The Problem Isn’t Howard Stern. It’s Us.
Back in the 80s, before SiriusXM, before podcasts, before anyone carried an entire radio station in their pocket, I was hooked on The Howard Stern Show.
It was raw, outrageous, and carried just the right amount of chaos — exactly what you crave from morning radio when everything else on the dial feels like soggy oatmeal served with stale dad jokes and laugh tracks on life support.
At one point, I even found myself in a live on-air shower scene with Howard. Yes, you read that right. A radio shower scene. We had the sound effects going, steam rising in everyone’s imagination. I wouldn’t go below his shoulders (sorry, Howard) — the whole thing was hilarious, and somewhere (somewhere!) I have an old cassette tape of the ridiculous ordeal.
A few years later, there I was, standing in line — six whole hours of my life — in Manhattan to get my book, Private Parts, signed by Howard. Six hours. That’s half a Netflix binge season. But was I mad? Nope. I was practically buzzing like I’d had three double espressos when I finally got my glorious thirty to forty-five seconds at the signing table — and yes, I reminded him about that shower scene!
Now here we are in 2025, and rumors are swirling that Howard might retire from SiriusXM. And like clockwork, the haters come out. People who haven’t listened in decades suddenly become experts. “He’s not funny.” “He’s irrelevant.” “Good riddance.” “He wears a wig.” “He jumped the shark decades ago.” Blah blah blah. The haters even trashed his beautiful wife, Beth!
The comment section is like a digital mosh pit of nastiness!
So, I can’t help but ask: what is WRONG with people?
Here’s what I think: hating is easy.
It takes zero effort to type a cheap shot into a comment box. It makes you feel powerful for a second. Jealousy plays a role, too — Howard did what most people only dream of: he broke rules, built an empire, made millions laugh, and is still talked about forty years later. That stirs envy, and envy often disguises itself as contempt.
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Then there’s boredom.
Negativity has become the internet’s favorite pastime. It’s like sport fishing: the thrill isn’t in catching anything real, it’s in throwing bait and watching the splash. Somewhere along the line, we decided tearing down was more entertaining than building up.
But the truth is, you don’t have to love Howard Stern.
You don’t even have to like him.
What you can’t deny is that the man changed radio forever. He made it bigger, funnier, sharper. He made it weird. He made it unmissable. He’s still broadcasting at a level most hosts would sell their souls for.
Oh, and he’s definitely mellowed out — a lot, actually. Have you HEARD his amazing interviews? Bruce, Brandi, Elton, Lady Gaga, Kamala, Cher, etc? Classic!
So yeah — whether he retires or not, I’ll always have that shower scene, the six-hour book signing line complete with superfans (and the likes of Jackie the Jokeman, Stuttering John, and Elephant Boy keeping things lively), and all the laughs he’s given me over the years.
Stern and his crew (gotta give a shout-out to Robin, Fred, and Gary “BabaBooey”!) have been my constant source of entertainment during commutes, my trusted mood booster on tough days, and shared laughs for my husband and me. Whether we’re in the kitchen, on a road trip, or relaxing on a getaway with Alexa in tow, Howard’s antics never fail to keep us entertained.
And to the haters?
Maybe try silence for once.
It’s way more shocking.
P.S. If you don’t like him, don’t listen!
