The King And I: The Irreplaceable Howard Stern

Like millions of us, my stepmom is a lifelong Howard Stern fan. She just sent this photo taken off of Howard TV, airing our in-studio interview from earlier this week. I had the honor of being Howard Stern's guest on his Tuesday, 420 show (scroll to 840a).

Response is coming into My Damn Channel via email, phones, video views, comments, new subscribers, tweets, wall postings, and even a live spotting this afternoon in a clothing store (to complete the surreality). The influx of intense energy all flows back to a man undeniably uniquely qualified to hold the heavyweight title: "King of All Media."

Howard endures as one of the most talented and honest souls alive. He embodies the freedom of speech with every breath. For all who've been fired, laid off, downsized, pink slipped, discharged, axed, or job eliminated...it's hard to imagine speaking truth to power on a live microphone the way Howard has done it for decades.

I first followed Howard Stern on a carrier current, college radio station, 64 WTBU at Boston University. (There's a great scene depicting TBU in "Private Parts.")

If you've ever chased a radio dream, then your college years are likely the last time and place you ever experienced the fear and thrill of exercising your freedom of speech over a live mic.

Primordial FM rock radio stations were created in the late 1960's. Early heroes like Harry Shearer and Steven Clean were blowing minds at places like KPPC in Pasadena, California (which eventually became the world famous KROQ).

The combined forces of original radio talents and pre-corporate rock music created stations throughout the 70s powerful enough to infect audiences with a sense of community, purpose, passion, sex and fun that began to hit the wall around 1980.

I was sitting on the front steps of my apartment on Beacon Street in Boston with Steven Clean and my best friend, Mike Isabella the night Ronald Reagan was elected President. I was 20. I was about to drop out of college and take a full-time job as a rock radio jock at WAAF out in Worcester, Mass. One year later, I had the only radio thrill that came closest to being on Howard's show this week. Lightning struck and we convinced the Rolling Stones to do a private show for our station's fans in 1981 to start up the "Tattoo You" tour.

But, back to Mr. Clean. I'd been Steven's intern for a time at WCOZ in Boston. At that point in his career, Clean had been fired by many of the best radio stations in the country. He was a real life inspiration for the Dr. Johnny Fever character in "WKRP in Cincinnati." Steven was incredibly talented, brilliant, a true music expert and fan...and he was rebellious enough to drive the most patient souls to the edge of their sanity.

Considering the nation's new President, Steven held a joint firmly in my face and said, "See this? This is OVER!"
By the time of Reagan's second term, most radio station managers had a "Just Say No" policy for disc jockeys expressing free thoughts on mic, or taking free reign over any music playlist.

A small number of former radio station program directors shaved their beards, cut their hair, bought expensive suits, and armed themselves with halliburton briefcases filled with blow and bullshit designed to convince every fearful radio exec that they had the only secrets to ratings success, fortune and fame.

Conformity soon became the norm. Tighter playlists made stations sound the same from city-to-city. The job of disc jockey was transforming free thinkers into people paid to read positioning slogans, timechecks and weather forecasts.

In the midst of all this unholy homogenization, Howard Stern began to build a radio show free from the constraints put on most of his competitors. His talent grew on the radio and expanded with every carefully planned new project he launched.

Superfans know that Howard pays homage to legends who came before him like Lenny Bruce and George Carlin. I can't think of another entertainer who has more succesfully won battles with corporate brass than Howard. One of the many surprises about the real man to outsiders is how he maintains his position with grace and wisdom.

No one knows what the next chapter will be for the Stern show in 2011. Assume Howard can see the possible moves on the chess board more clearly than most. As a fan, I'll be following as I have since the beginning. As a business owner, My Damn Channel stands ready to serve The King anytime he calls. 

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COOKIN' WITH COOLIO - THE BOOK

Big love to Coolio, the author! 

Our "Cookin' with Coolio" web series spawned a cook book that promises to give you the skills that lead to successful seduction at least 70 percent of the time:

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/food/dishing/2009/11/coolio_intervie.html

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MY DAMN CHANNEL FLAUNTS "NEW FALL SEASON"

 

Those 3 tired words are decades old but Hollywood hopes they help you fall in love with new shows.

We put quotes around our "new fall season" - knowing we can't fool you into love - but hoping it feels just a little funnier that way.

In two years, we’ve birthed 25 channels of music and comedy…working with artists we love. We think you’ve taught us how to get talent and new series worthy of your evil eye.

Help us buy another bag of chips for lunch! Share the full press release. Share these links to our New Series:

 

Spärhusen

Easy To Assemble: Co-Worker of The Year

Knight Shift

RAMP (Radio And Music Pros)

Harry Shearer: Greed and Fear

Don Was: The Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music (Season 3)

Stella Live in Boston

Unwigged & Unplugged: An Evening with Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer

Animation Block (Season 2)

Grace Crashers Presented by Southern Comfort

 

New Stars:

 

Illeana Douglas

Keanu Reeves

Ask A Ninja 

Sir Paul McCartney

Rob Mailhouse

Sir Sean Connery

Todd Spahr

Sir Richard Branson

Wallace Langham

Ryan Hunter

Taige Jensen

Sir Ben Kingsley

Jeff Goldblum

Stephen Hawking

Brad O’Farrell

Justine Bateman

Tom Arnold

Sir Elton John

Kevin Carter

Keith Berman

Steve Resnik

Prince William

The Queen

Ed Begley Jr.

Craig Bierko

Kevin Pollak

Sidney Poitier

Jane Lynch

Cheri Oteri

Ricki Lake

Tim Meadows

Dave Ahdoot

Daryl Sabara

Eric Lange

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My Damn Channel: Hookups

Inbox Violation #30 Monday August 31, 2009 My Damn Channel Wants You to Hookup SUPERSTAR HOOKUP   A mega box office star is coming to My Damn Channel this fall.  Nope, bigger than that... BIGGER   If you guess right, we hook you up with a prize and the news. Send guesses here   SPINAL HOOKUP   Christopher Guest, Michael McKean & Harry Shearer are 3 humans we cannot live without.  Their UNWIGGED & UNPLUGGED LIVE CONCERT DVD is out Tuesday. Get it here   Check out exclusive clips of our heroes performing songs from THIS IS SPINAL TAP & more.   STELLA HOOKUP   My Damn Channel god squads come in 3's. Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter & David Wain are STELLA.  Get their new DVD: STELLA LIVE in BOSTON now   Their My Damn Channel short, Birthday and more exclusive clips from their live show will be here   PARTY HOOKUP   Last year, Grace hit rock bars and outdoor festivals in our series, MUSIC NIGHTS My Damn Channel and Southern Comfort are teamed up again this year to bring you GRACE CRASHERS.   Keep your eye on DAILY GRACE for a chance to crash one of our upcoming parties and get cast in our new series.   My Damn Channel - PHONE: 866.424.8864 - EMAIL: info@MyDamnChannel.com   This email was sent to fishstandsup@gmail.com. To ensure that you continue receiving our emails, please add us to your address book or safe list. manage your preferences | opt out using TrueRemove® Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails. 202 W. 40th St. 16th floor | New York, NY 10018

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TO PRAISE WBCN

Famous deaths surround us these past few weeks. The nature of heat and fame create imagined personal connections to a legendary news oracle, to a Pop King, or a Pin-up angel. But this time, it's personal.

The death of WBCN is a painful loss felt deeply by everyone of us directly influenced by its greatness. 

Every music fan whose ears and taste were shaped by the artists, songs and albums heard on 104.1 lost a friend.

Don't believe everything you hear from Spinal Tap. Boston IS a college town. If you've ever called this city "home," you owe respect and appreciation for the fun, the spirit and the sounds that BCN put into Boston.

My first college internship was at BCN. I remember the intense electric feeling as my heart beat way too fast on the first night inside that studio. That internship was the first step onto a path chasing dreams. I'll always be grateful.

If you're a fellow mourner, do you accept all the nice nice talk about change being inevitable, or can you imagine a new kind of radio powerful enough to make hearts beat way too fast?

Seth Godin once said that one of the problems with radio in the modern age is that it should no longer be called "radio."

What would we call it?

How could we forge a new model for "radio" with the honesty, passion, brains and balls to a co-create a business too powerfully protected by its fans and artists to be stopped?

Where would you launch such a thing?

Just asking. 

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4 MORE WAINY DAYS TO WAIT

Just got a first look at the all-new WAINY DAYS.

The first episode stars David dating Christine Lakin (on the left from The Hottie & The Nottie, Step by Step), and Saffron Burrows (on the right from Boston Legal, The Bank Job)

A.D. Miles, Zandy Hartig & Matt Ballard are all back!

And you'll recognize the character actor (Mike Starr) as the cabbie from every movie ever made.

We're premiering Monday, 6/16 at 7a et - unless we can't wait & sneak it to you early here.

Here's today's featured video - Grace's #2 fave episode -"Walking Tour" - starring David's co-con from The State and Reno 911, the amazing Kerri Kenney-Silver.

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MY DAMN CHANNEL GIVES IN TO IRRATIONAL FANS

In a world of too much stupid, the best thing you can usually do in my job is give in to the WILL OF THE PEOPLE.

My Damn Channel makes three major announcements today.

BRING BACK DONNIE!

There's been virtual chaos since the disappearance of Donnie Hoyle - master mockutorian - king of YOU SUCK AT PHOTOSHOP. Winner of 3 Webby Awards tonight & creator/maker/magician of 9 MILLION VIEWS.

After months of searching, Donnie Hoyle has been found...inside the body...of a cat.


Donnie?

Keep watching, SNATCHBUCKER's SECOND CHANCE.

The truth is in there and will be further revealed.
 
YOU SUCK AT PHOTOSHOP shall return!

MAKE IT WAIN!

David Wain picks up the WEBBY AWARD tonight for Best Comedy Series for WAINY DAYS. We launched My Damn Channel with this awesome auteur and David's grabbed your eyeballs 5 MILLION TIMES. We're lucky bastards to announce the premiere of Season 3 of WAINY DAYS starting one week from NOW: Monday, 6/16.



David Wain, Saffron Burrows ("Boston Legal," "The Bank Job") in Wainy Days on My Damn Channel.


David Wain, Lee Majors ("The Six Million Dollar Man") in Wainy Days on My Damn Channel.


SAY GRACE!

Last & never least....we're proud to announce a new fulltime gig for Grace Helbig! You met her in "Bedtime Stories" - you created a mega community of fans in "Daily Grace." 



Grace's morning vlogs have been seen hundreds of thousands of times. This summer, Grace escapes Gracie Mansion. My Damn Channel goes on the streets, in the clubs, and on tour.  More o dat later.

Here's all the news o' the day with jagoonda thanks from making life great & simple by telling us what to do!

rob 

 

FOR RELEASE MONDAY, JUNE 9, 2008 – 7a ET

 

MY DAMN CHANNEL GIVES IN TO IRRATIONAL FANS

 

Donnie Hoyle Returns With “You Suck at Photoshop”

Plus Season 3 of “Wainy Days” and a New Daily Show

 

NEW YORK, June 9, 2008 - My Damn Channel (www.MyDamnChannel.com), the entertainment studio and new media platform, today announced the return of two of the most popular, original series on the web.

 

Tonight, the Webby Awards will honor My Damn Channel seven times with accolades including Best Comedy series for “Wainy Days,” plus Best How-To series and People’s Voice wins for “You Suck at Photoshop.”

 

“You Suck at Photoshop” is produced by the creative duo Big Fat Brain. The series has been viewed over 9 million times. Donnie Hoyle, the mysterious lead character for these “mockutorials” vanished after episode 10.

 

Deluged by fan requests for Hoyle’s return, My Damn Channel successfully negotiated a follow-up season with the emotionally unstable screencaster. The series will reboot with all new episodes Friday, June 27.

 

David Wain is the creator, writer and director of “Wainy Days.” This hit web series follows one man’s absurd quest for love and sex in the big city. The first 2 seasons have been viewed over 5 million times. Guest stars have included Paul Rudd, Jonah Hill, Elizabeth Banks, Rob Corddry, Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter.

 

Wain is a founding member of the comedy troupes The State and Stella. He is a successful film director whose credits include “Wet Hot American Summer” and “The Ten.” Wain is currently filming a new comedy starring Seann William Scott, Paul Rudd, Elizabeth Banks and Christopher Mintz-Plasse.

 

The third season of “Wainy Days” premieres Monday, June 16^th, with a long list of guest stars from top Hollywood films and hit television series including Elizabeth Banks, Lee Majors (“The Six Million Dollar Man”), Janeane Garofalo, Jeffrey Ross, Ed Helms, Alicia Witt, Saffron Burrows, Elizabeth Reaser, A.D. Miles, Mather Zickel, Zandy Hartig, Lucy Punch, Matt Ballard, Christine Lakin, Xander Berkeley, Sarah Clarke, Jorma Taccone and Joe Lo Truglio. “Wainy Days” is produced by Jonathan Stern.

 

Finally, My Damn Channel announces a new, daily show. Grace Helbig is the star of “Daily Grace,” premiering weekday mornings.  Grace hosts a daily, freeform vlog delivering unfiltered commentary on new video premieres, featured clips and life behind the scenes at My Damn Channel. “Daily Grace” features two-way communication with the website’s growing community of music and comedy fans. Grace is a writer, improv artist, actress and comedian. She was previously featured on My Damn Channel’s “Bedtime Stories.”

 

Founder and CEO of My Damn Channel, Rob Barnett says, “In ten months, we’ve captured over 24 million views for our original videos. We’ll never be able to see the beach this summer now that advertisers are signing up to be associated with our quality content. Later this month, we’ll announce a major, mid-six figure deal for branded entertainment. Better than a sun tan.”

 

About My Damn Channel

 

My Damn Channel is an entertainment studio and new media platform created to empower filmmakers, actors, comedians and musicians to co-produce, distribute and monetize original, episodic video. Artists create programming for the My Damn Channel site and for syndication on today's most heavily-trafficked online communities and social networks. My Damn Channel delivers creative control, funding, distribution, and revenue sharing. Co-conspirators include Big Fat Brain, Coolio, Grace Helbig, Steve Kerper, A.D. Miles, Andy Milonakis, Harry Shearer, David Wain and Don Was. The company is supported by an advertising revenue model, and by licensing the studio's entire portfolio of content across all forms of digital distribution.

 

Media Contact:

Maria Diokno

866.424.8864

Maria@MyDamnChannel.com

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COMING UPs

First, let's clean up a rumor. As far as we know, Keith Richards was (not) at the Was (Not Was) gig last night. His 'people' were there. So was Paul McGuinness, manager of the little four piece rock band, U2.  

If you wuz not at the Blender Theatre in NYC, you missed one of the funkiest, tightest nights of dance grooves in a dog's age. Was (Not Was) is essential live music medicine. SEE THIS TOUR - BUY THIS ALBUM. Here's a clip from Wednesday night in Boston of their BADASS Temptations cover.


Here's what's in the My Damn Channel pipeline.


ANDY MILONAKIS shot a short film for us with JASON MEWES (Clerks & more) - premiering next week with a chance for you to create alternate endings to their oddly artful piece o' cinema.




HARRY SHEARER is about to shoot a new My Damn Channel video and stick another swift boot in the ass of the sitting President of the United States. More on this next week.




DAVID WAIN is about to start filming Season 3 of WAINY DAYS next week!!!  Debuting in June. Rumors that Elizabeth Banks is returning as "Shelly."

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