HOWARD SEEKING SIDEKICKS
By JOHN MAINELLI
October 11, 2004 -- WHO will win Howard Stern's "star search?"
The shock jock is taking more than just his bad-boy self to satellite radio in 15 months.
He'll occupy most of one channel but also has to find enough like-minded rowdies, rebels and wackos to fill up two other R- or X-rated channels as part of a $500 million five-year deal signed last week.
"I already talked to my new bosses [at Sirius Satellite Radio] and started work yesterday on two new channels," Stern told listeners Friday.
"I've already picked a name for the channels," he said, without revealing the monikers.
"I've already hired people. That's how fast I'm moving on this stuff."
Stern isn't talking about who he hired or wants to hire, but he's famously loyal and has a relatively small family of regulars on his radio show — some of whom will no doubt be considered for slots on Sirius.
Among comedians, he likes Pat Cooper, Richard Belzer, Gilbert Gottfried, Robert Schimmel — and Colin Quinn.
"Nobody's asked me and nobody's gonna ask me, but even so I want $2 million — change that to multi-millions," said Quinn, a "Saturday Night Live" vet who now hosts "Tough Crowd" on Comedy Central.Quinn said, if asked, "I'd probably say yes — but not if it's 6 in the morning."
Stern says his wish list will include "former enemies and former colleagues," which potentially opens the door to Jackie "The Jokeman" Martling, the longtime sidekick who left Stern's show three years ago in a salary dispute.
Martling didn't return calls from The Post.
Who else might Stern hire?
Less-than-top-shelf celebrities who regularly visit his show include actor Stephen Baldwin, MTV "Jackass" alum Steve-O, bombastic lawyer Dominic Barbara and celebrity bodyguard Chuck Zito — none of whom could be reached immediately.
"Stern will have to be experimental, do fresh things, and position them that way because they have to convince people to pay [$13 a month] for what you can't get over the air for free," said Inside Radio editor Tom Taylor.
"I think he'll try to break the mold."
Past Stern guests that might fill that bill include "Ku Klux Klan" movie reviewer Daniel Carver, flamboyant Martha Raye widower Mark Harris, ex-mobster Henry Hill, diet guru Richard Simmons and a long list of strippers and porn stars: Jenna Jameson, Amy Lynn, Tabitha Stevens and Kendra Jade included.
Quinn says there's a Stern trait that all the candidates should possess: "He speaks every feeling he has. He goes with total honesty. That's what's so compelling." |
