight into an Italian family growing up in NY that avoids stereotypes (well, some) and illustrates how hard he worked to make it in the industry. Thoroughly enjoyed these parts. But the second half struggles to find the same honesty with unnecessarily long chapters on The Pitch and Afghanistan. And we didn't need a full translation of the The Call (Stern fans already know it). I really wanted to know more how Dell'Abate feels about Howard as a boss and as a person, as well as the other key members of the crew. It does address them to some extent, but very limited.
Nicely written, it avoids the ghost-writer style that reads like the celebrity "author" dictated their life story. If Dell'abate did the writing, I'm doubly impressed.
Still, I would recommend it to any Howard Stern fan.
However, the first half of the book is well down. Great insight into an Italian family growing up in NY that avoids stereotypes (well, some) and illustrates how hard he worked to make it in the industry. Thoroughly enjoyed these parts. But the second half struggles to find the same honesty with unnecessarily long chapters on The Pitch and Afghanistan. And we didn't need a full translation of the The Call (Stern fans already know it). I really wanted to know more how Dell'Abate feels about Howard as a boss and as a person, as well as the other key members of the crew. It does address them to some extent, but very limited.
Nicely written, it avoids the ghost-writer style that reads like the celebrity "author" dictated their life story. If Dell'abate did the writing, I'm doubly impressed.
Still, I would recommend it to any Howard Stern fan.
February 15, 2011
So one day around ten years ago, I got into the car for a half-hour drive. My husband had been in the car before me, and the radio was tuned to Howard Stern. I don't think I'd listened to the show but once or twice, and only for a few minutes each time. Anyway, it was these random guys commenting on a videotape that Gary, the show's producer, had sent to a girl, I think to get her back. It was one of the funniest things I'd ever heard on the radio. Plus, I'd always had a bit of an obsession with teeth, and Gary's choppers were one of the main points of ridicule. I don't know why it came up, but a few years ago, I told my husband about the episode I had heard. He gawked with jealously and amazement that by sheer chance I had listened to the famous Gary videotape broadcast.
A few weeks ago, I found this book about Gary on my husband's night stand. Spurred by the memory of that show, and my continuing teeth fascination, I read it. I can't say it was a difficult or though-provoking read, but it was enjoyable.
A few weeks ago, I found this book about Gary on my husband's night stand. Spurred by the memory of that show, and my continuing teeth fascination, I read it. I can't say it was a difficult or though-provoking read, but it was enjoyable.
December 11, 2010
There is no way anyone who is not a Howard Stern fan would care at all about this book. So why the four stars? Two reason: I AM a Stern fan, and I love Gary, and this book is the most Gary. More importantly, Gary has made no secret of his love of audiobooks on the show, and it shows in this production. He's a good reader, he elicits real sympathy as well as humor, but more importantly, he made the book stand on it's own. By ad-libbing to the lists, and including interviews with some of the un-famous costars, including his wife Mary, he adds to the listening pleasure.
But, to get all "Baba Booey" on it, those interviews are HILARIOUS because they sound EXACTLY like the Chris Farley show SNL skit. Remember that one? It went like this:
"Do you remember when we worked at Record Land? Remember that? That was awesome." Every single one. OMG it's HILARIOUS!!!!!!!
But, to get all "Baba Booey" on it, those interviews are HILARIOUS because they sound EXACTLY like the Chris Farley show SNL skit. Remember that one? It went like this:
"Do you remember when we worked at Record Land? Remember that? That was awesome." Every single one. OMG it's HILARIOUS!!!!!!!
December 7, 2022
Pretty average autobiography. Nothing more, nothing less
November 21, 2010
Of the two books I read this week by people in radio and that the New York Times didn't deign to review, this was the more satisfying book though not what I expected. I am a big fan of the Howard Stern show, and I generally have it on unless I need to concentrate on something work-related or the kids are close by. I am also a big fan of radio in general, and The Howard Stern Show is either the pinnacle of this medium or I've just heard Howard say it so many times that I have been brainwashed into believing it.
So when I heard Baba Booey was coming out with a book I was interested to hear more about the nuts and bolts details of how The Howard Stern Show operates. Instead I read about his experiences growing up on Long Island with a mentally unbalanced mom. It think she was bipolar, but this was before this kind of stuff was diagnosed.
There isn't a lot about the show that I hadn't already heard before -- the tape, the pitch, the teeth. I understand why hard core fans of the show are giving it such negative reviews.
One interesting part that I didn't know before was just how hard it was and how much crap Gary had to take just to break in to radio. Oddly, he credits a lot of his success to dealing with his unpredictable and unstable home life. [[[Aside: I sort of know what he means. My career didn't really start to take off until I was at Verity, where it wasn't unusual for someone to be screaming or crying in the halls and there was generally a weird tension in the air. But I felt oddly at ease there, or not exactly at ease but certainly able to understand and navigate the personal dynamics. As long as I'm digressing I'm going to mention my theory that without all the divorces in the 70's the culture in Silicon Valley wouldn't be possible. The hope that "There's going to be an IPO and I'm going to be rich and happy" is just the damaged adult version of "Daddy's going to move back home and we're all going to be happy." Baba Booey's writing about his early career is the closest thing I've read yet to this pet theory of mine.]]]
The book handles Gary's brother's death from AIDS beautifully. It's very touching and made me tear up at Posh Bagel (of all places) this afternoon. Some parts, like working in the record store and the lists of records, are pretty tedious and caused me to start skimming. I don't care what it was like to sell Thriller on the first day that it was available. [[[Another aside: It's weird that someone who prides himself on music knowledge and spent so much money collecting records would have such a pedestrian and mainstream taste. There was so much interesting stuff going on back then that you'd think he would have checked at least some of it out. Maybe he just left it out of the book. I do agree with him that the "story songs" from the 70s are awesomely bad, like "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" and "Patches." Those songs take me back to being a kid, playing 45s and listening to AM radio. I can totally relate to Gary and his brother listening to the radio and playing records as an escape.]]]
After reading this book and the one by Aline Kominsky-Crumb I think I've read enough about growing up on Long Island to last me for the rest of my life.
As a great man once said to Peter Jennings: "Now lookee here...Baby Booey to y'all!"
So when I heard Baba Booey was coming out with a book I was interested to hear more about the nuts and bolts details of how The Howard Stern Show operates. Instead I read about his experiences growing up on Long Island with a mentally unbalanced mom. It think she was bipolar, but this was before this kind of stuff was diagnosed.
There isn't a lot about the show that I hadn't already heard before -- the tape, the pitch, the teeth. I understand why hard core fans of the show are giving it such negative reviews.
One interesting part that I didn't know before was just how hard it was and how much crap Gary had to take just to break in to radio. Oddly, he credits a lot of his success to dealing with his unpredictable and unstable home life. [[[Aside: I sort of know what he means. My career didn't really start to take off until I was at Verity, where it wasn't unusual for someone to be screaming or crying in the halls and there was generally a weird tension in the air. But I felt oddly at ease there, or not exactly at ease but certainly able to understand and navigate the personal dynamics. As long as I'm digressing I'm going to mention my theory that without all the divorces in the 70's the culture in Silicon Valley wouldn't be possible. The hope that "There's going to be an IPO and I'm going to be rich and happy" is just the damaged adult version of "Daddy's going to move back home and we're all going to be happy." Baba Booey's writing about his early career is the closest thing I've read yet to this pet theory of mine.]]]
The book handles Gary's brother's death from AIDS beautifully. It's very touching and made me tear up at Posh Bagel (of all places) this afternoon. Some parts, like working in the record store and the lists of records, are pretty tedious and caused me to start skimming. I don't care what it was like to sell Thriller on the first day that it was available. [[[Another aside: It's weird that someone who prides himself on music knowledge and spent so much money collecting records would have such a pedestrian and mainstream taste. There was so much interesting stuff going on back then that you'd think he would have checked at least some of it out. Maybe he just left it out of the book. I do agree with him that the "story songs" from the 70s are awesomely bad, like "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" and "Patches." Those songs take me back to being a kid, playing 45s and listening to AM radio. I can totally relate to Gary and his brother listening to the radio and playing records as an escape.]]]
After reading this book and the one by Aline Kominsky-Crumb I think I've read enough about growing up on Long Island to last me for the rest of my life.
As a great man once said to Peter Jennings: "Now lookee here...Baby Booey to y'all!"
October 25, 2010
I recommend this for Stern fans (duh), radio geeks, and anyone with a mentally ill parent. Gary is my favorite "cast member" on the Stern show. I learned a lot about his work ethic in this book. The take-away about his career is that hard work, a positive attitude, and a willingness to overlook slights can get you far in life if you have a goal. That may sound like pap, but if you know someone who could benefit from that message, have them read _They Call me Baba Booey_! I also like his message that everything in life has brought you to the place where you are now. Gary (and Chad) tie that together very elegantly even with the final line of the book.
For hard core Stern fans, if you think you know it all about Gary, you'll be pleased by the fresh material and "reveals" in this book. Without spoiling, I can tell you that Gary explains his aging parents' relationship and his mother's whereabouts, both of which he's only alluded to on the show. You know it's deep, because Howard doesn't even bring it up. (Although now that it's in the book, it's fair play, so that will be interesting for we listeners.) We also get new information about "the tape!" You know what I'm talkin' 'bout!
This may be my favorite Stern-cast-member book so far. I noticed a typo, and some sections verge on the mundane. But I'm such a Gary fan and radio geek that even his descriptions of his early internships were interesting to me.
Baba Booey to y'all!
For hard core Stern fans, if you think you know it all about Gary, you'll be pleased by the fresh material and "reveals" in this book. Without spoiling, I can tell you that Gary explains his aging parents' relationship and his mother's whereabouts, both of which he's only alluded to on the show. You know it's deep, because Howard doesn't even bring it up. (Although now that it's in the book, it's fair play, so that will be interesting for we listeners.) We also get new information about "the tape!" You know what I'm talkin' 'bout!
This may be my favorite Stern-cast-member book so far. I noticed a typo, and some sections verge on the mundane. But I'm such a Gary fan and radio geek that even his descriptions of his early internships were interesting to me.
Baba Booey to y'all!
April 5, 2011
Baba Booey, Baba Booey, Howard Stern's penis.
Yup, I'm a Stern fan. While I type this, I am listening to Howard talk to former governor Jesse Ventura and guest announcer George Takei is with them this week. Thank you Sirius XM on teh Interwebz.
Gary has been in the background of the Howard Stern Show as far back as I remember (NOTE: I started listening in the early nineties.) When I heard he was putting out a book, I figured it could make for an interesting read but it wasn't on my "must read" list. Last month, though, I was walking down Lincoln Road in Miami, Florida and walked into Books & Books. Lo and behold they has a signed copy so I figured: what the hell.
They Call Me Baba Booey has the feel of two short books weaved into one: the story of Gary growing up in New York and his anecdotes about working with Howard and the crew. Ironically, I found myself more drawn to the stories of his family since (somehow) I found myself relating... especially since my mother has dealt with similar issues.
This wasn't the great American novel, but it was a fun read worth some of your spare time.
Yup, I'm a Stern fan. While I type this, I am listening to Howard talk to former governor Jesse Ventura and guest announcer George Takei is with them this week. Thank you Sirius XM on teh Interwebz.
Gary has been in the background of the Howard Stern Show as far back as I remember (NOTE: I started listening in the early nineties.) When I heard he was putting out a book, I figured it could make for an interesting read but it wasn't on my "must read" list. Last month, though, I was walking down Lincoln Road in Miami, Florida and walked into Books & Books. Lo and behold they has a signed copy so I figured: what the hell.
They Call Me Baba Booey has the feel of two short books weaved into one: the story of Gary growing up in New York and his anecdotes about working with Howard and the crew. Ironically, I found myself more drawn to the stories of his family since (somehow) I found myself relating... especially since my mother has dealt with similar issues.
This wasn't the great American novel, but it was a fun read worth some of your spare time.
April 9, 2013
Several reviewers have stated that you should be a fan of the Howard Stern show to read this book written by his long time producer. I am not a fan, and while I've heard of Howard Stern, and saw the movie "Private Parts" years ago, I have never listened to him on radio. What drew me to this title while looking for a downloadable audio was the fact that it was a memoir, written by someone born around the same time as myself, who grew up Italian American on Long Island, (like Ray Romano's fictional family on the lives-on-in-reruns television series.) Throw in the author reading it aloud himself, and his passion for music from the 1970s and I was all in! The audiobook includes interviews with people from Gary's past that were not part of the print edition. I probably would not have read this in print, or may not have considered it 4 stars if I did, but as an audiobook experience this provided everything I look for in that format: relatable author/reader, some humor, and not too lengthy.
Read
July 30, 2011I recently took a 2-week vacation and needed a light read while traveling. I chose the recent memoir of minor celebrity Gary Dell’Abate, also known as “Baba Booey,” the producer of the Howard Stern Show. Whether or not you like or watch Howard Stern, it’s hard not to like Gary. In his both humorous and sometimes wrenching memoir, Gary tells of growing up in a working-class Italian family on Long Island in the 1970’s. With a protective, but manic-depressive mother, a World War II vet for a father, a rebellious brother, and a secretive, quiet brother, Gary describes how growing up in a somewhat frenetic family and his hard work as a radio intern prepared him for his long-standing gig with Stern. While this is no deep or profound read, I found Gary’s memoir to be fun, compassionate and surprisingly inspiring. (Russ K., Ref.)
December 1, 2010
I am a huge, long time fan and listener of The Howard Stern Show. I've always held a special place in my heart for Gary. He takes tons of crap and keeps on going, like the energizer bunny! I never thought he got enough credit for what he does and he never asks for it. Very humble guy.
They Call Me Baba Booey is not about Howard or a behind the scenes look at the show, it is Gary's book about Gary. I never knew how hard he had it growing up but he overcame all the blocks that were put in his path, his sick mother, losing a brother to AIDS and more.
I enjoyed seeing a side of Gary that I hadn't seen before. It was interesting reading. Honestly thought? I think this is a book for fans of the show more than just your average Joe.
They Call Me Baba Booey is not about Howard or a behind the scenes look at the show, it is Gary's book about Gary. I never knew how hard he had it growing up but he overcame all the blocks that were put in his path, his sick mother, losing a brother to AIDS and more.
I enjoyed seeing a side of Gary that I hadn't seen before. It was interesting reading. Honestly thought? I think this is a book for fans of the show more than just your average Joe.
January 4, 2018
They call him Bababooey, Fla Fla flunkie, ra ra retard and many more. Another one you need to be a Howard Stern super fan to understand or even be interested in. The life of long time Howard Stern Producer Gary dellabate, kept me entertained but felt it went on too long on certain chapters and would doze off. Certain part of his stories i cared little for. I admit I liked "Too fat to fish" by Artie Lange a bit more but I give it 3 stars because it's still enjoyable and there were revelations I didn't know about Bababooey and let's face it, it's part of the Howard Stern Universe. I bought this book on clearance for like 5 bucks, so if you see it on clearance and are a fan get it you'll definitely find it interesting. The Horsetooth Jackass definitely has his interesting moments.
November 3, 2013
This wasn't a memoir about being on the Howard Stern show, but about a guy who had a rough childhood and made the best of it. Gary talks honestly about his family and his relationships with them. I had the audio version, and it included interviews at the end of some of the chapters that added a really nice touch. My only complaint is that we never really learned much after his life in the 1980s, and the stuff we did learn was in asides. The book felt a little disjointed because of this.
Still, Gary seems like a genuinely nice guy and it was refreshing to see how loyal the show staff seems to be.
Still, Gary seems like a genuinely nice guy and it was refreshing to see how loyal the show staff seems to be.
November 3, 2010
If you're looking for behind-the-scenes information on the Howard Stern show, please go elsewhere, as this book is truly just Gary Dell'Abate's life story. There's actually very little Stern show stuff here, relatively speaking, although all Gary's "biggest hits" (Hello, hello!) are covered in detail.
As far as memoirs go, it's a mildly interesting tale of a young Italian boy with a bipolar mother, a gay brother, and a love of pop music. It's a little dull and earnest in parts, but Gary comes across as the likable guy he is on the show.
Baba Booey to y'all.
As far as memoirs go, it's a mildly interesting tale of a young Italian boy with a bipolar mother, a gay brother, and a love of pop music. It's a little dull and earnest in parts, but Gary comes across as the likable guy he is on the show.
Baba Booey to y'all.
March 1, 2012
I've been a stern fan for over 20 years, parts of this book read like the highlight real of the stern show, other parts are deep and make you look at Gary and his big teeth differently. The book is an easy and casual read, but very spacey. There are too many time-jumps, one chapter will start in 1982 and finish with a piece of info from 2002, the next chapter starts on 1983 where the 2nd page of the previous chapter left off.
If your a stern fan, read it. If your not, it will be very confusing and read more like a mid-life diary.
If your a stern fan, read it. If your not, it will be very confusing and read more like a mid-life diary.
January 23, 2011
huge stern fan so i have to give it a 5.... I am probably an outcast fan for saying this, BUT, I enjoyed how the book wasnt all about his life on the show and gave some insight into his past. I would have enjoyed a FEW more stories- but it was a good book. I didn't think it read the same way as artie lange's, meaning as I read his book I felt like it was written in the way Artie talked- Gary's book definitely had the undertone of a ghost-writter!
Very good and quick read
Very good and quick read
August 29, 2011
Loved the book. Read it because I love the Howard Stern show. However, it is a moving book that tells Gary's life story including his challenges with a mother who suffers from mental illness, and a brother who died of aids. He is a good guy and it comes through this book.
September 29, 2011
Okay, truth time: years ago I used to occasionally listen to Howard Stern during my long commutes to work. Not so much into the strippers, but the man does celebrity interviews better than anyone. I picked this one up as an audiobook and found it entertaining.
March 26, 2012
I am a huge Howard Stern fan so I had to read Gary's book. It was very good and interesting to see how Gary grew up and how he started on The Howard Stern Show. He has had some hard times in his life that either made me cry or laugh. If you are a fan of Howard then you'll love this book.
August 16, 2013
very interesting read, that is if you like the howard stern show.
August 18, 2016
I would give it a noine. Out of 100.
December 1, 2017
I loved the book. I listened to the audio version and I felt like Gary was sitting next to me in my car. I liked the cadence of Gary's voice. It's soothing. I listened to Stern in the 80s before he went on pay radio and I remembered some of the early stories. Gary's story is truly a success story- growing up in a poor neighborhood, a dysfunctional mom, a working class family, Gary worked hard and deserves his success. After reading the book you can see how much more depth Gary has than what Stern portrays him to be. Gary's interpersonal skills and drive put him over the to. I was put off by Gary's voting for Clinton twice. I would like to see Gary write a second book about an Italian boy continuing his life and raising his boys in a wasp area. I would like to learn what his life was like juggling everything on the show and raising his boys. I want to hear more of the tale. I read The Bush Sisters book the same week and I liked Gary's better. His book was from the heart and his life is more interesting.
April 28, 2023
Great book!!!!
This was the autobiography of Gary Dell'Abate aka Baba Booey. He is the producer of the Howard Stern Show. And as in reading this book and from his personality on the show you can tell that he really is a humble, great guy with a good sense of humor. There is nothing phony about him.
He has a great writing style. He writes like a regular guy telling you a regular story. One of the things that I loved about this is that for all that he has been through and for all that he has accomplished, he doesn't feel sorry for himself and he doesn't go on bragging about himself. He just tells you how it happened. He mostly talks about his own personal life and has small snippets about him working on the Howard Stern Show added at different places throughout the book. He is not afraid to tell the embarrassing stories and he is not afraid to make fun of himself.
If you're a Howard Stern fan I definitely recommend this. It'll give you a very deep inside look at one of the more important people in the show.
I loved it.
This was the autobiography of Gary Dell'Abate aka Baba Booey. He is the producer of the Howard Stern Show. And as in reading this book and from his personality on the show you can tell that he really is a humble, great guy with a good sense of humor. There is nothing phony about him.
He has a great writing style. He writes like a regular guy telling you a regular story. One of the things that I loved about this is that for all that he has been through and for all that he has accomplished, he doesn't feel sorry for himself and he doesn't go on bragging about himself. He just tells you how it happened. He mostly talks about his own personal life and has small snippets about him working on the Howard Stern Show added at different places throughout the book. He is not afraid to tell the embarrassing stories and he is not afraid to make fun of himself.
If you're a Howard Stern fan I definitely recommend this. It'll give you a very deep inside look at one of the more important people in the show.
I loved it.
July 16, 2018
Ta Ta Toothy’s first book has some great insights into a few of his biggest on air moments (2009 first pitch, the apology video). He shares a lot about his upbringing on Long Island with his mentally ill mother and workaholic father.
I felt for Gary a lot of times while reading this book. I knew about his brothers death from AIDS which is particularly heart wrenching as well as his father’s passing. I laugh as hard as Artie when I hear Gary have his balls broken about his first pitch, but it’s sad to hear how much pressure he put on himself to get it over the plate and fail.
The book paints Booey as a sympathetic figure who all Stern fans love. It is not a retrospective of the show or a straight autobiography. It has some bits and the show, cherry picked scenes from his life, and really boring lists about his favorite old music. It’s a quick read I’d recommend for any fan of Baba and his boff.
I felt for Gary a lot of times while reading this book. I knew about his brothers death from AIDS which is particularly heart wrenching as well as his father’s passing. I laugh as hard as Artie when I hear Gary have his balls broken about his first pitch, but it’s sad to hear how much pressure he put on himself to get it over the plate and fail.
The book paints Booey as a sympathetic figure who all Stern fans love. It is not a retrospective of the show or a straight autobiography. It has some bits and the show, cherry picked scenes from his life, and really boring lists about his favorite old music. It’s a quick read I’d recommend for any fan of Baba and his boff.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 18, 2022
Well, consider me surprised by how much I enjoyed reading this memoir.
My husband is a fan of the Howard Stern radio show, and while I enjoy some of the discussion on current events, and the interesting interviews, I could do without the raunchier aspects of the show.
Gary Dell'Abate is the producer of the Howard Stern show, and he's been part of the team for years. The book does describe how Gary went from a kid who loved music to a household name, but his main focus is on his home life and family. Fans of the show won't be disappointed. Those who aren't fans of the radio show will find a good story about an everyday guy who made his way up in the industry after a tough childhood.
My husband is a fan of the Howard Stern radio show, and while I enjoy some of the discussion on current events, and the interesting interviews, I could do without the raunchier aspects of the show.
Gary Dell'Abate is the producer of the Howard Stern show, and he's been part of the team for years. The book does describe how Gary went from a kid who loved music to a household name, but his main focus is on his home life and family. Fans of the show won't be disappointed. Those who aren't fans of the radio show will find a good story about an everyday guy who made his way up in the industry after a tough childhood.
September 9, 2025
This was a quick and easy listen. Every once in a while I find it interesting to learn about the origin story of people who have been in pop culture. From the book, Gary seems to be more grounded while working in a world that has flown in the face of controversy over the decades. The book was a much more enjoyable listen than I expected because it did not have the usual self absorbed tropes found in other pop culture autobiographies. The audiobook exposes a more three dimensional person than what is usually characterized on the airwaves.
September 13, 2019
It's nice reading a book written by a radio personality. The voice already exists. Gary is hysterical. This is a nice dive into his back story. Some chapters have much more than they need, but a lot of these stories are worth hearing. And if you don't listen to Howard Stern, you're missing out on them. Also, I appreciate books like this that show the intellect of the Howard Stern staff. I don't think the average non-listener knows how great they all are.
October 30, 2020
I am so surprised that I actually enjoyed this book as much as I did. I’m not a Howard Stern fan or listener but I knew a little about Gary from watching the old Howard Stern show on cable. I listened to the audio for this and it was read by the author which I enjoyed. I always like Memoirs as I find other people so fascinating. Gary told his memories with humor and wit and made me like him more.
A total guilty pleasure book but fun.
A total guilty pleasure book but fun.
February 22, 2019
A surprise 4.25. The pacing of the book is really off at times although it was intended that way, it feels off at time.
Not a Stern listener or hater, but occasionally enjoy the show. Gary's is entertaining and does a wonderful job telling his tale. Not for everyone, but even non-Stern fans would enjoy this title.
Not a Stern listener or hater, but occasionally enjoy the show. Gary's is entertaining and does a wonderful job telling his tale. Not for everyone, but even non-Stern fans would enjoy this title.
August 13, 2019
As a fan of Howard Stern and the show, I was glad to read and glad to get some insight in to the man they call "Fla-Fla-Floo-High".
Deeply personal, and very short.
I would have rated this higher if there was more content.
Short and good read.
Not bad for an Auto-Bio, not long enough to be Better or Great.
Deeply personal, and very short.
I would have rated this higher if there was more content.
Short and good read.
Not bad for an Auto-Bio, not long enough to be Better or Great.
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