Stern's Wedding Woes

Howard Stern is an American broadcaster and media personality, best known for his radio show, The Howard Stern Show. The show gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005. Stern has also published several best-selling books and was previously a judge on America's Got Talent.

In recent years, Stern's show has been criticised for losing its sting and mojo. Stern has been accused of going soft and abandoning his best attribute of going after famous hypocrites. The show has also been criticised for its predictable content, with Stern's angry and pessimistic worldview shrinking ever inward, limited in size and scope to his basement—the literal and metaphorical dwelling place of the show.

Despite the criticism, Stern renewed his contract with SiriusXM in December 2020, signing for five years at a reported $120 million.

Howard Stern's career

Howard Stern is an American broadcaster, television and media personality, and author. He is best known for his radio show, The Howard Stern Show, which gained popularity when it was nationally syndicated on terrestrial radio from 1986 to 2005. Stern has also broadcast on Sirius XM Satellite Radio since 2006.

Stern's career in radio began at Boston University, where he volunteered at the college radio station. He graduated in 1976 with a degree in communications. After a series of unmemorable on-air jobs in Hartford, Connecticut, and Detroit, Michigan, he landed in Washington, D.C., where he teamed up with Robin Quivers, who became his sidekick. With its mix of Stern's self-deprecating jokes, provocative interviews, and commentary on sex, celebrities, and bodily functions, the radio program became number one in the D.C. area.

In 1982, Stern and Quivers were fired following a dispute with station management and subsequently signed with WNBC-AM in New York City. Although Stern produced another top-rated show, continuous arguments over program content led to his dismissal.

In 1985, Stern signed with WXRK in New York City, where his morning show entered syndication in 1986 and aired in 60 markets, attracting 20 million listeners at its peak. The show was also syndicated to 26 stations nationwide by the end of 1995 and was the subject of two Billboard awards for Network/Syndicated Program of the Year in the modern rock and mainstream rock categories in 1996.

In 2004, Stern signed the first of several five-year contracts with Sirius Satellite Radio, marking the start of a new era of radio. His show made its debut broadcast on Sirius on January 9, 2006. Stern has since renewed his contract with SiriusXM multiple times, most recently in 2020, to continue his radio show.

In addition to his radio work, Stern has also hosted several short-lived television programs and written two bestselling books, "Private Parts" (1993) and "Miss America" (1995), both of which entered The New York Times Best Seller list at number one and sold over one million copies. He also starred as himself in the film adaptation of "Private Parts", which was a critical and commercial success. Stern has also served as an executive producer for various television and film projects and has expressed an interest in photography in recent years.

Howard Stern's personal life

Stern's parents, Ben and Ray, were a big influence on his early life and later featured regularly on his radio show. Ben worked as a radio engineer and co-owned a recording studio, often taping his children and quizzing them on current affairs. Stern's interest in radio grew from visiting his father's workplace, and his father set up a microphone, tape machine, and turntable in the family basement, where Stern would host make-believe radio shows.

Stern's first marriage was to Alison Berns, a fellow student at Boston University, whom he cast in a student film on transcendental meditation. They married in 1978 and had three daughters: Emily (born in 1983), Deborah (born in 1986), and Ashley (born in 1993). The couple divorced in 2001.

Stern is now married to model and actress Beth Ostrosky Stern, whom he wed in 2008. They foster cats together in their Long Island home, taking in around 200 a year. Stern has also spoken about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder and revealed he had a cancer scare in 2017 when doctors found a benign cyst on one of his kidneys.

Howard Stern's views on current affairs

Howard Stern is an American broadcaster and media personality, best known for his radio show, The Howard Stern Show. Stern has been described as a "shock jock" and is known for his controversial and outspoken style. He has been fined by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for content deemed indecent more than any other radio host.

Stern's political views are not clear-cut and have flip-flopped over time. He supported Joe Biden in the 2020 election, but has also criticised Democrats and the FCC, which regulates radio. Stern has a particular disdain for former President Donald Trump and has said he is probably a Republican. In 1994, Stern ran for Governor of New York as a Libertarian, but dropped out of the race over concerns about disclosing his finances.

Stern has addressed a range of current affairs issues on his show, including the Supreme Court's reversal of Roe v. Wade, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the war in Ukraine. He has criticised the Supreme Court justices who voted to overturn Roe v. Wade and has said that if Trump runs for president again in 2024, he will run against him. Stern has also called for mandatory COVID-19 vaccinations and criticised people who refuse to get vaccinated. In addition, he has expressed support for Ukraine and denounced Russia's invasion.

Stern's show has featured interviews with a range of celebrities and public figures, including President Joe Biden, and he has used his platform to address various social issues. For example, he has advocated for the North Shore Animal League America and has fostered cats with his wife, Beth Ostrosky.

Howard Stern's views on COVID-19

Howard Stern, the self-proclaimed "King of All Media", is a well-known germaphobe who took extensive precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19. Despite his efforts, Stern announced on his show in January 2024 that he had tested positive for the virus. He described his experience with COVID-19 as hell, stating that he had never been so sick in his life. Stern expressed gratitude for the COVID-19 vaccine, acknowledging that the disease could have been much worse without it. He also credited the scientists who developed the vaccine.

Prior to contracting COVID-19, Stern had been extremely cautious, rarely leaving his home during the pandemic. He admitted to having paranoia about getting the virus, which caused arguments with his wife, Beth Stern. Stern had predicted that he would suffer a severe bout of COVID-19 if he were to catch it, and his fears proved well-founded.

In addition to his own experience, Stern has weighed in on the broader societal impact of the pandemic. He has criticised anti-vaxxers and expressed support for the COVID-19 vaccine, stating that he wears the "woke" title proudly. He has also criticised public figures who have downplayed the severity of the virus, such as Donald Trump, calling his response treasonous. Stern has also taken aim at those who refuse to get vaccinated, calling for them to be denied COVID-19 treatment.

Stern's bout with COVID-19 sparked a range of responses on social media, with well-wishes from fans and criticism from anti-vaxxers. Despite the mixed reactions, Stern's experience served as a reminder of the seriousness of the disease and the importance of vaccination.

Howard Stern's views on vaccination

Howard Stern, the radio host, has been very vocal about his views on vaccination. He has been a strong advocate for vaccination, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Stern has criticised anti-vaxxers for refusing to get vaccinated, calling them "idiots", "nutjobs", and "imbeciles". He has also expressed frustration towards those who spread misinformation about vaccines, including several conservative radio hosts who died from COVID-19 after opposing vaccinations.

Stern has argued for mandatory vaccinations, stating, "When are we gonna stop putting up with the idiots in this country and just say it's mandatory to get vaccinated? F— 'em. F— their freedom. I want my freedom to live." He believes that those who choose not to get vaccinated are not only putting themselves at risk but also contributing to the overwhelming of hospitals during the pandemic. He has even gone as far as to suggest that unvaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19 should be denied hospital care, saying, "if you didn't get vaccinated and you got COVID, you don't get into a hospital."

Stern's support for vaccination extends beyond just COVID-19. He has pointed out that vaccinations for diseases like measles and mumps have been a long-standing requirement for school attendance. He also considers himself woke and takes pride in his opposition to former President Trump, support for transgender people, and belief in legitimate news sources.

Stern's stance on vaccination has been a consistent part of his public image, and he has used his platform to speak out against vaccine hesitancy and misinformation.

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