Interview with Kevin Renzulli of koam.com

from agonizer.com
March 21, 2001

The Man From KOAM

Q&A with KEVIN RENZULLI

KOAM is a daily must for literally millions of Sternophiles.

My own relationship with Stern (as a fan, calm down) dates back to his very first New York City broadcast in October 1982. I heard these words - "Well, you know, I've been into serious lesbian watching from the time I was a little boy" - and I never changed the station away from the madman responsible for that sentiment again. And neither has society at large.

Kevin's original one-sheet Howard Stern Newsletter was one of the very first self-published periodicals I read regularly, and without question the original such fan publication devoted to Howie. For years, Kevin has been a source of information, entertainment, and inspiration.

I salute him!

Now a little about me:

The past 18 months have been a tumultuous time both for Stern and his fans. A longer article on Howtch is due from me soon. I'll just say this: I do believe the divorce has been HORRIBLE for the show, I blame Ralph Cirella, and the gag-order that Howard (allegedly) slapped on all other Infinity Broadcasting jocks that prevents them from mentioning him is BEYOND pathetic and obnoxious and out-of-control. It pushes Howard over the line into Imus country. And this comes from a slavish devotee who has not missed a show since he was 13 years old.

I also think that WNEW's Opie and Anthony have beat him at his own game. For now. (They didn't inspire that gag order for nothing). Yes, they are Children of Stern (like me) and, yes, they essentially are JUST operating off the Stern show boilerplate but, goddamn if their afternoon program isn't wild and frenetic and ALIVE in a way that Howard, well, used to be. All told, though, my favorite three hours of radio in NYC now belong to WNEW's midday guys, Ron and Fez (www.ronfez.net).

So with all this going on, I wanted to hear what Kevin Renzulli had to say on these topics. He knows more about the show at the source of all this bombast than ANY other Stern fan, and he did not disappoint with his responses. Dig them below, and then go to www.koam.com.

(P.S. - thanks again, Kevin!)

When was the first time you heard Howard Stern?

My very first TRUE Howard Stern experience was the first day Howard broadcast his afternoon show on K-Rock (WXRK) in New York back in November of 1985. It was 2PM on a cold and rainy Monday and Howard was coming on the air for the first time. Since he never worked in that studio before, it was total chaos. Loads of dead air, as he worked his way around the audio board, the new engineers and the studio itself.

That day, Howard talked about how he was going to get his revenge on WNBC for firing him and his crew. He also talked about how he was going to make K-Rock #1 in the afternoons for hiring him. By the end of the first show, I was hooked. Afternoons and then eventually mornings would never be the same again for me.

What made you start the newsletter? When did you take it online?

I started publishing the newsletter back in May of 1989. The first Howard Stern Newsletter was a one-page black and white issue that I created on an Apple Macintosh. I printed it out and faxed it to Howard one day. Within 10 minutes, he was reading it and laughing at the stories and items I had in it.

Since Howard was only getting bad press, I decided to give him only good press, in the form of fan produced newsletter totally about him and the show. As the weeks and months passed, I created issue after issue. Howard usually read or mentioned something about the newsletter on the air when he got it and that served as great fuel to keep me going. Eventually, the newsletter became a subscription based publication with thousands of readers across the country. In its hey-day, the newsletter was a 20 page glossy publication with tons of photos, interviews, stories and bits. By the end of the newsletter's printed run in 1995, I had produced 68 different issues, each unique and entertaining.

In 1994, I took the newsletter onto the internet in order to get the word out on a daily basis, with color pictures and graphics that could be seen around the country and the world by anyone who wanted Howard Stern information. I felt the newsletter needed this daily update to remain topical, not to mention it was much more cost-effective. I eventually phased out the printed edition and as of today I have had almost 9 million visitors to the site.

How have you noticed Howard's divorce affecting the show?

In the beginning, I think it weighed him down considerably. But as time passed, Howard got out of his funk and, In my opinion, has brought the show back to good level of comedy and entertainment. On negative aspect of his separation with regard to the show itself is the fact that Howard won't talk very much about his private life anymore. It's 'radio silence' about who he dates and where he goes with them in order to protect the feeling of his daughters and I suppose, his soon-to-be ex-wife, Alison. It wasn't until mid-March 2001 that he admitted he was 'seeing someone' but that was all he would say.

What's the most surprising Howard story you've broken?

I actually had the heads up on Howard's seperation when the NY Daily News called to ask me about it. I posted the first story about it on the Internet a full 12 hours before the NY Daily News ran the story. That shocked the shit out of me. It was truly hard to believe.

Do you have any relationship with Howard or anyone else from the show?

I have done some freelance work for the show. I wrote the booklet for the "Crucified By The FCC' CD, and I worked on the book, 'Private Parts'. Gary calls me from time to time and I've met Howard on several occasions in meetings and a few times at Stern events.

Who are your favorite guests? Least favorites?

I like when Gilbert Gottfried stops by. He just goes off on a story Robin does in the news and it usually is a great bit. Pat Cooper and William Shatner are also great guests. I also like when they have some no-name transient who rambles with insanity.

[Note: I agree with Kevin completely, although I would add Bettlejuice to number two, behind Gilbert]

My least favorite guests would have to be the Jesus Twins (or whatever they are calling themselver these days). I'm also a little tired of any vapid, big-titted chick with a web site to plug.

Aside from the books, the movie, and the divorce, what would you say have been the five most important Howard stories that have happened since you began covering the show?

(not in any specific order of importance)

1. The increased syndication throughout the country.
2. The FCC and How Howard was affected.
3. Howard running for Governor of NY State.
4. Howard's newest 5 year contract
5. How Howard has changed the face of morning radio

The show today: better or worse than 5 years ago? 10 years ago? 15 years ago? 18 years ago?

Like anything in life, the show has its ups and down. I think overall and on average the show has been consistant in the last ten years after building from it start in mornings on K-Rock. Years ago, the show was very heavily into comedy bits and song parodies. But with the proliferation of stern imitators and the passing of time, Howard has done less and less of this material. The show has kept its comedy edge but in form of humorous topics, conversations and interviews with major celebrities.

There has been a LOT of controversy among Stern fanatics over the past 18 months or so about the quality of Howard's performance seeming "tired." His indisputably infuriating abuse of sick days has certainly added fuel to that fire. Do you feel like he's slipped/slipping?

I think what they do on a daily basis is very difficult and to continue to do it for many years takes it toll on everyone. I'm working for the same company for 22 years, yeah, I'm a little tired of it too right now but I'll get over it, we all do. With Howard's new 5 year deal, I think he is energized and the show is on a major comeback, with or with Jackie, I might add.

Have to ask: your opinion of Opie and Anthony?

Sometimes I listen to O&A in the afternoon. Anthony is way too talented to be floundering in afternoon drive. With Howard in the morning, he won't see morning drive and true success for at least another 5 years unless he leaves Infinity.

By then, he'll almost be as old as the old man Stern he and Opie make fun of. As a voice man with comedy skills, Anthony should be on Stern's show. Hey Anthony, Howard's got an open chair, did you get a call yet? Just blame Opie for all of the Stern bashing.

Opie is a great idea man but he can get under my skin sometimes because he acts like he's going to take the world on, from behind the mic, of course. I suppose it helps reinforce the show's 'don't fuck with us' attitude.

Howard's influence is big on them. I don't know if they really understand that. They may get angry if you call them imitators but they can't help themselves. Howard done just about everything in one way or another with regard to sex, freaks and geeks, now it's all derivative. It just reeks of Stern no matter what. Even the handling of some guest freaks is almost a carbon copy. Ever hear Stalker Patty? It's Celeste from the Stern show some 10 years ago.

What about the rest of WNEW-FM and Howard's GAG ORDER on the other jocks who work for Infinity from talking about him?

I think Howard just wants some respect. He's got enough to deal with, without having to have people on the same team undermining his efforts. Some people say it's the "Emperor's new clothes', I say so what. Besides, the gag order stuff is sort of one sided. Howard has never admitted to forcing the issue but others have a lot to say about it. Could it all be true or just part of the effort to make Howard look bad?

Have you ever gotten sick of Howard? Do you think you ever will?

I haven't missed a show ever. During a 2 week hospital stay in 1999, I had a walkman and every morning woke up at 6 am to listen. I suppose I will be listening to the show until the it goes off the air for good.

Do you think Howard will ever make a meaningful impact on TV or on the Internet?

When the technology changes on internet enough to offer what Howard is looking for such as faster connections and top quality video with audio for the masses, he will make a major impact with his ideas. Uncensored Stern is what we really need.

Your HONEST opinion of Crazy Cabbie, please.

I didn't like cabbie at first but now that he is revealing how fucked up his life is, I kind of enjoy his stories. When he's just hanging, it can get a little too much. I guess he's like a good fart, at first it's enticing but after a while you've just got to open a window and let some fresh air in the room.

[Good point, and now check out: www.ihatecabbie.com]

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