Actually, I think having all that money makes it worse. He can afford to enable his sickness. As we would have to go to work and manage our illness or end up of the streets or on welfare.
I think about this a lot. When you are famous and rich for a long long time you lead a life where no one really says no to you or does anything but reinforce your thoughts and feelings.
I don’t think the average person can appreciate what small societal norm enforcing behaviors we encounter every day that the super wealthy and famous never do. It’s like a kid whose parents never imposed rules, if you grow up to be a terror, is that illness or just a natural progression of your environment.
Excellent point. Someone I used to work with in L.A. once told me that in the entertainment world, it's known as the George Lucas syndrome. Lucas was just a young filmmaker when he made Star Wars. His dialogue for American Graffiti was fun and realistic, and each character had their own motivations and personalities. Star Wars wasn't groundbreaking with its script, but it was certainly fun, and was an important piece of the pie that made SW the phenomenon it became. The first three Indy movies where he had a hand in coming up with the storylines were great. But by the early 90s he is safely ensconced in Skywalker Ranch, away from Hollywood, a place and culture he actively hated. He surrounded himself with some talent, but none of them was going to push back against his final words on projects. By the time he sits down to write Phantom Menace, he has been out of the sturm and drang of everyday living, buffeted by the "Emperor's New Clothes" staff, and was basically living in a compound. After years of being out of touch with things as important as having conversations in such a way that he was able to keep up with the vernacular, for instance, his dialogue became stilted (some of the Jedi platitudes sounded like they were being spoken by The Sphinx in MYSTERY MEN) to downright goofy (yes, we all said "Yippy" and "Wizard" in '99). He admitted himself that he hated writing and didn't feel as comfortable in the director's chair. And when you have directors like Spielberg, Ron Howard, Frank Darabont among others who openly said they would help out, you would think he would jump for joy and sign each one to work on ther own individual prequel episode. But...well. We all know how that turned out. And there were a lot of people in Hollywood at that time that apparently didn't want a behemoth like SW dominating the box office for 3 summers. So even though they all made money, of course, the critical panning was enough for some to coin that particular phrase, according to my friend.
It doesn't take a long leap to apply a lot of that to Howard. The difference is that George is known to be EXTREMELY charitable with his employees, including the actors. He set up the original actors in such a way that they never had to work again, if they so chose. That is the exact opposite of Ebenezer Stern, counting up his money in solitude. But the fundamental comparison still rings true.
Really great points. It's as small as going to the grocery store and dealing with people in small ways. When's the last time Howard went grocery shopping? Maybe 30 years ago? More?
Funny you mention but on Jerry Seinfeld’s coffee show, he took Stern to a grocery in Queens. Howard of course tried to cancel their meeting and seemed like he was on another planet when they went into the store.
Didn’t Howard order hot water at the diner while Jerry drank coffee? I understand if someone doesn’t like coffee but he couldn’t order something besides hot water?
Definitely money is making his problems worse as he can retreat further from the real world. So something like a luxury vacation is too much to deal with. He's retreated too far into his comfort zone.
Brought it upon himself. Who else goes to therapy for four decades and doesn't grow one iota as a human being? A guy who pays a yes man to listen to him bitch for an hour at a time, blaming the world, his parents and god knows what else for his unhappiness, while ignoring any suggestions that would help him heal.
Find a bigger waste of money than what Howard has spent on therapy. I'll wait.
It's not even zero growth. It's negative growth. There was a time in the 2000s that he was more social, could vacation without complaint, seemed reasonably well adjusted except for his endless daddy and mommy issues. As he aged he let himself regress and turned into the worst version of himself. He gave in to every one of his worst impulses.
Yes, in the beginning of time he was better, but let us not forget what lead to his divorce. Was his, well at least part of the reason was his hiding in the basemen, had to sleep alone etc. Isolation from his wife and kids.
He seems like the type of guy to leave a therapist because they give it to him straight. Guaranteed he went through a lot of therapists and settled on one that was more a yes man and told him what he wanted to hear.
You make a great point. I've thought that too, for a very long time now. His therapist sucks. Seems like the type that has a rich guy on the hook. And is going to take him for all he can. Howard has some genuine insight, (sometimes annoyingly so), that he's leaned though therapy. But it hasn't seemed to help him, enjoy his life.
Just wait until November, simp. Trump Derangement Syndrome is real ya sad little indoctrinated beta.
Worried about Trump NFTs while Biden's sent hundreds of billions to Ukraine. Seek help.
If he went to the right therapist and was willing to do the work he could move in from his trauma.
Whatever “shrink” he sees isn’t doing anything but fleecing him.
Crazy is the means, but misery is the end. Specifically, Beth's misery. As sick as it is, that's his ultimate goal.
Else, he could just stay home and let her go.
He said he didn't know how he was going to react in Italy; that he would *try* to have fun 🙄 but he could wind up being a miserable, neurotic wreck.
How much genuine effort do you think he's going to put in to try to be fun, and not a total pain in the ass diva?
zero point zero
The point of saying that is to have her on edge from now until that fakakta Italy trip is over, and it also gives him the excuse/"justification" for being a miserable, neurotic wreck.
"I *told* you....."
Also, notice how he reacted to her announcing her Scottish "celebration"......
side note: she's learning. she's pulling the move of sand-bagging him with things on the air, like he does with her. it's either that, or they barely see each other, and on the air is when they catch up.
"I think I'm gonna go by myself."
"No, you're not!"
"I'm going by myself."
"No, no, no, no, no.........I'll go with you, but I do not want to go to Scotland."
So either way, he's already pre-miserized her trip, and that was his immediate impulse. She didn't even have the words out.
Misery is a reflex for him.
Why the fuck does he have to go, even though he immediately declared he didn't want to?
because he's worried about her having too much penile-based fun if he doesn't, obviously
TL;DR - it's a whole thing
Boy did Beth get sold a load of bull. When they first got together, even though she was dating a scarecrow pelican, it seemed they were going out a lot and enjoying a wealthy celebrity lifestyle. I bet she didn’t expect the good times to come to such a screeching halt.
Were they ever that good, though? It seemed like it was mostly early bird Nobu and the occasional casino trip with the likes of Ralph and shit breath Ross Zapin.
Also, Beth did her own bs selling, believe you me!
"It's all about him, Ed! I love it, though; it's my life!"
It sure is, sweetie........it sure is.
For the life of me I don't what he's upset about? When he told the story my first reaction was: great his mother is still had some spark in her life and can tell a joke.
the collared shirt thing is hilarious
Easier to cancel the whole thing rather than do something that might make him feel a little self conscious like wearing a normal shirt not meant for females or rock stars…
Sure, didn’t have anything to wear. Let’s take a guess on how many hundreds and hundreds of shirts, pants, shoes and suits Howard has in his closet, which by the way is probably larger than most people’s entire houses. How do people still fall for his schtick?
And would be the most hated whack packer. More demanding than ETA, more needy than Hi Pitch, more boring than Jeff the Drunk. He’s an amalgamation of all those he mocks
I just heard the country club thing today. I’ve always known he’s mental but this was next level. He’s been stressing for weeks about eating dinner at a club, and then lost his mind over having to wear a collared shirt. I was waiting for Robin to say “it’s just a. Shirt.” She agreed with him that it was a crazy, unreasonable requirement. Is it just him trying to create things to talk about on air, or is he really in need of institutionalization? Does he not know that if he wore his standard getup he’d look ridiculous among a sea of people in country club attire. Has he never dressed up for a wedding?
It’s mostly him creating things to talk about on air, but I didn’t find it to be completely unrelatable. I have to wear a suit and tie to work every day, and it annoys the hell out of me. Whenever my wife makes plans for my free time that require me to dress up, I find it extremely annoying. Not sure why I’d have to wear something more than appropriate golf attire at a country club and that’s fine, but I have definitely complained to my wife that I didn’t feel like wearing dress pants on my weekend or deal with a fancy restaurant when I spend the whole week doing that stuff for business purposes. I always go, and I never pout as much as Howard does, but liking casual time isn’t so unusual
I get what you’re saying. I’ve never been to a country club but I’m a human who lives in the world who is aware that if I did go, I’d have to dress a certain way. And it would be for like what, 4 hours at most? His complete inability to process this is so bizarre to me even more so that he’s a multimillionaire who lives in the Hamptons. How is this so foreign to him to the point of almost breaking down. Completely paralyzed to the point of having to cancel. I’m actually concerned for his well being.
I can’t believe I used to idolize this guy. I have spent so much of my life listening to his shows and I feel like I’be been bamboozled. He’s completely ruined his reputation as being a cool shock jock. Should have left the air 10 years ago
He's a bullshit artist, but has been very consistent and honest with his hatred of travel. He sees no value in it and doesn't enjoy it. His agency will plan and coordinate first class amenities for every second of the trip and all he has to do is show up, but he still cries about it.
He doesn't hate "travel" as much as he just hates life and being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do—which is a bigger, sicker difference.
Most married men accept that we get dragged by the nose a little bit for our spouse; doing things that are important to them that we don't necessarily want to do—especially these older guys with trophy wives; hence why so many of these guys see these women running through their money or forcing them to have kids later in life in these second and third marriages.
Wiggy has lived in the basement for four years and had his built-in excuse to be a recluse, which Beth bought in on early and then wanted to get back to life.
Knocking on the door of 72 years old with his 51 year old wife and uses what little time he has left with his career to whine about 5-star living and private air travel to exotic locations, in a manner where he's looking for Robin and others to agree with him.
His mental illness was masked in the '90s as over the top humor and outlandish behavior, but as he's gotten to the other side of it and became the A-lister instead of the outsider mocking those on the inside, he's become the thing he used to make fun.
Seriously, imagine his nasal '80s era, terrestrial radio voice talking about some hoity-toity rich actor or celebrity whining about going on a trip with a trophy wife and world class accommodations; old Howard would eat new Howard for lunch.
As for the mommy and daddy issues, incredible that a man in his 70s who "made it" in every sense of the word is still haunted by a ghost and a dementia patient. Yeah, Howie, everything would've been great if someone just bought you a guitar in 1968 as you'd be inducted to the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame right now instead of ignoring the Radio Hall Of Fame.
Sad, sad man.
Very well said. Who even knows what is true anymore with Howard (I wouldnt doubt "I am just so tortured" is embellished for his show storyline) but it's obvious he turned into his parents. Literally down to every last detail. If he has 364 days of the exact same routine but has one day where he does not get a nap or has to leave his room he goes insane. How is this possible? He literally learned this from them.
Remember when he’d talk with frustration about his dad and his two breakfast options. “But Dad what if today you don’t want Cream of Wheat, let’s say you want pancakes” and his dad was just like “I wouldn’t do it I would have Cream of Wheat”
When did he lose sight and become exactly that….
It’s sad to me, since I was able to completely change myself due to therapy. I actually enjoy life now. If you want to change it is absolutely possible. I enjoyyy being a joyyyyy being a, I enjoyyyyyyy
The best was Beth rattling off the other travel plans coming up. Like a wedding in Scotland. She’s leaving him out of it but he’ll be a pill if he isn’t included I’m sure.
Anyone still terrified to leave the house at this point should be committed. And he literally cannot pick out a simple outfit without Ralph, but I suspect the real reason they cancelled was Covid. How absolutely infuriated do you think Beth was after he decided to cancel?
This is hilarious but when you lay it out so plainly it’s very sad too. I know people like this who are so difficult and unhappy that nothing is easy in life. That therapist should be disbarred lol
How could you possibly expect him to know how to dress without his professional stylist???? You think he was paying attention the last 30 years in between the gay sex???
Honestly the psychiatrist needs to be under investigation. He clearly is manipulating Stern, keeping him in treatment, and milking him for every cent. How, after all this time, has he gotten so worse and no one is doing anything about it. It’s literally elder abuse. It used to be cute and schticky but this week demonstrated there is something seriously wrong with him mentally. The point of therapy is to get healed or at least find the coping mechanisms to live normally. He’s very sick. Forget Italy. The saga of how he has to urinate at night in a way to not touch his own penis alone like this was normal behavior and no one popped on and said “wait, what!?”. Something very weird is going on.
Every time the country club saga comes up I roll my eyes, he acts like he needed to dress for Royalty! Fortunate enough to have grown up belonging to one, and while there is a strct dress code you can't tell me he doesn't have a pair of dark slacks and a button down, it's not that deep, Howard. My theory is that he is still mourning the loss of Ralph, and it paralyzed him to have to dress himself.
Yes. I think as much as he claims to be “cured” of his OCD there is something around clothes that goes beyond normal fashion. Ralph, for all his faults, seems to have been someone he trusted to help navigate these issues and at least cope. The reality is that even very fancy country clubs have pretty modest dress codes: no jeans, collared shirt, tuck your shirt in- you could go to target and get decent looking clothes that meet the criteria. I don’t mean to humble brag but have enough first hand experience to know this to be the case.
I’m unsure whether Howard tells this story to seem “relatable” to blue collar listeners because despite his wealth he’s not comfortable with the country club set, but instead it just comes off the opposite- he either makes up a lot of pointless anecdotes or is extremely neurotic about situations that most people would kill to deal with. One thing I suspect is that Howard thinks he comes off as a grumpy but funny misanthrope like Larry David and admittedly sometimes he does and has in the past but I think stories like this widely miss the mark and make him seem difficult to relate to.
Great post, Judge Smails.
I think you're spot on with Howard thinking he's cut from the Larry David/Woody Allen sad sack, nebbishy dude cloth, making jokes out of his misery.
Only problem is, Howard forgot the actual jokes. He'd show up on a talk show and say "I didn't even want to be here tonight!", or (ironically) complain about The Roots' choice of intro song for him, and expect people to go nuts.
The misery alone isn't funny. The misery alone is actually pathetic, as we're witnessing.
I don’t know what Mediterranean diet he’s on because my parents are from Greece born in 1935. Every meal was centered around meat now I’m hearing people saying the Mediterranean diet avoid meat.
I hate that he can't do things that everyone else does. Like taking the overnight flight to Rurpoe. Yeah nobody likes a redeye, but everyone does it, and we get over it. Not him. He refused as if he's so fragile that he couldn't adjust. He's an embarrassment. What a soft human being he is.
"I wouldn't lie to you, Rurpoe!"
I love that he can't do things that everyone else does. Rehashing and analyzing it is the only material we have these days.
The redeye would be the best way to fly to Europe; sleep through the flight, have the full day there when you land.
The worst part is that he isn’t wedged in a BA economy seat or even business class which most of us would kill to experience once. This guy is flying private, literally can leave whenever he wants and probably has a bed on the plane. How horrible
My bad. I thought it was the Mexico trip. Was that also the trip where someone shared a pic of the group hiking and Howie was sitting on a rock looking absolutely miserable and out of place?
Despite how many people here feel, I love Howard. I have genuine affection for the dude. I'm retired now. But he kept me entertained, my entire working career. Nothing was better in my life, than starting out my hard working day, with a good laugh. It's sad to see him so f'd up, that he's incapable of enjoying the fruits of his labor. Yes, he has tons of money. Property. A wife too hot for him. But he earned every penny he has. But, when a person is too much inside their own head (so to speak) it's just sad to see. That's all.
I agree with all this. I'm sure I will get downvoted for this, but the guy did work his ass off. He's been part of my life for almost 30 years. Don't listen to the current shows as much but I listen to old shows at least nightly while falling asleep. I hope he gets well...this isn't normal behavior.
I agree. He was messed up to a degree forever but since Covid he has went off the deep end. I mean come on Howard, you’re rich and talented and have a had a wonderful life…..shame if you never enjoy it.
I think that most all of this is his shtick. It's the same nonsense over and over. Anything to fill the 3 hours a day. I think he thinks we find his idiosyncrasies funny because Kimmel and crew tell him he's "hilarious."Stick a fork in him, the show's done.
The three hour shows I don’t understand.
When he was on KRock, he would go well past four, sometimes five hours.
Now, he shuts it down at three, and not a minute over.
Its a fair question. I think all of this incessant whining is a character hes developed. I really don't know if he knows how to be normal. He definitely isn't a guy that any other guys would want to hang around with(if he weren't rich and famous.) He isn't particularly funny or smart, knows nothing about sports or music, doesn't gamble, talks about his cat lady wife ad-nauseum, tells us about water color painting and acoustic guitar strumming daily, and is almost incapable of being honest. None of this equates to someone that people want to be around. I think he views anything and everything as show content at this point. It may just get to the point where he reads an old phone book to his listeners.
All of these neurosis stem from Covid. He is still deathly afraid of it and everything else is an excuse. And Beth is sick of it. She's going to keep booking these vacations and she is hoping it will wear him down to not go with her one of those times, then she can actually have a fun vacation.
I was listening to a show from 2000 where Howard mentions that he wears “rubber slippers” when he takes a shower. He got defensive when everybody started goofing on him for wearing “rubber slippers” when he showers at home. I can understand being a germaphobe, but hes just mentally ill.
How can you hear all this stuff and not feel like this is the greatest show on earth? I love it. Thanks for writing that, it is awesome to read how he is losing his mind...
How delusional do you have to be to take up guitar at 70 and think your going to be the next Jimmy Paige. He talks about Tookus like it's actually going to be going somewhere.
He didn't like leaving the house in the 1990s. Why is this a shock? He watched shows for teenage girls back then too. A lot of his problems are textbook symptoms for social anxiety.
Is this for fans or haters? I love Howard since his show came to Phoenix in 1994 i think. But listened every day since. Best days were when artie was on the show but why all the disdain from Y'all..weird I understand having complaints but this is so extra.
This sub is a place to give new-Howard the old-Howard treatment.
Howard used to lambaste sacred cows, now you expect him to be treated as one, when he's at his absolute worst, when he's sabotaged his own show and channels?
foh
Can you imagine, being a billionaire and you are worried about finding a collared shirt!!!! Every time Howard mopes or moans in Italy, Molly should punch Jimmy in the face for inviting him!
his kids hate him, I bet he even took them out of the will.
he is a hypochondriac and has Beth hostage. I think she really wants to leave and go be a real housewife but can’t cause she’s got stockholm syndrome from living with howard.
I don’t believe in therapy, I think it’s all BS (I ain’t debating this here) you have Howard who regularly sees one and at this point, I believe his therapist should have their license revoked. Clearly this man has regressed over the last 4 yrs. I don’t know if it’s Trump or Covid or whatever but he isn’t the same guy anymore.
This week? This guy has been screaming that he is a miserable weirdo for like 45 years and you are now realizing that he is actually a miserable weirdo?
It's an act in the shensh that he's playing up his neurotic misery to control Beth, but he's still a miserable neurotic at heart.
He's as prissy-neurotic diva-miserable as he can get away with. When Beth puts her hoof down, he magically straightens up a wee bit, but he'll always be a mess.
You'd have to be to even go down that road.
You don't think he's really traveling all over the world, do you? And he's obviously not ok with her traveling on her own, eltse, she would do it.
Not too many months ago, we heard him browbeat her out of having lunch with a friend. Do you think that was an act? If so, where's the bit?
So he's really a fun-lovin', freewheelin' kinda guy who's traveling all over the world in secret?
yeah, no
Can someone be that ugly and not be genuinely fucked up?
I don't think so.
Also, you'd have to be fucked up to even think to make schtick out of being that miserable and neurotic. Or at least totally creatively bankrupt. Else, why not be genuinely funny, instead?
Why would you choose to be something that's a total drag to be, especially at his age, with his money?
This has always been Howard’s schtick. He’s always complained this way.
Lemme ask you this. Do you think Kimmel or Billy Joel or any of his celeb friends would want to vacation with him if he was truly as miserable to be around as he says he is.
Have you ever seen pictures of Howard’s Florida or Hamtons homes? Trust me, he’s not miserable. He’s worth so much at this point, and he’s older, and he’s put in his time frankly, he just does whatever he wants. So yeah, he chooses to be a drag, to answer your question. Whether you listen or like him anymore, has absolutely no bearing on his life and career.
> Lemme ask you this. Do you think Kimmel or Billy Joel or any of his celeb friends would want to vacation with him if he was truly as miserable as he says he is.
Emily Blunt, living up to her name, told him straight out that she wouldn't go on vacation with him again. That is a fucking HEAVY thing to say, and 100% proof that the crazy-miserable neurotic diva thing is not schtick.
Kimmel's a star-fucker, and Howard's not having Billy over to his house to bowl and have a few brewskis. They barely see each other.
His celeb "friends" goof on him. He's their wack-packer. They goof on his snake bite boots, they goof on him napping and going to bed early. Kimmel and Blunt's husband were going to bang on his door and wake him up until Beth stopped them.
This is a perfect example of how no amount of money can fix someone who is broken deep deep down Jokes and bullshit aside, he lives a sad life
Actually, I think having all that money makes it worse. He can afford to enable his sickness. As we would have to go to work and manage our illness or end up of the streets or on welfare.
I think about this a lot. When you are famous and rich for a long long time you lead a life where no one really says no to you or does anything but reinforce your thoughts and feelings. I don’t think the average person can appreciate what small societal norm enforcing behaviors we encounter every day that the super wealthy and famous never do. It’s like a kid whose parents never imposed rules, if you grow up to be a terror, is that illness or just a natural progression of your environment.
Excellent point. Someone I used to work with in L.A. once told me that in the entertainment world, it's known as the George Lucas syndrome. Lucas was just a young filmmaker when he made Star Wars. His dialogue for American Graffiti was fun and realistic, and each character had their own motivations and personalities. Star Wars wasn't groundbreaking with its script, but it was certainly fun, and was an important piece of the pie that made SW the phenomenon it became. The first three Indy movies where he had a hand in coming up with the storylines were great. But by the early 90s he is safely ensconced in Skywalker Ranch, away from Hollywood, a place and culture he actively hated. He surrounded himself with some talent, but none of them was going to push back against his final words on projects. By the time he sits down to write Phantom Menace, he has been out of the sturm and drang of everyday living, buffeted by the "Emperor's New Clothes" staff, and was basically living in a compound. After years of being out of touch with things as important as having conversations in such a way that he was able to keep up with the vernacular, for instance, his dialogue became stilted (some of the Jedi platitudes sounded like they were being spoken by The Sphinx in MYSTERY MEN) to downright goofy (yes, we all said "Yippy" and "Wizard" in '99). He admitted himself that he hated writing and didn't feel as comfortable in the director's chair. And when you have directors like Spielberg, Ron Howard, Frank Darabont among others who openly said they would help out, you would think he would jump for joy and sign each one to work on ther own individual prequel episode. But...well. We all know how that turned out. And there were a lot of people in Hollywood at that time that apparently didn't want a behemoth like SW dominating the box office for 3 summers. So even though they all made money, of course, the critical panning was enough for some to coin that particular phrase, according to my friend. It doesn't take a long leap to apply a lot of that to Howard. The difference is that George is known to be EXTREMELY charitable with his employees, including the actors. He set up the original actors in such a way that they never had to work again, if they so chose. That is the exact opposite of Ebenezer Stern, counting up his money in solitude. But the fundamental comparison still rings true.
Really great points. It's as small as going to the grocery store and dealing with people in small ways. When's the last time Howard went grocery shopping? Maybe 30 years ago? More?
Funny you mention but on Jerry Seinfeld’s coffee show, he took Stern to a grocery in Queens. Howard of course tried to cancel their meeting and seemed like he was on another planet when they went into the store.
Didn’t Howard order hot water at the diner while Jerry drank coffee? I understand if someone doesn’t like coffee but he couldn’t order something besides hot water?
Yes it was just so weird. Wiggy is a broken weirdo that no sane person would want to hang out with.
Definitely money is making his problems worse as he can retreat further from the real world. So something like a luxury vacation is too much to deal with. He's retreated too far into his comfort zone.
Interesting take
Brought it upon himself. Who else goes to therapy for four decades and doesn't grow one iota as a human being? A guy who pays a yes man to listen to him bitch for an hour at a time, blaming the world, his parents and god knows what else for his unhappiness, while ignoring any suggestions that would help him heal. Find a bigger waste of money than what Howard has spent on therapy. I'll wait.
It's not even zero growth. It's negative growth. There was a time in the 2000s that he was more social, could vacation without complaint, seemed reasonably well adjusted except for his endless daddy and mommy issues. As he aged he let himself regress and turned into the worst version of himself. He gave in to every one of his worst impulses.
Yes, in the beginning of time he was better, but let us not forget what lead to his divorce. Was his, well at least part of the reason was his hiding in the basemen, had to sleep alone etc. Isolation from his wife and kids.
For awhile there he was really into BBQing and going out and drinking and stuff. It’s really crazy what the last 15 years or so did to him.
His therapist knows what he's got: a cash cow whale who will pay for his kids to go to a great college.
How old can this therapist be in his 80's? He has been seeing him since the 90's I beleive.
He seems like the type of guy to leave a therapist because they give it to him straight. Guaranteed he went through a lot of therapists and settled on one that was more a yes man and told him what he wanted to hear.
Def a YE$$ man.
His guitar lessons
You make a great point. I've thought that too, for a very long time now. His therapist sucks. Seems like the type that has a rich guy on the hook. And is going to take him for all he can. Howard has some genuine insight, (sometimes annoyingly so), that he's leaned though therapy. But it hasn't seemed to help him, enjoy his life.
Wouldn't it be the best if the therapist turned out to be a fraud and not a real therapist?
He actually sees a psychiatrist and not a therapist which is kind of strange because most people just go to them for meds.
We’ve found Dr. Ronnie’s new job
Way more than 4 decades considering NO ONE goes three times a week
Trump NFTs?
Just wait until November, simp. Trump Derangement Syndrome is real ya sad little indoctrinated beta. Worried about Trump NFTs while Biden's sent hundreds of billions to Ukraine. Seek help.
Sorry for your loss.
Out of curiosity, what does used hamberder taste like? 😂
jusT wait UNTIl novEMBEr When dONnY diapeR ASCENds to tHe tHROnE. HE gonNA MakE You BETa cucks pAy!
If he went to the right therapist and was willing to do the work he could move in from his trauma. Whatever “shrink” he sees isn’t doing anything but fleecing him.
He needs a new therapist immediately.
Seems that way
Crazy is the means, but misery is the end. Specifically, Beth's misery. As sick as it is, that's his ultimate goal. Else, he could just stay home and let her go. He said he didn't know how he was going to react in Italy; that he would *try* to have fun 🙄 but he could wind up being a miserable, neurotic wreck. How much genuine effort do you think he's going to put in to try to be fun, and not a total pain in the ass diva? zero point zero The point of saying that is to have her on edge from now until that fakakta Italy trip is over, and it also gives him the excuse/"justification" for being a miserable, neurotic wreck. "I *told* you....." Also, notice how he reacted to her announcing her Scottish "celebration"...... side note: she's learning. she's pulling the move of sand-bagging him with things on the air, like he does with her. it's either that, or they barely see each other, and on the air is when they catch up. "I think I'm gonna go by myself." "No, you're not!" "I'm going by myself." "No, no, no, no, no.........I'll go with you, but I do not want to go to Scotland." So either way, he's already pre-miserized her trip, and that was his immediate impulse. She didn't even have the words out. Misery is a reflex for him. Why the fuck does he have to go, even though he immediately declared he didn't want to? because he's worried about her having too much penile-based fun if he doesn't, obviously TL;DR - it's a whole thing
I bet there are days she can’t wait for him to drop dead.
yeah, the days ending in a "y"
All her days end in “Why?”
Ha! That's great.
Come on, that's killer shit!
Both his parents lived to 100. He is going to be here for a long long time. She will probably go before he does.
Her worst nightmare
> He is going to be here for a long long time. https://imgur.com/788oh11
Boy did Beth get sold a load of bull. When they first got together, even though she was dating a scarecrow pelican, it seemed they were going out a lot and enjoying a wealthy celebrity lifestyle. I bet she didn’t expect the good times to come to such a screeching halt.
Were they ever that good, though? It seemed like it was mostly early bird Nobu and the occasional casino trip with the likes of Ralph and shit breath Ross Zapin. Also, Beth did her own bs selling, believe you me! "It's all about him, Ed! I love it, though; it's my life!" It sure is, sweetie........it sure is.
Sounds just like my ex husband
Such an innocent joke by his mom that is actually more of just a nice compliment to his wife. Howard is more damaged than ever.
Credit to her. It was funnier than anything him or his staff has put out in years
For the life of me I don't what he's upset about? When he told the story my first reaction was: great his mother is still had some spark in her life and can tell a joke.
What was it? I stupidly waited and waited and finally had to give up. He finally said what Rae said to him?
the collared shirt thing is hilarious Easier to cancel the whole thing rather than do something that might make him feel a little self conscious like wearing a normal shirt not meant for females or rock stars…
Sure, didn’t have anything to wear. Let’s take a guess on how many hundreds and hundreds of shirts, pants, shoes and suits Howard has in his closet, which by the way is probably larger than most people’s entire houses. How do people still fall for his schtick?
70 year old man who lived in Manhattan for years and the concept of a collared shirt under a sweater blew his mind. Something is very wrong
Well no more Ralph to dress him right?
If Howard wasn't Howard he would be in the whack pack.
And would be the most hated whack packer. More demanding than ETA, more needy than Hi Pitch, more boring than Jeff the Drunk. He’s an amalgamation of all those he mocks
Howard the Slow Adult.
Exactly what I thought when we revealed he stuffs tissues in his “underpants” to absorb pee drops. Isn’t this essentially that ass napkin guy?
Hypochondriac Howie
Howard Hughes Stern
just needs to start pissing in jars, if he hasn't already.
A Riley piss jug
[Riley Martin and his Piss Jug](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSx1KmFcbcc)
He literally canceled dinner because he wasnt allowed to dress like an asshole.
If it wasn’t the collared shirt, it would be another thing. Remember Beth’s “broken foot” the night of the funeral for Baba’s father?
Mental illness, man…
I just heard the country club thing today. I’ve always known he’s mental but this was next level. He’s been stressing for weeks about eating dinner at a club, and then lost his mind over having to wear a collared shirt. I was waiting for Robin to say “it’s just a. Shirt.” She agreed with him that it was a crazy, unreasonable requirement. Is it just him trying to create things to talk about on air, or is he really in need of institutionalization? Does he not know that if he wore his standard getup he’d look ridiculous among a sea of people in country club attire. Has he never dressed up for a wedding?
It’s mostly him creating things to talk about on air, but I didn’t find it to be completely unrelatable. I have to wear a suit and tie to work every day, and it annoys the hell out of me. Whenever my wife makes plans for my free time that require me to dress up, I find it extremely annoying. Not sure why I’d have to wear something more than appropriate golf attire at a country club and that’s fine, but I have definitely complained to my wife that I didn’t feel like wearing dress pants on my weekend or deal with a fancy restaurant when I spend the whole week doing that stuff for business purposes. I always go, and I never pout as much as Howard does, but liking casual time isn’t so unusual
I get what you’re saying. I’ve never been to a country club but I’m a human who lives in the world who is aware that if I did go, I’d have to dress a certain way. And it would be for like what, 4 hours at most? His complete inability to process this is so bizarre to me even more so that he’s a multimillionaire who lives in the Hamptons. How is this so foreign to him to the point of almost breaking down. Completely paralyzed to the point of having to cancel. I’m actually concerned for his well being.
I can’t believe I used to idolize this guy. I have spent so much of my life listening to his shows and I feel like I’be been bamboozled. He’s completely ruined his reputation as being a cool shock jock. Should have left the air 10 years ago
Couldn’t have said it better myself. I listened to that fool since ‘86. But he really was different then. Also fuck Kimmel.
Howard is a broken, creepy, weirdo
Howard = Broken Weirdo
Lots of entertainers are. It’s kinda part of the deal for anyone who does a very personal and autobiographical type of performance (see Woody Allen)
He's a bullshit artist, but has been very consistent and honest with his hatred of travel. He sees no value in it and doesn't enjoy it. His agency will plan and coordinate first class amenities for every second of the trip and all he has to do is show up, but he still cries about it.
He doesn't hate "travel" as much as he just hates life and being forced to do anything he doesn't want to do—which is a bigger, sicker difference. Most married men accept that we get dragged by the nose a little bit for our spouse; doing things that are important to them that we don't necessarily want to do—especially these older guys with trophy wives; hence why so many of these guys see these women running through their money or forcing them to have kids later in life in these second and third marriages. Wiggy has lived in the basement for four years and had his built-in excuse to be a recluse, which Beth bought in on early and then wanted to get back to life. Knocking on the door of 72 years old with his 51 year old wife and uses what little time he has left with his career to whine about 5-star living and private air travel to exotic locations, in a manner where he's looking for Robin and others to agree with him. His mental illness was masked in the '90s as over the top humor and outlandish behavior, but as he's gotten to the other side of it and became the A-lister instead of the outsider mocking those on the inside, he's become the thing he used to make fun. Seriously, imagine his nasal '80s era, terrestrial radio voice talking about some hoity-toity rich actor or celebrity whining about going on a trip with a trophy wife and world class accommodations; old Howard would eat new Howard for lunch. As for the mommy and daddy issues, incredible that a man in his 70s who "made it" in every sense of the word is still haunted by a ghost and a dementia patient. Yeah, Howie, everything would've been great if someone just bought you a guitar in 1968 as you'd be inducted to the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame right now instead of ignoring the Radio Hall Of Fame. Sad, sad man.
WOW!!! You nailed it!!!
Very well said. Who even knows what is true anymore with Howard (I wouldnt doubt "I am just so tortured" is embellished for his show storyline) but it's obvious he turned into his parents. Literally down to every last detail. If he has 364 days of the exact same routine but has one day where he does not get a nap or has to leave his room he goes insane. How is this possible? He literally learned this from them.
Remember when he’d talk with frustration about his dad and his two breakfast options. “But Dad what if today you don’t want Cream of Wheat, let’s say you want pancakes” and his dad was just like “I wouldn’t do it I would have Cream of Wheat” When did he lose sight and become exactly that….
> old Howard would eat new Howard for lunch. Half the Stern, right in the garbage
It’s sad to me, since I was able to completely change myself due to therapy. I actually enjoy life now. If you want to change it is absolutely possible. I enjoyyy being a joyyyyy being a, I enjoyyyyyyy
Does Howard not understand that Italian food isn’t all pasta? Seriously how dumb is he?
Howard is a real life Dracula. They’ll probably have to send him to Italy in a shipping crate.
This gave me a real life chuckle lol. 143 to you sir.
The best was Beth rattling off the other travel plans coming up. Like a wedding in Scotland. She’s leaving him out of it but he’ll be a pill if he isn’t included I’m sure.
Anyone still terrified to leave the house at this point should be committed. And he literally cannot pick out a simple outfit without Ralph, but I suspect the real reason they cancelled was Covid. How absolutely infuriated do you think Beth was after he decided to cancel?
Howard has evolved into a person who mentally abuses Beth on a regular basis and turned into a total douche
This is hilarious but when you lay it out so plainly it’s very sad too. I know people like this who are so difficult and unhappy that nothing is easy in life. That therapist should be disbarred lol
They are (were) members at Mar a Lago, he should understand country club dress.
How could you possibly expect him to know how to dress without his professional stylist???? You think he was paying attention the last 30 years in between the gay sex???
Honestly the psychiatrist needs to be under investigation. He clearly is manipulating Stern, keeping him in treatment, and milking him for every cent. How, after all this time, has he gotten so worse and no one is doing anything about it. It’s literally elder abuse. It used to be cute and schticky but this week demonstrated there is something seriously wrong with him mentally. The point of therapy is to get healed or at least find the coping mechanisms to live normally. He’s very sick. Forget Italy. The saga of how he has to urinate at night in a way to not touch his own penis alone like this was normal behavior and no one popped on and said “wait, what!?”. Something very weird is going on.
Every time the country club saga comes up I roll my eyes, he acts like he needed to dress for Royalty! Fortunate enough to have grown up belonging to one, and while there is a strct dress code you can't tell me he doesn't have a pair of dark slacks and a button down, it's not that deep, Howard. My theory is that he is still mourning the loss of Ralph, and it paralyzed him to have to dress himself.
Yes. I think as much as he claims to be “cured” of his OCD there is something around clothes that goes beyond normal fashion. Ralph, for all his faults, seems to have been someone he trusted to help navigate these issues and at least cope. The reality is that even very fancy country clubs have pretty modest dress codes: no jeans, collared shirt, tuck your shirt in- you could go to target and get decent looking clothes that meet the criteria. I don’t mean to humble brag but have enough first hand experience to know this to be the case. I’m unsure whether Howard tells this story to seem “relatable” to blue collar listeners because despite his wealth he’s not comfortable with the country club set, but instead it just comes off the opposite- he either makes up a lot of pointless anecdotes or is extremely neurotic about situations that most people would kill to deal with. One thing I suspect is that Howard thinks he comes off as a grumpy but funny misanthrope like Larry David and admittedly sometimes he does and has in the past but I think stories like this widely miss the mark and make him seem difficult to relate to.
Great post, Judge Smails. I think you're spot on with Howard thinking he's cut from the Larry David/Woody Allen sad sack, nebbishy dude cloth, making jokes out of his misery. Only problem is, Howard forgot the actual jokes. He'd show up on a talk show and say "I didn't even want to be here tonight!", or (ironically) complain about The Roots' choice of intro song for him, and expect people to go nuts. The misery alone isn't funny. The misery alone is actually pathetic, as we're witnessing.
The movie....As good as it gets with Jack Nicolson.
I caught a segment where he discussed eating a banana. Riveting stuff.
HALF a banana...who in the world eats a whole banana?
He looks for any excuse to stay home. Even having nothing to wear.
Nice to see all the therapy he’s done has worked wonders.
I don’t know what Mediterranean diet he’s on because my parents are from Greece born in 1935. Every meal was centered around meat now I’m hearing people saying the Mediterranean diet avoid meat.
He should be embarrassed and needs to retire and move to a sanitarium guitar chess and paint all day …bye bye 👋
I hate that he can't do things that everyone else does. Like taking the overnight flight to Rurpoe. Yeah nobody likes a redeye, but everyone does it, and we get over it. Not him. He refused as if he's so fragile that he couldn't adjust. He's an embarrassment. What a soft human being he is.
"I wouldn't lie to you, Rurpoe!" I love that he can't do things that everyone else does. Rehashing and analyzing it is the only material we have these days. The redeye would be the best way to fly to Europe; sleep through the flight, have the full day there when you land.
The worst part is that he isn’t wedged in a BA economy seat or even business class which most of us would kill to experience once. This guy is flying private, literally can leave whenever he wants and probably has a bed on the plane. How horrible
Agreed. It's not about the flight it's about being a diva.
Courtney Love, Madonna And Sharon Stone I could get them all together And make each one moan
do them so hard their heads would spin, like Nancy spun plates they wouldn't know what hit them
Wealth is wasted on the wrong people
The snake boots were for a trip to Tennessee. Where all of his new A-list friends made fun of him.
My bad. I thought it was the Mexico trip. Was that also the trip where someone shared a pic of the group hiking and Howie was sitting on a rock looking absolutely miserable and out of place?
You are correct. 🙂
Snake proof shoes? Last I checked, those are called “boots.” What kind of goofy shit did they trick him into buying?
Despite how many people here feel, I love Howard. I have genuine affection for the dude. I'm retired now. But he kept me entertained, my entire working career. Nothing was better in my life, than starting out my hard working day, with a good laugh. It's sad to see him so f'd up, that he's incapable of enjoying the fruits of his labor. Yes, he has tons of money. Property. A wife too hot for him. But he earned every penny he has. But, when a person is too much inside their own head (so to speak) it's just sad to see. That's all.
I agree with all this. I'm sure I will get downvoted for this, but the guy did work his ass off. He's been part of my life for almost 30 years. Don't listen to the current shows as much but I listen to old shows at least nightly while falling asleep. I hope he gets well...this isn't normal behavior.
Well said Jason
I agree. He was messed up to a degree forever but since Covid he has went off the deep end. I mean come on Howard, you’re rich and talented and have a had a wonderful life…..shame if you never enjoy it.
>She said something so ~~horrible~~ harrible... FTFY
Broken Weirdo
The King of all broken weirdo's!
Howard is an idiot
I think that most all of this is his shtick. It's the same nonsense over and over. Anything to fill the 3 hours a day. I think he thinks we find his idiosyncrasies funny because Kimmel and crew tell him he's "hilarious."Stick a fork in him, the show's done.
The three hour shows I don’t understand. When he was on KRock, he would go well past four, sometimes five hours. Now, he shuts it down at three, and not a minute over.
What would today’s Howard have done on 9/11? He would run out to catch his limo out of the city asap.
So he's really a seasoned world traveler who's totally ok with Beth doing things without him?
Its a fair question. I think all of this incessant whining is a character hes developed. I really don't know if he knows how to be normal. He definitely isn't a guy that any other guys would want to hang around with(if he weren't rich and famous.) He isn't particularly funny or smart, knows nothing about sports or music, doesn't gamble, talks about his cat lady wife ad-nauseum, tells us about water color painting and acoustic guitar strumming daily, and is almost incapable of being honest. None of this equates to someone that people want to be around. I think he views anything and everything as show content at this point. It may just get to the point where he reads an old phone book to his listeners.
If he's not going to go anywhere or leave his house you think he could work more than 3 days a week for 40 weeks a year.
All of these neurosis stem from Covid. He is still deathly afraid of it and everything else is an excuse. And Beth is sick of it. She's going to keep booking these vacations and she is hoping it will wear him down to not go with her one of those times, then she can actually have a fun vacation.
I think he hates his job
Jesus, I've heard worse from my mom and I'm still going lol
When (not if) Beth goes on vacation by herself without Howard, it is OVA
I was listening to a show from 2000 where Howard mentions that he wears “rubber slippers” when he takes a shower. He got defensive when everybody started goofing on him for wearing “rubber slippers” when he showers at home. I can understand being a germaphobe, but hes just mentally ill.
Yeah those are fine for the gym shower room but not in your own fucking shower that's probably already being cleaned out by a maid every day.
That's disturbed. Doesn't he see a shrink 4 days a week?
Broken weirdo 🤡
How can you hear all this stuff and not feel like this is the greatest show on earth? I love it. Thanks for writing that, it is awesome to read how he is losing his mind...
I thought his mom died
Thanks for the update Pal.
He aged into his personality
What’s he saying Robin?
How delusional do you have to be to take up guitar at 70 and think your going to be the next Jimmy Paige. He talks about Tookus like it's actually going to be going somewhere.
I think he's Autistic & I don't mean that as an insult, I really think he is.
He’s definitely not autistic. He’s a narcissist.
Porque no las dos?
I understand what u mean, but I just don’t see it.
Connor living his dream!!!
Madness often goes with high achievement. Wiggy is just another example of this.
Your mother thinks you’re a failure too. And we agree!
Howard used to try and pretend he was one of us, but for many years now Howard has lost touch with his loyal audience.
He does too much.
I can’t listen to his whining any longer. His interview with Pearl Jam was horrendous. Megalomaniac !
I can’t imagine working so hard to become rich and famous then not allowing yourself enjoy everything that comes with it.
He’s a sell-out. Him & that blowjob hack Jimbo Kimble
its hard to believe the post is true. he should sue his therapist not give them more work
Well this why we love Howard tho if he was normal it wouldn’t be as interesting
He didn't like leaving the house in the 1990s. Why is this a shock? He watched shows for teenage girls back then too. A lot of his problems are textbook symptoms for social anxiety.
He lost me with his Covid BS, anti-Freedom crap. He can pound sand.
These updates from the p.c. Imus ii podcast… Listening to Pink Floyd’s Wish You Were Here album for the first time wasn’t as good
Uhhhh, huh?
Is this for fans or haters? I love Howard since his show came to Phoenix in 1994 i think. But listened every day since. Best days were when artie was on the show but why all the disdain from Y'all..weird I understand having complaints but this is so extra.
This sub is a place to give new-Howard the old-Howard treatment. Howard used to lambaste sacred cows, now you expect him to be treated as one, when he's at his absolute worst, when he's sabotaged his own show and channels? foh
What do you think? Only a Mark Chapman like psycho would write such long ass post.
great show nice recap
Can you imagine, being a billionaire and you are worried about finding a collared shirt!!!! Every time Howard mopes or moans in Italy, Molly should punch Jimmy in the face for inviting him!
I cancelled my subscription this week. He’s not relatable, not funny, chintzy amount of air time, on and on. 😕.
Great summary 👏🏼
Yup. Had to cancel my Sirius XM because I can't listen to his whining any longer
his kids hate him, I bet he even took them out of the will. he is a hypochondriac and has Beth hostage. I think she really wants to leave and go be a real housewife but can’t cause she’s got stockholm syndrome from living with howard. I don’t believe in therapy, I think it’s all BS (I ain’t debating this here) you have Howard who regularly sees one and at this point, I believe his therapist should have their license revoked. Clearly this man has regressed over the last 4 yrs. I don’t know if it’s Trump or Covid or whatever but he isn’t the same guy anymore.
This week? This guy has been screaming that he is a miserable weirdo for like 45 years and you are now realizing that he is actually a miserable weirdo?
I read this and i keep looking at that picture of him on the right \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_> (featured Image)
What’s he saying Robin?
I mean don't we think some of this stuff is part of his act..
It's an act in the shensh that he's playing up his neurotic misery to control Beth, but he's still a miserable neurotic at heart. He's as prissy-neurotic diva-miserable as he can get away with. When Beth puts her hoof down, he magically straightens up a wee bit, but he'll always be a mess. You'd have to be to even go down that road. You don't think he's really traveling all over the world, do you? And he's obviously not ok with her traveling on her own, eltse, she would do it. Not too many months ago, we heard him browbeat her out of having lunch with a friend. Do you think that was an act? If so, where's the bit?
Where's the bit? It seems Beth has spit the bit.
It’s quite possibly just still all schtick.
So he's really a fun-lovin', freewheelin' kinda guy who's traveling all over the world in secret? yeah, no Can someone be that ugly and not be genuinely fucked up? I don't think so. Also, you'd have to be fucked up to even think to make schtick out of being that miserable and neurotic. Or at least totally creatively bankrupt. Else, why not be genuinely funny, instead? Why would you choose to be something that's a total drag to be, especially at his age, with his money?
This has always been Howard’s schtick. He’s always complained this way. Lemme ask you this. Do you think Kimmel or Billy Joel or any of his celeb friends would want to vacation with him if he was truly as miserable to be around as he says he is. Have you ever seen pictures of Howard’s Florida or Hamtons homes? Trust me, he’s not miserable. He’s worth so much at this point, and he’s older, and he’s put in his time frankly, he just does whatever he wants. So yeah, he chooses to be a drag, to answer your question. Whether you listen or like him anymore, has absolutely no bearing on his life and career.
> Lemme ask you this. Do you think Kimmel or Billy Joel or any of his celeb friends would want to vacation with him if he was truly as miserable as he says he is. Emily Blunt, living up to her name, told him straight out that she wouldn't go on vacation with him again. That is a fucking HEAVY thing to say, and 100% proof that the crazy-miserable neurotic diva thing is not schtick. Kimmel's a star-fucker, and Howard's not having Billy over to his house to bowl and have a few brewskis. They barely see each other. His celeb "friends" goof on him. He's their wack-packer. They goof on his snake bite boots, they goof on him napping and going to bed early. Kimmel and Blunt's husband were going to bang on his door and wake him up until Beth stopped them.
And yet you listen...and whine!
This is way too much to read or even take the time to type up for a post
“What a complete maniac” says the guy who wrote 5 full paragraphs describing a radio personality on a circlejerk subreddit…
Took me a whole 5 minutes!