Great Minds, Great Conversations: Communicating through Life: A Journey through the Media Landscape
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Gary Dell’Abate ’83, executive producer of The Howard Stern Show; and Jeff Filippi ’82, senior vice president of programming and production, executive producer at MSG Networks, Inc., will share the experiences they’ve had on their career journeys and offer insights about today’s media industry.
This great conversation will be moderated by Peggy Cassidy, Chair of the Communications Department.
Speakers
Gary Dell’Abate ’83
Gary Dell’Abate, also known by the nickname Baba Booey, has been the executive producer of The Howard Stern Show since 1984.
He wrote about his career as well as his personal life—including his brother’s death from AIDS and his mother’s struggle with depression—in his New York Times best-selling autobiography, They Call Me Baba Booey.
Dell’Abate is a supporter of LIFEbeat: The Music Industry Fights AIDS, and served as the charity’s president for over 12 years. He used his vast musical knowledge to benefit LIFEbeat, winning $200,000 on Don’t Forget The Lyrics and $20,000 on Rock and Roll Jeopardy, where he handily defeated Weird Al Yankovic and KC of KC and the Sunshine Band.
Dell’Abate has been a guest on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live and The Conan O’Brien Show, and has made numerous appearances on Hollywood Squares. He also appeared in the film Private Parts and, most recently, in the Adam Sandler comedy Sandy Wexler.
In 2011, Dell’Abate was appointed to the board of the Department of Parks and Recreation in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he still serves.
He has been married since 1992 to Mary Dell’Abate They have two sons, Lucas and Jackson.
Jeff Filippi ’82
As senior vice president, programming and production, and executive producer for MSG Networks, Filippi oversees more than 300 live telecasts each year for six professional teams: New York Knicks, New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils, New York Islanders, New York Red Bulls, and the Westchester Knicks. He also oversees pre- and post-game coverage and MSG Networks’ live studio shows, and he manages over 30 members of on-air talent in addition to all production personnel.
Prior to joining MSG Networks in 2005, Filippi held roles at major networks including ABC, NBC, CBS and ESPN. He produced seven U.S. Open Tennis Championships for USA Network and worked as a producer on four Winter Olympic Games. He was also an original hire at Classic Sports Network, where he served as vice president and executive producer through the network’s sale to ESPN.
Filippi has won two national and 17 New York regional Emmy Awards.
A longtime New York sports fan, he was born in Manhattan, raised in Queens, and currently resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his wife, Nora; son, Jack; and daughter, Ava.