Howard Stern was temporarily taken off of the air in a handful of major markets by his parent company, Clear Channel Entertainment. They said that he was breaking FCC regulations by talking about "indecent" material, but I say "then, why didn't you take him off of the air already...like fifteen years ago?". His show has been indecent for years, so why is it all of the sudden worth fighting about?

In response, Stern said that he now knows what it is like to be persecuted. He "feels like Jesus." I found this hilarious and very apt, but I'm sure that someone will get offended and freak out.

(Edited by richarddawson at 7:50 am on Feb. 27, 2004)

They made the move now out of political correctness...they are posturing in response to the outcry that started with Michael...oops...I mean Janets nipple...

I heard they took "Bubba the Love Sponge" off the air, too. Normally, I wouldn't care, but a good friend of mine (who posted here way back as Lou Pickney) worked for him. They're trying to get an uncensored version of the show on XFM satellite radio. All the best to him!

I read a article that said Clear Channel had new rules or regs put into effect, and that's why he's been temporarily removed.

That will most certainly stir up even more controversy but yeah I also think why now and not years ago?
Its not like 5 year old kids are listening any ways and if they are then thats the parents deal so I say it was a random pointless move.

Yeah. Plans include lowering the quality of radio content and bringing all that embrace the first amendment to their knees.

No, not really. But you know who does freak me out? Paul. Paul freaks me out.

I've read in a few places that his getting yanked had more to do with his anti-Bush statements than his crudeness, which would explain why it happened now as opposed to years ago. Here's one editorial and here's an article with this quote from Howard Stern: "If you don' t think me going after Bush got me thrown off those stations, you got another thing coming."

Yeah, that makes total sense. I mean, Stern is definitely the ONLY ONE in radio/TV/pop culture who is making "anti-Bush statements." Howard Stern is a martyr!

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 11:54 am on Mar. 9, 2004)

jc, you have a point, but i think you're also missing the fact that howard stern reaches more people daily than all the other people in media do in a week.

Oh yeah, you're right. I forgot that he is "The King of All Media."

He's never even been on in Nashville, and Nashville is a top 50 market.

He may never have been on in Nashville, but the fact is he is all over the country. I wasn't meaning to boost his ego with my statement, but it's a fact -- America listens to Howard Stern.

"The Howard Stern Show" is broadcast to just under 50 radio markets in the U.S. and Canada.

In the U.S. alone, there are currently 399 radio markets.

By comparision, Rush Limbaugh's show is broadcast to just under 250 radio markets just in the U.S.

Howard Stern is hardly the voice of America. I'm not saying that Rush is either. I'm just saying that "America listens to Howard Stern" is not a realistic statement.

If the FCC went after everyone who bashes Bush on the radio or TV airwaves, LOTS of people would be in trouble. I'm not saying that Stern's attitude about Bush didn't contribute to his being taken off of 6 STATIONS, but it's rediculous to say that that alone is the reason. I think that a more realistic scenario is that the stations in those six markets got alot of complaints and/or Stern's ratings were down in those markets. Don't forget that radio stations are businesses.

(Edited by jamiecarroll at 1:40 pm on Mar. 9, 2004)

I agree completely.

I never thought i'd live to hear such words from you.

heheh- not only that, but he's my HERO!!!

Points well taken-I think Stern says most of the things he says because he has narcissistic personality disorder and thinks that everything is about him. I really don't think the FCC is enforcing a party line on Bush. But I would believe that Clear Channel is, given that they are the Evilest of the Evil. Remember the banned songs after 9/11? Or the CC-sponsored pro-war "rallies" last year? All of that, plus the main point of their enterprise, which seems to be to reward triteness and mediocrity with maximum airplay and exclude any worthwhile music from being heard on most stations.

That was a lame internet hoax.

I know, i even shock myself sometimes. As well, I'm more willing to agree with people I don't know.

And people smarter than you, like me and my roomate.

ahem. your roommate. if you'll look back at the transcripts, you'll notice that i've never agreed with you.

(Edited by deathscythe257 at 3:04 pm on Mar. 10, 2004)