TALKIN' RADIO : HE LOVES STERN - ENOUGH TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT.

Byline: Fred Shuster

For professional photographer, husband and dad Dan Wagner, Howard Stern's radio show became an obsession he could only overcome by writing a book.

Wagner's ``Getting to Howard: The Odyssey of an Obsessed Howard Stern Fan'' (Ilicium Books; $23.95), is a true-life account of an ultimate Stern groupie.

``My wife said of all the books I could possibly write, why this one?'' Wagner said. ``This is a real look at what a fan went through.''

Wagner's ``odyssey'' began in October 1995, when he sent a fax to the nationally syndicated Stern morning show - heard locally on talk radio KLSX-FM (97.1) - on a lark and heard the New York-based host read it on the air five minutes later.

``It was a heady feeling,'' admits Wagner, 35, who lives on the north shore of New York's Long Island near Stern show regulars Jackie Martling and ``Stuttering'' John Melendez. ``To me, this was an outlet to be creative. It was a challenge to come up with the right bait to catch Howard's interest.''

After faxing messages, Wagner tried other stunts like presenting Stern with a bogus Emmy Award.

``Then, I became (show writer Fred) Norris' band photographer and landed the part of an extra in the `Private Parts' movie,'' Wagner said. ``All the interactions I had with Stern or his workers and fans were just as bizarre as what goes on during the show. That's what made it so amazing. I came to really like the people on the show. Every one of them, their waters run deep.''

Wagner's book, which includes more than 200 photos, is available at bookstores, over the Internet (www.gettingtohoward.com), or by calling (877) GET-HOWARD (438-4692).

40 years of Top 40

To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the birth of radio's Top 40 format, the Museum of Television & Radio in Beverly Hills presents a seminar Dec. 2 with some of the top names in the field.

Panelists include top-rated morning man Rick Dees of KIIS-FM (102.7), programmer Chuck Blore, Boss Radio architect Bill Drake, disc jockey Casey Kasem, broadcaster Gary Owens and pop singer Johnny Rivers.

One of the event's moderators will be Ben Fong-Torres, author of the just-published ``The Hits Just Keep on Coming'' (Miller Freeman; $27.95).

One of the topics will be the development of Los Angeles' first Top 40 station, KFWB-AM (980).

Tickets are $10 and may be purchased in the museum lobby, or by calling [phone].

Hello and goodbye

Bob Wennersten returns to classical music KKGO-FM (105.1) as program director after a two-year absence. ... Steve Blatter exits as program director of modern rock KLYY-FM (107.1) - Y107.

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Photo: STERN