People: A funnier Stern is happy he went Sirius
Howard Stern finds himself listening to something different these days: “The Howard Stern Show,” on satellite radio.
Unlike his final years on terrestrial radio, where Stern felt his voice was neutered, the still-undisputed king of the shock jocks loves what he’s hearing now.
“I know the show is funnier,” he says. “It’s a good show. I’m proud of it.”
Oh, and one more thing …
“When you’re making a joke,” Stern says, “the punch line doesn’t need to be bleeped.”
Almost two years since his much-heralded leap from CBS Radio and terrestrial syndication to Sirius Satellite Radio, Stern is blissful.
He’s reveling in the huge increase in satellite radio subscriptions – not to mention the woes of old foes like CBS or longtime nemesis Don Imus.
Only two years into his five-year, $500 million deal with Sirius, he’s already considering a possible extension.
He’s proud of his role in expanding the number of Sirius subscribers from 600,000 when he signed his deal to nearly 8 million today.
Stern admits that his loud boasts about the future of satellite radio before his debut were as wishful as anything else.
“I didn’t think it would be like this,” he says. “Not this fast. This is crazy. … I just didn’t want to be embarrassed.”
Stern’s two-year anniversary at Sirius comes with a gift for his fans/subscribers: an epic recounting of the King of All Media’s life.
“The History of Howard Stern” – beginning with Stern’s bar mitzvah and trips to summer camp – debuts Dec. 17 on Sirius, covering the years 1954-85.
It was Dec. 16, 2005, when Stern said goodbye to terrestrial radio after an unprecedented run in the nation’s No. 1 market, New York City.
Tired of constant feuding with federal regulators and his bosses, he signed on with Sirius and never looked back.
Stern delights in the problems that CBS Radio endured after his departure, from the ill-fated hiring of David Lee Roth as his replacement to the mess with Imus, fired over his remark about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team.
“I don’t want to see anyone doing poorly,” Stern says sarcastically before breaking into laughter.
As for Imus’ scheduled return to the air Monday on New York’s WABC, Stern says:
“At this point, I don’t think he’s very relevant. People will tune out within a week.
“I defy you to listen. It’s like a rodeo – you know, see how long you can ride a bull? See how long you can keep listening to Imus.
“Time it. You’ll throw up. You’ll get sick. You’ll die.”
The birthday bunch
Actress Julie Harris is 82. Actress Cathy Lee Crosby is 63. Actor Dan Butler (“Frasier”) is 53. News anchor Stone Phillips is 53. Actor Dennis Christopher (“Breaking Away,” “Chariots of Fire”) is 52. Actor Steven Bauer is 51. Bassist Nate Mendel (Foo Fighters) is 39. Actress Lucy Liu is 39. Actress Rena Sofer is 39. Rapper Treach (Naughty By Nature) is 37. Singer Nelly Furtado is 29. Singer Britney Spears is 26.