Eric The Midget

About Eric The Midget

Eric Lynch (born March 11, 1975), better known as Eric the Midget, is a member of The Howard Stern Show's Wack Pack. Lynch is 3 ft 5 in (1.04 m) tall, weighs 85 lb (39 kg; 6.1 st), and uses a motorized wheelchair. Additionally he suffers from Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a disease of the connective tissue, and claims to have outlived every doctor's prediction for his life expectancy. This has resulted in various deformities, notably claw-like hands which Jimmy Kimmel described as being "like shaking a rotten plum." Lynch does not have a stable job in which he receives a regular paycheck; however, because of his condition he receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

He is a frequent caller to the show, even by Wack Pack standards. On the air, his voice is low-pitched and scratchy-sounding. He speaks slowly and haltingly. In addition, he makes small grunting noises interspersed with his words. Eric's many imitators will affect a gravel voice, low pitch, and nasal tone. The show sometimes plays sound effects of the voice of "Danny" from the film The Shining, using the catch-phrase "Redrum! Redrum!", as well as the alien "Ack-Ack!" from Mars Attacks, which sound uncannily like Eric's real voice. He is known for being extremely short-tempered and belligerent, frequently addressing members of the show with insulting nicknames, such as referring to Stern as "big nose" or "jackass" and Robin Quivers as "cackling bitch" and Artie Lange as "fat ass." He has a very limited sense of humor and has said he doesn't appreciate the comedy of The Howard Stern Show.

A self-styled "expert" on American Idol, Lynch is known for his fandom of the show, specifically winners Kelly Clarkson, and Carrie Underwood, as well as runners-up Diana DeGarmo and Katharine McPhee. Lynch has repeatedly asked Howard Stern to use his influence to get him dates with Clarkson or Underwood, despite the fact that Stern has only a minimal relationship with the show and its cast. Eric also co-hosts his own webcam chat show on American Idol through stickam, known for its extreme technical difficulties.