Many people have doubted the 'consipiracy theory' that Howard Stern issued a gag order against Opie and Anthony during both their terms with Infinity Broadcasting (now CBS Radio). Well, Howard admitted to the gag order on Hannity's show last night. Listen to the audio here.
I often wondered about the supposed gag order where O&A were not allowed to bring up Howard on their show. You can understand, especially after hearing this audio, why they're so obsessed with him. They actually weren't really competing with each other at the time - with Howard in the morning and O&A on a separate station in the afternoons - and even moreso in that they worked for the same company.
While I totally understand the thought that Stern is brand and he wanted to protect that brand (honestly, I can appreciate that), it's just sad that statements like "I'm a strong supporter of MY free speech," would actually be made - let alone enacted upon. If you want to know why this war between the two is going on, listen here.
Thanks OneWithDog!
First off O&A are clones, I have listened to there show a few times and its a complete rip off of Stern. Also how old are they they cant touch what Stern has done and never will, How many people bought Sirius and are still buying Sirius for Stern, now how many bought it for O&A.
I can care less about the gag order, these guys are a bunch of whiny babies and realize that when this merger happens there jobs may be at stake because of the similar content they have compared to Stern and who do you think will win that battle. My vote is Stern.I dont understand how anyone can call him a facade, how is that, how long was he the number 1 listened to show. How much money has he made on FM? And finally if it wasn't for Stern paving the way on Fm these guys wouldn't even have the opportunity to do what they do.
You can dispute this all you want but truth be told in a years time I wont care cause sirius and xm will be merged and your funny guys will probley be only on FM getting the life squeezed out of them by the FCC, that is if they have a job at all.
Why is Howard going on that bastard Hannity's show? Can't he do better than that?
The other and more important thing not being mentioned here along with the fact that Stern is the one who started the feud by calling Opie & Anthony Howard Stern clones and ripoffs, is the fact that O&A weren't in morning drive competition with Stern. O&A were #1 in afternoon drive and working for the same company as Howard, he was just selfish and didn't like the fact that somebody else was just as popular in his own city. Howard's ego ruined what could have become an untouchable one two punch that benefited the fans with him in the morning and O&A in afternoon drive, but as we know already Stern is the most insecure phony in the entertainment business. Stern likes to claim O&A are failures on XM but the truth is it takes time to build an audience again after being suspended for two years and coming back cold with hardly any publicity. When they settle into a comfortable situation O&A will gain their huge audience back and will be able to compete with anybody again, including Howard, who has become just like all those rich and untouchable celebrities he used despise and make fun of.
I'm surprised that no one has mentioned that O & A weren't the only ones who had to comply with the gag order. At the time, it seemed like it was all of Infinity radio's DJs had a company-wide gag order, not just O & A. Stern even addressed it by calling it an "edict"- he just never specifically mentioned O&A. If you live in the DC area and listened to WJFK, you'll remember Don & Mike also had to constantly avoid using Howard's name. Their callers were so used to it that after the order was lifted, for months callers still asked Don & Mike permission if they could mention "big bird". It seems like in retrospect, O&A treat this like they were singled out. Have they ever mentioned that other DJs got the same exact treatment? NO ONE was allowed to mention Howard on these stations. Sometimes it seems like this "feud" exists only in O&A's heads. Don & Mike could complain about exactly the same thing, but they don't.
This gag order is a sign of Howard Stern's descent into mediocrity. There was a time when Howard wouldn't have forced a gag order through, he would have ranted against the competition on his show, and it would have been hilarious. Stern doesn't have the balls to take on other on air personalities anymore. We will never again see Stern attack someone the way he attacked DJs like John Debella in the 1990s. He's resorted to silencing any criticism and hiding out in his mansion more than he visits his studio. He's washed up.
This gag order is a sign of Howard Stern's descent into mediocrity. There was a time when Howard wouldn't have forced a gag order through, he would have ranted against the competition on his show, and it would have been hilarious. Stern doesn't have the balls to take on other on air personalities anymore. We will never again see Stern attack someone the way he attacked DJs like John Debella in the 1990s. He's resorted to silencing any criticism and hiding out in his mansion more than he visits his studio. He's washed up.
Howard is right - let everyone see O and A do their own material without bashing stern. By being competitive in a business like that you can't blame him.
I've heard O and A - they really arent that funny and they claim to be "shock jocks". If you are a "shock jock" just do your material, don't proclaim it.
Check out most radio DJ personalities today that try and do morning shows etc and try to be funny - ask them who their inspiration was? Safe bet Howard was an influence in some way or another
I have listened to both. I am a fan of Howard from FM. I followed him to Sirius. I got XM only becuase it came with my new car. I want the merge to go through so I can save some money.
The O&A fans seem to be obsessed with Howard. I heard him mention them once or twice only. I find O&A to be boring.
fact is the feud started when Opie and anthony claimed a bit they called minority jeopardy to be original when the were on waaf in boston. When called out about it they denied that they ripped it off. that's where the feud started