Howard Recaps the 2021 Staff Holiday Party, Including Getting Distracted by Gary Dell’Abate’s Eating

The annual Stern Show staff holiday party might have been virtual this year but, as always, it created much discussion after the fact. On Tuesday, Howard listed some highlights including the opportunity to interact with certain staffers. “As much as you can bond with someone over a Christmas party, I was able to bond with Chris [Wilding] because he’s funny,” he explained.

While there were more intimate Zoom breakout rooms during the gathering, Chris admitted he preferred the action of the larger room. “There’s one main room and that’s the best room” the staffer said. “Ronnie [Mund’s] doing shtick, and [co-host Robin Quivers is] doing stuff with Ronnie … and I’m chiming in, and everyone is laughing—it feels like a party.”

At one point, Howard decided to give a speech thanking the staff for all their hard work—a moment that unfortunately found him distracted by the eating of Stern Show executive producer Gary Dell’Abate. “I look on my screen … and of course, the one person it’s focused on is Gary and he’s stuffing his mouth the whole time I’m giving this speech,” Howard recalled before offering some constructive criticism. “If it was me and I was Gary, I would eat my meal before and not eat in front of everybody … Who thinks that they look good eating?”

When Gary revealed he was eating chicken parmesan, Howard had additional feedback. “Chicken parm is a messy food … each bite was like 25 chews,” he noted. “I wouldn’t do it.”

For his part, Gary was remorseful. “It was bad timing on the delivery is all I can say … I apologize,” the executive producer said before addressing his meal choice. “Lesson learned. Point taken.”