About 20 minutes into the interview, who showed up as a caller? None other than Howard Stern – tipped off by a friend that Powell was going to be on the air with Owens.
The exchange between Stern and Powell was interesting, but predictable. Stern, who has been fined numerous times for indecency by the F.C.C., questioned Powell’s qualifications as Chairman, insinuated that his famous father, Colin Powell, helped him to get his job, bitched that Oprah has received kid-glove treatment for similar Stern-like content on her TV show, and generally sounded like a kid who keeps winding up in the principal’s office because “it’s not fair”.
Although it’s reported Chairman Powell showed some discomfort during the call, it didn’t come off that way on the air. I listened to a playback of the segment and he seemed composed while Stern came across agitated and high-strung with his usual litany of accusations of persecution.
Here’s the thing: Howard is talented and he’s also made a fortune as the bane of do-gooders while at the same time being the F.C.C’s whipping boy. The vocal outcry of his detractors and his record-breaking fines have helped to make him wealthy because we all know in show business, it’s not what you say – it’s how you spell it.
Howard Stern has had his share of publicity over the years from the controversy his program generates. As a matter of fact, earlier this year when the F.C.C.’s Indecency Crusade began in earnest and several radio talents and shows came under fire, Stern parlayed his further impending persecution into even higher ratings!
One point Stern made, which many of us in Radio lament about, is the fact that the definition of "indecency" and who decides what is indecent is still blurry and subjective. All of us in broadcasting are at the mercy of limited opinions from too few people.
Well, Howard is going to SIRIUS satellite radio in January of 2006 (or sooner if his current employer, Infinity, decides it would be better served with him gone sooner instead of later.) When he gets there, no more F.C.C. worries, no more “censorship”, no more antiquated broadcast laws to contend with and no more Michael Powell.
So, Howard: enough already. Radio has been very good to you and now you’re evolving. Let go of it.
