It is high time to cut the cord. The belabored Howard Stern Show on SiriusXM appears to be inching painfully toward its end. Stern’s whopping $500 million contract, inked in 2020, expires this fall. The US Sun posits he may not obtain the renewal package he hopes for. Although official confirmation about the show’s end remains absent, it should follow Stephen Colbert’s late-night show’s pitiful footsteps. This isn’t about celebrating the end of a career, it’s simply acknowledging the undeniable fact: Stern, despite his large-scale investment, has fallen short in maintaining his relevancy and intrigue.
At 71, Stern appears to have lost his knack for edginess, transforming his once provocative show into a rhythmless, humdrum performance. Stern, once the master controller of taboo discussions with high-profile figures, has set aside his distinct persona. His raunchy humor and theatrical feuds with Chevy Chase and Kathie Lee Gifford have been replaced by an overplay of political correctness that undermines his initial appeal.
The raw, unfiltered Howard Stern, who once fearlessly challenged FCC norms, has evolved into the very mundane figure he once openly mocked. His sycophantic approach towards celebrities now is nothing short of cringe-worthy. He doesn’t hesitate to shower praises on high-profile individuals whom he would have lambasted years ago.
Stern’s most strikingly off-character aspect has manifested in his political maneuverings. In a clear overestimation of his sway, Stern decided to enter the political scene last summer. However, he didn’t offer his characteristically sharp, merciless critique. Instead, he crossed lines by hosting Joe Biden, a figure whose diminished capacities should have been a matter of grave concern rather than flattery.
Gone are the old days of Stern grilling the so-called ‘bad dudes’ like Corn Pop from the president’s faux hero stories. Instead, he curiously chose to laud Biden’s high-school football feats. Had Stern maintained his initial allure, he would’ve exposed the president’s habitual gaffes rather than mirroring his faux accolades.
He went so far as to proclaim Biden as a ‘loved’ leader and an asset to the Oval Office. This milk-and-water interview did nothing but expose Biden as an aging figure, while Stern himself appeared powerless. It was a glaring demonstration of Stern’s diminishing potency in the media landscape.
Even worse was Stern’s helpless performance while catching up with Kamala Harris, Biden’s second-in-command. The irony was clear as day. Stern, who had made a name for himself by skewering the powerful, refrained from poking fun at the prospective president. The act of teasing leaders was an instrument that added a humanizing touch to their personalities; Stern’s refraining from it was nothing short of a journalistic catastrophe.
Whilst Stern himself retracts from throwing jibes, he seems to have no qualms ridiculing his own audience base. Choosing to seclude himself in a two-year Covid quarantine, Stern lambasted his audiences for daring to continue with regular life, branding them as ‘idiots’ for not embracing his unreasonable ideals.
Moreover, Stern expressed his disdain towards Trump supporters in no uncertain terms. A leader who was once loved is simply loathed today. Despite their loyalty, Stern’s followers became easy targets for his scathing criticism, offering them the disappointment they least expected from the shock jock.
His assumption of a moral high ground against Trump supporters manifested the exact measure of his decline. The once leading figure in the media now appears a redundant element in today’s fast-evolving media environment. Stern’s transformation from a might ruler to a feeble player on the stage is mirrored through the traces of his past audience’s fading adoration.
More distressingly, the once revolutionary figure of entertainment now seems to be overshadowed by newer platforms. With the seismic shift in the media landscape towards podcasting, Stern now finds himself amongst a sea of equals, with many producing better content than he ever did.
These new-age content creators, with their fresh perspectives and relatable narratives, are significantly outperforming Stern. He who once took pride in being a ‘norm-challenger’ is now grappling with the vast influx of competition using state-of-the-art techniques to engage audiences.
In this era of easily available, qualitative, and diverse content, the once-revolutionary Howard Stern show suffers due its proverbial catch-up with the times. The media ecosystem is teeming with countless hosts following in Stern’s footsteps, only to offer a more refined, exciting version of what Stern once was.
In his stubborn refusal to evolve with the times, Stern has let his show and, by extension, his niche become antiquated. The stark contrast to his peers demonstrates how innovation, not repetition, is the key to longevity in the entertainment industry.
While it’s clear that Stern’s glory days are behind him, there are lessons to be learned from his decline. The modern media industry demands flexibility, willingness to change, and an ability to innovate continually, aspects that Stern seemingly failed to incorporate. In conclusion, with Stern’s retirement seemingly imminent, it might be the best move for everyone involved.
The Howard Stern Show, once at the forefront of originality, has now become a relic of the past. Stern’s impending withdrawal from the limelight is clearly warranted, given the state of his current work. It seems certain that his exit from the show he once brought to life will allow the media industry to continue evolving and innovating more freely.
The post Howard Stern’s Cringeworthy Shift from Edgy to Politically Correct appeared first on Real News Now.
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