Howard Stern told listeners Monday that he remains with SiriusXM after a segment that began with a staged prank by guest host Andy Cohen.
Cohen opened the broadcast by joking that he would take over Stern’s timeslot with a new program called “Andy 100,” telling listeners, "I know you’re expecting a big announcement from Howard and this is not how things were meant to go. This was supposed to be a cleaner handoff. I’m kind of winging it." Stern later came on the air and thanked Cohen for the bit, saying the gag had been set up to surprise listeners amid recent speculation about the future of his show.
The segment followed weeks of rumors about Stern’s status at the satellite radio service. Stern had been expected to address the future of his program last week on Sept. 2, but his planned return was delayed after he fell ill, according to Variety. The interview aired on Monday in place of that earlier slot.
Stern has been a prominent figure on satellite radio since moving his long-running show from terrestrial radio to Sirius in 2006. His program has been a fixture on the platform through its evolution into SiriusXM and has frequently drawn wide attention for high-profile guests and controversial commentary.
Neither Stern nor SiriusXM released detailed information about any contractual terms during Monday’s broadcast. The segment focused on the on-air gag and Stern’s return to the studio, rather than specifics of any agreement.
Andy Cohen, a television personality and executive known for hosting programs on cable and streaming platforms, delivered the opening as part of the show’s planned format for the day, according to accounts of the broadcast. Cohen framed his remarks as a light-hearted takeover and described the morning as “surreal.” Stern’s public acknowledgment that he would remain with SiriusXM appears to put to rest the publicized uncertainty about his immediate plans.
Representatives for Stern and SiriusXM did not immediately provide further comment beyond the live broadcast. Media outlets that had reported on the rumors earlier in the year published accounts of Monday’s show after it aired, noting that the exchange between Cohen and Stern was staged for effect and that Stern resumed hosting duties once the prank concluded.