I swear, this can't be real. But, it's an AP story in the W. Post....
washingtonpost.com
Stern's Melendez to Announce 'Tonight Show'
By MICHAEL P. WEINFELD
The Associated Press
Thursday, February 19, 2004; 12:54 PM
WASHINGTON - Jay Leno's new announcer on NBC's "The Tonight Show" will be "Stuttering" John Melendez from Howard Stern's radio show, a spokeswoman said.
Melendez will start March 29, replacing Edd Hall, who's leaving the show after 12 years to concentrate on doing movies.
He is working with a speech coach to help with his announcing, a "Tonight Show" spokeswoman told The Associated Press Wednesday.
Besides announcing, Melendez will be in sketches and will go out on interviews. Melendez is famous for embarrassing the people he talks to, but he won't be doing that sort of interview for Leno, the spokeswoman said.
"Tonight Show" executives became interested in Melendez after seeing him on the ABC reality show "I'm a Celebrity: Get Me out of Here." The spokeswoman said Melendez came across as a "peacemaker" and "family man."