Voting Station

Gary Owens

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Radio Personality

The Resume

    (May 10, 1934-February 12, 2015)
    Born in Mitchell, South Dakota
    Birth name is Gary Altman
    Hosted the prime-time Gong Show (1976–1977)
    Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1980)
    Radio Hall of Fame inductee (1994)
    Author of ‘The (What to Do While You’re Holding the) Phone Book (1973)’
    Voice announcer for ‘Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-in,’ ‘The Perils of Penelope Pitstop,’ ‘Garfield and Friends’ and ‘Ren and Stimpy’

Why he might be annoying:

    ‘And now here he is, Gary Owens. Thank you very much, me.’
    He was the son of an auditor and sheriff.
    He often used nonexistent words in his recitations (for example, ‘krenellemuffin,’ or a short pause).
    His signature phrase was ‘beautiful downtown Burbank.’
    He estimated having hosted roughly 12,000 radio shows in his lifetime. (Shows or episodes?)

Why he might not be annoying:

    He had a rich baritone voice, well suited to radio — and far smoother than Chuck Barris.
    He was a fan of The Shadow.
    He was a 20-year-veteran of KMPC radio in Los Angeles.
    He appeared on the very first episode of Sesame Street.
    He could mix and shift between straight and silly activity easily.
    One nonsense word – ‘insegrevious’ – made its way, albeit for only a ‘krenellemuffin,’ into the Funk and Wagnalls dictionary.
    Whereas the Barris version of the Gong Show awarded $516,32, his awarded $712,05 (later $716,32).
    There were only three other lifelong Laugh-In cast members.

Credit: Cool It All Right?


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 17 Votes: 52.94% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 154 Votes: 53.90% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 19 Votes: 52.63% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 58 Votes: 46.55% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 103 Votes: 52.43% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 180 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 154 Votes: 64.94% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 1417 Votes: 45.45% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 125 Votes: 53.60% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 183 Votes: 56.28% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 46.15% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 91 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 799 Votes: 46.31% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 2500 Votes: 33.20% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 19 Votes: 21.05% Annoying