Seems that the times really are a changin’. We’ve been hearing about it for years. Talk about the end times has come and gone, ebbed and flowed. And now, after the legitmate countdown finally began and wound down, we’ve reached the end. Howard Stern is leaving traditional, terrestrial radio for the space-age realm of satellite. And along with Howard will go memory upon memory of laughs, grins, guffaws, and snickers.
I’ve been listening to the Stern Show for over 15 years. Growing up in the NY/NJ area, my experience is not unique. In fact, my first memories of Howard are from grade school, riding the morning bus to school, a distant and distinctly adult radio backdrop to the start of my days. Since that time, I’ve been a faithful listener, enthralled by the disfunction, the comedic intelligence, the comfortable presence of a radio family I came to know and cherish. And I’ve been angered, repulsed, disenchanted too many times to remember, from moronic, boring strippers to idiotic and, thankfully, fleeting post-9/11 war-mongering. And excepting those times when Howard and I couldn’t reconcile our differences, I’ve been listening and lingering in bed, soaking up Howard’s deep bass to start my days in the most familiar of ways.
So today, with the end of Howard’s 20 year reign on traditional radio, I am saddened and nostalgic, nervous and relieved. I am terribly aware of how much this controversial show has meant to me since my formative years. I am relieved because my mornings will free of endless commercials. Nervous because Howard’s departure conspicuously aligns with my entrance to the full-time workforce for what feels like the first time in my life.
I don’t think I’ll be following Howard & Co. to Sirius radio quite yet. I’m at a point in my life when I’m trying to consciously — and finally — reduce the amount of ambient influence, in large part from popular culture. No roommates, no cable, no TV, even, and now, no Howard Stern. The jokes, jingles, personas, memories will always be with me, though, and for that, through thick and thin, Howard, I thank you. May our divergent paths cross again.
Filed under: Et Cetera, Technology
Larry – I remember Stern doing Snapple ads before anyone even heard of Snapple. And him being funny, salty and wild – especially to a sixth grader. As far as satellite radio goes – I love it. Especially here where I have no TV and radio reception sucks. (As I type I’m listening to NPR cut in and out – I’ll try to get the webcast.)
I “heart” XM satellite radio.
Stacey
Snapple! You got it. I also remember fellow Roxbury H.S. alum Dirk McIvor starring in a Snapple TV ad based on a letter he wrote to the company in Home Ec class!!
F Jackie!
Hey now!
Happy New Year, neighbor!
If you’re ever feeling like a jolt of the new Stern, our Oakland pal Nick has Sirius with the recording device, and he’s taping a few shows for me.
Just might have to take you up on that one…perhaps some Stern trading is in order? I’ve got some to throw in the kitty.
since you are reducing your “amount of ambient influence” does that mean more or less time for your blog?
That’s a fine question, my friend. Ideally, yes, in practice, well, that remains to be seen. I can’t say that finding more time to write isn’t one of my aims in reducing media stimuli, though. Check back and find out.
WOW! Larry– good memory:) It’s been 13+ years since the first commercial was first aired.
To be frank, Stern’s act is now tiresome. He was interesting to listen too in the late eighties and early nineties because he was the cutting edge. He defied the FCC and put on a show that was risqué and entertained us with his freak show that consisted of lesbians, dwarves, retards and just plain idiots. To say he walked a tightrope during his days on public radio was an understatement. I relate the experience of listening to Stern’s broadcast to having sex before you got married. You KNEW you were doing something that was morally wrong but that’s what made the whole thing exciting. When you finally got married and sex was no longer naughty, the excitement started to wane (Admit it, you KNOW I’m right).
This is pretty much what happened when Stern moved to Sirius and didn’t have to look over his shoulder to see the FCC Gestapo behind him. Now he could legally use any four letter word he likes and get as raunchy as he wants but now you just don’t care anymore. He didn’t realize that WAS the appeal when he played the renegade. Now he’s just an everyday shock jock and besides, everyone else is doing the same thing (Opie& Andy on the other satellite radio). Really, hasn’t he gone far enough on the fart jokes, and ridiculing retards, lesbians, and dwarfs? 80% of his show now seems to be taken up on ranting about some political issue (earth warming, Bush, you name it). He’s become the know-it-all Hollywood celebrity who thinks everyone should listen to HIS views because he knows more than you do. He’s become the same celebrity that used to repulsive him. The Stern of the eighties would be ashamed of what he transformed too on Sirius. He’d call himself a sell out.
I think the other issue to Stern losing his 12 million audience has to do with his age. The baby boomers are growing up and losing interest to potty humor. Generation X look at him as some old guy and their “thing” is South Park. Without question, if the South Park crew would ever decide to have to have their own radio broadcast, they would blow Stern right out of the water. CARTMAN RULES!
You bring up some good points, Dugan. I would have to agree that Stern’s act has gotten tiresome at times for me, too. However, after listening to a few shows from Sirius (the second George Takei week from June) I have to say I’ve rarely heard better Stern. I’ve never been into the potty humor, the girls, the freaks. Well, maybe the freaks. I’ve always been fascinated, though, by the personalities that Howard makes room for on the air. He is best when the show is not just about him, when he lets others step up to the mic and be as brutally honest in all of their psycho idiosyncracies as Howard is. I’m thinking of Artie, of Eric the Midget, of Riley and his 7 alien races. And have you heard George Takei on the show? Oh my! It’s a whole new level of awkward self-awareness for the show as they crack gay jokes and dissect them on the air with a prominent member of Hollywood’s gay community. I find it brilliant
As for being the renegade, losing 12 million listeners has put Howard conveniently back into the position of underdog. I, for one, would rather hear him rant about slightly more political topics from a slightly more liberal perspective than the endless misogyny or ignorant conservative tripe that has characterized his show in the past. I stopped listening after the US government re-invaded Iraq because the invective was just too much. Sure, it didn’t let up until the Right’s sights were set on Howard, but at least he has taken his obsessive penchant for self-criticism and turned it around on the political system. That’s another reason I continue to love Howard — despite the banal nature of so much of his show, he is committed to bettering himself, whether it’s through diet and exercise or 4 therapy sessions a week.
You also might be right that the younger demographic is not interested in Howard thanks to the likes of South Park. First off, that’s not Howard’s fault. It is natural for the entertainers of a previous generation not to appeal to those of the next. Think Benny Goodman. But there is also the slightly more subtle nature of Howard’s humor that is lost on younger folks. I wouldn’t be suprised if the South Park generation “discovers” Howard in 20 years when they start to learn about the history of comedy. Think Lenny Bruce. One more point on this topic — potty humor is not the defining characteristic of Howard’s humor. Would you say that about South Park? Probably not, even though others would.
Anyway, thanks for the thoughful comments. HOWDY-HO!!!!