Howard Stern had his diehard listeners spiraling this week … after he tricked them into thinking his legendary SiriusXM run was over and Andy Cohen was taking the reins.
The Setup: Andy Cohen “Takes Over”
Fans tuned in Monday morning ready to hear Stern finally address swirling rumors about his future at SiriusXM. Instead, they were greeted by the unmistakable voice of Bravo boss Andy Cohen.
“This is not the voice you were expecting to hear,” Cohen opened. “This is not the voice you probably wanted to hear. But it is I, Andy Cohen, and this is our first day broadcasting on Andy 100.”
Cohen kept the gag going, teasing that he wasn’t sure what he was allowed to say about Stern’s absence. “Is he fired? I don’t know … but he’s not here and I am,” Cohen added, admitting he was “winging it” after what was supposed to be a “cleaner handoff.”
Fans Weren’t Laughing (At First)
The prank dragged on for several minutes, even pulling in a furious caller who ranted about Howard being replaced. For Stern Nation — a fanbase fiercely loyal to their King of All Media — it was no laughing matter.
Then … Stern and Robin Quivers finally hopped on the mic, chuckling as they revealed the whole thing was a bit.
“You all fell for it!” Stern declared.
Howard Explains His Absence
The 70-year-old host explained that a serious illness had sidelined him over the past week, which is why his long-teased return kept getting delayed. He admitted he’s still battling the sickness but didn’t want to leave fans hanging any longer.
Stern also acknowledged the chatter around whether his show might be on the chopping block, saying both he and SiriusXM brass have been leaning into the speculation for fun.
The Future of the Show
So … is Stern actually leaving SiriusXM? Not yet. The shock jock said he’s happy at the company, though he hinted ongoing talks about how to “move forward” are still happening.
For now, Howard is back on-air — and clearly, he hasn’t lost his touch for pulling off headline-making stunts.
The Pop Radar Take
Leave it to Howard Stern to turn cancellation rumors into comedy gold. With Andy Cohen as the perfect accomplice, the prank proves Stern still knows how to work a crowd — even if it means trolling his most loyal fans.
If Stern really is nearing the end of his SiriusXM run, he’s going to make sure we never forget the ride.
What do you think — was Stern’s Andy Cohen prank hilarious or a little too cruel for his diehards? Drop your thoughts below!