Howard Stern is returning to television, because of course he is. The “King of All Media” has struck a deal with HBO Max to stream a weekly highlight version of his Sirius XM radio show, because what’s a streaming platform without a little bit of Stern’s signature provocations? Each episode will “spotlight Stern’s boundary-pushing humor, social commentary, and intimate conversations – all with his iconic voice and unique perspective,” which is just a fancy way of saying he’ll be doing what he’s always done, but now with a fancier logo.
This isn’t Stern’s first foray into television, of course. He was a late-night fixture in the 1990s and into the 2000s, when the E! Channel aired a nightly 30-minute show called Howard Stern, culled from the highlights of his radio show. Back then, it was a bit of a big deal – cable television was a little different, and Stern’s brand of humor was still considered edgy and transgressive. Nowadays, it’s just another drop in the ocean of content, but hey, at least it’ll give HBO Max something to point to when they’re trying to prove they’re still relevant.
The Never-Ending Quest for Content
According to Stern, bringing his SiriusXM show to streaming television is a “career highlight,” and he’s thrilled to be joining the ranks of such prestigious television. Because, you know, nothing says “prestigious” like a streaming platform that’s still trying to figure out what it wants to be. Stern’s comment on the move is predictable, but hey, at least he’s enthusiastic: “As the ‘King of All Media,’ I am honored to bring my SiriusXM show to HBO Max, and through HBO Max to worldwide distribution. For years, my SiriusXM show has offered only brief video peeks. HBO convinced me to pull back the curtain and let the world watch; the amazing celebrities and musicians who drop by, our staff antics, and my conversations with Robin.” It’s a bit like he’s trying to convince himself that this is still a good idea, but hey, a paycheck is a paycheck, right?
The show premieres on HBO Max on Thursday, September 17 at 3:01 AM ET / 12:01 AM PT, because who needs sleep when you can watch Howard Stern’s greatest hits? New episodes will release weekly on Thursday night, which is just enough time to make you wonder if this is all just a clever ploy to get you to stay up late and watch more TV. But hey, at least it’s not another superhero show, right? The summer movie season may be over, but the Content Mines remain fully operational, churning out new and exciting ways to package and repackage the same old ideas.
The Endless Cycle of Nostalgia
It’s hard not to feel like this is all just part of the annual Nostalgia Harvest, where studios and streaming platforms dig up old ideas and repackage them as new and exciting. Howard Stern’s return to television is just the latest example of this – a attempt to recapture the magic of a bygone era, when people actually watched TV at a specific time and didn’t just binge everything on their phones. But hey, at least it’s not a remake or a reboot, right? Although, if we’re being real, it’s not like the line between “new” and “old” is all that clear-cut anymore. Somewhere, a Focus Group earned another bonus for telling a studio executive exactly what they wanted to hear.
In the end, it’s just another day in the world of entertainment, where the Merchandising Department reportedly approved the decision before the writers did, and where the sacred ritual of canceling shows immediately after audiences discover them continues unabated. But hey, at least we’ll always have Howard Stern, right? The Franchise Resurrection Department remains one of Hollywood’s busiest offices, and it’s only a matter of time before they come for the rest of us. Until then, we’ll just have to sit back and enjoy the ride – or not, depending on how you feel about Stern’s brand of humor. Either way, it’s not like it’s going to change the world or anything.
Finn McFrame, celebrated satirical mastermind and self-proclaimed “Emperor of Irony,” started his illustrious career as a cinematographer, where his expertise in capturing every single frame of a squirrel stealing a baguette earned him accolades at obscure film festivals.
Born in the glamorous town of Boring, Oregon, Finn grew up with dreams of being a Hollywood director until he realized that satire, not cinema, was his true calling—or at least the one that let him sleep until noon.
Finn McFrame: changing the world, one satirical lens flare at a time.
