Anti-Stern Podcasts Surpass Howard Stern Show in Ratings
Hate-listeners have eclipsed the actual Stern Show in popularity, cultural significance and comedic value.
In a hilarious turn of events, podcasts dedicated to ridiculing and lampooning The Howard Stern Show have skyrocketed in popularity, leaving the once-revered shock jock trailing in their wake. Stern, now 70, once known for his edgy and controversial humor, has faced harsh criticism in recent years for what many describe as a descent into irrelevance and self-indulgence.
Listeners have pointed out that the Stern Show has become a shadow of its former self, with long, boring soliloquies centered around his neuroses and obsessions taking center stage. From recounting the same handful of childhood traumas and alleged parental abuse to repetitive guitar performances by staff members, the show's content has been labeled "unlistenable" by numerous critics.
One listener, who goes by the moniker “F_Jackie,” tweeted, "I used to be a die-hard fan, but now it's like listening to someone's therapy session on repeat. I miss the old Howard who pushed boundaries and made us laugh."
Known as "Wiggy" to his detractors for that suspect rat's nest on his head, Stern's interview style has also come under fire, with accusations of lackluster research and cringe-worthy attempts at psychoanalysis. His recent two-hour interview with his brother-in-law, an "average Joe" computer salesman, was described as a "snooze-fest" by many listeners. Incredibly, Stern now boasts that his team consists of over 70 employees, which is astounding given the drop in quality and creativity. Some claim that most of the "listener" phone calls on the show are actually fake and staged, performed by staff members, often to praise Howard and set him up for the next lame prepared segment, meant to appear natural and organic.
The departure of comedian Artie Lange in 2009 marked a turning point for the show, with many fans feeling that the comedic balance was never restored. Stern's post-2016 political rants and alignment with mainstream media narratives have further alienated segments of his audience, once drawn to his anti-establishment, counter-culture persona. He began singing the praises of propaganda outlets like MSNBC and The New York Times, swallowing any fake news report hook, line and sinker, while suffering a severe case of Trump Derangement Syndrome. He also began pandering to the Hollywood elite, in stark contrast to former years when he'd chastise and ridicule them, often to their faces.
Perhaps the most significant blow to Stern's reputation came during the pandemic, when his paranoid rhetoric and calls for authoritarian measures clashed with his former rebel image. He viscously vilified anyone who refused to wear a mask, stay home or get vaccinated. Listeners who once tuned in for irreverent humor found themselves subjected to stern lectures on public health policy by a self-admitted agoraphobic hypochondriac. He became a complete establishment-shill fascist—the very thing he fought against his whole career.
“When are we gonna stop putting up with the idiots in this country and just say it’s mandatory to get vaccinated?" asked Stern in one rant. "Fuck ’em. Fuck their freedom. I want my freedom to live. I want to get out of the house already. I want to go next door and play chess. I want to go take some pictures.”
“If it was up to me, anyone unvaccinated would not be admitted to a hospital," said Stern in another rant. "At this point, they have been given plenty of opportunity to get the vaccine… Now, if you don’t get it, in my America, all hospitals would be closed to you. You’re going to go home and die. That is what you should get. Absolutely.”
Stern probably loved the pandemic because, as an agoraphobe, it gave him an excuse to stay home and do the show remotely, an idea he previously scoffed at and vowed he'd never do. This has also contributed to the immense drop in quality, as the show is often riddled with technical difficulties, delays and awkward conversations with speakers talking over one another. Some guests have actually travelled to the SiriusXM studio for their interviews, only to talk to a screen showing Howard from his basement.
In many on-air admissions, Stern relayed that he stayed home for about three years straight except for short, secluded walks, terrified of interacting with others, nearly driving his wife, Beth, insane. He regularly brought her on-air to admonish her for having lunch with friends at an outdoor restaurant or going to small social gatherings, deathly afraid of getting sick, in what can only be described as public spousal abuse. He obviously didn't trust the vaccines all that much.
"I used to laugh at Howard's antics, but now I just cringe at his hypocrisy," remarked a former fan turned podcast enthusiast. "The fact that his show has been surpassed by podcasts mocking him is both ironic and telling. Most of his remaining listeners probably hate-listen in preparation for the podcasts."
Despite pockets of entertaining content with supporting cast members like Richard Christy and segments featuring the eccentric "Wack Pack" group of misfits, Stern's personal devolution into a miserable old curmudgeon has become a focal point for disillusioned listeners as he loses his marbles before his dwindling audience.
As anti-Stern podcasts continue to gain traction and relevance, one thing is clear: Howard Stern's reign as the "king of all media" may have reached its expiration date, leaving behind a legacy tarnished by self-inflicted irrelevance and a departure from the very principles that once made the show great. What are your thoughts on this epic downfall? Were you ever a fan? Who’s your favorite wack packer? Let us know in the comments below!
For some entertaining anti-Stern content, check out Quite Frankly and Radio Gunk.
howard stern became pig vomit. ironic. fartman indeed.
For a couple years I lived in a city with an all-talk radio station that aired his show. It was 2000-2002 and I listened to that station all the time. Music sucked and I was interested in big city culture. His show aired on my way in to a job I had and I hated it if for no other reason than in dragged me through long commercial breaks. The show was full with inside jokes I didn't get and an audience that prided itself with playing along. Really sad humor and less interesting than the other far-less famous local shows I liked but one morning in that 4-5 month span he made a big deal out of an announcement leading up to "Soon I'll be leaving radio for good" (to paraphrase) giving the impression for a short time he was retiring. Kind of a hoax that finally meant he was transitioning to serius satellite. Somehow I learned he was making $20M per year and I guess it stunned me a little. I'm glad for it because in hindsight I was beginning to wake up; that something was deeply wrong on a multitude of levels. I also realized it wasn't Howard I found to be so troubling about it. What amazed me was that society pandered to such an obvious imbalance. They played the apologist to such worthless clowns running off with the loot. Later it's no surprise the same public's reward is to be coerced by said jackasses to take bioweapons and shut their faces. Guys like Bill Gates pouring billions into our poisoning regularly and making statements like "I don't discuss my investments" is no surprise but it isn't evil characters like him who have me baffled, it's that I live in a society that panders to the unfairness as they mock us and snuff us all out. The jackasses are just a handful of psychos with billions of apologists. Now we need to know our enemies and these are our choices.