They probably did steal bits though. They say Howard claims they steal stuff all the time, but I've seen it. I've listened to Howard discussing specific topics then heard OnA discuss those same topics later on, and they weren't news topics or even popular things to discuss, very niche things they would "borrow". I've heard Howard do it too though, so I don't really care.
Howard definitely invented the whole "Wack Pack" concept, i.e., having a bunch of mongoloids and crazies hang around to be objects of, alternatingly, ridicule and affection. Anyone who denies O&A took the concept from him and used it with Lady Di, Bobo, etc., is kidding themselves. The only difference was O&A's version of the Wack Pack was less funny (nobody half as funny as Eric the Midget or Crazy Alice) and they were much meaner to them.
Here's Stern & co teasing Eric the Midget, for example. It's a little mean, but doesn't have the feel of school bullies tormenting the unpopular kid that O&A did with Bobo and is generally funnier and more light-hearted.
Yeah I used to always watch Howard's show on E back in the day. I always enjoyed it, and thought it was very entertaining. Like when he would do his version of Hollywood Squares, but have all his freaks in the boxes. He'd have the head of the KKK and King of all blacks.
Talking to weirdos on radio predates Howard. He just made it a big part of his show. Howard's wack pack were not as annoying. Bobo is hateable for being so unaware and selfish. lady di too.
There's no way Opie, Anthony or Jim would have been able to handle it if Eric the Midget started hitting them with the low blows like he did to Stern. He'd be banned from the show instantly.
That clip was funny in a light chuckle kind of way but an irritated Jimmy completely dehumanizing Bobo is a cardiac rupturing type of funny. Nothing has ever made me laugh harder than that level of meanness
As much as I love the old school shows and really do think in their prime they were better than stern in his, yea they stole alot of bits and concepts from him. Anthony was a huge stern fan and opie wanted/still wants to be howard more than anything. You could easily argue the new direction of opies show is even based on watered down modern stern
Go on youtube and listen to clips of O&A having retards and drunks in to play "password" and other game shows. It's pretty funny, but now go listen to clips of Stern doing it 20 years earlier.
Bobo on O&A has made me laugh my ass off probably harder than I ever laughed at any Wack Packer on Stern, but he wouldn't exist if it weren't for heroes like Beetlejuice, Underdog Lady, and Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf paving the way.
Both shows had similarities. I do believe that O&A reinterpreted Stern's Wack Pack bit with their own set of misfits.
That said, both shows were trying to push the limits and we're looking to get weirder/stranger/raunchier.
O&A actually had a guest that was aroused by knives being scraped across her naked body.
It was an arms race of odd people. A "Dolt War," if you will.
13 comments
5 RearNakedGrope 2015-09-09
Hoo hoo I invented retards, Robin.
They probably did steal bits though. They say Howard claims they steal stuff all the time, but I've seen it. I've listened to Howard discussing specific topics then heard OnA discuss those same topics later on, and they weren't news topics or even popular things to discuss, very niche things they would "borrow". I've heard Howard do it too though, so I don't really care.
5 Ken__Fresno 2015-09-09
Howard definitely invented the whole "Wack Pack" concept, i.e., having a bunch of mongoloids and crazies hang around to be objects of, alternatingly, ridicule and affection. Anyone who denies O&A took the concept from him and used it with Lady Di, Bobo, etc., is kidding themselves. The only difference was O&A's version of the Wack Pack was less funny (nobody half as funny as Eric the Midget or Crazy Alice) and they were much meaner to them.
Here's Stern & co teasing Eric the Midget, for example. It's a little mean, but doesn't have the feel of school bullies tormenting the unpopular kid that O&A did with Bobo and is generally funnier and more light-hearted.
5 [deleted] 2015-09-09
I feel like Opie was really the only one that would take it over that line though
3 Joemomma101 2015-09-09
Yeah I used to always watch Howard's show on E back in the day. I always enjoyed it, and thought it was very entertaining. Like when he would do his version of Hollywood Squares, but have all his freaks in the boxes. He'd have the head of the KKK and King of all blacks.
1 pfg-sciple 2015-09-09
Talking to weirdos on radio predates Howard. He just made it a big part of his show. Howard's wack pack were not as annoying. Bobo is hateable for being so unaware and selfish. lady di too.
Bobo Jim
Jimmy tires of bobo's interrupting
1 TheDarkFezRises 2015-09-09
There's no way Opie, Anthony or Jim would have been able to handle it if Eric the Midget started hitting them with the low blows like he did to Stern. He'd be banned from the show instantly.
0 Navsies 2015-09-09
That clip was funny in a light chuckle kind of way but an irritated Jimmy completely dehumanizing Bobo is a cardiac rupturing type of funny. Nothing has ever made me laugh harder than that level of meanness
2 Ken__Fresno 2015-09-09
Might just be a difference in taste, that clip is hysterically funny to me. Though I can't deny that Jimmy being acidic and mean is amazing.
3 [deleted] 2015-09-09
As much as I love the old school shows and really do think in their prime they were better than stern in his, yea they stole alot of bits and concepts from him. Anthony was a huge stern fan and opie wanted/still wants to be howard more than anything. You could easily argue the new direction of opies show is even based on watered down modern stern
3 regis69 2015-09-09
It's actually one of the most blatantly rip-offed aspects they took from his show.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wack_Pack
Go on youtube and listen to clips of O&A having retards and drunks in to play "password" and other game shows. It's pretty funny, but now go listen to clips of Stern doing it 20 years earlier.
Bobo on O&A has made me laugh my ass off probably harder than I ever laughed at any Wack Packer on Stern, but he wouldn't exist if it weren't for heroes like Beetlejuice, Underdog Lady, and Hank the Angry Drunken Dwarf paving the way.
2 _TheConsumer_ 2015-09-09
Both shows had similarities. I do believe that O&A reinterpreted Stern's Wack Pack bit with their own set of misfits.
That said, both shows were trying to push the limits and we're looking to get weirder/stranger/raunchier. O&A actually had a guest that was aroused by knives being scraped across her naked body.
It was an arms race of odd people. A "Dolt War," if you will.
1 NJPoster 2015-09-09
O&A weren't funny with their Wackpack. I never liked Stalker Patti, Retarded Laverne and Shirley etc. Stern was a lot funnier.
0 SpaceEdge 2015-09-09
Ron and Fez had a Bobo also. Howard stern didn't invent retards named Bobo.
Edited to add O&A Bobo is called Bobo because he told some stupid story about how is sister called him that when he was younger.