When Did The Downfall Begin?

[Neigh]

I view Howard's downfall or evolution (as he sees it) this way. In terrestrial radio days he could not say fuck, shit, cunt and cock and had to resort to ethnic and racial bits to be outrageous. But he truly always did love dick jokes and gross outs. He got to Sirius with Artie. Now he could say what he wanted as long as he wanted. . Plus he had the genius (as a sidekick) Artie to riff on any subject in the universe. He did not have to resort to bits to be outrageous. By this time his daughters were growing up and influencing what he said and did. He married Beth and was lucky to be so head over heels in love with her and hence got involved in things she wanted... celebrity parties in the Hamptons, animal protection (remember how he use to ridicule the PETA women) and just doing things with her. For the me, the first five years of Sirius were the golden age of Howard Stern. Then he lost Artie, he got himself more and more insulated from the interaction with the common folk, got more and more arrogant and protective of his "brand" (no more Adam's apple jokes) and got a new executive at Sirius who apparently thought he was best doing interviews and clamping down on all activities by the staff that did not serve to glorify him. His interviews are usually very good.. .just like his riffing when the starts the show. He's just got something not one else has... I don't buy his claim that he is thinking about the show 24/7 but I don't think he's gotten lazier because of the Sirius setup... I think he thinks he has "evolved" to a higher incarnation. That's enough bullshit for now.

 

[The Butler]

It began when the bonus checks stopped coming in. The final nail in the coffin was bringing in Little Miss Get Things Done who further convinced Howard that more of him, and less LIVE programming was a good thing.

 

[Kryptonite]

I LOVED the stuff in the late 90s. I wish I had bought cream cheese stock. I could have retired based off the show.(Joking.)

That's how I got hooked into BTLS... His redneck antics with the fan, dog collar and fireworks and all that are really just a hillbilly version of Howard's glory days.

The Clear Channel/FCC stuff forced him to change the show format. I really do think his "roadmap" in 04-08 for the show had him going back to the wild shenigans... "What's in my pouch" and Richard and Sal sharing a toilet...but Marci and Beth and NSAL killed all the good stuff.

Plus... a 60 y/o doing stripper games is just creepy. He isn't 40 anymore. That's why he needs someone in the Artie chair to do that wild stuff.

 

[JHDK]

does anyone else think howard has made a clear decision to at least bring back some of the raunch this year? with the multiple wack pack interviews...in studio, the retard peoples court and then the punishment and even little things like richard blowing out candles from sals dick last week it seems like some of the crazy stuff is coming back.

along with that howard did an ad for a stump the booey a few days ago. while thats nothing outrageous, when was the last time they had an in studio contest?

it seems to me that, at least in 2016, howard is trying to strike a better balance between the major celeb interviews and the good old craziness.

 

[Bark]

...a 60 y/o doing stripper games is just creepy. He isn't 40 anymore. That's why he needs someone in the Artie chair to do that wild stuff.

It was always creepy. Don't kid yourself. Embrace it.

 

[Kryptonite]

It was always creepy. Don't kid yourself. Embrace it.

I was in HS during the era of birthday shows, cream cheese and baloney and dead fish.

It was glorious.

 

[Bark]

I was in HS during the era of birthday shows, cream cheese and baloney and dead fish.

It was glorious.

I was in college. If I wasn't in class, I was listening. The first big deal for my listening was the Gay Dance Party with John Stewart.

 

[Kryptonite]

I wonder if Howard realizes or even cares that it's 24/7 random taped bits on two different channels.

 

[JHDK]

I wonder if Howard realizes or even cares that it's 24/7 random taped bits on two different channels.

for better or worse i think the only thing howard cares about on both channels is the live HSS. i was listening to fitzsimmons podcast with maria and her husband and they got to talking about how the show is a serious pro operation these days. like rivaling tv shows. apparently they put money into hiring writers now and not just anyone. maria's husband was saying that he spotted 2 guys there he knew had writing emmys from previous gigs.

 

[scotchandcigar]

apparently they put money into hiring writers now and not just anyone. maria's husband was saying that he spotted 2 guys there he knew had writing emmys from previous gigs.

You mean it's not just Benjy?

 

[Neigh]

Hmm, what would ringer writers be writing? He doesn't do skits anymore. The whack pack stuff seems to be the province of Shuli. The early morning stuff seems too spontaneous to be written. But someone who can read is reading up on the celebrities that Howard interviews and digesting the material pretty well. Howard doesn't always read his notes correctly but generally he does.

Speak of writing and skits, I was thinking of a kind of "jump the shark" moment (a while ago) when Howard decided to show the boys how to do a phony phone call and called a store or restaurant in the voice of his demanding mother. It totally fell flat. The guy who answered was not amused and cut it off quickly. Surprised Howard played it.

 

[scotchandcigar]

Hmm, what would ringer writers be writing?

There are those pre-taped songs, mocking JD or Ronnie or Gary etc. Some of them are sung by the opera guy. I assumed Richard or Sal or Benjy or Fred did them, but maybe not. I agree that someone is doing research on the guests, and preparing a bio for Howard.

 

[JHDK]

they have been doing a lot of the presidential candidates calling in that i dont like but is all clearly written. also the guest research used to be done by will and jason. i remember that being revealed in the past but it may have changed.

 

[Bark]

they have been doing a lot of the presidential candidates calling in that i dont like but is all clearly written. also the guest research used to be done by will and jason. i remember that being revealed in the past but it may have changed.

I really don't know why they would want to write kinda weak lines for an in-house impressionist when I'm sure there's a good comedian out there who does impressions of the candidates with better material. It's probably a Howard-control thing.

 

[beaniemac]

for better or worse i think the only thing howard cares about on both channels is the live HSS. i was listening to fitzsimmons podcast with maria and her husband and they got to talking about how the show is a serious pro operation these days. like rivaling tv shows. apparently they put money into hiring writers now and not just anyone. maria's husband was saying that he spotted 2 guys there he knew had writing emmys from previous gigs.

something is strange here. why would a comedy writer who has an emmy under their belts come and write for howard's show? working in radio is certainly not as lucrative as working in tv.

and at three days a week with all those writers, it's mindblowing that the show is so formulaic these days. most of the bits are bad, and the phony phone calls blow.

 

[beaniemac]

they have been doing a lot of the presidential candidates calling in that i dont like but is all clearly written. also the guest research used to be done by will and jason. i remember that being revealed in the past but it may have changed.

not only are those written bits, but they are recorded, so it's basically howard interacting with clips. kinda lame.

 

[beaniemac]

I don't give a damn how many writers they hire, howard NEEDS a third voice in that studio to mix it up. howard and robin bantering certainly doesn't cut the mustard these days.

 

[scotchandcigar]

I don't give a damn how many writers they hire, howard NEEDS a third voice in that studio to mix it up. howard and robin bantering certainly doesn't cut the mustard these days.

Yeah, I don't understand how Howard continues to overlook this, especially with 5 more years to go.

 

[Kryptonite]

Yeah, I don't understand how Howard continues to overlook this, especially with 5 more years to go.

Did they have a third voice before Billy?

It would never happen, but it would be interesting to see how a second movie would treat Billy, Jackie and Artie.

I wholeheartedly agree. They need a third voice. I wonder if Howard thinks that Benji is that third voice. Then again, with Marci around, who knows. Of course, Howard is being paid less, so he probably thinks he can't afford that third voice.

 

[scotchandcigar]

You mean Billy West? If you go back far enough, there was less Robin and more Fred and others.

Benjy's definitely just a writer, not a sidekick. There are plenty of sidekicks available if he'd want. Maybe his need for control has gotten to the point that he can't let someone else lead the show.