Foundation Thanks 'Tonight Show'

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With Thanksgiving upon us and Jimmy Fallon set to take over the reins of The Tonight Show from Jay Leno after the 2014 Winter Olympics in late February, the Stuttering Foundation would like to express thanks that The Tonight Show has given the stuttering community many much needed boosts over the last 50 years at a time when the film industry did not portray people who stutter in a positive light.

Jack Paar, the second host of The Tonight Show, made the show a staple of American culture during his run as host from 1957-1962. Paar always identified himself as a person who stutters. He grew up with a severe stuttering problem, and as a teenager would perform “make believe” radio shows in his basement dreaming of being a fluent speaker. Paar stated in his 1959 autobiography, “Like many youngsters who stammer, I lived in a world of imagination and books."

Paar was the first entertainer to speak openly of his stuttering, and on several occasions used The Tonight Show as a forum to speak candidly of his past stuttering in a way that put a human face on the speech problem.

Jay Leno, the fourth host of The Tonight Show, hired John Melendez, a well-known person who stutters, in 2004 to be the show’s announcer as well as participate in other aspects of the show. Previously, Melendez’ 15 year run on The Howard Stern Show saw him continually mocked and ridiculed for his stuttering. Leno, whose undergraduate degree from Emerson College is in speech language-pathology, hired Melendez for his professional abilities and obviously did not let the fact that Melendez is a person who stutters affect his decision.

It was a great moment for the stuttering community when Leno hired Melendez as his announcer because we all knew it was because of John’s abilities. At this time of Thanksgiving, we are appreciative for all that Paar and Leno have done to promote a positive image of stuttering, and we wish Fallon the best. We hope that Mr. Fallon continues The Tonight Show’s tradition of supporting people who stutter.

Nov. 25, 2013

CELEBRITY FOCUS

Carly Simon

Carly Simon began stuttering severely when she was eight years old.

John Stossel

John Stossel is one of the most recognized and articulate reporters today. However, he once considered giving up his broadcasting career because of his stuttering.

“Fear of stuttering can easily become worse than the stuttering itself,” observed Stossel. “The idea that I’m on television and making speeches is still a shock to me sometimes.”

Marilyn Monroe

From Edward S. Herrington's letter to Southcoasttoday.com

I am writing in response to "The importance of voice" (May 29), which mentioned that famous actor James Earl Jones struggled with stuttering. Another famous voice that you cited was the trademark breathy voice of Marilyn Monroe; however, you did not make mention of the fact that Marilyn Monroe also struggled with stuttering at various points in her life, sometimes very painfully.

Alan Rabinowitz

Alan Rabinowitz, Ph.D., who passed away in 2018, was an explorer, wildlife conservationist, and author. He established the Hukawng Valley Tiger Reserve in northern Myanmar, which is about the size of the state of Vermont.

His love for animals began when he was very young.

Bob Love

Bob Love has dreamt about being a great public speaker since his early days in Bastrop Louisiana, even though, as a young man, he could barely put two words together, let alone speak a full sentence.

In spite of his severe stuttering disability, Bob Love, the son of a sharecropper, rose to become a Chicago Bulls NBA superstar, whose records were eventually surpassed by Michael Jordan. Throughout his entire athletic career, Bob Love kept his stuttering a secret from the fans who adored him, thinking he could do his “talking” on the basketball court.