Fla Fla Flunky

Fla Fla Flunky was a nickname Howard Stern gave to his on-air producer, Gary Dell’Abate, during the early years of the show. It’s one of the many humorous, often teasing nicknames Howard came up with to poke fun at Gary’s role as the guy who handled behind-the-scenes tasks and occasionally made mistakes or odd choices that caught Howard's attention. Gary’s missteps, quirks, and his famous laugh have made him a target of relentless teasing, solidifying him as a beloved (and sometimes pitied) member of the Wack Pack.

Howard gave the nickname because he felt "Fla Fla Flunky" captured Gary’s job of running around doing tasks for everyone—a jab at his producer responsibilities. Over time, Gary embraced the humor, and the nickname became part of the show’s legacy.