From the NY Post Web Page... News Section Midtown traffic paralyzed By JACLYN D'AURIA, PAUL STARICK and TRACY CONNOR Howard Stern mania descended on Madison Square Garden last night as tens of thousands of the shock jock's rabid fans swarmed the streets for the premiere of his movie, "Private Parts." Midtown motorists were left paralyzed by Stern-lock, while the self-proclaimed King of All Media arrived in a style that's usually reserved for the pontiff. Driving across West 31st Street in a bulletproof "Popemobile," Stern whipped the ecstatic crowd into a frenzy with a simple wave. The one-time Long Island loser shed a royal red robe to reveal a snazzy Armani tux on his 6-foot-5 frame, accented with a white silk scarf and red handkerchief. "It's typically appropriate to have all my fans here because I made the movie for you," he told the shrieking horde. "I'm getting a little tired of Tom Cruise movies." Pointing to his own mug, he added, "This is the face of Hollywood." The sea of wide-eyed Stern buffs exhorted the wild-haired K-Rock morning man to appear in the buff. Ripping off their shirts, they screamed out, "Show us your private parts." The raunchy superstar, who often jokes about being poorly endowed, teased the mob -- touching his fly but staying zipped up. The crushing crowd surged forward, desperately reaching for Stern's outstretched hands when he took a walk along a red carpet into the Garden. That was right after their chants drowned out his performance of "Great American Nightmare" with the metal band White Zombie. Stern's acolytes lived up to their reputation for fanaticism. "It's even better than getting married," said Jeff Taylor, 31, of Glen Cove, L.I., about joining the horde for a glimpse of Stern and a first peek at the biopic based on his best-selling book of the same name. Manhattan bass player Peter Wire, 30, stood in line for 12 hours Tuesday for one of the 6,000 tickets to his outrageous idol's extravaganza at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. "There's no one who throws a party like Howard Stern. It's unbelievable," he said. "It's a reason to rock and roll." Many fans were keenly interested in two of their hero's favorite subjects. "I'm looking forward to seeing the lesbians and [tits]," said Long Island resident Billy Schifrick. "[Tits] and Howard -- that's what life is all about," Frank Turner of Elizabeth, N.J., said. For harried New Yorkers heading home at rush hour, the premiere was a giant headache, with 31st and 33rd streets between Seventh and Eighth avenues closed to traffic. Mike Carmody, 38, of Massapequa, L.I., said it took 40 minutes to crawl two blocks in his car. "This is crazy. I never saw anything like this. I never saw so many people at the same place at the same time," he said. "Private Parts" chronicles Stern's not-so-meteoric rise from a third-rate disc jockey to the nation's highest-paid radio performer. The movie and Stern's portrayal of himself are getting good buzz, and Paramount expects it to be its highest-grossing film this year. The audience raved after the credits rolled at the end. "After seeing this movie, I'm a convert. I never liked Howard before this," said Brooklynite Dale Ashley, 35, who was dragged to the screening by his girlfriend, a Stern admirer. The celebrities attending the premiere included actors Kevin Bacon and Tom Arnold, rapper LL Cool J, and crooner Tony Bennett. "I think it's great they let a new face in Hollywood," Stern told the crowd. Surveying the hubbub, he noted, "This is almost like Hollywood in New York. We must have done something right." Copyright )1996, N.Y.P. Holdings Inc.
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