Howard Stern

Infobox Radio Presenter
name = Howard Stern


alias = The Howard; King of All Media


imagesize = 150px
caption =
birthname = Howard Allan Stern
birthdate = birth date and age|mf=yes|1954|01|12
birthplace = New York City
deathdate =
deathplace =
show = The Howard Stern Show
station = Sirius Howard 100 Sirius Howard 101
timeslot = Monday–Thursday
show2 =
station2 =
timeslot2 =
style = Shock Jock
country = United States
prevshow =
web = [http://www.howardstern.com/ HowardStern.com]

Howard Allan Stern (born January 12, 1954) is an American radio host and television personality. His national talk show, "The Howard Stern Show", airs on Sirius Satellite Radio's Howard 100, and is adapted for television for Howard TV, an on-demand cable network. The self-proclaimed "King of All Media" has been dubbed a shock jock for his controversial use of scatological, sexual, and racial humor. Stern has said that the show was never about shocking people, but primarily intended to offer his honest opinions on a gamut of issues (ranging from world affairs to problems among his own staff). Though controversial, he is the highest-paid radio personality in the United States [http://w3.newsmax.com/radio_hosts.cfm, Retrieved on 2008/04/17.] and the most fined personality in radio broadcast history. [http://www.ronaldbrucemeyer.com/rants/0112almanac.htm, Retrieved on 2008/04/17.]

He is best known for his national radio show, which for many years was syndicated on FM radio stations (and a few AM stations) throughout the United States until his last terrestrial radio broadcast on December 16, 2005. He began broadcasting on the subscription-based Sirius satellite radio service on January 9, 2006.

In addition to radio, Stern moved into publishing, television, feature films, and music. He has written two books, "Private Parts", which he adapted into a film, and "Miss America". Stern's television endeavors include a variety show on New York City's WWOR-TV, a nightly E! show documenting his radio broadcasts, a similar CBS program that competed with Saturday Night Live for a time, "Howard On-Demand" for digital cable subscribers in various markets, and "Son of the Beach", a parody of Baywatch for FX which Stern executive produced.

In 2006, Howard Stern was elected into Time Magazine's "Time 100: The People who shape our world" [cite news
author = Spade, David
url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1187317,00.html
title = Howard Stern New King of Satellite
publisher = Time Magazine
date = May 2006] and was ranked #7 in Forbes Magazine's 2006 annual Celebrity 100. [ [http://www.forbes.com/lists/2006/53/5S85.html Top 100 Most Powerful Celebrities] Forbes.com, June 2006] His first marriage ended in divorce in 2001; he married model Beth Ostrosky on October 3, 2008 and they consumated their marriage at the Garden City Hotel in Garden City, Long Island, New York.

Personal life

Childhood

Howard Stern was born into a Jewish American family living in the Queens neighborhood of Jackson Heights, though the family soon moved to the Long Island town of Roosevelt. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 63|chapter= Black and Blue Like Me|chapterurl= |quote= I grew up the only white man in a black neighborhood in Roosevelt, Long Island, a pawn in my mother's little social experiment in integration.] His father Ben Stern owned a Manhattan recording studio. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 39|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= My father was a radio engineer who eventually bought his own recording studio with five other guys.] Stern's father encouraged his son's interest in radio from an early age. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=111|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=It's weird, but I always wanted to be in radio. That was all I could think about from the time I was five years old. I used to do these shows up in my room and record them on a beautiful Wollensack tape recorder that my father gave me.] His mother Rae was a homemaker for most of Howard's childhood. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 43-44|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= My father was definitely the disciplinarian, but during the day, when he was at work, my mother was in charge of giving me a smack if I got out of line.] [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=92|chapter= My Sex Life|quote=I took her back to my house because at this point, my mother was working (Mom got a job as an inhalation therapist at Mercy Hospital, and her day consisted of extracting globs of disgusting-looking mucus out of diseased lungs).] cite web|url=http://www.wargs.com/other/stern.html |title=Ancestry of Howard Stern |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=Reitwiesner |first=William ] Stern has one sibling, a sister named Ellen, who is four years his senior.cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=46|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|quote=My sister, Ellen is the complete opposite of me. She's four years older but she's very quiet.] Stern describes his sister as being his "complete opposite".

Although both his parents are Jewish, Stern's on-air banter is that he is only half Jewish, with the other half being Italian, because "it's very hard to be Jewish in this country. My half Jewish side has been beaten with chains." [cite web
first=Jason
last=Kaplan
coauthors= Thomas Panasci
title=The Rundown
date=2006-03-01
publisher=HowardStern.com
url =http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=March&day=1&year=2006
accessdate = 2008-09-18
quote= Howard played a clip of the event, where, after bombing with some opening jokes, Gilbert wondered which of Howard’s parents was Jewish – since Howard has claimed in the past to be only half Jewish.] [cite news | first=Chaunce | last=Hayden | coauthors= | title= Howard Stern Interview in Steppin Out Magazine by Chaunce Hayden | date=2005-12-14 | publisher=Collins Communications, Inc. | url =http://www.howardshrine.com/2005/12/howard-stern-interview-in-steppin-out.html | work =Steppin' Out Magazine | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-18 | quote=You claim to be half Italian and half Jewish. If you had to choose which of those you would rather be 100 percent, which one would you pick?Italian.Why?Because it's very hard to be Jewish in this country. My half Jewish side has been beaten with chains.What about the Italian side?Surprisingly, they left that side alone. I've seen attacks. It's very frustrating to see the world's reaction to Israel. It's overwhelming. And who wants to be overwhelmed by feelings of hatred. My Jewish side despises the world. ] [ cite web
url=http://www.faqs.org/faqs/howard-stern/faq/ |title=FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions about Howard Stern, Monthly Posting |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=Simicich |first=Nick |date=1997-09-04 |work=alt.fan.howard-stern |quote = Is Howard Stern half Jewish? Definitely. The question is, what is the other half? We have to differentiate between the persona that Howard plays on the radio, and the real Howard. According to Howard's radio persona, it is not Jewish, perhaps WASP. The half-Jewish identity may be something that Howard puts on so that he can insult both Christians and Jews with impunity. However, he is equally free with insults of Muslims, Hindus, etc. It may also be something that he does to avoid anti-Semitism. Some folks on the net believe that the other half is Italian, based on something that Howard said a while back. Others point out that you can be a Jewish Italian, so this may have been another joke. The Jewish half and the Italian half may well be the same half. It is pretty clear based on statements that Howard's sister made on the radio that Howard, in Real Life(tm), is Jewish. Also, Howard has recently admitted, on the air, that he is all Jewish, and claimed that he was half Jewish to avoid anti-Semitism.] Stern's Hebrew name is "Tzvi" (IPA2|ʦvi); his paternal grandparents, Froim and Anna (Gallar) Stern and maternal grandparents, Sol and Esther (Reich) Schiffman, were Austro-Hungarian Jews who immigrated to America at about the same time.

Stern often said that his parents verbally abused him as a child, which was corroborated during a 1990 broadcast when he played old family recordings, many of which have become oft-played soundbites, including remarks such as "I told you not to be stupid, you moron" [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 43|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= I TOLD YOU NOT TO BE STUPID, YOU MORON!] and "Shut up! Sit down!" being screamed at a 7-year-old Howard. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 43|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= At seven years of age, you'd think he'd cut me some slack. But no, it was "SHUT UP! SIT DOWN!"] These old recordings were later used in a parody commercial for the "The Ben Stern Day-Care Center", which specialized in producing overachieving, self-hating megalomaniacs. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 43|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= If you want to turn your child into an overachieving, self-hating megalomaniac who spends his days hiding from his family and his nights masturbating, then the Ben Stern Day-Care Center will work for you....] Stern said his mother ran her house with "the intensity of Hitler" [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 36|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= I'm an obsessive-compulsive, anal-retentive, miserable neurotic because I was raised by a woman who ran her household with the intensity of Hitler.] and that his father's "favorite sport was yelling." [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 41|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= My father's favorite sport was yelling.]

Stern has long claimed on his show that he has a small penis. [cite web
first=Jason
last=Kaplan
coauthors= Thomas Panasci
title=The Rundown
date=2005-06-10
publisher=HowardStern.com
url =http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=June&day=10&year=2005
accessdate = 2008-09-18
quote= Robin thought Howard once talked to his dad about his small penis but Howard said he hadn't.] He uses this assertion to comedic effect in a scene in his biopic where he is shown showering with his African-American peers at Roosevelt Junior High School. He was supposedly one of the few white students in a predominantly African-American school. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=65|chapter= Black and Blue Like Me|quote=By the time I hit seventh grade there were only a handful of white kids left in my school.] When Stern's family moved in 1969 to Rockville Centre, [ [http://www.newsday.com/community/guide/lihistory/ny-hometown_stern,0,2669272.story?coll=ny_community_guide_lihistory_util Howard Stern] , "Newsday". Accessed December 4, 2007. "That was the last straw. In June, 1969, when Howard was 15, the Sterns made their move -- to predominantly white, middle-class Rockville Centre."] he transferred to South Side High School, from which he graduated in 1972. [cite web |url=http://www.newsday.com/features/custom/ithappened/longisland/ny-iholi0217story,0,1149101.htmlstory?coll=ny-rightrail-bottompromo |title= It Happened In Long Island |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20050525064655/http://www.newsday.com/features/custom/ithappened/longisland/ny-iholi0217story,0,1149101.htmlstory?coll=ny-rightrail-bottompromo |archivedate=2005-05-25 Newsday] Stern attended Boston University, graduating in 1976 with a bachelor's degree in communications, carrying a 3.8 Grade Point Average. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=115|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=I graduated magna cum laude with a 3.8 average.] During his time at Boston University Stern also worked (before being fired) as a volunteer at the campus radio station WTBU. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=117|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=Fired during our first show!] Stern now funds a scholarship at Boston University. [ [http://www.bu.edu/bulletins/com/item19.html Office of Financial Aid] Boston University]

Adult life

Stern grew to be tall, standing height|ft=6|in=5. [cite news | first=Jacques | last=Steinberg | coauthors= | title=Stern Likes His New Censor: Himself | date=2007-01-09 | publisher=The New York Times Company | url =http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/09/arts/09ster.html?ex=1325998800&en=62ed6d02372756bc&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss | work =The New York Times | pages =1 | accessdate = 2008-09-18 | language = ] [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= |others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages= 54-55|chapter= It Was the Worst of Times, It Was the Worst of Times|chapterurl= |quote= What that really means is I'm disgusted by what you eat, you big, ugly, six-foot-five dork.] On June 4, 1978, Stern married college sweetheart Alison Berns at Temple Ohabei Shalom in Brookline, Massachusetts. They have three daughters: Emily Beth (b. 1983), Deborah Jennifer (b. 1986) and Ashley Jade (b. 1993). cite web|url=http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=FlexContent&cid=1134268004584 |title=SIRIUS Satellite Radio - Howard 101 howard stern show bio: |accessdate=2008-09-18 |last=Phillips |first=Erica |date=2006-02-21 |work=Sirius Satellite Radio |publisher=Sirius Satellite Radio |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060221193103/http://www.sirius.com/servlet/ContentServer?pagename=Sirius/Page&c=FlexContent&cid=1134268004584 |archivedate=2006-02-21 ] cite news | first=Mark | last=Mercer | coauthors= | title=Stern Show Birthdays | date= | publisher=Mark's Friggin | url =http://www.marksfriggin.com/birthday.htm | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-18 | language = ] A hallmark of Stern's humor was his claiming to be tempted by the strippers, porn stars and lesbians appearing on his show, but always insisted that he had to be faithful to his wife. In 1994, Stern ran for Governor of New York as a libertarian. [ [http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities/howard-stern.html Howard Stern - Libertarian ] ] The campaign was generally seen as a political stunt and Stern dropped out before the election after refusing to disclose his finances, a requirement by the State of New York. In October 1999, Stern announced that he and wife Alison decided to separate.cite news | first= | last=The Associated Press | coauthors= | title=Howard Stern Engaged to Model Girlfriend | date=2007-02-14 | publisher=The Washington Post | url =http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/14/AR2007021401507.html | work =The Washington Post | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-18 | language = ] They amicably divorced in 2001, ending in a settlement.

Stern began a period of single living on New York City's Upper West Side, dating dozens of women including Angie Everhart [ [http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?d=1174449600 Rundown, March 21, 2007] ] and Robin Givens. [ [http://www.howardstern.com/rundown.hs?month=June&day=7&year=2007&x=22&y=14 Rundown, June 7, 2007] ] Despite reportedly spending time with Carmen Electra "five times", the two have denied there was anything more intimate than an outdoor shower in bathing suits. [cite news | first=Mark | last=Mercer | coauthors= | title=-- Monday July 29, 2002 -- Pet Talk. 7/29/02. 9:55am | date=2002-07-29 | publisher=Mark's Friggin | url =http://www.marksfriggin.com/news02/7-29.htm | work =Howard Stern Show News Archives | pages = | accessdate = 2008-09-18 | quote = Somehow the subject got changed to Carmen Electra and whether or not Howard got her. He said that they hung out like 5 times a couple of years ago but he never slept with her. Stuttering John and the others on the show seem to think he must have done something with her. He keeps saying they didn't do anything even when they took a steam shower together... in their bathing suits. Howard said even if Carmen were on the show she would say the same thing.]

Stern has been the target of stalkers and death threats. On January 15, 1998, Lance Carvin was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for stalking and threatening to kill Stern and his family. [cite news
title = STERN SENTENCE FOR STALKER.
publisher = Billboard Radio Monitor
date= January 30, 1999
pages=85
quote=Michael Lance Carvin, 44, sent four letters to Stern last spring from Las Vegas, one of which said, "I will absolutely, without a doubt, kill you and this is 100 percent guaranteed." The sentence was nearly twice as much as federal sentencing guidelines called for. ]

Although he identifies his ethnicity as Jewish and raised his daughters in that religion, he has indicated that he does not believe in God or organized religion. However, he is "afraid" to say he is an Atheist, he is instead an Agnostic.

In 2000, Stern began dating model Beth Ostrosky, who is 18 years his junior. Ostrosky co-hosted "Casino Cinema" on Spike TV from 2004 to 2007. [ [http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453329/ Casino Cinema on IMBD] ] She had also frequently appeared in the American edition of men's magazine FHM until it ceased publication in 2007. [cite news | last = Reiter
first = Amy
publisher = Salon
title = The Fix
date= June 1, 2005
url = http://dir.salon.com/story/ent/col/fix/2005/06/01/wed/index.html
quote = frequent FHM cover girl and columnist Ostrosky
accessdate = September 2007 ] The pair live together in Manhattan with their Bulldog named Bianca Romijn-Stamos-O'Connell. Stern also owns a weekend house in the Hamptons on Long Island. On February 14, 2007, Stern announced that he and Ostrosky became engaged. They were married on October 3, 2008 at Le Cirque restaurant in New York City.cite news|url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/10032008/news/regionalnews/howard_stern_wedding_at_hand_132013.htm|title=Howard Stern gets married| author=ERIN CALABRESE| publisher=New York Post|date=2008-10-03|accessdate=2008-10-03]

Radio career

Terrestrial radio career

After graduating from Boston University, Stern worked briefly as a disc jockey at WNTN in Newton, Massachusetts. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=117|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=And lo and behold as soon as I graduated, I got a job at WNTN, doing daytimes at this progressive AM rock station in Newton.] [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=118|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=I didn't last long at that station. I wanted to be in radio, but not for free.] Stern then worked as a disc jockey and program director for WRNW in Briarcliff Manor in Westchester County, New York, playing rock music. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=119|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=So I went up there and the radio station was in an old house in the middle of a residential area of Briarcliff Manor. One of the bedrooms was the radio station studio, the other was a production studio. I was doing this show and I was fucking nervous and my voice was horse and I was croaking "WRNW" and talking soft like an FM disc jockey.] [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=122|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote=So I went to my father and he told me take the job as program director but stay on the air as a disc jockey because program directing is a shit job and on air is where the action is.] In 1978, Stern landed his first morning show job in Hartford, Connecticut at WCCC-FM and WCCC-AM, whose progressive rock format promoted Howard's development as a "free form" personality. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=125|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote= I picked up "Radio & Records", which is a trade publication in radio, and I saw that WCCC, a station in Hartford, Connecticut, was looking for a "wild, fun morning guy."] It was at the Hartford radio station that Howard met his future show writer and producer, Fred Norris, who was working as an overnight deejay at the time. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=127|chapter= Mein Kampf "My Struggle"|quote= But there was one good thing about Hartford. I met Fred "Earth Dog" Norris there. Fred was going to college and he was the overnight guy. He was a funny guy and a good writer and he had a knack for doing impressions.] Stern moved to FM radio station WWWW (usually referred to as "W4") in Detroit, Michigan, further developing his show until the station adopted a country music format, and then went to WWDC-FM "DC101," in Washington, D.C. for a year, making it the #1 station in town. In 1982, he returned to New York City to work at NBC's flagship AM radio station, WNBC Radio. Also working at NBC at that time was David Letterman, who became a fan of Stern's radio show. Stern's guest appearance on "Late Night with David Letterman" on June 19, 1984, launched Stern into the national spotlight and gave his radio show unprecedented exposure. Stern would appear on Letterman's show many times thereafter.

Stern and his crew were fired from NBC in 1985, ostensibly in response to a particularly outrageous sketch — "Bestiality Dial-A-Date" — although relations between station management and Stern had been strained from the beginning (as well documented in his book Private Parts). He quickly returned to FM radio by joining local rival station WXRK, premiering November 18, 1985, moving permanently to the morning drive time slot in February 1986. By year's end, his show was simulcast on WYSP in Philadelphia. Before long it was also heard in Washington, D.C., and was then syndicated nationwide by Infinity Broadcasting. The program made great sport out of feuding with other cities' top-rated deejays, and soon Stern's broadcast was number one in several major markets, including Philadelphia and Los Angeles. His Arbitron numbers were strongest in the country's number one radio market, New York City, where his morning ratings more than tripled his station's average numbers the rest of the day.

atellite radio career

On October 6, 2004, Stern announced on his show that he had signed a five year contract with Sirius, a satellite radio service. Sirius provided a budget of $500 million to pay Howard, his staff and general production costs. [ [http://www.secinfo.com/dsvRa.13ej.htm Sirius Satellite Radio Inc · 8-K · For 10/1/04] ] His personal salary has not been revealed. Other media sources have claimed that Stern netted a $225 million one-time stock bonus for meeting subscriber quotas, which he did meet in January 2006. [cite news | url=http://money.cnn.com/2006/01/05/news/newsmakers/stern/index.htm | title=Howard Stern & Co. score $200M payout | work=CNNMoney.com | date=2006-01-05 | accessdate=2006-07-26]

Stern stated that he was growing increasingly unhappy doing his show on terrestrial radio. The combined stresses of heavy censorship and editing by management as well as lengthy commercial breaks weighed into his decision to start anew on Sirius. Stern admitted to feeling "dead inside, creatively" in December, 2005 while still on terrestrial radio.cite news
first = Howard
last = Kurtz
title = Stern on Satellite: A Bruised Flower, Blossoming Anew
url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/12/10/AR2005121001432.html
publisher = The Washington Post
page = D01
date= December 11, 2005
accessdate = 2008-09-18]

The Sirius deal, which took effect on January 1, 2006, enabled Stern to broadcast his show without the content restrictions imposed by the FCC. Moreover, the deal also enabled Stern to program an additional Sirius channel.

On February 28, 2006, CBS Radio announced it had filed a lawsuit against Stern, his agent Don Buchwald, and Sirius Satellite Radio, saying Stern used CBS's airwaves to unfairly promote the satellite service and enrich himself.cite news | title=Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/25/entertainment/main1654391.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Business_1654391 | publisher=CBS News | date=2006-05-25| accessdate=2008-09-18] The lawsuit also claims that Stern "repeatedly and willfully" breached his contract with CBS, "misappropriated millions of dollars worth of ... airtime" for his own benefit, and "fraudulently concealed" his performance-related interests in Sirius stock. The suit, filed in New York state court, sought compensatory and punitive damages. Not to be outdone, Stern earlier in the day (prior to CBS's announcement) held a press conference at which he mentioned that CBS added to the media attention, booking him for appearances on "Late Show with David Letterman" and its news magazine show "60 Minutes". "I made them millions of dollars. If I was hurting them, why did they keep me on the air for 14 months?" Stern said. "How can you have it both ways?" [ [http://www.cbc.ca/story/arts/national/2006/03/01/stern-lawsuit-cbs.html CBS Radio files lawsuit against Stern, Sirius] CBC March 1, 2006]

Leslie Moonves, the President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Corporation, appeared on one of Stern's final shows to compliment him on his move to Sirius and thank him for the record advertising revenue the network sold. Moonves told Stern that he bought Sirius stock. Stern said the network had the option to "push the button" on his program, taking him off the air, if they did not agree with what he was presenting to the public.

On May 11, 2006, CBS said it was near settling the lawsuit with Stern. "We have an agreement, but there are details that have to be worked out," said CBS lawyer Irvin Nathan. [ [http://today.reuters.com/news/newsarticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyid=2006-05-11T231122Z_01_N11342746_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-CBS-STERN.xml&src=rss&rpc=22 Stern nears settlement with CBS] Dead link|date=September 2008Reutuers] Some details of the agreement were officially announced May 26. [ [http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=222720 FMQB: Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more! ] ]

As a result of the CBS lawsuit settlement, Stern announced on June 7, 2006 that Sirius gained exclusive rights to his entire back catalog of radio shows from his days at CBS (about 23,000 hours). The shows cost Sirius approximately $2 million, which equates to approximately $87 per hour of tape. Sirius has the rights to the tapes until the end of Stern's current contract with Sirius, and then all ownership rights will return to Stern. [cite news | title=Stern Gets Old Tapes, CBS Gets $2M | url=http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/05/25/entertainment/main1654391.shtml?source=RSS&attr=Business_1654391 | publisher=CBS News | date=May 25, 2006| accessdate=2008-09-18]

Career in other media

In 1988 when Fox was looking for a late night talk show host to replace Joan Rivers, they gave Howard the opportunity to record five pilot episodes of a late night show. Stern claims that he and the network did not see eye to eye with censorship of the episodes, and a show never materialized. [ [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U65qUzqAUOY&mode=related&search= YouTube - Original Howard Stern Larry King interview 1 ] ]

In 1990, Stern aired a sketch comedy show on WWOR, which was also called "The Howard Stern Show". The show lasted 65 episodes before ending in 1993. [ [http://imdb.com/title/tt0288365/ "The Howard Stern Show" (1990) ] ]

In 1993, Stern released his autobiography, "Private Parts."cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= Larry "Ratso" Sloman|editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Private Parts |origdate=1993-10-15 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= Simon & Schuster|location= |isbn=978-0671880163 |oclc= 28968496|doi= |id= |pages=] The book was a New York Times #1 bestseller and became the fastest selling book in Simon & Schuster's history. [cite news
title = STERN'S 'PRIVATE PARTS' TOPS LIMBAUGH'S MARK
url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=WE&s_site=kansas&p_multi=WE&p_theme=realcities&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EADB5AD4BD7B3C3&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
publisher = Wichita Eagle
quote = "Five days after its publication, "Private Parts" had become the fastest selling book in the 70-year history of Simon & Schuster."
date=October 20, 1993]

In 1994, Stern embarked on a political campaign for Governor of New York, formally announcing his candidacy under the Libertarian Party ticket. [cite news
title = The Stern gang. (Howard Stern becomes Libertarian Party candidate for New York State governor)
publisher = The New Yorker
date= May 9, 1994
pages=39] His platform included restoring the death penalty, limiting road construction work to nighttime hours, and abolishing tolls. [ cite news|title = Stern Message | date= July 1994 | publisher = Reason Magazine| url=http://www.reason.com/news/show/29472.html | author = Nick Gillespie|quote=Stern's three-plank platform -- reinstating the death penalty, staggering tolls to reduce traffic congestion, and doing all road repairs at night -- and his promise to step down immediately upon achieving those goals had carried the day.] However, he subsequently withdrew his candidacy because he did not wish to comply with the financial disclosure requirements for candidates. [cite news|title=For Stern It's Balk Radio: He Ends Bid For Governor | author = Todd S. Purdum | date= August 5, 1994 | publisher = New York Times | quote= refusing to accept the financial disclosure required of candidates...]

In 1996, Stern released his second book, "Miss America", which focused more on his radio career. [cite book |last= Stern|first=Howard |authorlink=Howard Stern |coauthors= |editor= Judith Regan|others= |title=Miss America |origdate=1995-11 |edition= 1st edition|publisher= HarperCollins|location= |isbn=978-0060391676 |oclc= |doi= |id= |pages=]

In 1997, he starred in "Private Parts", a biographical film chronicling his rise to success.cite video|people= Betty Thomas(Director)|year=1997|date= March|title= Private Parts|url= http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119951/ | format = |medium= Motion picture|publisher=Paramount Pictures|location=Los Angeles, CA | accessdate = 2008-09-18] The film is based on his 1993 autobiography "Private Parts". The film premiered at the top of the box office in its opening weekend with a gross of $14.6 million. [http://www.boxofficereport.com/byfilm/1997/privateparts.shtml Box Office Report - Box Office by Film - Private Parts ] ] It grossed slightly more than $41 million in total.

The movie received mostly positive reviews from critics, including Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, who were frequent guests of Stern's radio show. Some critics claimed the film glossed over his use of sexual and racial humor. [ [http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1075777-private_parts/ Private Parts Movie Reviews, Pictures - Rotten Tomatoes ] ]

For his performance, Stern won the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Male Newcomer. The awards are given based on write-in votes from fans, and Stern won by a wide margin. [ [http://imdb.com/Sections/Awards/Blockbuster_Entertainment_Awards/1998 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards 1998] ] Stern was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture (Comedy). He was also nominated for a Razzie Award for Worst New Star. [ [http://www.razzies.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=347&PN=1 Razzies awards forums 1997 "Winners"] ]

In 2002, Stern's production company Howard Stern Productions acquired the rights to the 1982 movie "Porky's" and the 1979 movie "Rock 'n' Roll High School". Stern was also a producer of the TV series "Son of the Beach", which ran for three seasons.

He informed listeners early in 2004 that the ABC television network was in talks with him to produce an interview special.

In popular culture

Stern's prevalent media presence has led to his being parodied or referenced in various outlets;

*In "The Simpsons" episode "Monty Can't Buy Me Love", he and his radio show format are parodied as "Jerry Rude and the Bathroom Bunch".
* His radio show is spoofed briefly in British satire "Brasseye" as "The Adolf Snarn Show" during the "Sex" episode.
*In the "Family Guy" episode "Mr. Griffin Goes to Washington", a flashback depicts Peter Griffin repeatedly yelling "Bababooey!" at the Clarence Thomas hearings, a reference to Stern fans' practice of shouting that word (itself a reference to Stern's producer, Gary Dell'Abate) in order to disrupt live call-in TV and radio shows, or television reporters' live stand-ups.
*He has been twice depicted in the MTV claymation comedy "Celebrity Deathmatch", first as the victorious opponent of Kathie Lee Gifford, and again as a guest referee in a match between Carmen Electra and Jenny McCarthy.
*In the "South Park" episode "Fat Camp" Kenny McCormick has oral sex with Stern in exchange for money.

ee also

* Howard 100 and Howard 101
* Howard 100 News
* List of celebrity guests on the Howard Stern show
* Sirius Satellite Radio
* The Wack Pack

References

External links

*
* [http://www.howardstern.com Howard Stern's Official Web Site] at HowardStern.com

Persondata
NAME= Stern, Howard Allan
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Radio host
DATE OF BIRTH= January 12, 1954
PLACE OF BIRTH= New York City, New York, United States
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=