Stan Zemanek

Stan Zemanek (29 May 1947 – 12 July 2007)[1] was an Australian radio broadcaster, television presenter, radio producer and author who presented a popular night-time show on The Macquarie Network station 2UE in Sydney and which was networked across parts of Australia via Southern Cross.

Stan Zemanek
Born(1947-05-29)29 May 1947
Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died12 July 2007(2007-07-12) (aged 60)
North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Occupation
  • radio presenter
  • television presenter
  • radio producer
  • author
Years active1978−2007
Known for2UE, Beauty and the Beast
Spouse(s)Marcella Zemanek
Children2

He was known for his forthright, generally right-wing[2] views and for trading abusive remarks with some of his callers. He was also the 13th and longest-serving "Beast" on the popular panel TV talk show, Beauty and the Beast.

Career

Zemanek was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales, but began working in radio as a researcher for Radio C-Fun 141 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. He worked as a producer on the John Laws program in Australia starting in 1978, before returning to North America for some years, where he covered the 1983 America's Cup. He spent a decade presenting on 2UE late at night beginning in 1987. He spent a year in 2000 presenting the 2GB morning shift.[3][4][5] Zemanek moved to Melbourne for a short stint with 3AW's drive program in 2002 before moving back to Sydney and 2UE in 2003, having failed to garner ratings, and publicly falling out with several members of the 3AW's broadcast team.[6][7]

While popular with much of his audience, Stan often boasted about being the most complained-about broadcaster in the country, polarising opinions of those who did not agree with his right-wing beliefs. He was not shy to admit that he was politically biased and often criticised "idiot Labor voters" for not doing the same. His most commonly used terms were "numb nuts", "turn it up", "half-wit", "oxygen thief", "left-wing looney", "give yourself an uppercut" and "typical Labor voter"; and he once asked a caller who sounded to be a little slow 'are you smoking the wacky-tobacky', a slang reference to marijuana.[8]

In 2003, following his return to 2UE, he received a bombardment of calls from a number of people he referred to as 'The Phone Box Boys', thinking they were all calling him from a phone box. The calls would sometimes reach 20 a night, and would spin several staples of Zemanek such as sound effects, on Stan himself. This led to an enormous spike in his ratings for the period of March–July 2003.

Zemanek had an ongoing rivalry with fellow 2UE colleague and breakfast host Mike Carlton, ever since Carlton revealed on-air that Zemanek was about to move to 2GB. An angry Zemanek called for Carlton to be sacked and for the Australian Broadcasting Authority to investigate him for "irresponsible journalism". The "debate" between the two broadcasters degenerated over the next few days, with Carlton calling Zemanek "a little shit", "a village idiot", and "a stunted runt" and Zemanek calling Carlton "a turd" and "a ponce" with "his head up his backside".[9] After Zemanek's death, Carlton stated on his breakfast show at 2UE that he hated Zemanek and would only attend his funeral to check that he was really dead, causing 2UE management to publicly denounce Carlton. Carlton made his comment while showbiz reporter Peter Ford was doing a report on Zemanek's funeral. At the time Ford made light of Carlton's comments. On reflection, however, he was disgusted and blasted Carlton on 2UE that day. Ford explained that Zemanek was a mentor and friend and that he was disgusted with what Carlton had said. Ford resigned from his spot on Carlton's program (but continues to report for other 2UE programs).[10]

Personal life

Stan and his wife, Marcella Zemanek, had two daughters, Gaby and Melissa, and two grandchildren at the time of his death.[11] He supported the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NRL, before moving to Melbourne (where Australian rules football is the dominant football code), where he elected to support the Carlton Football Club.[12]

Ill-health, retirement and death

Zemanek was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme,[13] an aggressive brain tumour that is almost universally fatal within a few years, in May 2006.[14] Treatment included chemotherapy and radiotherapy in addition to surgery performed by Charles Teo.[13] After rumours in 2006, Zemanek's retirement, and intention to look after his health and spend time with his family, was announced on 9 December 2006.[14] His final show went to air on 22 December 2006.[15] Many in the commercial radio industry paid tribute to Zemanek on-air, including his former on-air colleagues and, later, rivals (on 2GB), Alan Jones and Ray Hadley.

While Zemanek intended to return to Beauty and the Beast in early 2007,[16] and he celebrated his 60th birthday with former Beauty and the Beast co-stars,[17] his health deteriorated in retirement. In June 2007, he and his wife cut short a planned holiday due to illness, and in early July 2007 his family announced that he was dying.[18][19] He died in his sleep in the early hours on 12 July 2007.[20] His funeral, open to the public, was held on 17 July 2007, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in North Sydney, and was followed by a private cremation.[21][22]

References
  1. "The career of Stan Zemanek". The Daily Telegraph. 12 July 2007. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  2. Australian Associated Press (12 July 2007). "Shock jock Stan Zemanek dies". News.com.au. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  3. "stan's biography". www.stanzemanek.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  4. Perkin, Corrie (10 March 2002). "Stan and deliver". The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  5. Australian Associated Press (12 July 2007). "Tumour claims 'shock jock' Zemanek". The Age. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  6. Farouque, Farah (23 January 2003). "'Name' male to replace Zemanek at 3AW". The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  7. Carbone, Suzanne (8 December 2004). "3AW picks up after Stan". The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  8. Leech, Graeme (13 July 2007). "Shock jock who never sold out". The Australian. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
  9. Javes, Sue (28 January 2003). "The ego has landed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 4 March 2007.
  10. Connolly, Fiona (19 July 2007). "Carlton's career under threat". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 19 July 2007.
  11. Zemanek, Marcella (13 July 2007). "Stan's widow tells of final days". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  12. Jim Main, Aussie rules for dummies (2nd edition, 2008), p. 252.
  13. Javes, Sue (21 September 2006). "Even ailing, jock shocks". The Age. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  14. Lee, Sandra (10 December 2006). "'Mellower' Stan Zemanek to quit radio". The Sunday Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  15. Australian Associated Press (22 October 2006). "Shock jock Zemanek calls it quits". Yahoo!7 News. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  16. Clune, Richard (4 February 2007). "Zemanek's Beast is back". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  17. Sydney Confidential (15 June 2007). "Stan's birthday beastly, beaut". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 6 September 2012. Retrieved 6 July 2007.
  18. Connolly, Fiona (5 July 2007). "Death within days for shock jock". News.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 July 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  19. Gibson, Jano (5 July 2007). "Shock jock Zemanek 'has days to live'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 5 July 2007.
  20. Connolly, Fiona (12 July 2007). "Stan a fighter to the very end". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  21. Australian Associated Press (12 July 2007). "Zemanek funeral on Tuesday". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 13 July 2007.
  22. Narushima, Yuko (17 July 2007). "Stan was 'romantic and funny'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 17 July 2007.
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