Who?!!
You mean to tell me people still remember Howard?!!
Radio Gunk dot com. Let’s chat.
1
I haven’t listened since he was on real radio . I often think he should have bought an AM station to help save the radio of yore . Not that funny , helped degrade our culture to where we are today . Meh.
5
Reads review. Googles "when does Howard Stern's book come out." Dismisses whiny comments. Howard Stern changed the face of radio for good and for always, he's the single best interviewer on the planet, and it isn't close. The worst thing about him is his obnoxious fan base (who aren't nearly as bad as they once were) and the hundred thousand wannabes that he spawned on places like Boston sports radio. Once upon a time, my water broke while I was watching "Private Parts" and to this day it gives me a laugh. There is no one like the King of All Media, and all I can say is Haters Gonna Hate. Can't wait to read it.
24
I am certain that a hundred years from now, any anthropologist will garner more understanding of American culture in the late 20th and early 21st Centuries than from any other source, academic or otherwise.
4
Ha, ha...never Stern fan. If ever heard it was on the radio in a taxi -- remember taxis drivers and their radios? (It was his sidekick, Robin, who really offended with that shrill fake laugh.) But this books sounds great. Perhaps I'll tear myself away from The Iliad for a bit. Ha, ha...!
1
I like Howard Stern. I listen to his interviews and enjoy them a lot. Interesting article but the last bit on Clinton is more lazy, gratuitous sexism—from you, New York Times, since I haven't read this part of Sterns new book to verify what he thinks. Was that what America wanted, the soft likable woman? Will you media folks EVER improve? A broken country hopes so.
7
Sorry. You can't put lipstick on the pig that is Howard Stern. And my opinion of Janet Maslin has been lowered. Shame on me for wasting time reading that review.
19
@Joan I'm guessing you haven't listened to his show in decades- if ever. Am I close?
39
The many fans of the King of Men-Children, Stern.
8
Great review; thank you.
19
Much preferred Imus interviews. Better by far - less salacious and more revelatory and informative.
2
I have the Paul Anka interview that Stern did as one definitive master class in how to extract greatness from a personality, maybe that is included here. For every negative comment in the replies here, there is usually a lack of understanding and or outright ignorance of what this man has been able to achieve in Pop Culture. Potty humor and sex talk aside, the Stern Show is a pretty accurate kaleidoscope map of what the human condition is able to produce good or bad in the best and worst of situations. I dare anyone with half a brain to read this book and not find at least a handful of life lessons / teachings which can only help to further understand how and what makes us human... warts and all.
48
I've listened since the early 90s. Despite the dismissive "low-brow humor" critics, real fans know Howard's brilliance is broadcasting the carnival theatre humans crave, while they maybe castigate themselves for such craving. Watch JFK's brain staining Jackie's dress in Dallas for the umpteenth time as a parallel.
Howard's long love and support for the NY Times tells me he's reading these many comments.
I doubt I'll read the book because I usually turn off his Sirius interviews. I turn to a music station until he's done. I prefer his banter with the staff, his personal digressions, and of course, the Wack Pack.
10
To all those naysayers about the importance and integrity of Howard Stern, you entirely miss the point. He invented a genre of both shock jock and “reality” broadcasting. And in a world of Matt Lauers, Charlie Roses, Bill O’Reillys and Brian Williams, Howard has persevered with integrity for 40 years on the air at 4 hours a show. He has evolved, raised a family and been a voice of stability and sincerity for millions. It’s very hard to think about a broadcaster or entertainer of longer lasting or deeper importance. And he’s done this without being a phony or a fraud, which is why celebrities open up to him. That is his unique contribution to media and modern society. He should be praised. Has he been crude and childish at times? Yes, he’s a reflection of our society. Who else should we declare as the quintessential broadcaster of the last 30 years? Oprah, yes, but don’t forget she quit on everyone and has missed the last 10 years. Letterman, yes, but he had a serious misogyny episode himself. Who else rises to Howard’s contribution?
67
I've listened to Howard stern since around 1995....I don't agree with everything he does; i cringe at some of the phony phone calls they make, I don't like it when he talks about bathroom habits with a show Wack-Pack member named Wendy, I hated when Trump came on as a guest and i hate Trump even more now, but the good parts of the show FAR outweigh the negatives...
These are HORRIBLE political times in this country....Stern's Show is the only radio show i can listen to for hours on end...And i think the show is better now than ever, apologies to Jackie and Artie, but the show hasn't skipped a beat since both guys left many years ago...
My favorite interview he did was with Dana Carvey a few years ago....It was fascinating, from his youth with a strict dad, his experiences at SNL, his botched heart surgery, etc....It was an interview that lasted over 75 minutes and it was a PG-13 rated interview, he didn't have to sex up the interview to make it great....
32
Years ago, I worked for singer Daryl Hall. I knew him as an incredibly intelligent, passionate, kind, flawed, funny person. Stern was the first interviewer who brought out Hall’s real personality. In their 2007 talk, Stern got refreshing honest responses from Daryl on his music, his battle with Lyme disease, and his relationship with John Oates. There were parts of the interview that made me cringe, but it changed people’s perceptions of Hall from a sweet, faded pretty boy to a serious, relevant musician. It also helped send 60,000 people to the premiere of his “Live From Daryl’s House” webcast on its first day. I’m not a Stern fan and I doubt I’ll get the book, but he does get people to talk about themselves in a way few in the media can.
27
I love "Live from Daryl's House." But it sounds like the only reason he was interviewed by Stern was to plug?
@Outdoors Guy Most celebrities go on the show when they have something to plug. As long as they cooperate with the interview and don't dodge all of Howard's questions, who cares?
6
After reading all of these comments I am surprised that the people who obviously hate Howard (and many haven't even listened to him), actually took the time to read the review and then write a comment to further complain about him.
I love Howard and I have been listening for about 20 years. I don't love a lot of the female intensity (Ronnie), but overall he is an ardent supporter of women and he is constantly defending our role in the world. His radio show has evolved and so has he. Aren't we all supposed to do that?
I do hope that he retires in 2 years for his sake, but yet I will deeply miss him. I listen intently everyday. I laugh, I cry and sometimes I get mad at him. How can you not when he is on the radio for 4 hours a day? I cannot wait to read the book. It will be a way I can go back and "listen" to him when he is off the air. His interviews are great. Some of the best ones, are the ones that I thought-"ugh, this person?"
And Howard, if you read these comments, please don't beat yourself up about the mean ones. Not everyone is evolving like you are. And give Walter a little pet for me.
69
Lol. Whats funnier, in a sad way, all the comments from those "who used to listen", but then they grew up or Stern crossed a line. Yet they read the article and now feel the need to tell us of their epiphanies. lol.
Lol. Like Stern used to say, on terrestrial radio, to those who would call him to complain about his crass ways - you can turn to another station. You could have, should have turned the page here and kept on going. No one cares that you all used to listen. Or why you never did, but yet, have very detailed specifics about what he said that disturbed you. Kinda weird for people who are not fans...to hold on to such things for so long...
Lol.
I'm a fan of Stern. Never read his previous books, and wont read this one. I don't often listen much anymore, preferring current events based podcasts and the news.
He has certainly changed over the decades, esp. since going to satellite. He had to. His interviews now are very good. He's now admits to being a fan of the artists, celebs, etc, he interviews, which makes for better questioning...
Had HRC agreed to an interview, with his help she might have won some of his fan base, those who ridiculously like Trump. Who knows.
But the comments from the anti-Sterns are awesome and entertaining...so much more telling of them...
8
He was also on CBS Sunday Morning, this morning. Reading this was more about marveling at the way all of these inter-related media corps make a buck. Have you noticed that only people plugging something host SNL, and even Jeopardy now is usually in on some plug? LOL right back at you.
2
Of the two so-called "shock jocks," Imus and Stern, I used to listen to Imus off and on but never Stern.
Imus, warts and all, often had serious interviews with prominent authors, politicians, entertainers and so on. Most of Stern's show was sophomoric and the fact that he may have had a good interview here or there wasn't worth tuning in to his show.
5
Lets leave the howard sterns and woody allens of this world in the back, they dont need front page coverage. There are many other inspiring great men to cover, so please spare us this glorious promotion of a man who did nothing for the respect of women in his era.
16
@Most Drawing a moral equivalence between HS and Woody Allen shows how ignorant you are about the former. Woody Allen has been accused of sexually abusing one of his adopted daughters and he married his former step-daughter. Howard Stern has been.... a shock jock - telling vulgar and juvenile jokes on the radio, etc. That makes them the same?? Please get some perspective.
19
The modern Stern show has degraded into every 1990s “morning zoo” you’ve ever heard with “PC Woke” Howard lobbing softballs to mostly G-list celebrities (look up “Howard Stern BINGO” for insight into Woke-Howard the master interviewer). The tragedy in all this is that 2019 America needs the free speech crusading Howard Stern of old more than ever, but he’s nowhere to be found.
3
I’ve listened to Howard since NBC. For all the commenters who call him awful names and curse him out, you should listen. Sure, he can still be crude and go places which cause me to turn the dial.
But the premise of this book is about his interviews. He has become the best in the business. He is smart, well researched and asks the most poignant questions. In the past he would go too far. Now he knows that if he wants A-listers he has to temper his questions. Perhaps only Terry Gross is better but she still has to abide by NPR rules which put deeper most personal queries off limits. PB
32
I can only imagine what his parents were like. I could never imagine being proud of such a pompous, dark person.
3
@E He has described his parents millions of times. If you have listened for the past 37 years, you would know that his mom was overbearing and his dad was a scolder and a yeller.
12
@E - you don't have to imagine - just listen to his show and you will learn all about his parents. Your opinion was most likely formed in a vaccuum
8
@E His parents are alive. He's funny and the top person in his field. I would be proud.
9
I've been following Howard for years, since the days of his TV show. I no longer find a lot of bits on his show funny. But that said, he and Robin are intelligent and are world-class interviewers. They. Get. People. To. Talk.
16
Interviewers such as Howard Stern are vital to an open and honest society. He has the guts to cause people to reveal themselves and the substance of their answers give us the listener vital insight and means to making sensible decisions. H.L. Mencken was the Howard Stern of the 1920's rude crude and often incendiary he made readers think outside their fantasy lives. Stern exposed Donald Trump as a fraud and con man in the 1990's and much of his audience understood. Today Stern can talk with us and allow us his insight if we have a willingness. Eighty years from now people will recall Howard Stern and will miss him.
18
Nah, Stern is a schlub. No one would think it funny if he was dissing their loved ones. Stern is funny to losers who need to better about themselves. Losers like The Donald.
21
@PMD I know many non-losers who listen, including myself for decades, and we feel fine about ourselves regardless.
If you have listened, you would know that the person that he makes fun of the most is himself. I'm not sure whose loved ones you think he is "dissing" - mostly, it's celebrities or people in the news that get talked about on his show.
4
I would not read his book,even if someone paid me to.He is the caricature of what is wrong with our society.
15
@Nora
I think Trump (among others) is the caricature, and Stern the very shrewd caricaturist.
11
Wouldn’t read his book if someone paid me! Howard Stern is a sick man, a misogynist. Can’t believe the New York Times is promoting his book!
Sick.
18
@Mari
The Times is not promoting Howard Stern. A writer for The Times is reviewing his book. Her opinions are hers alone, not those of The Times. Like it or not, Stern is a media standout, and what he does or writes is news and worthy of mention in a responsible newspaper.
9
I'm looking forward to reading the book. I've been a listener for 20+ yrs, and was likely one of the earliest subscribers to satellite radio when I heard he was moving on from terrestrial radio. Howard's interviews are easily the best on any medium - his format, wit and intelligence makes them radio gold. Don't believe the naysayers, for they do not know of what they speak - since the majority of them have very likely not listened to his show - ever.. or in ages.
23
I will not be purchasing the book. Howard is a cruel coward that hides behind a microphone. He is not funny, witty or smart. He is a bore, a big one. Goodbye and goodluck howard.
21
This person doesn't deserve to be megaphoned in your publication. What next, are you going to promote an apologia by Harvey Weinstein? Cut it out.
18
Howard Stern's humor over the years relies on a substrate of cruelty - the nasty junior high boy who was clever enough to spot the prominent weakness in his victim in order to torture him with exquisite delight. That "Fartman" now gets press as a brilliant interviewer shows America's Gatby-esce ability to recycle garbage.
37
Hoard Stern, the man that gave the village idiot of NYC, Donald Trump a megaphone. Thanks so very much Howard, I hope constantly exposing the country to that vile egomaniac was good for your ratings and I hope you are satisfied that you helped destroy this country.
62
@Paulie Thank you for saying that. I couldn't agree more. Howard's entire persona justified a culture of casual misogyny and racism as part of the backlash against the gains of the 60s and 70s and now we're supposed to act grateful for him? He should meet social opprobrium wherever he goes.
17
A Trump enabler by giving him an outlet for years - hope Howard is happy
11
@Paulie Let me remind you of the megaphone the rest of the press gave Trump as well. Stern wasn't alone, and this paper has fewer excuses.
5
Spare me.
Every case of arrested development I ever worked with -- 40-year-old engineers still sniggering about menstruation -- loved Howard Stern.
He is more to be pitied than scorned. He got the young wife with the massive chest implants, so we can hope he's finally gotten over his obsession with bosoms.
~
42
Used to listen to Stern and laugh a lot. Stopped when he called Linda Ronstadt a fat pig. She has more talent, and grace, in the tip of her little toe than he has in his whole pompous body.
55
Buy for now ;-)
5
Does he share his thoughts on the deplorable mockery of the shooting death of Selena?
That's when he lost me.
15
Please let’s not bring up Hilary’s likability again. Move forward.
8
Decades ago, I used to listen to Stern on the morning radio, when I was stuck in LA traffic for hours at a time. He was funny at times, but his main charm was to relive my own sex obsessed period at about age 14. When you're bored on the freeway, fake arousal, trivia, and misogyny are better than nothing.
After a while Howard just got dull and repetitive, and the occasional wit didn't help. Nor did the many calls in from Donald Trump, who Howard treated as some kind of royalty. And yes, The Donald was just as scummy then as he is now.
Whatever you think of Howard's instincts about people, secrets, and sex, he was, and is, a caricature, dwelling on anything except events and ideas that are actually interesting. He would rather host a caller who wanted to talk about a hot tub seduction (not exactly a high bar).
The world is collapsing with excrement from all sides. Please find something more challenging to discuss next time, Janet.
44
To add - I saw three of his interviewees in a completely different light after they talked with Stern! Rosie O’Donnell, Hugh Grant and his #1 Conan O’Brien are thoroughly enjoyable listening; each fantastically funny, yet very heartfelt discussions.
11
Howard Stern should have stayed on "terrestrial" radio. The move to satellite was good for him, good for his core fans, but possibly bad for his legacy on American culture. At his peak he jumped ship at went to this pay-per-view cocoon where he could swear and do anything he wanted. In that move, I think he started a downward spiral, a lack of cultural reach, and dwindling relevance. He popped up on that TV talent show and made some appearances on late night talk shows, but he more or less disappeared for most Americans. I wonder what could have come of his influence if he stayed on regular radio, a counter to, say, Rush Limbaugh -- I wonder where our country would be now.
6
Stern's first book, Private Parts, was a great read and the movie was just as good. I listened to Howard many years, back in the days of WNBC and WXRK. He got me through the toughest commutes from New Jersey to New York and Philadelphia. There was no one funnier or smarter on the radio. His interviews were astounding back then and are now the best in the business. He is a true artist and I will certainly be reading his new book.
12
I really dislike Howard Stern and what he stands for and does in the name of "entertainment." But on 9/11 and the many days after that, he fielded and compassionately took phone call after phone call from countless upset and saddened callers to his radio show (one of the few I remember going in those tragic days right after -- most of not all just reverted to recordings or non-stop music), all of whom I clearly remember were men. He was a familiar person these male listeners felt comfortable talking to in a time of crisis and he spoke with each one -- and his audience as a whole -- with sympathy, caring and active listening. He eventually went back to his "entertainment," which I still dislike, but I will never forget what he did for -- and how he cared for -- those callers.
39
I know many aren't fans of Sterns. Initially I wasn't; too crude and crass and always self centered. But he has really evolved, especially since moving to Sirius. His interviews are excellent. Yes he benefits from the longer, advertising free format but he uses that time to dive into the creative process, explore failed relationships, fame. He is enthusiastic about every person who comes in to the studio and really gets them to open up. Some guests I wouldn't ever think twice about normally but he makes you want to listen. Plus he and his crew are funny, funny funny. Mornings will be very dull when he retires.
16
Oh, Howard, the “ King of All Media”, and “ the life of the party, even when he’s not there”.
I started listening to Howard in the early 1980’s when he did drive time at WNBC. Driving home with Howard, after a tough work day, I had never heard such outrageous and totally unfiltered comedy. It was liberating to me, as a peer to Howard. His anger was my anger. He was often unhinged, but the comedy talent shone through.
I followed Howard through his muddling tv career, but as he became the morning guy at KRock, I dove deeper. Howard in the bathroom as I shaved, Howard in kitchen during coffee, Howard in my head phones on the commute to Manhattan.
My two grown daughters often criticize my wife and I for exposing them to Howard’s sexist diatribes. Yes, they often were terrible, and we have apologized often for HIS behavior.
Through it all, Howard evolved into a skillful and very honest interviewer. He provided insights into human frailties that I did and still find compelling. And, his humor and the skits were hilarious...every day.
I no longer follow Howard since he left celestial radio. But, as Howard recedes from his former bad boy image, the fact is Howard was, and is, a huge talent, and I cherish the hundreds of hours I spent with him.
12
Its not Howard bragging that if Hillary had ventured on to his show she would have won the election. His advertisers can tell you that huge numbers of men between the ages of 25-54 listen to his show every day in almost an addicted state. Also ask Christy Todd Whitman.
9
Howard is brutally honest and that is what makes him appealing as well as enduring. He has his faults but he lets you in on them.
3
Love him (me) or hate him (you?), even those in my world who fall into the latter category acknowledge Stern interviews as can’t miss listening. No one’s better.
3
Yes, Howard's skill as an interviewer came as a surprise to the mainstream media.
Especially in the early days, pretty much everything Howard did well was either distorted or undervalued. The self-proclaimed King of All Media wasn't given his due as a broadcaster, comedian, or interviewer until his success could no longer be denied, and what's most interesting about that is what it says about the media, not what it says about Howard.
The msm was so late in acknowledging Howard's interviewing skill partly because the "shock jock" label they hung on him made it harder to see and partly because, like his other skills, it carried an implicit knock on them for interview after interview which sounded exactly the same.
Howard's questions, like his comedy, were, indubitably, Howard's questions. He asked them, not to shock, as his detractors said, but because that was what he and his forever in lock step fans wanted to know. Acknowledging that Howard was doing something right would have meant acknowledging what everybody else, by repeating the same old same old questions or doing the same old comedy, was getting wrong.
The America that didn't see Howard's skills didn't see them because they were still invested in comedy that was no longer funny or looking for answers to questions nobody really wanted asked.
We usually celebrate artists for having something new to say but you can't be shocked any more that Howard Stern heard the great comedy in us.
5
It says a lot about American culture over the last 30 years that Stern has transitioned from shockjock to thoughtful interviewer. While he has lightened up somewhat, his themes remain the same - and they are no longer shocking.
2
It's reassuring to see The Times still making money from the books they positively review, undeterred by the ridiculous and easily dismissed notion that there might just be a conflict of interest in this practice.
11
I was quite ready to purchase the book until the review's end where it named Ozzy Osbourne, Courtney Love, Gallo, Michael J. Fox as Stern's subjects. Are these people I want to read about? Not in the slightest.
And people are looking to purge Trump from the space he occupies in our lives - another interview is the LAST thing I want to consume, much less pay money toward.
1
@Jeff If they want to purge Trump from their lives, they are -- in the words of Chris Hansen -- "free to leave" the country.
I have an abiding love for Howard Stern.
For three horrendous years, I made an hour-long car trip to visit my mother in a nursing home -- a dreaded, miserable, sad obligation. As soon as the rubber hit the road, I dialed in to Howard's show and laughed til I cried all the way, with other motorists staring. He became my very best friend; he made it possible to fulfill a vital obligation, one that could've killed me, or left me guilt-ridden for life. He is a comic genius, and to me, a
savior.
I wish him well - always.
52
oh please. howard stern represents the worst of the worst. of everything.
28
I think that reading this is comparable to my passing around pornographic photos with my friends when we were all in the 7th grade: 65 years ago.
Thanks, Janet. Your review was more than I needed.
7
Howard Stern is the greatest interviewer, ever. His interviews are funny, thoughtful, silly, deep and very revealing, especially as he does his homework on guests beforehand! Can’t wait to read this book.
6
Back in the day, I went to Wel-Met Camp in Narrowsburg, NY at the same time as Howard. He was obnoxious, but always interesting. Its nice to see he evolved into a better person than his radio persona.
6
Howard Stern is an example of the fin de siècle decadency of our times. Welcome to Stern World. Here gossip and celebrity are the coins of the realm and truth and decency are not and little parasites such as Stern oxygenate big parasites such as Trump with giggles about the tawdry and the trivial. I think I’ll spend my $35 elsewhere thank you very much.
16
I've been a fan of Howard Stern's since he was on DC 101 in Washington. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. He was so open, so funny and so true. No one like him then and no one like him now.
Hillary Clinton made many mistakes and not doing an interview with Howard Stern was one of her biggest ones. As he said it would have humanized her. She wore "clown suits" while she was campaigning. She looked awful and I wrote to tell her so. Of course she didn't listen but most people don't relate to people dressed like that. She also should have slapped Donald Trump when he kept following her around on the debate stage. She didn't and she lost.
Donald Trump is a Master at stage craft. He'll go down as the greatest 'Con Man" in history and all of the democrats better wise up to that. Howard understands that better than anyone. His radio show is 100% real even if that reality is quite sick at times. He should be given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for constantly standing up for the First Amendment and the Constitution.
Thank You Howard, can't wait to read your book.
7