Private Parts (1997) * * *

Directed by:  Betty Thomas

Starring:  Howard Stern, Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, Jackie Martling, Gary Dell'Abate, Mary McCormack, Paul Giamatti

Private Parts is based on Howard Stern's autobiography of the same name.   It chronicles his story well known to Stern fans (like myself), but also makes it palatable to those new to Stern's world.     We see his rise from geek to radio god.    He transformed himself into the self-proclaimed, "King of All Media"  by basically transforming ordinary radio into a forum for him to editorialize and discuss his favorite topic....himself.    Since this film's release, his radio career has only escalated.    He now earns roughly $80 million a year on Sirius Satellite Radio where his show has brought in millions upon millions of new subscribers.   At age 62, he is still king.   How many in any form of media can say the same thing?

Stern plays himself from college on, where he couldn't get a date except for Alison Berns (McCormack), who would soon become his wife.   (Update:  Stern and Alison divorced and both are remarried).  They love each other and she supports his career as a DJ.   His voice is not exactly made for radio initially.     He speaks with such poor pitch control he sounds like he is about to run out of breath any second now.   Once he relaxes and finds his rhythm, we hear the confident, deep bass voice his listeners have grown accustomed to.   Stern jumps from city to city and catches on in Washington, DC, where he meets his sidekick of now 30-plus years Robin Quivers.  She doesn't know what to make of his off-the-cuff style that breaks all of the radio rules, but she soon finds her niche and they work well together.     Despite his growing audience and ratings, management is forever trying to reign Stern in and force conformity upon him.     In their minds, he must announce the time every 15 minutes on schedule and not talk over records or the radio gods will strike the station with lightning bolts, I suppose.

Stern and his crew, which also now consists of Fred Norris, are lured away to WNBC in New York in the early 80's and his life becomes a living hell.     Stern has discussed this horrid period in his life and career in the book and on the radio, but now we get to see it for ourselves.     His boss is nicknamed "Pig Vomit" (Giamatti), who fecklessly tries to tame Stern by having him pronounce the station's call letters "correctly" and chastising him for his risqué bits.   Stern broke new ground by interviewing naked lesbians, getting around the FCC's "Seven dirty words" by playing Match Game where he uses the words in different contexts, and discussing his personal life.   Through all this, his wife assures herself and others, "it's all an act."

Stern and his crew members all play themselves well enough.   Stern balances himself between the radio guy who pushes the envelope and a perhaps misunderstood romantic.   He does enough shenanigans to satisfy his fans, while also being likable enough to those who may not have open to liking him before.    Of course, Private Parts is not immune to the biopic treatment of playing loose with the truth or introducing fictional characters.   There are other stories I would have liked to have seen put in, but that may have alienated a segment of the audience Stern was trying to reach.

The supporting cast also contributes positively.  Giamatti is memorable as the back-stabbing Pig Vomit who draws the ire of Stern.   Richard Portnow and Kelly Bishop play Stern's parents.   His father calls him a moron almost daily while his mother embarrasses Howard by telling his friends the family is half-black.   Both Portnow and Bishop capture the essence of how Stern recalls his parents in his book, which is comical bordering on insane.          

All turns out well for Stern as history proves.   Despite his over $1 million in fines by the FCC for supposed indecency, his career flourished and he turned Sirius into a media giant.    He never made another movie, although it would have been interesting to see how he would fare in other roles.     Maybe we're better off.     He made a good movie with Private Parts, and he quit while he was ahead. 

8/4/20 Update:  After watching Private Parts again last night, I noticed a continuity error:   When Howard tells his wife they are moving to WNBC, (and Alison subsequently tells him she's pregnant), it is 1982.   When Howard holds his rally with AC/DC, it's 1985 and Alison goes into labor on stage.  Was she pregnant for three years?   Just wondering.