Howard Stern signs for $500 million.

[ruggbutt]

Ok Buzz, you're right. You listen to Stern how often? You know what about his life?

[callmeslick]

Still say that Stern dropped way down on both the funny and creative scales when he got rid of Jackie Martling. Interesting, I heard Billy West say the exact same thing recently. Billy's bits on Stern might have been some of the sickest, most hilarious uses of impressions on radio, ever.

[Buzz]

Ok Buzz, you're right. You listen to Stern how often? You know what about his life?

I listened to his whole show for years when I was trucking. I know him as well or better than you.

[ruggbutt]

Still say that Stern dropped way down on both the funny and creative scales when he got rid of Jackie Martling. Interesting, I heard Billy West say the exact same thing recently. Billy's bits on Stern might have been some of the sickest, most hilarious uses of impressions on radio, ever.

Jackie, not funny. Ever. Billy, so funny that I cry when I hear him.

[callmeslick]

...and Billy made it clear that every line he read on that show, ever, was written by Martling. He also inferred that no one currently on staff can come close.....hence, his disappearance as a regular.

[ruggbutt]

He also inferred that no one currently on staff can come close.....hence, his disappearance as a regular.

Billy was done wrong by management in the past, IIRC it was Tom Chiasano (sp?) who did that. Even though Tom is gone Billy still stays away because of bad blood. And fact of the matter is that Artie Lange is funnier than Jackie and provided more humor than Jackie ever did.

[callmeslick]

well, Ruggie.....that just has to go into the 'each to his own' file. Artie was such a poor replacement that I finally gave up on Stern altogether. Another factor, I suppose was the move to satellite. Part of the schtick was always playing with the edges of what was allowed with on air radio. No more edge. Just IMHO, and clearly your mileage varies. That's ok, too.

[ruggbutt]

He's better than ever on satellite. He did an interview with Billy Joel not so long ago, it went 90 minutes. No commercial interruptions. That would have never happened on terrestrial radio. Fact of the matter is that the show is every bit as good as it was before the move.

[Reservoir_Dog]

He did an interview with Billy Joel not so long ago, it went 90 minutes. No commercial interruptions. That would have never happened on terrestrial radio.

I heard that one live. Fantastic shit!
It's on YouTube for those would like to hear it.

[ruggbutt]

I'm not particularly a Billy Joel fan, but as RD said it was awesome. Whether or not you like Howard, he manages to get people to discuss things in an interview that no one else can.