Has Howard Stern lost his edge?

"Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed King of All Media, has lost his crown."  So begins Greg Braxton's recent story on the shock jock's move to satellite radio and the toll it's taken on his public persona (not to mention his ratings).

Has Howard's show taken a nosedive?  Braxton says yes -- but no less a luminary than Tom Leykis argues, "I don't think you can count out Howard Stern." 

What's your take?  Weigh in here.

Photo: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

Comments

[Mauricio Salazar]

There is no way that Stern has lost his edge, if anything he has evolved into a more mature adult. He is not trying to hide the fact that he is getting older, instead he is rolling with it, unlike other DJ's (Rick Dees, Opie and Anthony) As a listener, I feel that Howard has been at his best. What other DJ can you think of who has been relevant for 30 years?

[Annette]

Not one comment...looks like it might be true. I love you though Howard! Come back to REAL radio! We already have enough to pay for in this world. We get to listen to you for FREE on the radio. You get MUCH more exposure and the world gets to laugh again in the morning!

[Max Leonard]

never! the show is better than ever!
Chris Rock was on last week!

[eric the midget (i mean actor)]

Howard Rules. There never has been or ever will be a radio personality as genius as howard is. No show in the world has a fan base like his.

[Steve]

Didn't John Mainelli from the New York Post lose his job after making up the same exact story a few years? John Mainelli was getting money from the National Association of Broadcasters which is a big lobbyist against satellite radio. Howard has just as many A-list celebs as he did before and the interviews are even better. The show is better than ever and he has terrestrial radio trembling as more and more people each day abandon lame FM for the great programming satellite radio delivers. Hey, Terrestrial Radio: instead of spending millions lobbying against satellite radio, why don't you spend that money challenging the FCC or on better programming.

[DF]

Silly story. Terrestrial radio outlets have been writing stuff like this ever since Howard moved to satellite, partly out of spite, partly out of jealousy, but it's peculiar to see the Times picking it up. Howard would rather join a new medium and do the show his way rather than reach a wider audience with a watered-down product. Anybody who listens to the show these days knows that it's only gotten better and better. JOIN THE REVOLUTION.

[John]

If you want to hear the real Howard go on youtube and you can hear the old stuff with Jackie and Billy.I started listening to him on wnbc way back.He has now become the type of person he always mocked.Im amazed he now talks with Rosie and Chevy.Before he became Hamptons Howie this wasnt happening.Money changes everything.

[bfreeman]

I didn't know this guy was even around anymore???

[bryan p]

Same old crap over and again even after i havent heard him in 4 years. While in a associates car with sat radio you hear all the same stuff. Need jack the jokeman back to make him even acceptable again.

[HB Freddie]

Another example of how censorship of "indecency" is counterproductive. When the FCC was after him, Stern was a martyr for free speech. Now he's just a creepy guy who talks dirty. Boring.

[Lil Mike]

I don't miss him one bit. The rants & inane antics grew as tiresome as his ego...

He and Mel got big money to go away... and i hope they are happy...

I know I am

[the doctor]

whats happening now doesnt really matter, he got his money based on a huge audience that listened because it was free. the publicity he provided was why they paid him the big bucks. he will always have his fans, but time and people change, he hasnt changed with them.

[Wendy]

no way.

[mike S]

The loser of a writer is in the pocket of the radio stations and just did a hatchet job for them. Stern has more listeners now and ones that earn a higher wage. Losers like this writer will always be a shill and never be a real writer.

[Jennifer Mooney]

If you want to hear the best Howard ever, loosen up the wallet and pay for it. That old saying applies here,"You get what you pay for!" If you are to cheap to pay for Sirius, (which is the greatest of all time, no commercials when listening to music!) You might as well just continue listening to the crappy stuff on free radio......Yuck....

[David in Detroit]

Another op-ed talking about someone that no one is talking about... Howard Stern is the most influencial radio broadcaster in the past 30 years... No A list guests?... Christian Slater was on his show yesterday... Howard Stern has Millions of listeners... Any guest on the Howard Stern show becomes the number one search in "Google Trends" during their appearance...

There is a motive behind this op-ed... This piece was written to steer people in Hollywood away from Howard Stern... Some of the management of the L.A. Times are disgruntled ex-radio execs... The Times owner also has a stake in radio stations that are failing...

The L.A. Times doesn't have the balls to allow this to be posted or talk to anyone from the Howard Stern Channels...

[sternrules]

so the la times also has the same owner as wgn and you think your an objective observe.

Nice agenda piece.

[Jackie Martling]

This article was clearly written by someone who does not listen to the show and was getting information second hand.

Of course the audience is smaller since it is a pay service, but how many hacks on morning radio could even get 1 or 2, let alone 1 or 2 million, listeners to follow them to a service that costs $13 per month. Not Rick Dees or Ryan Seacrest or Adam Carolla.

Try listening to the show before writing about it you fishwrap hack. The only media stream going by the wayside quicker than terrestrial radio is newspapers.

[Lorna]

i couldn't function without listening to his voice everyday! he's still relevant and cutting edge.

[Smith]

He has already accomplished more than anyone else in radio and has had a critically acclaimed book and movie. What else does he need to prove? Now he gets to have fun without worrying about the FCC and he still has millions of listners who PAY to hear him.

[Stu Arnold]

The fact that this article is even written about him shows he still has influence. Even is all these "facts" in the article are true, Howard moving to satellite was a pioneering move. He could have stayed on terrestrial radio and accomplished what? He had nothing left to prove. Instead, he helped a fledgling industry grow. That's a true American story. I'd love to see some of these CEO's who make billions give up their positions to start a mom and pop shop. It doesn't happen. And now that Howard has been on the air for around 30 years, it amazes me some people still loathe him and write these articles about how much of a failure he is and route for his demise. Geez, can't we agree at least that he's accomplished? Amazing.

[DENNIS FRENCH]

It's so simple people. Can anyone name a comedy show like the hss that has been on the air for 30 years!!!! . stern rulz!!!!.

p.s. I think cristian slater is a list.

[lenny]

This Article is Crazy, Look at the numbers, when ever a guest is on they are #1 on the google search. Look how many people are not only paying to listen to him, but the NFL, BASEBALL. The Future has arrived, good by crappy radio. I had to listen to normal radio the other day and i wanted to shoot myself from all of the commercials. I was terrible, so terrible, so got my commercial FREE radio back and enjoyed the rest of the day. STERN RULES, BABABOUY.

[Cookie]

I could never tolerate listening to his stripper stuff on FM. I listen to Howard daily on Sirius. I simply change the channel when they do the inter-office ranting. He is a great interviewer. I like how Artie Lange opened up once on Sirius. Jackie sucked.

[RjM]

Still listening in the car ,home and on the computer. And yes, he has changed in someways maybe not to likings of many and thats ok. The Howard Stern show only gets better !!! and Change is good.