Stern
Producers of “American Idol” are courting Howard Stern to replace Simon Cowell when Cowell departs after this season, the New York Post’s Page Six reports. Stern’s exclusive deal with Sirius XM satellite radio runs out next year, and he said last week that he had been “approached by a major TV network” to take over one of its shows. Stern has been paid $100 million a year with Sirius. (That’s not a typo. Still, not a typo, but a Stern fan informs me that the costs for making the show come out of that, too.) Cowell’s “Idol” salary? $50 million.
I say: Yuck. Stern would be a deal-breaker for me and “Idol.” But clearly he has fans ($100 million worth, apparently) who might follow him, boosting eroding ratings and maybe even lowering the median age of the audience. What do you think?
Howard would be an excellent judge. He has been in the radio business for 30 years and he has had many live performances on his show. He is smart and he is one of the best interviewers I have seen. I for one hope it happens.
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Howard would be a great judge on Idol, I used to think he was just a gross guy who dressed up like Fart Man on MTV but in the last couple years I’ve given him a chance and now I can’t get enough of him. His personality is honest and endearing and he would be an asset to any show, whether it is aimed at families or not, he is not tactless as some might think. As far as being a good judge of music, the man has been on the radio critiquing and interviewing entertainers for 30 years so that has to count for something. Not to mention he happens to be a huge Idol fan and critiques the show already as it is. Honestly, I hope he doesn’t do it because I don’t want to trade the 4 days a week we have with him on Sirius to watch him be a talent show judge. It would be a waste of his talent but they would be lucky to have him, I hope he makes an appearance as a guest judge or something like that.
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I would definitely watch if Howard was on Idol, but I think true fans of Stern would ultimatly be disappointed. The show (from what I’ve seen of it) can get pretty hoakey, and not sure how Howard would thrive in that environment. I don’t see the entertainment of Howard coming through in his criticism of the contestants, but more in his banter with the other judges and he’d probably rip apart Ken Doll Seacrest constantly.
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I have to admit in weak moments I enjoy Howard Stern. He provides a few deja vu moments from my Junior High School days. But I think he would prove a disaster on AI.
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I would have no interest in Idol with Howard Stern on it. While I realize that many people watch the show hoping for a meltdown or shark attack, it’s supposed to be about the young performers who are hoping for a break — which many of them, winners and non-winners, have gotten. The judges should know something about music and I’m not aware of any expertise Stern brings in that regard. As to Ellen, she’ll finally make her debut this week so we’ll see how she fits in. I’m not sure why they got her as I thought that part of last year’s problem was the time it took to get opinions from four judges. I like Kara and don’t miss Paula at all. And as to Gale and her response to Mike Janson, “smart-assed” (as he terms it) or “Snarky” (as she put it) seems to be the only kind of response she writes based on my experience.
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He and Ellen are not music producers, but Randy and Kara do know music. Could be interesting, and let’s remember that Howard’s show is pretty much an act. I find him hilarious at times, repulsive at others. Could be interesting. He’d be honest if nothing else if he’s not tone deaf, which I think he might be.
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If idol’s ratings are slipping as people claim, Stern would bring a much needed injection of freshness along with a demographic that probably doesn’t normally watch idol. Double injection!!
Stern probably is tiring of being the head honcho and running everything on his radio show for almost 30 years. Everything starts and ends with him. It will give him a chance to enjoy his life. BUT…he is a control freak and if the show isn’t running to his liking he’d start demanding creative control over the final product that we see on TV.
And a ba-ba-booey to you all.
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Gail even if you have listened to his show enough to be able to criqiue it (which I doubt) and have decided that you do not care for it you do not have the right to publish lies about his annual salary.
Here is a Rueters article that states the $100 million is for all crew:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100204/en_nm/us_media_stern_1
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Mike, I don’t like Stern’s persona as a performer. I find him deliberately crude and offensive under the guise of being provocative and honest. Every time I have ever heard him, he has said or done something I found repulsive. But enjoy.
By the way, my “smart assed email” response to this guy was to ask him to post his comments as a comment. Whoa, sorry to be so snarky.
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snootch – i’m just saying that the judges who’s primary career is not musically relevent or oriented lends to less credibility of the opinions they offer, at least imo.
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Gails statement that Howard Stern makes $100 million a year is inaccurate. That is the budget for the entire show.
I’ve emailed Gail to point out this mistake and all I got was a smart assed email from her.
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Howard Stern?? next,, they’ll be courting Rush Limbaugh. Sorry, if Stern is on, we’ll not watch anymore at our house. IMHO, Howard Stern is a self-indulgent creep.
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Please, please let this happen!!! This will no doubt get Ellen and her corny jokes off the show. I had already planned on not watching next year when Simon leaves, but this might change my mind.
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I predict more people will watch if Howard is on than will stop watching the show. We’ll see who’s right. I’m glad they may have another honest person on the show to replace Cowell.
I have never watched a full episode of “Idol”, but would probably start watching if Stern is on, just to watch the clash between judges. Cowell also had numerous clashes with other judges which made more people watch as well.
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That will be the end of my watching….Stern is way too ignorant for me!
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sk – Don’t both Howard Stern and Ellen DeGeneres have ears? Doesn’t that qualify them for judging music? Heck, we all judge music every day of our lives yet the vast majority of us aren’t in “the business”.
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these are supposed to be judges of musical talent..ellen or howard don’t fit that bill..
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Actually Tim, I’d say the show is just about more about the judges than the contestants. And I would say that Cowell’s $50 million a year payday is proof of that.
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I think Stern is disgusting. Let’s remember that IDOL is a show about the contestants, not about the judges. I have it right, don’t I?
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Right now I like to watch the first round of Idol so I can laugh at the people who think they’re good, and aren’t, and end up snapping and/or crying when the judges tell them so. Once the show moves on to Hollywood, I don’t bother watching any more. That’s the point in the show where I lose interest and my wife gains interest.
If Stern were a judge, I’d watch it all.
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I think Howard could be good in this role. I was never a big fan of his radio show. That was because of the buffoons he had on with him, and the fact that the show is mostly NY centric. Give him a chance Betty, if nothing else it will be the car wreck you can’t look away from.
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I’ve watched every show, every season. But I WILL NOT watch Howard Stern on ANY show. I will become a die hard Idol Avoider.
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He would be great on the show, and it would give him a chance for the nay-sayers who judge him poorly (but have never listened to more than a soundbite from him) to see he is an honest guy whether you like his opinion or not. A hilarious moment was when Howard had the Idol judges on his show, and he brought out Chad Kroeger (in disguise) to sing his own hit song “Hero”, and they all said he wouldn’t “Go to Hollywood”. Then Howard revealed who he was. Classic.
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If “Idol” wants to remain relevant, boost ratings and generate interest in the sagging show, then hiring Stern is a great place to start. XM didn’t pay him $100 million/year for his looks.
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Sorry, Greg; now you look crazy because that comment was deleted.
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Wow, Santa, did it give you a thrill to write a naughty word? Make you feel all grown up? It’s people, and I use the term loosely, like you who give Howard a bad name. Well , enjoy the fifteen or so minutes it’s left up, before (rightfully) being taken down.
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Howard Stern would be great at this. He is intelligent and it not at all “yuck” when he is not doing his Shtik. Watch before you judge.
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I think many of you would be surprised how nice and sincere he would be. He would give an honest judgment and would probably be blunt at times, but he is rarely tactless.
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talentless? how can someone who has over a 30 year career in radio, and one of the most successful people in media be talentless? baba booey to you.
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Double Yuck!
Poor Ellen, if this becomes true bet she won’t sign up for another season, either!
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Like Simon, he’s blunt and lacking in tact, so that would go over well, but can he keep it clean?
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