Favourite Howard Stern Moments

[Kelvin]

I've been watching loads of Howard Stern clips over the last few weeks. I was first properly introduced to him by Neil on CaB Radio, but despite listening to occasional clips over the years since then, this is the first time his stuff has truly clicked for me - probably because I've been listening less to the celebrity interviews, and more to the inter-personal stuff focussed on his staff.

Stern is such a next-level shit-stirrer who knows exactly what pressure points will get the biggest reaction, and he's sat at the heart of this swirling vortex of dysfunctional freaks and arseholes. It's great.

Like a lot of comedy, though, the material gets funnier once you know the various characters, so I think getting to know people like Bababooey, JD and Ronnie has really helped elevate the show for me this time around. Just yesterday I was watching a compilation of clips focussed on Ronnie's refusal to arrange Howard a new Limo, and the final section, with Robin trying to get into the colossal limo they were stuck with, had me howling with laughter.

So does anyone else still like Stern's shows? What are your favourite eras? And what are storylines or episodes I should seek out?             

[TheAssassin]

I can't listen to Stern, his ego is too far in the wrong direction.  Anthony Cumia did great impressions of him that are far funnier than Howard, hoo hoo Robin.

[Twilkes]

I liked the bit where he was rude to someone's face in a friendly way and all his friends laughed.

[Video Game Fan 2000]

they're three dickheads but i used to listen to the Stern/John K/Billy West showdown a lot, its one of the most intense doses of cringe that exists

billy comes out best because he's just a dickhead in the mildest possible "weird, antisocial millionaire" way, also maybe the GOAT of his craft. the other two are just irredeemable to me. its such a painful snapshot where the underdog is the all time best in his field, and the guy on top and tumbling down is a wunderkind gradually revealed as a hack, with the contrast between John K's layers of affectation and Billy's innate and unmaskable oddness and eccentricities is layed out starkly in a professional conflict. probably watches differently now than in early internet, before John K's name was mud and Billy West really became a household name.

[mr. logic]

The push up challenge is exhilarating listening.

After that, anything with Jackie being called out for his various antics and scams.

I never really cared for the Artie era.

[Petey Pate]

they're three dickheads but i used to listen to the Stern/John K/Billy West showdown a lot, its one of the most intense doses of cringe that exists

billy comes out best because he's just a dickhead in the mildest possible "weird, antisocial millionaire" way, also maybe the GOAT of his craft. the other two are just irredeemable to me. its such a painful snapshot where the underdog is the all time best in his field, and the guy on top and tumbling down is a wunderkind gradually revealed as a hack, with the contrast between John K's layers of affectation and Billy's innate and unmaskable oddness and eccentricities is layed out starkly in a professional conflict. probably watches differently now than in early internet, before John K's name was mud and Billy West really became a household name.

My favourite part of that is when John K does his George Liquor character and is met with deafening silence. He later alleged that he was primarily there to promote his new, inevitably unmade, projects, whereas Howard clearly had him on to create tension with Billy. Billy had just come back from his brother's funeral and was not happy about being ambushed on air. John remarking 'she's underage too' about his Sody Pop character is grim even before the #metoo accusations.

Another excruciatingly cringe Stern bit is where they play a prank on one of his entourage (Sal) who missed a meeting where it was announced that Stern's contract was being renewed. Stern announces his 'retirement' on air and Sal starts crying and freting about not having a job.

[Magnum Valentino]

Preparing to get slaughtered for this, but is Howard Stern not just an absolute cunt?

[BeardFaceMan]

Preparing to get slaughtered for this, but is Howard Stern not just an absolute cunt?

That's always been my perception of him, I've tried at various times over the years to get into his stuff but he just seems, well, an absolute cunt. Always seems to be laughing at his guests and crew, not with them.

[Kelvin]

Preparing to get slaughtered for this, but is Howard Stern not just an absolute cunt?

If liking the people involved is a pre-requisite to you enjoying comedy, there's absolutely no point in watching Stern's stuff. The entire lot of them are cunts, narcissists, and bullies. Bababooey is the only one who seems even half-decent from what I've watched.

Any yet the fact they're all so dysfunctional is, at least for me, the show's biggest appeal. Like Big Brother or The Apprentice, its car-crash entertainment, where one moment you're laughing along with them, next you're watching through your fingers, and moments later you can't really believe what you're hearing, or delighting in the schadenfreude.

It's a high barrier of entry, I'd argue. Hence why, for years, the show never really appealed to me. It was only when I came to appreciate the recurring characters like Ronnie and JD that the tone of it all finally clicked.

[QDRPHNC]

Used to listen to Stern religiously when I first moved to Canada, we could pick him from Buffalo NY. One of my favourite bits was when they fooled Sal into thinking he had to make an on-air apology for something racist he said, and he failed repeatedly to not only make an apology, but to even understand why he had to apologize, even though what he said was blatantly racist.

"... and if I have upset any listeners with my thoughtless comments, I sincerely and humbly apologize."

Pause.

"All I was trying to say was..."

[TommyTurnips]

I liked the one where he had some strippers on. They sounded hot. Then Howard made a racist joke. But Robin laughed so it was ok.

[Petey Pate]

The last time Donald Trump called into The Howard Stern Show, in 2015 just as his presidential campaign was getting started, makes for some really weird listening now.

[Rolf Lundgren]

There was a difficult time when watching those Howard TV uploads was getting me through the nights. It was a great show to lose yourself in and listen to random bits here and there without needing to follow in sequential order. This was when Artie Lange was in the line-up and post-Jackie.

Some of the highlights I can remember:

- Pranking George Takei into thinking he's talking to Arnold Schwarzenegger. It works so well they do it again. Then David Letterman calls in the next day to invite him on his show. My absolute favourite clip that had me in tears and Takei takes it all in good spirit.

- The Sal apology video is amazing. Any time Sal reveals some of his life story you realise why he's so messed up.

- Ronnie getting a hard time for going to a porn industry awards ceremony and speaking on behalf of The Howard Stern Show

- Ronnie getting a hard time for going to someone on the show's wedding and making a speech

- Sal hoping to get an invite round Howard's place to watch Survivor

It's pretty amazing to me that nearly all of the staff from those days are still there. From hearing from the likes of Jackie Martling and Billy West talk about it, everyone gets awful money and has to suck up to Howard. Stern also seems to be really weird with anyone who has the temerity to leave.

I haven't watched much of the later stuff and it sounds like Stern has sanitised the act which isn't a bad thing but that golden period produced some hilarious bits and I'll always have a fondness for the show. 

[The Lurker]

He's certainly done some questionable things in his career but I don't mind him. The interview of him with a serial killer is fascinating (if it's true)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBRAY3N3FXw

[Swoz_MK]

The treatment of the "Wack Pack" is all pretty grim, but Beet on a good day is  one of my favourite guys -

Sal & Richard's Tradio saga is frequently used to help me fall asleep -

[famethrowa]

Sal & Richard's Tradio saga is frequently used to help me fall asleep -

I love the Tradio stuff, just stupid fun, even though I suspect most of it is faked?