John Melendez
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223113360
2008-07-02T17:05:35Z
Marine 69-71
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Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/70.134.73.175|70.134.73.175]] ([[User talk:70.134.73.175|talk]]) to last version by Hmains
{{Infobox Person
| name = John Melendez
| image = Replace this image male.svg
| image_size = 200px
| caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1965|10|4}}
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = [[Announcer]]
| spouse = Suzanna Keller
| parents =
| children =
}}
'''John Edward Melendez''' (born [[October 4]], [[1965]]), commonly known as "'''Stuttering John'''",<ref name=AOLBio>[http://music.aol.com/artist/stuttering-john/biography/1036176 Stuttering John Biography.] AOL Music. Retrieved on [[2008-03-04]].</ref> is an [[United States|American]] television/radio personality. Before his present job as announcer for ''[[The Tonight Show with Jay Leno]]'', Melendez was a regular on-air personality on ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]''.
==Early years==
Melendez was born in [[Massapequa, New York|Massapequa]], [[Long Island, New York|Long Island]] and attended [[Plainedge]] High School.<ref>[http://www.mnsu.edu/comdis/kuster/famous/controversial.html Controversial personalities who stutter.] Minnesota State University, [[1998-10-12]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].</ref><ref name="NSA">[http://www.nsastutter.org/material/index.php?matid=282 John Melendez.] National Stuttering Association. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].</ref><ref name=AOLBio/> Melendez began to stutter when he was in the second grade. According to Melendez, his problem came about because of the psychological mistreatment from his [[alcoholic]] father who also stutters. Both he and his father suffer from some form of obsessive-compulsive disorder. During his youth he was often picked on by other children for being [[Puerto Rican American|Puerto Rican]] and was called "Stutterface," "Skip" and "M-C Stammer" (even though MC Hammer was not even around at the time of John's youth).<ref>[http://www.nsastutter.org/newdetails/index.php?id=90 Aug 9, '05: John Melendez: Chicago Conference Keynote Speaker], Retrieved March 3, 2005</ref>
In 1988, Melendez attended [[New York University]]'s film school, and belonged to a band called "Rock Slide". His college roommate, comedian [[Mitch Fatel]], was on the verge of quitting his internship with ''[[The Howard Stern Show]]'', when Melendez asked him for a recommendation for an internship there. The show's producer, [[Gary Dell'Abate]], mentioned Melendez's stuttering to [[Howard Stern]] who, without seeing him and even before he was interviewed, told the producer to hire him.
<ref>[http://www.marksfriggin.com/news08/4-14.htm#mon Stern Spotlight: Stuttering John - Day 1. 04/14/08. 6:00am}</ref>
==''The Howard Stern Show''==
On Stern's show, Melendez conducted outrageous street interviews, premised on the idea that celebrities would not want to look bad by refusing an interview from a stutterer. He sported long hair and metal t-shirts and would often confront celebrities with puerile questions about their private lives. His interviews were characterized by punchline-free "joke" questions, such as asking Melanie Griffith "how her father, Andy, was."
The absurdity of the questions Melendez asked were often amplified by the fact that Melendez himself lacked common pop-culture knowledge and often did not even know who the subjects of his interview were or what they were famous for. Melendez notably interviewed [[Gennifer Flowers]], [[Ringo Starr]], and the [[Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama|Dalai Lama]]. He asked the Dalai Lama, if anyone ever greeted him with "Hello Dolly!", in a joking reference to the play and movie; the Dalai Lama's translator whispered the translation to the Dalai Lama and a delayed chuckle came from the Dalai Lama. It seemed like he got the joke. He also provided comic interest with his misadventures, poor grammar and sloppy pronunciation.<ref>[http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,307197,00.html Just Asking: H-H-H-HERE'S JOHNNY!] ''Entertainment Weekly'' Issue 179 [[1993-07-16]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]]</ref>
According to the ''[[New York Post]]'', Melendez says Stern didn't pay him fairly and "resented me doing any outside work"; Stern replied saying that Melendez is a "no-talent ingrate" and he should stick to holding up the mug on "The Tonight Show".<ref>[http://www.nypost.com/seven/03032008/gossip/pagesix/stern_stuttering_mad_at_john_100198.htm Stern stuttering mad at John.] ''New York Post'', [[2008-03-03]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-03]].</ref>
==National exposure==
Melendez received national exposure when Stern's show began airing on national television. During his 15-year run as Stern's sidekick/whipping boy, Melendez also starred in the [[Off-Broadway]] show ''[[Tony n' Tina's Wedding]]'' where he met his wife, Suzanna. Melendez had bit parts in the movies ''[[Airheads]]'', ''[[Meet Wally Sparks]]'', ''[[Dude, Where's My Car?]]'', and Howard Stern's movie ''[[Private Parts]]''. He has also appeared on television on episodes of ''[[Wings (sitcom)|Wings]]'', ''[[Baywatch Nights]]'', and the [[United States|U.S.]] version of the [[reality television|reality]] series ''[[I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here!]]''.<ref name="NSA"/>
==''The Tonight Show''==
Melendez worked with a speech coach to overcome his stuttering and was offered the position of announcer for ''The Tonight Show''. He accepted the offer, debuting ''The Tonight Show'' on [[March 29]], [[2004]].<ref name=Leno>[http://www.nbc.com/The_Tonight_Show_with_Jay_Leno/bios/John_Melendez.shtml The Tonight Show with Jay Leno: John Melendez as Announcer.] NBC.com. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].</ref> On this show, he is identified as "John Melendez" (as opposed to "Stuttering John Melendez," a name he avoids).
On [[November 30]], [[2007]] NBC announced ''The Tonight Show'' crew including Melendez were being laid off as a result of the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike]] and that when the strike ended NBC could not guarantee that Melendez and other staffers would be rehired.<ref name=Bond>Bond, Paul. [http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i5f6c32a1a896ab20add64e1a0473651e Flayed Jay will kick in week's pay.] The Hollywood Reporter, [[2007-12-01]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].</ref>
Melendez plays guitar and sings. He has released at least two [[hard rock]] CDs with humorous lyrics, one on [[Atlantic Records]] and one on [[Razor & Tie Records]]. In 2004, Melendez provided the voice of Bob the computer on ''[[Tripping the Rift]]''.<ref>[http://voicechasers.com/database/showactor.php?actorid=5548 John Melendez.] Voice Chasers. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].</ref> He currently lives in the city of Calabasas, California with his wife, Suzanna Keller, and three children.{{Fact|date=March 2008}}
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prev=[[Edd Hall]]<br/><small>1992–2004</small>|
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list=[[The Tonight Show]] announcer'''<br/><small>2004–present</small>|
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==See also==
{{portalpar|Puerto Rico}}
*[[List of famous Puerto Ricans]]
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
* [http://www.johnmelendez.tv/ John Melendez's Official Site]
* {{imdb name|id=0577579|name='Stuttering' John Melendez}}
* [http://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2004-02-19-stuttering-john_x.htm 'Stuttering' John to announce 'Tonight Show'.] ''USA Today'', [[2004-02-19]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].
* [http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/babyface/articles/story/5925080/grammy_out_of_control Grammy Out of Control.] ''Rolling Stone Magazine'' [[1997-01-07]]. Retrieved on [[2008-03-02]].
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[[Category:1965 births|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:Living people|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:American film actors|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:American voice actors|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:Danish Americans|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:Puerto Rican-Americans|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:Participants in American reality television series]]
[[Category:People from Long Island|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:People from Nassau County, New York|Melendez]]
[[Category:People from New York City|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:Radio and television announcers|Melendez, John]]
[[Category:People diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder|Melendez, John]]
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