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Howard Stern And The Unforgiving Guest

[Rolling Stone] BG Note: Rolling Stone recently interviewed Howard Stern about his new book, Howard Stern Comes Again.

Several of the questions were about Stern’s outrageously antagonistic interview style and the impact that it had on his guests.

You say that you didn’t like your old interview style. What were you doing wrong back then?

I was obsessive about the ratings. I wanted to continue being number one.

…I had to entertain the audience and give them more and more. So on terrestrial radio, where you’re getting rated literally every minute, a guest would walk in and I say to myself, “I gotta get right to the f*cking outrageous.”

What was going through your head?

“F*ck you. I need all the attention.” I was a baby. I want every listener. I want everyone focused on me. You’re not going to be funnier than me. You’re not going to come into my studio and steal the moment from me. This is who I was.

Rather than say to Robin Williams, “My God, you’re here,” and celebrate an amazing talent and the beauty of that guy’s career, he walks in and I start in, “Hey, you’re f*cking your nanny.” Bam, sledgehammer. Sock him right in the f*cking head. *sshole. Me, not him. And my audience is cheering me on because who does that? There’s a lunatic loose from the mental asylum.

What made you change?

I have gone and done psychotherapy. I’ve learned there was a way to talk about what was going on in Robin Williams’ personal life. I could’ve expressed to him the beauty of Robin Williams. Who knows what he would have revealed? Who knows what impressions he would have broken into? It brings me to tears to imagine what that moment could have been like.

…I had this idea that I gotta call him and apologize. I started to put it in process and see if he would take my call, but he k*lled himself. I get chills when I tell you.

Is there anybody you called to apologize to who didn’t want to hear it?

Yes. I don’t want to say who, out of respect to that person. Listen, it’s not like I’m an alcoholic who made calls to everybody in my life. But I did call certain people. Most were very gracious and said, “I’m glad you made this call.”

And this one person — I don’t think they were wrong — said to me, “You know what? You caused me a lot of pain and grief. I don’t know that I can really get over this.”

I said, “I’m not looking for you to get over it. I’m not looking for anything other than letting you know I was a d*ck and I’m a fan of yours. And I’m sorry I caused you so much grief.”

BG Notes: You can read the entire Rolling Stone article here. You can purchase Howard Stern’s new book, Howard Stern Comes Again, here.

Similar: Howard Stern on Jennifer Lopez

Guest Who Wouldn’t Accept Apology:

[Optional] Are you a fan of Howard Stern? Why or why not?


Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Kerzep says

    Don’t know.

    Not a fan. One of my closest friends is a huge fan of his and convinced me that the jerk had changed. We were driving to dinner and he changed my radio to the Howard Stern show. Within minutes, my blood pressure was sky high and I was screaming at my friend. He says he’s never seen me that angry.

    Everything about him is disgusting. I don’t care if he’s changed. Too little, too late. I hope he spends the rest of his days suffering over the pain he has caused others!

  2. BlueHerons says

    He was horrible to Gabrielle Reese and she walked off his show.

    Don’t like or dislike him. He just doesn’t have any importance to me.

  3. spoofbyrd says

    In defense of Howard Stern , the effect of post Vietnam and post Watergate was that people started to honestly express their opionions and say how they really felt intead of remaining in polite society. The one axiom Howard and others like the late Comic Joan Rivers failed to follow ” Remember when it comes to humor , a little goes along way ! “

  4. jhwalker says

    Not sure who this could be – he recently admitted he did Rosie O’Donnell wrong, and they’ve kissed and made up, so it’s not her …

    I’ve always been a fan of Howard, because the kind and intelligent person was always there underneath the outrageous persona. Now that he’s on satellite, his kindness and warmth shine through consistently, and he’s become a truly amazing interviewer.

  7. RubyRichmond says

    Adam Sandler. I’m a huge fan of Howard’s because he’s real and he’s hilarious and he’s not pretentious.

  8. spoofbyrd says

    That kind of no holds barred humor Howard did came out of the Vietnam era where anything could be made fun of. Gross & macabre humor had always been around but the Boomers kicked up a knotch & decades later in their twilight years they are starting to feel guilty about it. Well Howard Stern you brought in the Shock Jock ,however, indecent it got . Live with it. You dumped on Billy Crystal & Chevy Chase big time once & they stood up to you when a lot of celebs caved in & you were a bully !

  10. deering says

    Sigh. So easy for celebrities to apologize after they’ve made gazillions of dollars and gotten everything they stomped on everyone else for.

  11. itstarapagain says

    Jackie Martling the former sidekick who was fired over a salary dispute and Howard could have intervened but didn’t. There was a small amount of $$ between the offer and what Jackie wanted… Howard refused to intervene so Jackie was fired and replaced by the incredibly unfunny Artie Lange.
    It was said Jackie was the true funny one and his career was over after that.

    Not Trump. He called in all the time to brag. Howard let him.

  12. Searlait says

    There are a ton of people this could be.
    Never liked Stern and still don’t.

  13. missykate says

    I’ve never listened to a full interview of Stern’s.. have only seen bits and pieces over the years (I’m not from US). From what I’ve seen he’s not funny or insightful, he’s an a**hole.

    Surely given his reputation as a ‘shock jock’, guests would have an idea what they might be in for? What was/is the appeal to be on his show anyway??

  14. Deetroit says

    Who HASN’T he irreparably hurt? Decades of alternating between hurting people for profit and soliciting pity with insincere self-deprecation. Garbage human.

  15. kittymyers says

    I don’t know who that guest is, but I’m reminded of an old saying: Be sure to taste your words before you spit them out.

  16. ezilgaloth says

    Guest Who Wouldn’t Accept Apology: Erica Durance – the naked parties interview would be my guess.

    [Optional] Are you a fan of Howard Stern? Why or why not?: Not so much anymore. This whole apology book tour seems phony. Notice how ppl are only “sorry” after the check has cleared?? Money first, apologies later. I’m just indifferent about Howard Stern these days.

  17. rexczarina says

    Howie Mandel. I have a feeling a lot of people are going to guess the unforgiving guest was Pres. Trump but he’s been on the show multiple times so it wouldn’t make sense. Have never heard Stern’s show so it wouldn’t be fair of me to give an opinion on him.

  20. amagod121 says

    The interview states that Howard had embarrassed Gilda Radner greatly. He could not have apologized to her as she died in 1989, but what about her husband, Gene Wilder? Maybe Stern tried to give an apology to Gene for humiliating Gilda and Gene wasn’t receptive to it. After what Howard said to Gilda, I can understand if Gene gave him the exact answer stated above.

    That’s all I’ve got.

    • alliebwrites says

      This is an interesting guess. It might not be right for this blind but on the show, Jimmy Kimmel alluded to a famous husband that wouldn’t go on Howard due to the treatment of his wife. This has to be them!

  21. zappy2050 says

    Why would Howard Stern who has been very rude and derogatory all his life suddenly start “regretting” what he has done? My gut feeling is he is very sick and fear he is nearing the end. I had a family member who was mean, rude and derogatory to everyone – screwed a lot of people over – the year before he died, he tried to get everyone to figure him. Go figure.

    • jbj2016 says

      You are close! He had a cancer scare a couple of years ago that sent him on a path of self-reflection.

  23. Wallcat says

    Quentin Tarantino? Those comments about Polanski were extremely damning and Stern stirred the pot.

  25. augustmom says

    Not sure of the celebrity. I now like Howard, hated him before his therapy.

  27. lulus mom says

    I don’t care. He attacked robin Williams. That’s a mistake I can’t forgive.

  30. I Am PunkA says

    Could be anyone. And not really a fan. He was way too over the top all the time. Painful listen.

  31. Sandy24 says

    I have no idea who this could be… Not sure BUT I am SO happy to hear that he has made this change. We re all part of the collective consciousness and I hope as such a visible example that people (some of his listeners) have matured along with him or at least is following his lead as fans. The world is a better place because of it

    • aemish says

      What a beautiful sentiment, Sandy24! I was never a fan but felt exactly the same as I read this blind. Hope you have a lovely weekend :o)

  32. parkland45 says

    Trump…cause he can never forgive & forget.
    I’m not a fan of Howard Stern. He was always trying to get his female guests to expose certain parts of their bodies. He’s a lowlife pos.

  33. Bunniest says

    Madonna about the Tupac dating rumors. Madge never forgives.
    Never been a fan because he’s a jerk. Glad he can admit it now but that’s not going to undo the damage.