Today, the newly re-invented Howard Stern begins to present his weekday show on SIRIUS Satellite Radio. No doubt there will be hundreds of reports and reviews of what he does and says on-air. Both listeners and those interested want to know how far will he go now that he can go as far as he wants.
I’m sure there is a segment of Stern’s audience who are giddy in the hopes that his first sentence might end something like, “…and F**K the F.C.C.” followed by a continuation of profanity and indecent images conjured by Stern's monologues for the rest of their listening lives.
I don’t think that’s the point of the move – nor do I think Stern does, either.
True, there is wide expectation that Stern will at least once today, use his new freedom, as if a bottle christening a new ship, to say the some of the "bad words" our society has decided are too vile to ever use on the public airwaves.
Of course, just knowing there is that expectation would be the best reason of all not to. It would demonstrate that Stern really did leave Terrestrial Radio for philosophical reasons related to the whole of his humor - and not for just a pass to curse without F.C.C. retribution. Let's face it: it doesn't take any particular talent to use profanity. We can all do it equally well.
I think just shoving the “F” word in today only because he can, would work against him. It would give his critics immediate fodder to pan his debut. It would let the Jack Thompsons of the world cry out in glee, “You see? We told you so: he’s a pig and thank God the public airwaves are rid of him!”
Current U.S. communication laws insist on prior restraint of certain language and content. That’s just the way it is. Although not much is said about it these days, the Big 3 TV networks had their own censors in place for decades who actively prohibited and struck content from network shows (probably still do). Yes: censorship in America, decreed by legislation because even in a free society, freedom of speech does have some limits.
The laws governing the public airwaves in the United States do not guarantee unfettered freedom of speech or thought. Contrary to what some argue, Stern never had the right to say or do certain things on his show. He was not persecuted; his employers were “prosecuted” by a regulatory agency following the law. And believe me: Howard Stern was always fully aware of the law. He’s a professional broadcaster and he knew where the lines were. He also knew pushing the F.C.C.'s buttons always meant better ratings.
Some of Stern’s detractors also erroneously confuse profanity with the F.C.C.’s definition of indecency. These people think it’s all about some four-letter words. Profanity and indecency are separate issues, even by law. What Stern has been fighting against all these years is not to say the “F” word but to be able to present his brand of humor without censorship or retribution – something Terrestrial Radio could never allow him to do.
I hope today he doesn’t use the “F” word simply to appease those who think his move to SIRIUS was only about that.
You may not like him or his humor but the fact remains: Stern is a clever, talented, and successful man - not just some 14 year-old sitting in detention with the teacher having just stepped out of the classroom.
Besides: 14-year-olds do not get $500 million dollar contracts simply because they’re good at cursing.
