Going With Howard

Can I really afford another bill every month, especially for something recreational and leisurely? No.

Do I buy into the hype? Yes.

Several years ago my older brother turned me on to the Howard Stern radio show. I went kicking and screaming - thinking he was the biggest sensationalist of our time and a ridiculous self-promoter. At that time I was listening to the Mark & Brian Show during my lengthy Los Angeles morning commute. My brother said, "Just listen to the Stern show on the way to work - give it a little time and see if you don't laugh." So one morning I did... and he was right, I laughed... out loud... in my car. I listened the next morning as well... and I've been an avid listener ever since. Howard Stern radio is as essential to my morning as my shower and that first cup of coffee.

It's all true - he can be sexist and biased and have racists on his show who blurt out ugly things. Sometimes Howard blurts out ugly things or conveys opinions that I am diametrically opposed to. He has women who come in and strip down to nothing - who play humiliating games for breast implants. He created a game "Lord of the Anal Ring Toss" that even Jon Bon Jovi participated in (the game is self-explanatory). If you look at all of it on paper - it would be unseemly at best and offensive at worst... but hell if ALL of it isn't entertaining as all get out! I'm sure that most of his audience is male - but I am happy to stand in the population of women who "get" the humor - the sarcasm - the honesty - the sheer entertainment value of this show and the personality behind it. Howard did CHANGE THE FACE OF RADIO as we know it today. But in a time of strange Victorian-like atmosphere in a country who has become more conservative and prudish than ever... Howard was in fact being forced to censor himself for reasons that are absurd, but very real in our eroding "free speech" society.

Solution? Satellite radio. It's a fairly new medium that will now give a home to Howard and other free-thinkers and expressionists who cannot legally be censored. Technically, those who broadcast on terrestrial radio should not be censored either - but our government is allowing the FCC to conduct no less that what are racketeering practices with broadcast rights and so... the next frontier to express oneself is in "paid" entertainment - not unlike television cable.

I bought my new satellite receiver with car kit and boombox this week. Howard Stern starts officially broadcasting on Monday, January 9th 2006. Today I stumbled upon him doing a test run on the air - it's only been a couple weeks, but it was great hearing all the voices again - Howard, Robin, Artie, Gary, Fred... Howard has two whole channels to program and the content is sure to be outrageous and hilarious to many - and shocking and highly offensive to some... but he has every right to be out there doing what he wants and does best - ENTERTAINING US - and as long as he is broadcasting in a subscription medium, the FCC cannot fine him any more(let's hope). Will I be listening to Howard's whole channel? You bet! I'm looking forward to the Crackwhore View - Tissue Time with Heidi Cortez - and the Howard 100 News. All silly and ridiculous for the most part - but if I hear something that doesn't entertain me... I'll just flip the dial :)

Someone posted this on another site that I frequent... it pretty much sums it all up in a nutshell:

" Listening to the replacement morning shows, it makes you realize what an innovator Howard is - love him or hate him, he changed the face of radio in America. Howard at his worst is better than what's on now. Serves these radio suits right for bending over for the FCC and these far-right d---heads. I'm getting my hands on that Sirius boombox soon."