A Brief History of the Howard Stern Show

Long live Howard Stern, the King of All Media

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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Today is the infamous shock jock Howard Stern's 61st birthday, and regardless of whether or not you hate him or love him, you have opinions about his show. Anyone who has listened to the Howard Stern Show for an extended period knows that the strippers and fart contests aren't the only things that make it great—it’s Stern's stewardship and the way he critiques the American underbelly and its weird cultural underpinnings with irreverent commentary. 

It's also the awkward relationships, funny stories, and constant ball-busting between Stern, Robin Quivers, and Fred Norris that keep fans hooked. So whatever camp you belong to, it's worth looking back at what Stern has done over the last 35 years to earn his crown as one of the most important radio personalities of all time. Here’s A Brief History of the Howard Stern Show. It's a tale with enough drama to fill an epic novel. 

Kevin Wong is a freelance writer. Follow him on Twitter at @kevinjameswong​.

The Rough Years (and Fred!)

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The King of All Media Meets Queen Quivers

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W-N-N-N-N-B-C!!

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The Terrestrial Golden Age

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The Joke Man’s Out and Artie’s In

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Win John’s Job

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Uncensored on Sirius

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Artie’s Heroin Saga

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Robin’s Cancer Scare

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The Mainstream Era

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