Editing Stan Zemanek (section)

== Career ==
Zemanek was born and raised in Sydney, New South Wales, but began working in radio as a researcher for [[CFUN (AM)|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.<ref>{{cite web|title = stan's biography|publisher = stanzemanek.com.au|url = http://www.stanzemanek.com.au/2006/sz-2006-bio-page.shtml|access-date = 6 July 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927074035/http://www.stanzemanek.com.au/2006/sz-2006-bio-page.shtml|archive-date = 27 September 2007}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news|last=Perkin|first=Corrie|title=Stan and deliver|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2002/03/08/1015365745656.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=10 March 2002|accessdate=5 July 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|agency=Australian Associated Press|title=Tumour claims 'shock jock' Zemanek|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/shock-jock-zemanek-dies/2007/07/12/1183833644321.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=12 July 2007|accessdate=13 July 2007}}</ref>
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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Farouque|first=Farah|title='Name' male to replace Zemanek at 3AW|url=http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/01/21/1042911374406.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=23 January 2003|accessdate=5 July 2007}}</ref><ref>
{{cite news|last=Carbone|first=Suzanne|title=3AW picks up after Stan|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/TV--Radio/3AW-picks-up-after-Stan/2004/12/07/1102182292129.html|newspaper=[[The Age]]|date=8 December 2004|accessdate=5 July 2007}}</ref>

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]] [[Australian Labor Party|Labor]] voters" for not doing the same. His most commonly used terms were "numb nuts", "turn it up", "half-wit", "oxygen thief", "[[Left-wing politics|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]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Leech|first=Graeme|title=Shock jock who never sold out|url=http://theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,,22063886-7582,00.html|newspaper=[[The Australian]]|date=13 July 2007|accessdate=17 July 2007}}{{dead link|date=March 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref>

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.{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}

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 [[Feces|turd]]" and "a ponce" with "his head up his backside".<ref>{{cite news|first=Sue|last=Javes|title=The ego has landed|url=http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2003/01/27/1043534002664.html|newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]]|date=28 January 2003|accessdate=4 March 2007}}</ref> 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).<ref>{{cite news|last=Connolly|first=Fiona|title=Carlton's career under threat|url=http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22095389-5007132,00.html|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]|location=Sydney|date=19 July 2007|accessdate=19 July 2007}}</ref>