Stern exposes his 'private parts'

Love him or hate him, the fave shock jock proved he truly is the king of all media. Stem's movie, "Private Parts," based on his best seller, was No. 1 at the box office last weekend.

Movie Review

Cd Review

by Colleen Ehrle assistant arts & entertainment editor

"'Secret Samadhi," Live's much-anticipated third album, will undoubtedly be a commercial success on its name alone. As projected, it debuted at No. 1 on Billboard in its first week of release. However, to a music aficionado,this does not prove a thing in comparison to the overall musical performance offered by the artist.

The challenge facing "Samadhi" is whether or not the band has effectivelyreflected their musical development and improvementin relation to their breakthrough predecessor, "Throwing Copper," which was released in 1994 and sold six-million plus copies.

The quality of the band's music clearly exemplifies growth. In contrast, the lyric selection is simply disappointing. Several of the lyrics are poorly written and are very cliche. It is a wonder what Ed Kowalczyk, the band's singer and lyricist. was doing while writing this collection of 12 songs, since the music is arranged remarkably. Perhaps he was researching his latest obsession with spirituality and karma.

It is hard to assess whether or not '"Secret Samadhi" illustrates growth as a whole when comparing it to "Throwing Copper." While "Samadhi's" musical experimentation and development are definite signs of progress, the lyrics of "Throwing Copper" were never this repulsive.

by Dina M. Tartaglia assistant copy editor

Who else could have a naked lady massagin_ghis chest on live radio? Who else could have the "Kielbasa Queen" shove a 13inch-long kielbasa down her throat on-air and get away with it? And who else could have a supporting wife to stick with him throughout his perverse yet hilarious radio escapades?

Howard Stern, of course. Stern's "Private Parts," based on his 1993 best-selling book of the same name, debuted on Friday, March 7 in theaters across the country.

But unlike some expectations, this movie is not just a behindthe-scene look at what we hear on the radio every morning.

It also focuses on Stern's development through his years with the ever-constant support of his wife Allison, who is played by Mary McCormack.

We see the child of a radio engineer who grows up wanting to be in radio just like his daddy, but eventually finds a style of his own.

It is through radio experience after radio experience, both in and out of college, that Stem eventually lands his dream job in New York at WNBC.

Along the way to success, he picks up Fred Norris, once a quiet introvert, and Robin Quivers, a news lady trying to make a living in Washington, D.C.

Allison, a social worker, could find a job anywhere and follows him, even after a squabble they had when she found his wet underwear in their car.

Now, with his newly-formed entourage, Stern lands in New York.

Despite constant bickering with the program director and secret plots to v.ipe him out, Stem is bound to WNBC by a three-year contract and his ratings, which rise every day just like his ...well, you-know-what, when he sees half-naked ladies drool over him in and out of the studio.

What is most touching about "Private Parts" is Stern's imagination.

Even though he is undoubtedly loyal to Allison. he has a vivid imagination when it comes to women.

He even says, ·•1 could get her," when seated on a plane next to a woman on his way home from his Fartman appearance at the MTV Music Awards in 1992.

But he does not pursue the \.vomanbecause Allison has stuck with him through it all.

Even though we are taken through the perverse mind of the self-proclaimed "King of all Media," the plight of Allison and Howard's trial of having a baby could touch even a Stem hater's heart.

Of course, for every tender moment in the film. there is the extreme opposite, but that is what makes the film such a wellbalanced comedy.

"Private Parts" does leave the audience to think about how popular this one man actually is. He is the No. 1 disc jockey in the country, even though the Federal Communication Commission ranks him as most wanted on their Iist of radio personalities. But, the FCC has not stopped him yet.

Today. Stern has a 15-yearold radio show under his belt, which is syndicated on 35 radio stations in the country.

"Private Parts" also leaves the audience with the hope of a sequel due to its abrupt ending with Stem still at WNBC.

Stern's acting is mediocre, although most of it is voice-over which leads the audience through his "maturing." which is highly debatable.

But love him or hate him. Stern reveals a different side of his personality: a private one.

No matter what Stern had to do to get there, he reached his dream job and learned a few lessons about life on the way. Out of five stars. I give it four.