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Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com audio film review for “Joke Man,” a documentary about Jackie Martling, the rapid-fire funny man who spent 18 years as a commentator and sidekick on the Howard Stern Show. Available on digital Video-On-Demand beginning July 18th.

Rating: 3.5/5.0

The Joke Man is Jackie Martling, probably most famous as a sidekick on The Howard Stern Show. It was Jackie who fed Howard and his radio gang a string of ball busting and sick laugh lines during the course of his run. The documentary chronicles his long strange trip, from hippie rocker to the golden age of late 1970s comedy clubs to inventing his own dial-a-joke service, culminating in the highest pinnacle of radio entertainment. And through it all, the jokes kept coming … Jackie Martling can and will out-joke anyone.

”Joke Man” is available through digital Video-On Demand beginning July 18th. Featuring interviews with Jackie Martling, Willie Nelson,...

Representatives for actor Jamie Foxx are pushing back claims that his hospital stay stemmed from getting a Covid vaccine, saying such allegations are “completely inaccurate.”

The claim that Jamie Foxx was forced to go to the hospital due to reactions from a Covid shot come from, not surprisingly, those without any actual evidence to back it up. Case in point: A.J. Benza, the gossip columnist who might best be remembered as the guy who swung at “Stuttering” John Melendez and made Gary “Baba Booey” Dell’Abate scream like a mama monkey. At best, it’s one of the great moments of Howard Stern’s E! show; at worst, it gives another glimpse into the sort of person Benza is.

On Drew Pinsky’s Ask Dr. Drew show, Benza said a source “in the room” told him that Jamie Foxx had been admitted after his Covid shot, which left him “partially paralyzed and blind.

Refresh for updates… Friends, colleagues and fans have been quick to react to the news of beloved comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried’s death today at 67.

“Rip Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life,” wrote Jon Stewart. “He could leave you gasping for breath…just indescribably unusually hilarious…Damn.”

Hollywood & Media Deaths In 2022: Photo Gallery

“The most underrated comedian of all time, a wonderful friend, husband & father,” said comedian and director David Steinberg in a statement. “I will miss you. The world just got a lot less funny.”

“Nobody was funnier than @RealGilbert on a roll,” wrote comedian and filmmaker Judd Apatow. “He could put you into convulsive hysterics. He was also the sweetest man.”

“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” wrote Seinfeld‘s Jason Alexander.

You may miss Tom Bergeron dearly on “Dancing with the Stars,” but the former host has very much moved on from his old gig.

During an appearance on John Melendez‘s “The Stuttering John Podcast” (watch below), Bergeron was asked if he misses the show he spent 15 years and 28 seasons hosting. “No,” Bergeron emphatically replied without skipping a beat. “No, because it started changing early in 2018. There were staff changes and, I think, philosophical changes about how to do the show. So I miss the earlier years. I miss up until that point when it had a different vibe, a different feel. No, I’m kind of digging this time off and I’m quite capable of being very lazy.”

Any “Dancing” fan knows that 2018 was an inflection point in “Dancing’s” run. That was, as of now, the final time the series had a spring season, which was the ill-advised four-week “Athletes” installment.

If the opportunity to return to Dancing With the Stars arises, don't expect Tom Bergeron to be interested.

The former host appeared on The Stuttering John Podcast, and was asked about his 28 season run on the series.

As for whether he would appear on the series as a contestant, it was a resounding no.

“Oh sh*t no,” he told John Melendez, adding:

“We’re done … that train has left the station.”

In fact, Bergeron stated that he did not miss being a part of the ABC juggernaut after being replaced by Tyra Banks.

“No, because it started changing early in 2018. There were staff changes, philosophical changes…I’m kind of digging the time off.”

Fans quickly hit out at the decision to terminate Bergeron alongside Erin Andrews, with many vowing to quit watching the series in protest.

According to Bergeron, some of the pro dancers were unsure whether they...

Tony Sokol Oct 23, 2019

Travel Channel lets the stars talk about supernatural encounters on Famously Afraid.

Stranger Things star Jake Busey got a personal glimpse at the upside down. R.J. Mitte of Breaking Bad experienced a horror greater than learning meth-kingpin Heisenberg was his father. Aubrey O’Day of Danity Kane encountered a creature as terrifying as Donald Trump Junior. Steve Guttenberg endured terror greater than all the Police Academy movies combined. Celebrities will share paranormal encounters on the upcoming Travel Channel series Famously Afraid. The new series premieres Tuesday, Nov. 5 at 10 p.m.

"Hollywood is no stranger to stories of the unexplained being played out on the big screen," reads the press statement. "But behind the scenes, some celebrities experience encounters with the unknown that are all too real. From haunted houses to real UFO sightings, to demonic possessions and beyond, these stories show that even celebrities can get spooked.

John Melendez may be lying low after his prank call to President Donald Trump allegedly caught the attention of the Secret Service — but not too low. The Stuttering John Podcast host has inked a deal for a docuseries with The Idea Factory, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

Darryl Silver (Big Medicine, Born Country) is producing the series, which will feature some classic antics of Melendez's character "Stuttering John," including prank calls and man-on-the-street segments. The show is currently being shopped to basic cable networks and streaming platforms.

Melendez recently made headlines after he said he prank-called Trump and posted ...

There is nothing you cannot accomplish with a convincing impression. Comedian John Melendez said he contacted the White House posing as New Jersey Senator Robert Menendez’s assistant, asking to speak with U.S. President Donald Trump. Related: Jon Stewart Delivers Heated Address To Donald Trump Check it out, I have the President on as a guest… Seriously. https://t.co/5x3ex4lSzJ...

Network: NBC

Episodes: 4,610 (62 min)

Seasons: 22

TV show dates: May 25, 1992 -- May 29, 2009

March 1, 2010 -- February 6, 2014

Series status: Cancelled

Performers include: Jay Leno, Edd Hall, Kevin Eubanks, Nina Bergman, Brandon Molale, Julie Scardina, and John Melendez.

TV show description:

Having taken over from Johnny Carson, this late night talk and variety show is hosted by comedian Jay Leno.

Following the basic format of its predecessors, each episode consists of the host's opening monologue, a comedy routine, and interviews with notable celebrities.

Various musical acts or stand-up comedians are also sometimes featured.

Series Finale

Episode #4,610

Guests included Sheryl Crow, Carol Burnett, Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, Jack Black, Chris Paul, Billy Crystal, Jim Parsons, and Marc Shaiman. You can read more here.

First...

The timing was coincidental, but it made a lot of sense for Howard Stern to throw his massive 60th birthday concert at New York's Hammerstein Ballroom right around the same time as the Golden Globes, the State of the Union, the Super Bowl and the Grammys. In many ways, the evening felt like a combination of all those events: It had the all-star musical collaborations of the Grammys, the random grouping of A-list celebrities eating and drinking together that you usually only see at the Golden Globes, the chants, crazily-coveted...

The ongoing dispute between Howard Stern and Jay Leno got a new injection of bad blood when Stern acknowledged on his SiriusXM radio show that an NBC executive (where Stern moonlights as an America’s Got Talent judge) asked him to refrain from Jaybashing. The first thing that comes to mind is: did these NBC execs never listen to Stern’s radio rants on Leno before paying him somewhere around $17 million a year and moving that talent show from Los Angeles to New Jersey to accommodate his radio schedule? Stern’s bad feelings about Leno go back to the time that the latter hired away Stern staffer “Stuttering” John Melendez without asking Stern if it was okay. Since then, the bashing has been relentless, particularly after Conan O’Brien was given the Tonight Show and was undercut by a Leno moved to prime time, which was a disaster that contributed...

The ongoing dispute between Howard Stern and Jay Leno got a new injection of bad blood when Stern acknowledged on his SiriusXM radio show that an NBC executive (where Stern moonlights as an America’s Got Talent judge) asked him to refrain from Jaybashing. The first thing that comes to mind is: did these NBC execs never listen to Stern’s radio rants on Leno before paying him somewhere around $17 million a year and moving that talent show from Los Angeles to New Jersey to accommodate his radio schedule? Stern’s bad feelings about Leno go back to the time that the latter hired away Stern staffer “Stuttering” John Melendez without asking Stern if it was okay. Since then, the bashing has been relentless, particularly after Conan O’Brien was given the Tonight Show and was undercut by a Leno moved to prime time, which was a disaster that contributed...

Lindsay Lohan is back in a proposed film about the Gotti crime family after she personally persuaded its reluctant producer to give her a shot, he said on Wednesday. The actress, whose promising career has been derailed by drug and criminal problems, had been in negotiations for a role in "Gotti: Three Generations," starring John Travolta as mob boss John Gotti, Sr. She even showed up at a news conference announcing the project last week. But producer Marc Fiore said earlier Wednesday that he had broken off talks because of demands made by Lohan's management team, and planned to meet with other actresses. Hours later, he appeared to have been swayed by the "Mean Girls" actress herself. "We had a little rocky road today, but Lindsay definitely revived the situation," Fiore told Reuters, adding that Lohan called him personally to plead her case. Lohan will play Kim Gotti, the wife of Gotti's namesake son,...

John Travolta sat at the center of the table looking dapper and cracking jokes. If he seemed like a mafia don, that’s because he was there to announce he would be playing one. Travolta was the headliner at a press conference Tuesday morning at a hotel conference room in midtown Manhattan to announce his next starring role in Gotti: Three Generations. The independently-financed film will star Travolta as John Gotti Sr.

Also on hand were director Nick Cassavetes (The Notebook), producer Marc Fiore, and John Gotti Jr. But perhaps the biggest head-turner for the assembled press corps was a...

Let's hear it for high profile defections. According to Movieline, rumor has it that longtime Conan O'Brien bandleader Max Weinberg is seeking the coveted position of bandleader for 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', a role that is soon to be abandoned by Kevin Eubanks.

While it's somewhat understandable that Weinberg would want the position, it is a bit of a slap to Conan. On the other hand, it's all about what's best for Max Weinberg and while things with Conan are currently up in the air, 'The Tonight Show' is a pretty solid position to be in. Like it or not, there are still a lot of viewers on Team Jay and he continues to pull in ratings despite his brief absence from the 11:30 spot.

At least Weinberg would also now have a lot to talk about with Stuttering John Melendez, who defected to...

Los Angeles, California (X17online) - Conan O'Brien, who? Now that Jay Leno is back, the peacock network seems to have forgotten about the short-lived host that held the hosting spot up until just recently. The Tonight Show trounced David Letterman in the ratings, scoring a 5.7 share to Letterman's 3.0. During Jay's first show last night, Tonight Show regulars Kevin Eubanks, Ross the Intern and John Melendez all hammed it up in front of the live studio audience. As Leno opened the show, he said to the crowd: "Thank you very much! It's good to be home. I'm Jay Leno, your host...at least for a while." The audience roared when he talked about his nerves. "I'll admit I'm a little bit nervous. Not because it's my first night back, but because I know Dave and Oprah are watching." With champagne in hand, first guest Jamie Foxx got the crowd going.

Jay Leno made his return to hosting "The Tonight Show" on Monday night.

The TV funnyman hit the stage after a dream sequence inspired by the "Wizard of Oz," which featured band leader Kevin Eubanks, Ross The Intern, announcer John Melendez -- and Betty White.

"It's good to be home," Jay said when he hit "The Tonight Show" stage again for the first, second time.

During his opening monologue, which was shorter than usual, the comedian took the opportunity to reference his recent Super Bowl ad, which featured daytime queen Oprah Winfrey and his late night rival, ...

Copyright 2010 by NBC Universal, Inc. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

There's no place like home. Such was the sentiment Jay Leno voiced in a sepia-tinted sketch heralding his return Monday as host of The Tonight Show after a whopping nine-month...hiatus. "Some of it wasn't so nice," a worried-sounding Leno said as Kevin Eubanks, Ross the Intern and John Melendez crowded around him. They even threw in Betty White, "checking in on little Leno," for good measure. "Look at this rattyass barn! I can't believe you're doing your show from here!" the resurgent Golden Girl exclaimed. Ha, don't worry, Betty... "Thank you very much!" Leno said as he made his way back into the spotlight. "It's good to be...

Leno returns to 11:30 tonight, but will viewers be back with him?

By Eric Ditzian

Jay Leno

Photo: NBC

Will America forgive Jay Leno? Can the comedian who built a career on his just-one-of-the-guys niceness overcome the negative publicity surrounding the Late-Night Wars of 2010 and retake his position as a ratings king 10 months after he ceded his "Tonight Show" desk to Conan O'Brien?

The answers will begin to become clear when Leno returns to "Tonight" on Monday (March 1) and encounters a TV landscape that has undergone significant changes in the last few months. To begin, David Letterman now reigns as the late-night champ, and his "Late Show" lineup this week — Bill Murray, Mitt Romney, Jerry Seinfeld, Tom Hanks and Matt Damon — represents the booking equivalent of a we-ain't-going-down-without-a-fight battle cry. What's more, NBC has returned the 10 p.m. hour to scripted programming — including new comedies like "Parenthood" and old favorites...

While most of us are still railing after the Conan/NBC/Leno debacle, plans are still underway for Leno’s return to the illustrious Tonight Show host position on March 1st. However, not all is smooth sailing with the show. Word is coming in that band leader Kevin Eubanks, who served as Leno’s “number 1″ for a massive 17 years, will be leaving the show along with announcer John Melendez.

Eubanks originally planned to remain on as Leno’s bandleader when he returned to the Tonight Show, but it looks like he’s now having a change of heart. From Variety:

Eubanks is said to be interested in returning to touring and working out a flexible schedule with the “Tonight Show.” Whether that means he’ll leave for good — or take lengthy leaves of absence, as Conan O’Brien band leader Max Weinberg did to tour with Bruce Springsteen — has not yet been worked out,...

Well, it seems like there's a lot of changes coming to 'The Tonight Show' when Jay Leno returns after the Olympics. Yesterday Kona told you that bandleader Kevin Eubanks would be leaving the show once they find a replacement, and now we hear from Variety that announcer John Melendez won't be back.

But I'm not sure why this is news. Unlike Eubanks, Melendez wasn't the announcer of the 10Pm show -- he was retained as a writer for the show -- so I didn't really automatically expect Melendez to be back when Leno returns to 11:35. Of course, a lot of TV fans didn't think about it one way or another, but it's certainly not surprising news. Melendez will stay on as a writer.

Honestly, Melendez shouldn't have been Leno's announcer in the first place (well, in the "first place" he wasn't - Edd Hall was). He's a bland announcer,...

Changes are coming to Jay Leno's revamped "Tonight Show."

Leno's longtime bandleader Kevin Eubanks is leaving the program, and announcer John Melendez will no longer provide voiceover for the show.

Eubanks will still appear on the revamped "Tonight Show" when it debuts March 1, but the guitarist is currently negotiating an exit date with NBC. Sources expect Eubanks will depart within months of the show's return.

The oft-amused Eubanks joined the "Tonight" in 1992 and took over as bandleader in 1995. Eubanks then followed Leno to his short-lived "Jay Leno Show."

As for Melendez, the former Howard Stern sidekick still expected to continue as a writer on the show.

The network also unveiled a new logo for "Tonight," a more sophisticated-looking and darker image than those used in the past.

I think we can all agree that Jay Leno's hiring of ex-Howard Stern sidekick John Melendez to replace Leno's original announcer Edd Hall was one of the stupidest, most odd decisions in Tonight Show history, right? (Right?) So I wasn't surprised to hear Hall's voice on one of the comedy bits that Letterman used to insult Leno earlier this week. But why did Hall do it?

You can probably guess the answer. He says that he even though he likes both Leno and Letterman, he "doesn't feel any allegiance to Jay" and he "never left on bad terms with Letterman." Hall started his career on Letterman's old Late Night show at NBC. He says that no one at Leno's show has called him about what's going on in the late show wars and that he didn't do it to "get" Jay, he just thought it was a funny comedy bit.

As if reviving a failed reality show isn't hard enough, those involved with NBC's new version of I'm Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here now have something unexpected to deal with.

The peacock network announced in April that they were bringing back I'm Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here for a limited run. The show has been running in the UK for years but a Us version didn't find much success on ABC in 2003. Contestants for this version include D-list celebrities like Melissa Rivers, Alana Stewart, Nikki Schieler Ziering, Robin Leach, Bruce Jenner, Downtown Julie Brown, Maria Conchita Alonso, Tyson Beckford, and John Melendez.

NBC's version is scheduled to air four days a week, from June 1st until the 15th. The newest batch of "celebrities" include Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt (The Hills), NBA personality John Salley, Janice Dickinson (America's Next Top Model), Sanjaya Malakar (American Idol), Stephen Baldwin (Celebrity Apprentice...

In the networks' fervor to find new reality shows to put on the air, concepts are frequently "borrowed" from the UK airwaves. Imports like American Idol and Dancing With The Stars have become very popular here in the states and NBC execs are hoping that they'll get lucky.

In I'm A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, a group of celebrities live in a distant jungle together with few comforts of home. They compete in various challenges with the ultimate winner earning a big cash prize for their charity of choice.

In February 2003, ABC tried airing a version with D-list celebrities like Melissa Rivers, Alana Stewart, Nikki Schieler Ziering, Robin Leach, Bruce Jenner, Downtown Julie Brown, Maria Conchita Alonso, Tyson Beckford, and "Stuttering" John Melendez. John Lehr hosted the episodes and Judd won the grand prize to benefit the Make-a-Wish Foundation.

ABC ran the series every night for 15 installments. Unlike Survivor,...

Chevy Chase, Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen and “Stuttering” John Melendez are spoofing the nonstop flood of spoof films in the upcoming indie comedy “Not Another Not Another Movie,” says the Hollywood Reporter. Chase plays a studio head who quits his floundering company, leaving his ex-con sibling (Madsen) in charge. Soon their equally inept gangster friend (Jones) takes over and assigns a production assistant (David Leo Schultz) to direct a spoof of spoof movies. Reynolds plays an actor playing the director of the chaotic film within the film. Writer-director David Murphy’s “Movie” features cameos from actors playing themselves spoofing their memorable roles, including Richard Tyson (of “Three O’clock High” and “Kindergarten Cop”) and Wolfgang Bodison (“A Few Good Men”). Ellie Gerber, Tim Piper, Jennifer Sciole and James Duval also star. The True Fiction Filmz feature is produced by Ron Loudoun, Murphy, Nick Cole, Schultz, Piper and Electra Avalan.

Could this be the spoof savior? The one that makes us forget about the wretched influx of crappily made spoofs?

The Hollywood Reporter posts that Chevy Chase, Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen, and "Stuttering" John Melendez have signed on to spoof spoofs with Not Another Not Another Movie. The brainchild of David Murphy, the comedy will star Chase as the head of struggling studio who leaves the gig to his ex-con brother (Madsen). Then, "their equally inept gangster friend (Jones) takes over and assigns a production assistant (David Leo Schultz) to direct a spoof of spoof movies." Burt comes in as "an actor playing the director of the chaotic film within the film."

Oh, but there's more -- the film will be full of cameos that have actors playing themselves spoofing previous roles like Richard Tyson as the villain in Kindergarten Cop and Wolfgang Bodison as the marine on...

For years now, Jason Friedberg and Aaron Seltzer have pummeled the laffs out of America's gut with movies (and I use the term loosely) like Epic Movie, Date Movie, Disaster Movie, and Scary Movie. In each of these "movies," they take it upon themselves to spoof popular movies in the laziest way possible: by throwing a bunch of pop culture references in a blender, pouring the resulting sludge on film, and claiming it's a hilarious spoof movie. But as the spoof movies continue to deluge our theaters with no regard for human life or sense of humor, the question must be asked: who spoofs the spoofers? Apparently, Chevy Chase. From The Hollywood Reporter: Chevy Chase, Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen and "Stuttering" John Melendez are spoofing the nonstop flood of spoof films in the upcoming indie comedy "Not Another Not Another Movie."...

No, this is most definitely not a joke. Chevy Chase, Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen and John Melendez are working on a movie that spoofs other spoofs.

According to the Hollywood Reporter, the project is entitled “Not Another Not Another Movie.” In the film, Chase plays a studio head who quits his job and leaves his ex-con sibling (Madsen) in charge.

Soon enough, one of their gangster friends (Jones) jumps on board and takes control of the business, ordering a production assistant to direct a spoof of spoof flicks. Reynolds plays an actor who stars as a director in the spoof.

David Murphy is directing the flick, which the trade says features plenty of cameos, including Tim Piper, Jennifer Sciole and James Duval.

Considering I’m sick and tired of spoofs, I admit this may be an opportunity to create something funny. Then again, it will still be a spoof,...

Somewhere, in those places where your biggest fears dwell, you knew this would be coming. Get ready for a spoof of spoof movies called Not Another Not Another Movie.

It will not come from the same hacks who have made Disaster Movie and Meet the Spartans, instead David Murphy is paying the rent as the writer-director of the film produced by True Fiction Filmz, according to The Hollywood Reporter. I have a simple rule: Don't see a movie made by a company that can't spell "Films."

Please read on, though, because the best is yet to come: Not Another Not Another Movie will star Chevy Chase, Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, Michael Madsen and "Stuttering" John Melendez. There's not much left to say about that, is there?

Chase will play a studio head who quits the company, leaving Michael Madsen in charge. In some kind of indictment of Hollywood (I guess...

Chevy Chase is starring in Not Another Not Another Movie, which pokes fun at all the recent spoof flicks (Date Movie, Epic Movie, Disaster Movie). Burt Reynolds, Vinnie Jones, John Melendez and Michael Madsen also star. Chase plays a studio head who quits his floundering company, leaving his ex-con sibling (Madsen) in charge. Soon their equally inept gangster friend (Jones) takes over and assigns a production assistant (David Leo Schultz) to direct a spoof of spoof movies. Reynolds plays an actor playing the director of the chaotic film within the film. The flick is written and directed by David Murphy and features cameos from actors playing themselves spoofing their memorable roles, including Richard Tyson (the villian in Kindergarten Cop) and Wolfgang Bodison (the young African-American Marine on trial in A Few Good Men). Filming is already underway with a release scheduled for sometime next year. Chase has been absent from...