Summary
- Howard Stern is known for his eccentric personality and strict rules for his radio show staff.
- No staffers are allowed to talk to celebrity guests unless they are approached first.
- Stern refuses to be photographed at certain angles due to his height and insecurities about his appearance.
'Hollywood Howard' is what Howard Stern's old-school fans call him nowadays. This is because the extremely wealthy radio host has pivoted from his shock-jock persona to having a cleaner image. This creative change has been in the works for over two decades and has allowed Stern to sit down for interviews with some of the most famous people in the world. Stern even interviewed President Joe Biden, which is something that would have never happened in his politically incorrect old days.
But Stern's pivot isn't the only reason his old-school fans criticize him. While Stern was once 'the man of the people', he has since become an A-list celebrity who has some pretty strict demands for his employees. This article will delve into all the rules his Stern Show staffers have to follow.
8 Howard Stern Needs His Employees To Provide Him With Baby Wipes
Howard Stern uses baby wipes in the bathroom and his assistant always makes sure he has them
Prior to Howard Stern getting an assistant, producer Gary Dell'Abate (Ba Ba Booey) was responsible for stocking up his office washroom with baby wipes. Same thing applied to when Stern was out doing an appearance. Dell'Abate knew his boss had an affinity for the wiping tool as it got him "cleaner" than toilet paper.
Nowadays, Stern's assistant ensures that his travel bag, home, and office bathroom all are stocked up with baby wipes.
7 Howard Stern's Staffers Are Banned From Talking About Past Employees On Air
Howard Stern has fired some of his most famous staffers and their names are not to be brought up on the air
Every wondered why Howard Stern or his current staffers almost never bring up the likes of Artie Lange, John The Stutterer, Scott The Engineer, or Shuli Egar? During an interview with actor and activist Michael Rappaport, Stern admitted that he doesn't want his audience focused on who no longer works for him. Hence why he nor his stafers bring up their past colleagues while on the air.
On occasion, Stern will let a name slip. Or he'll poke fun at Jackie 'The Jokeman' Martling. But most of the time, past staffers' contributions to the show are wiped from history. To this day, diehard fans don't know what happened to Scott The Engineer.
6 Howard Stern Bans His Employees From Talking To Celebrity Guests
Stern Show Staffer Sal Governale Angered Numerous Celebrity Guests
There have been some pretty iconic show moments over the years that have involved a staffer crossing the line with a celebrity guest. Most of the time, that staffer is Sal Governale. The writer and phony phone call expert has been known to stick his foot in his mouth. And that's precisely what he did when he met Jon Stewart.
For those who don't remember, Governale told Stewart that he didn't care for his comedy. In another incident, Governale insulted chef Bobby Flay and his ex-wife by being extremely inappropriate. Then there's the Ace Frehley situation in which Governale tried to get his personal phone number.
Sal Governale, who was originally referred to as Sal The Stockbroker, joined the show in 2004 after a competition to replace John The Stutterer. Previous to that, he was a superfan who would often call into The Stern Show to make fun of producer Gary Dell'Abate AKA Ba Ba Booey.
Because of these incidents and so many more, Howard Stern banned his staffers from interacting with celebrity guests unless they are approached. This included former security guard, Ronnie 'The Limo Driver' Mund, who would accompany the stars from the SiriusXM lobby up to Stern's studio.
Here's How Much Howard Stern Pays His Staffers
Howard Stern's contract with Sirius allowed him and his team to be in control of who gets paid what, but is it remotely fair?
On rare occasions, Stern lets staffers meet celebrities, but not before he's assured that nothing inappropriate will happen. Stern is adamant about making sure his A-list guests are comfortable and that he doesn't scare away any other potential interview subjects.
5 Howard Stern Refuses To Be Photographed At Certain Angles
Howard Stern has his producer Jason Kaplan photograph him for every press image
Howard Stern is extremely self-conscious about the way he looks. While he's happy to make fun of other people's appearances, Stern usually takes harsh shots at himself first. Because of this insecurity, the radio legend refuses to be photographed at certain angles... If he can help it, that is. During a June 25th, 2024 show, Stern revealed that he hates when photographers at events capture his image. This is because he usually towers above them due to his height. Therefore, the photographer is shooting up his nose, making him look even more "monstrous".
- Howard Stern is 6'5
Since Stern has to take photos with all of his celebrity guests, he employs producer Jason Kaplan to photograph him his way. According to both Stern and Kaplan, it took years to master the right angle. It involves a ladder and photographing Stern from the right-hand side.
"Jason, who works here, was trained for years to [learn] how to take my photo. He literally has to get up on a ladder, because I can only be shot from above. And I have to be sitting on a couch looking to the left."
In the June 25th, 2024 segment, Kaplan claimed that he is told to get any celebrity guest sitting for a picture with Stern to sit up straight. This is so Stern doesn't look too much taller than they do.
4 Howard Stern Bans Staffers From Touching His Things Or Using His Washroom
Howard Stern is a germaphobe and doesn't want other people touching his things
This specific Stern Show staff rule came about after producers/writers Sal Governale and Richard Christy snagged their bosses' megaphone from his desk. The megaphone is a tool Stern uses in many of his bits, especially when he impersonates his parents. During a March 2006 show, Stern absolutely lost it on his two employees:
"Sal was running around here with a bad cold, using my megaphone in the halls."
Stern went on to say...
"This is a dealbreaker for me. I got to be able to trust my guys that they don't go around and touch my stuff."
Due to Howard Stern being a germaphobe, he demands that his staff respect his personal space and not touch his things. This includes the use of his private washroom in the SiriusXM compound.
Due to his germaphobia, Howard Stern also demands that producer Gary Dell'Abate not book any celebrity guests if they show any signs of sickness. Famously, Stern lost his temper at Dell'Abate when he brought in a celebrity who had a whopping cough.
3 Howard Stern Bans His Staffers From Using His Name In Public
Producer Gary Dell'Abate has used Howard Stern's name to attend swanky events
Howard Stern hates when his staffers embarrass him or his organization. Therefore, Stern has made it a rule that his staffers can't curry favors by name-dropping him. On his show, Stern has explained that he hates feeling like he owes people something. And that's precisely how he feels when his employees are gifted experiences or special treatment just because of who they work for.
This employee rule is one of the reasons Stern put a stop to the infamous Ronnie Block Parties.
The Ronnie Block Parties were events hosted by staffer Ronnie 'The Limo Driver' Mund. They were often wild fan events that featured appearances from various Stern Show staffers. Fans had to pay to attend. These events would spark hilarious discussions on the show. But Stern reportedly put an end to the events due to number of reasons.
In another instance, Ronnie Mund was accused of using Stern's name to be able to meet Jason Oppenheim from Selling Sunset.
Howard Stern also hates when his staffers embarrass him in public. This is precisely what happened when producer Gary Dell'Abate (AKA Ba Ba Booey) attended The Whtie House Correspondents dinner. At this, Dell'Abate approached Bradley Cooper and asked him if he would come to the SiriusXM table for a photo.
Howard Stern's Grandchildren Are Revealed After Keeping Their Identities A Secret For Years
Howard Stern's daughters have given him grandchildren that even his biggest fans are kept in the dark about.
Following this, Stern annihilated Dell'Abate out on air. The moment has since become one of Ba Ba Booey's greatest mess-ups. Even Bradley Cooper knew that Stern would be angry about it. During Cooper's 2015 interview on The Stern Show, the radio legend explained why he was furious with Dell'Abate about using his name to get a photo with the Silver Linings Playbook star.
"If I'm at an event and let's say it's the producer of Letterman, who I've known for years, if he said -- 'Hey, Howard, you think you can come over and say hi?' I'd say to him, 'What am I, a f***ing monkey?' I'm going to go over to his table?"
Along the same lines, Howard Stern bans his staffers from selling merchandise that has his name on it.
'Bachelor' Joey Graziadei's Financial Problems Expose A Bigger Problem With The Show, According To Superfan Howard Stern
Joey Graziadei's money problems reveal a huge problem with The Bachelor, according to Howard Stern.
2 Howard Stern Demands Silence When He's Napping In His Office
Stern once yelled at senior media producer J.D. Harmeyer for waking him up from his nap
Before Howard Stern decided to do most of his radio shows from his home studio, he was a fixture at the SirirusXM compound in New York City. There, he had an office down the hall from his radio studio. Following each show, he would take a brief nap -- something many of his fans have found "ridiculous". While he took these naps, Stern demanded silence from his staffers. This followed an incident when producer JD Harmeyer made too much noise in the halls and woke him up.
J.D. Harmeyer's original title was an intern and then a Tvo intern, as his job was to watch and collect media clips for Howard Stern. Since then, he has become a senior media producer and one of the most beloved on-air personalities. Mostly, because Stern and the other staffers love to gang up on him.
Every staffer is now aware that it's "quiet time" after the show if Stern is in the studio. Lest they experience the wrath of their boss.
1 Howard Stern's Assistant Has To Deal With His Hotel Demands
Howard Stern has very specific requests when he stays at a hotel
Howard Stern loathes traveling. But on a few occasions, he's been dragged out of the comfort of his home. This includes his 2023 Miami trip. SiriusXM was responsible for setting him up in a hotel so that Stern could christen their Miami studios. On his show, Stern revealed that the radio company and his assistant (Lauara) had to ensure that the suite above him and below him was not occupied. This is because Stern has problems sleeping and doesn't want to be disturbed by noise.
On his May 8th, 2023 show, Stern said...
"I said, 'If you guys want me to go to Miami... you got to get the room above me and the room below and rent that room too. Because I don't want to hear anything.'"
While planning their summer 2024 trip to Italy, Stern's wife Beth also claimed that she was dealing with similar demands. So much so that she and their travel companies, Jimmy Kimmel and his wife, had to plan an elaborate ruse in order to trick Stern into thinking he was on New York time and not Italy time. All so he could get a "normal" night's rest.
Even Stern admits he's a diva about traveling.
