Howard Stern Comes Again
I finally finished reading Howard Stern’s latest book Howard Stern Comes Again.
Breezed through it, it only took me a year!
You’ll most likely know Stern as the radio shock jock known for having interesting guests on his show (by “interesting,” of course I mean strippers, little people, and people with special needs). But what most people don’t know is that Howard Stern is an extraordinary in-depth interviewer. Wow, really? Yes, really. Anyone who is great at their craft knows how to grow and evolve, and that’s what Stern has done. Stern built his reputation on being outrageous for the sake of entertaining and to be the best radio host ever. This book is a collection of Stern’s favorite interviews, and in the Introduction of his book, Stern explains the reasons he wrote this book. Among those reasons include the regret he has from previous interviews he has conducted. Stern wanted to in a way make amends for the lewd and immature behavior towards his guests, and to do that he had to dig deep, do some soul-searching, and in a way re-invent himself (the sincere remorse Stern has for his first interview with Robin Williams is real). Yes, all the silliness and potty humor is still all over The Howard Stern Show, but now it also includes great interviews.
I’ve been listening to Stern on the radio for many years, and I have heard many of the interviews he included in his book. It was fun to relive those interviews, and below are some of my favorites (in order of appearance in the book):
Jerry Seinfeld (2013) - Seinfeld was on to promote his show Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (more specifically the episode with Stern as his guest). I’ve always been a Seinfeld fan, but never really heard him be interviewed before. I learned about his relationship with Seinfeld partner Larry David, his personal life, and his process for writing comedy. I believe that some people are on this planet for a specific purpose, and these two personify that - Howard Stern was meant to be on the radio, and Jerry Seinfeld was meant to be a comedian. This interview also gave me one of my all time favorite quotes, straight from Seinfeld’s mouth.
Bill Murray (2014) - Bill Murray is notoriously elusive when it comes to interviews, so I was excited when I heard he was gonna be on Stern. I know Murray as an extremely funny and talented actor, but I didn’t know much about him personally. But I was about to. Growing up with 8 siblings. Using his phone only to text his sons. Getting on Saturday Night Live. Caddyshack stories. I found out everything I wanted to know, and then some. That’s one of the things that sets Stern’s interviews apart from others: Stern won’t cover everything if he knows you’re going to be back on, but at the same time at the end of every interview, you never feel short-changed.
Conan O’Brien (2015) - Stern proclaims that this interview with Conan is possibly the best interview he has ever done. He believes that because, as he says, “I had no regrets afterward, no awkward moments of beating myself up for leaving something out of the interview. There was a deep satisfaction…” And that says a lot, because no matter how good an interview he has with someone, he always feels like he missed something. But I can see why this particular conversation with Conan was special. They covered Conan’s battle with depression, Conan’s great Bill Cosby story, the Tonight Show debacle. Stern and Conan, two of the funniest people on the planet, having a predominantly deep conversation that was enlightening and entertaining.
Lady Gaga (2011) - This interview is when I truly realized what a great interviewer Stern is. Before Gaga appeared on the show, I thought she was just another pop star. Just another pretty face that the pop music candy machine poops out. Just another pop princess talking about how much a song that was written by a team of songwriters meant to her. Boy was I wrong. Stern and Gaga covered the usual - her upbringing, her career, sex, drugs. But what really grabbed me was the meaning behind her song “The Edge of Glory,” and how it was inspired by her grandfather. Then she performed the song live, and it was beautiful. (This also let me know she has a legit singing voice, singing a song like that at 7:30 in the morning). I developed a new found respect for Gaga after this interview, so much so that I bought her album Born This Way right after. Her honesty and vulnerability was refreshing to hear, and I’m not sure if anyone other than Stern could make me feel that way about her.
Steve Martin (2016) - Martin was initially reluctant to come on Stern’s show because, well, he’s heard the show before. He knew what kind of interrogation he would be under. But eventually Stern and Martin became friendly, and Martin finally came on the show. Steve Martin is so funny and talented, one of the best. I’ve read about 7 books in my entire life, and his book Born Standing Up was one of them. After the interview I could see the similarities between Stern and Martin - the challenging upbringings, humble beginnings, the obsessive need to perfect your comedic craft, their complicated relationships with their respective fathers. Two of my idols, showing that they are human just like everyone else.
These are only a few of the many phenomenal conversations Stern has had. I have heard that a great interview is where you feel like you’re eavesdropping on 2 friends having a conversation, and I agree with that. Not to say that Stern is perfect. He does have a tendency to cut you off, which is fine if you’re just rambling. But cutting people off in the middle of an answer to the initial question to ask the next question can be a bit frustrating. But I get it, sometimes you get a little too excited about the conversation and you want to keep it going. That excitement is part of what makes the interview great.
If it were up to me, everyone should hear a few Stern interviews. Reading them in the book is great too, but you really need to hear the flow and connection to really appreciate every word. It’s truly impressive the way Stern makes his guests feel comfortable enough to open up to him.
In a world full of bullshit, there is nothing like the pure honesty of a Howard Stern interview.
“Your blessing in life is when you find the torture you’re comfortable with.”
- Jerry Seinfeld
