'Idol' Doesn't Have Bleep Button Big Enough for Stern

By Kara Warner Posted Feb 9th 2010 04:50PM

While we were shocked when Simon Cowell announced his 'American Idol' departure, we were not prepared for Howard Stern to throw his hat in the ring to be considered for Cowell's old gig. At first, we thought Stern might be joking about his 'Idol' interest, but after bringing it up on his show two days in a row, it's time to consider the pros and cons of a Stern/'Idol' pairing. Entertainment Weekly Senior Writer and resident 'Idol' expert Michael Slezak likens Stern on 'Idol' to combining chocolate with cheeseburgers. "They're two great tastes," Slezak tells PopEater. "But I don't necessarily know you'd want them together. They're very popular, but I think there's a reason McDonald's has never offered a chocolate-dipped cheeseburger. I think Howard Stern and 'American Idol' are pretty much a chocolate cheeseburger." Can America handle a chocolate, Stern/'Idol' cheeseburger? Vote after the jump.

On Monday, the shock jock addressed the situation on his radio show, saying he'd accept a seat in the judges' booth for the right price. "They'd have to pay me a ton of dough because I already make a ton of dough," Stern said. "For $100 million a year, to judge a karaoke contest? Ok. Why not?"

There's no question he'd be interesting, of course, but does Fox have a bleep button strong enough to contain Stern's notoriously outlandish and controversial remarks? The shock jock thrives on his free speech and has always been outspoken about censorship and the FCC, so it strikes us odd that he thinks he'd be perfect for a network TV show and its mostly middle America-based audience.

Slezak does not think Stern's reference to the ratings juggernaut as "an f---ing karaoke contest" bodes well for his securing a long-term gig.

"I think his comments disqualified him for the position before it's even begun," Slezak says. "Say what you want about Simon, he's tough on the contestants, he's known for his pointed barbs, but he cares about the outcome of the show. It's one of the most important qualities of being a judge on that panel. You can get away with pretty much anything up there, as Simon has proven, as long as you care about the outcome and you care about the fact that the winner of this show is going to go on to do well. ... Howard Stern kind of flies in the face of that goal."

On the pro side, TV producer Michael Avila thinks Stern would provide a "massive adrenaline shot to the heart" of the show.

"He would be a tremendous 'get' for 'Idol,'" Avila tells PopEater. "He has an enormously loyal following that would very likely tune in just to hear what he would say, and he would earn whatever astronomical salary he would demand due to the press he would generate."

On the other hand, and given Stern's flair for the outrageous, Avila says Fox would be entering potentially dangerous territory in signing him. "This is a guy who built an empire around sexually primitive behavior. Imagine what he'll say to the next girl who auditions in a bikini? And can you imagine how vicious he'll be during Hollywood week? It could be awesome TV, but it could also be disastrous. Fox should start an FCC fund if they hire him."

Which, according to Slezak and his insider sources, is not likely to happen. "In conversations I've had with people close to the show, they say the process of casting a replacement for Simon has just begun," Slezak says. "There is a long list of people who are interested in the job and that there is no front-runner. It's hard to not think [Stern] is using this as a salary negotiating point."

Tags: american idol, howard stern, simon cowell

Comments

(399)

Wednesday 10 February

By SCOTT

Highest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

HOWARD STERN IS A PIECE OF CRAP. HE'S NOT FUNNY. HE'S NOT ENTERTAINING. HE'S JUST GROSS. PERIOD. HUMAN FECES.

By Youlife

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

thts bullsh** Howard Stern is a dirty unclassy piece of u no wat!

By CeCe

Stern isn't class. We have enough trash on TV. We don't need to add this nasty mouthed jerk to a show families watch.

By mary

pigs dont add class to anything...............

By joe ker

Vote down Vote up Report this

raitings yes class nrver

By BOB

yes they would add an ass to the show

Tuesday 09 February

By Jordan

Whatever makes him happy. I stopped watching idol after season one. Never regretted it for a second.

By Keri

Lowest Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Howard has never had to be bleeped. He was on regular radio for years. He was in charge of the bleep button. Get over it Howard is good for any tv show.

By cathy alexander

ithink the producers would be doing the contestants a favor by adding david foster to the panel. he is after all, one of the greatest music producers in the business and i think he can be as caustic as simon. my vote is for david

By JM

Look,lets get real,Howard Stern is a dirt bag! Should he be on Idol with all these kids?HELL NO!!!! Let him go work for that other pig in the wheel chair,the porn guy,cant even rem that fools name,thats the impression he makes!

By Dee

JM The other pigs name is Larry Flint.

By Sheryl

Perfection JM...your remarks are just perfect...Larry Flynn or something like that! Stern is vulgar, rude and ugly so ugly I could not watch. He should take his millions and get some surgery on that face. He is disguisting all the way around! I would never watch Idol every again, if he were to be cast as a judge!

By mazzo

To JM, Dee, and Sheryl; I would be willing to bet that all of you are very aware,not only with the spelling of his name, but also with the products associated with Larry Flynt. But, OooKaaay...

By Ray

I hate to bust your bubble but that isn't chocolate that stern is covered with.He has built up the world's smellest cesspool and he just keeps adding to it every day.

By Jason

A M E N !

By abeth118

It's time for American Idol to go off the air. I haven't watched it since the first or second year just because of the attitude of the judges. Now you've managed to get rid of Paula and brought in whoever was stupid enough to want to sit in her chair. You brought in Ellen DeGeneres and now you want Howard Stern - it's time for all of you to go. Stern is trailer trash and has no business in this genre. Ellen is getting too big for her britches and shouldn't be there either. IT'S ENOUGH!!

By dawn

geez beth are you frustrated??

By ticker

I don't like Stearn, but let leave the trailer part out of it. There are a lot of good people that own trailers. We never say sub division trash.

By SP

If you haven't watched it since after the second season, why do you think you should have an opinion on what you don't know anything about?

By katie

Howard is a nasty mouth man!

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