John Coger "Jackie" Martling Jr. (born February 14, 1948) is an American stand-up comedian, writer, radio personality, author, actor, and musician also known as Jackie the Joke Man. He is best known as a former writer and in-studio comedian for The Howard Stern Show from 1983 to 2001.

Born and raised on Long Island, New York, Martling began a career in stand-up comedy in 1979, developing a blue comedy act in local venues. He self-produced his first of three comedy albums, What Did You Expect? (1979), during this time. After becoming involved with Rick Dees's radio show as a regular joke feature, Martling sent his albums to New York City radio personality Howard Stern, who invited him as a weekly guest and writer in 1983. This led to his hiring as head writer from 1986 to 2001. He released further albums during his tenure, including Sgt. Pecker (1996), Joke Man (1996), Hot Dogs + Donuts (1998).

Since his departure from The Howard Stern Show, Martling has undertaken various projects, including acting roles in television and film, and continues to perform stand-up. From 2006 to 2014, he was the host of Jackie's Joke Hunt on Sirius XM Satellite Radio, on Howard Stern's channel. He released his first music album, Happy Endings (2008). Martling has written two books, Disgustingly Dirty Joke Book (1998) and The Joke Man: Bow to Stern (2017).

Early life

Martling was born on February 14, 1948, in Mineola, New York, a village on Long Island. The eldest of four children, he is of English, French, and Dutch ancestry. Martling took up music at seventh grade and spent time as a gymnast in his youth. During his time in college, Martling was the singer and guitarist in a band. He quit the group and spent six months in Denver, Colorado, working in construction. This was followed by Goin' Ape! (1980).

Martling made a breakthrough in 1981 when Dave Lipson, writer and producer of Rick Dees's morning radio show on KIIS in Los Angeles, discovered his joke line and played his daily joke updates on Dees's program. The exposure led Martling to star in a designated joke segment for Dees, who went on to give Martling his nickname, "The Joke Man". Also in 1981, Martling released his third album, Normal People Are People You Don't Know That Well (1981).

The Howard Stern Show

Martling first heard of radio personality Howard Stern in August 1982 when the owner of Washington, D.C.'s Garvin's comedy club, where Stern had occasionally broadcast from during his time at WWDC (DC-101), suggested to Martling that he send his comedy albums to the recently fired radio DJ who had since landed at WNBC in New York City.

In February 2001, Martling made history when he became the first comedian to perform at the B.B. King Blues Club in New York City.

On March 5, 2001, Stern announced Martling's departure from the show after negotiations fell through once more. Martling, who was earning $578,000 at the time, asked for a salary that averaged $1 million per year over the next five years. He declined the station's final offer of $650,000 on the advice of his lawyer. Martling twice attempted to accept the offer once the deadline to accept had passed, and he was declined. In 2010, Martling wrote and performed a one-man show for a run in New York City titled JokeLand on Broadway. In 2012, he appeared in Fred Carpenter's Send No Flowers, the short film My Cross to Bear, and voiced two puppets in the human/puppet film The Fuzz.

Martling's second book (an autobiography), The Joke Man: Bow to Stern, was released on October 24, 2017. Lange, who replaced Martling on The Howard Stern Show from 2001 to 2009, wrote the book's foreword.

Personal life

From 1988 to 2008, Jackie Martling was married to Nancy Sirianni, though they were separated for years before they formally divorced. Their personal life as well as her appearances and call-ins to The Howard Stern Show contributed greatly to their popularity and put Jackie and Nancy in a spotlight they had not previously enjoyed. Nancy Sirianni's musical endeavors with her band, The Scoldees (and before that her bands All Folked Up and Big Orange Marble), were played on Stern's radio show and discussed by Howard and his staff. In 2008, Martling and Sirianni continued their professional association with an Off-Off-Broadway Broadway Game Show called "Play With Jackie." Martling also had a cameo in a 1990 low-budget horror movie Nancy starred in called Ghoul School, which became another punchline for Stern.

Discography

Comedy albums

  • What Did You Expect? (1979)
  • Goin' Ape! (1980)
  • Normal People Are People You Don't Know That Well (1981)
  • The Joke Man (1993)
  • Sgt. Pecker (1996)
  • Come Again? (1997)
  • Hot Dogs + Donuts (1998)
  • The Very Best of Jackie Martling's Talking Joke Book Cassettes, Vol. 1 (1999)
  • F Jackie (2000)
  • Joke Master Jr.: For Ages 3–12 (2006)
  • Gross Master Junior: For Ages 12–16 (2006)
  • Snart (2010)

Music albums

  • Happy Endings (2008)

Bibliography

  • Jackie "The Joke Man" Martling's Disgustingly Dirty Joke Book (1998)
  • The Joke Man: Bow to Stern (2017)

References

;Sources

  • Official website