PRIVATE PARTS
A film review by Ben Hoffman
Copyright 1997 Ben Hoffman
Right up front I have to admit that before attending a screening of PRIVATE PARTS, the only thing I knew about Howard Stern was based on the occasional articles I had read in the Los Angeles Times. None of it was flattering. I was, therefore, expecting to see an outrageously disgusting display by this top-rated radio talk-show host. In that, I was not disappointed; he is disgusting and he is outrageous.
However, to my surprise, I found him a warm person, a devoted husband and a loving father. In addition, he is in no way stupid. College-educated in Communications, he seems to have learned more than many who are currently executives in radio and TV.
Howard's goal was to stop being hired and fired by every radio station all over the country. He wanted to be number one, have a secure job, and do things his way. He then surrounded himself with some wonderful people, notably Robin Quivers, elevating her from just reading the weather reports to engaging in exchanges with Howard. How the executives railed against that! How they screamed that they were losing advertising clients. All of this, of course, until the ratings started coming in and they realized they had a gold mine. So, if Howard Stern is disgusting, what can one say of those who hired him, wanted to fire him, but succumbed to the ratings? Who has fewer decent values?
The "utterly without redeeming qualities" of many of his gags are, pitifully, funny but I am not about to enumerate them. My understanding is that the director and Stern both did not want to soft-pedal any of what really has taken place on some of his shows, so we get to see a few choice ones. Even as we gag, we laugh. Some are so infantile, it speaks volumes about the public that adores him. One executive explained that of those who listen to his programs, there are those who love him and want to know what next outrageous thing he is going to say or do. For those who watch but hate him, they do it because they want to know what next outrageous thing he is going to say or do. So there you have the reason for his large audience, as well as the sales of his book, PRIVATE PARTS.
Mention must be made of the cast, many of whom are real-life people from his show as well as others who make this a very funny movie: In addition to Howard and Robin, there are Mary McCormack who plays his wife; Fred Norris who plays himself as he has been on Stern's show as engineer for some 18 years; Jack Martling, the show's real head writer; Gary Dell'Abate, the producer of Howard's show . . . and a dozen others who contribute to the film, including some stunning nudes.
So, if you are squeamish, perhaps you ought to stay away. But if you are able, as I was, to enjoy the spectacle of Howard Stern putting everyone on . . . and I have no doubt but that is exactly what he is doing, . . I suggest you catch PRIVATE PARTS and get yourself a good laugh while learning about the phenomenon that is Howard Stern.
Directed by Betty Thomas
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Ben Hoffman
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