Howard Stern booted...what did he say?

[Dan Murphy]

I don't watch nor listen to him, I have heard and seen him, he is a pig, good to hear he got the boot some where. Thumbs up to Clear Channel.

 

[Dax]

I know my DH will be VERy upset when hears the news. I agree with the others...If you dont like it, change the station. Its not like there is nothing else on to listen to. I should be allowed to listen to what I want. Why should CC make the decision as to what offends me and what doesnt?

 

[lsyorke]

"Why should CC make the decision as to what offends me and what doesnt?"

Its simple, they own the show!!!

 

[2bemarried]

I can't stand listening to the guy....but he was taken off air b/c of something a CALLER said. Why didn't the producer bleep it?? It shouldn't be his fault that an idiotic prejudice person said that.
Had Howard or Soloman said it...YES then take him off air...otherwise put the blame on the producer.

JMHO

 

[kilee]

I agree that it sounds like they are punishing the wrong person here. Oh well!! I do turn on Howard, if I can't find any songs worth listening to in the morning. It's at my own free will to tune him in and listen. I can most certainly choose not to listen to him. So, I don't see where people get all critical. If you don't like what he has to say-- don't listen. Most of the time, he's just amusing.

 

[Planogirl]

Maybe Stern should have the right to say the things he does. However, CC did apparently warn him and when he disregarded the warning, they did have the right to remove his show. They can broadcast whatever they wish.

As for what a caller said, I agree that Stern didn't make the tacky racial remark. But he did say some tacky things too at least according to CC.

 

[PrincessDeb]

If I don't like what Howard says, I turn him off.. but I am a Howard Stern fan- I can always trust him to say it like it is. I might not always agree with him but I certainly don't want the FCC to tell me what my standard of decency should be. I certainly don't let my kids listen to it but I think that I'm old enough to!!

Can our government start worrying about real problems and stop worrying about keeping gays from marrying and whether Janet Jackson showed her b**bs?

 

[Jasminesmommy]

Howard Stern is a shock jock. I agree with everyone who says change the channel if you don't like it.

 

[JDY]

I realize I started this thread, as I was curious as to what happened. As a card-carrying member of the ACLU, an advocate of civil and constitutional rights, and a journalist, I tend to defend a person's right to free speech. That said, this is what I know:


1. Howard is crude
2. Howard can be funny
3. Clear Channel is a Republican media tool (just like Fox News)
4. Apparently something from his show crossed the line and offended the "moral majority"

 

[Zurg]

If I don't like what Howard says, I turn him off..

... ahhh isn't that CC did?

 

[tstobb]

Originally posted by Zurg
That sounds a little over the top to me.

I don't see it as over the top, I don't see the invisible line that has been drawn so I can't see where the FCC's actions were based or what they will target as offensive next (maybe pictures of the feet of people who don't know enough to wear proper walking shoes to WDW ). I would wager that the fines proposed against Clear Channel will not be levied or at least will be greatly reduced reduced now because of their response.

It's funny. There was a commercial on last night for some comedy video tapes featuring "Clean, wholesome entertainment". Zoom in to Dean Martin, slurringly drunk, dropping ashes from his cigarette on the floor. Yup - clean & wholesome! I was offended by it but I didn't call the FCC or the station to complain because it is their right to promote it.

Jerry Springer is offensive to me - I don't watch it.
DR Ruth disturbs me - I don't watch it.
The View offends me - I don't watch it.
But I respect your right to be able to watch it.

It is an election year ploy to appease and appeal to the right wing, same as in '95 (different president & different political party so let's not go there) when the fines were levied against Infinity & Stern the 1st time.


**Edited to add**
There were actually only 6 Clear Channel stations that carried Stern.
Yahoo! News Story

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Well this may surprise some people...I like Howard Stern. I don't care for his sexual talk, but I love to listen talk to him about politics, celebrities and just every day life. When he gets on topics I don't like I just change the station.

I am upset because Howard Stern is on a Clear Channel station here.

And for those who don't listen to Howard Stern, many of his political views are conservative. Yes he has liberal views too, but it's just an interesting bit of information.

 

[Robinrs]

The producer SHOULD've bleeped it but didn't so the show was pulled. The producer is a part of the show as a whole. The show is being pulled, not Howard himself..

John Hogan was my former boss and is just about as sleazy as Howard. I know there had to be some pushing to get them to pull it, the only thing that affects Clear Channel is MONEY. If the advertisers pull out of it, they have no need for it.

As listeners you have to know that this is business. Mistakes like not bleeping the terminology and the mess up at the Super Bowl should never have happened. That is what there is a delay. In radio they can edit out a cough in a second, that word was DELIBERATELY put through.

There is a fine line as to what can be broadcast and what cannot be broadcast. That show knows that and now they have to deal with it.

It's like the DIS... there are LOTS of people who like to push the envelope here and then they wonder why can't they log in?????

 

[AirForceRocks]

I think that what was said by the caller was disgusting, and I agree with RobinRS that it could have been bleeped. I also agree that if people don't like him, they don't have to listen.

But the bottom line to me is that Clear Channel has the right, as a business, to determine what they will or will not allow over their network. We may not like it, we may not agree with it, but they have that right.

As for the FCC, they have a federal mandate to exert some control over what goes out over the airwaves, which they enforce by fines. If we don't want that kind of control, then the best way (probably the only way) is to elect legislators that will change the rules when it comes to what the FCC can and cannot do.

 

[airhead]

Let Freedom Ring.....ya right. What is happening to freedom??
I thought WE were suppose to decide what WE want to see,hear,read,marry!!!!!! Why are other people deciding for us???
I see a trend here and it ain't freedom.....

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Airhead, ITA!

In fact they are targeting other broadcasters TODAY. They put that on my local news so if you are into radio listen up today.

 

[jocon]

Originally posted by Miss Jasmine

And for those who don't listen to Howard Stern, many of his political views are conservative. Yes he has liberal views too, but it's just an interesting bit of information. [/B]

Howard IS a conservative....he supported Republican Governor's Whitman and Pataki and had been very supportive Of President Bush. .....but he (and I) has had it with the Republican Party and President Bush for the way they cater to the religious right. I for one feel as though I am in Communist China. How can the Republican Party of less government get more involved in my day to day activities? Fertility rights, marriage, entertainment ...what's next?????

If this President continues to pander to this small, but vocal group of self righteous puritans, mainstream America is going to send him back to his ranch permenantly in November. There are more pressing issues that our country must address. Freedom of choice is a fundamental American right. We did not choose to see Janet Jackson....such a shame that that crude act is what triggered this Scarlet Letter type witch-hunt.

 

[alabamaalan]

Admittedly, I do not listen to Howard Stern or shock jocks in general.

I definitely would not allow the program to be watched or listened to in my home, but I have not clamored to have that type programming removed from the air either.

What I find most interesting is that it would appear to be the same type garbage he says daily but they lowered the boom on what a caller said.

If it had only been sex, ***** size, finger smelling, etc without a racial comment would he still be in trouble?

 

[popeyeohoh]

I agree with Miss Jasmine. I find his infatuation with scantilly clad women boring and always turn it off when he has his porno women on. That said he does tell it like it is, at least in his view.
I am an adult I will watch and listen to what I find entertaining. I think there is to much government in our lives already. I already emailed Michael Powell and told him of my displeasure. I will email Clear Channel also.

 

[mus muris asinus]

Originally posted by airhead
Let Freedom Ring.....ya right. What is happening to freedom??
I thought WE were suppose to decide what WE want to see,hear,read,marry!!!!!! Why are other people deciding for us???
I see a trend here and it ain't freedom.....

Read AFR's response above you. Just as we have the freedom to listen to and watch what we want, media companies also have the right to put on whatever entertainment programs they want to. CC chose not to carry Howard Stern's program, for reasons that they really don't have to explain to everyone.