Editing Howard Stern (section)

===1998–2004: Television and film projects===
In April 1998, Stern announced his return to Saturday night television after he signed a deal with [[CBS]] to compete with ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' on NBC and ''[[MADtv]]'' on Fox. His show, ''[[The Howard Stern Radio Show]]'', an hour-long program that aired on mostly CBS affiliates, was formed of taped highlights from the radio show with additional material unseen from his nightly E! show, including animated segments and exclusive behind the scenes footage.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://jam.canoe.com/Movies/Artists/S/Stern_Howard/1998/04/01/761968.html |first= John |last= Sakamoto |title= Stern's TV show to debut in August |date= April 1, 1998 |work=[[Jam!]] |access-date= April 9, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626212704/http://jam.canoe.com/Movies/Artists/S/Stern_Howard/1998/04/01/761968.html |archive-date= June 26, 2015 }}</ref> Following its debut on August 22, 1998, on 79 stations nationwide, the show began to lose affiliates after two episodes as local broadcasters became concerned with the risque content.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/texas-tv-station-boots-stern-article-1.807142 |first= Eric |last= Mink |title= Texas TV Station Boots 'Stern' |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date= September 2, 1998 |access-date= April 9, 2010 }}</ref> By June 1999, the number of stations carrying the show had decreased to fifty-five.{{sfn|Luerssen|2009|p=148}} After three seasons, the final show aired on November 17, 2001, to around thirty stations.<ref>{{cite news |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/tube-article-1.929578 |first= Donna |last= Petrozzello |title= Inner Tube: Stern going off the air |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date= November 15, 2001 |access-date= April 9, 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/13521/howard-sterns-radio-show-leaving-tv.html |title= Howard Stern's Radio Show Leaving TV |work=Media Post News |date= November 16, 2001 |access-date= April 9, 2010 }}</ref> Stern reflected on the endeavor: "It was a weird thing. When I did the [[The Howard Stern Show (WWOR)|Channel 9 show]] we used to beat ''Saturday Night Live'' in New York&nbsp;... I didn't think [the CBS show] was a good idea actually because [the radio show] was already running on the E! network. It was a mistake&nbsp;... they ultimately wanted what the Channel 9 show was doing".<ref>{{Cite episode |first= Howard |last= Stern |title= Here's to The Losers |series= The History of Howard Stern |date= December 27, 2010 |network=[[Sirius XM Radio]] |station=[[Howard 100]] }}</ref>
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| quote = This executive-producing thing is fun stuff, and unlike my radio career, has been a remarkably smooth experience. I'm very much into this. It's absolutely joyous to be behind the scenes as a responsible businessman.
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| source = — Stern on his executive productions<ref name=virginiapilot2000>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-63241005.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911030534/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-63241005.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2016 |work=[[The Virginian-Pilot]] |first= Meghan |last= Casserly |date= March 14, 2000 |url-access= |title= Watch out Hasselhoff Howard Stern's "Son of the Beach" provides equal-opportunity insults |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref>
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In the first [[Celebrity 100]] list compiled by ''[[Forbes]]'' magazine in March 1999, Stern ranked at number 27 with an estimated $20&nbsp;million earned that year.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.forbes.com/sites/meghancasserly/2012/05/17/forbes-celebrity-100-class-of-99-where-are-they-now/4/ |work=[[Forbes]] |first= Meghan |last= Casserly |date= May 17, 2012 |title= Forbes Celebrity 100 Class Of '99: Where Are They Now? |access-date= February 14, 2015 }}</ref> During the time of his CBS television show, Stern ventured into work as an [[executive producer]] through his production company for several television and film projects. In September 1999, the [[UPN]] network announced the production of ''Doomsday'', an animated science-fiction comedy television series, for an initial thirteen episodes originally set to air in 2000. The series was described as: "Set in a post-apocalyptic America nearly destroyed by a freak radiation burst, [the show] follows the travels of the Bradley family as they cross the country in an RV looking for a new place to call home".<ref>{{cite news |url= https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pyIyAAAAIBAJ&dq=doomsday%20howard-stern&pg=3357%2C1102446 |title= Stern's 'Doomsday' dawns at UPN |newspaper=[[Reading Eagle]] |page= B8 |date= September 17, 1999 |access-date= August 24, 2010 }}</ref> Stern was to produce the series and voice Orinthal, the family's dog,<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/upn-show-enlists-stern-animated-talker-article-1.843322 |title= UPN show enlists Stern as an animated talker |work=[[New York Daily News]] |date= September 16, 1999 |access-date= August 24, 2010 |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150626123252/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/upn-show-enlists-stern-animated-talker-article-1.843322 |archive-date= June 26, 2015 }}</ref> but the show never made it to air.<ref name=nypost2001>{{cite web |url= https://nypost.com/2001/11/17/stern-helped-out-by-the-snake/ |title= Stern helped out by 'the snake' |first= Michael |last= Starr |date= November 17, 2001 |work=[[New York Post]] |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref> Stern's most successful executive production was ''[[Son of the Beach]]'', a television parody sitcom of ''[[Baywatch]]'' that ran from March 2000 to October 2002 on [[FX (TV network)|FX]].<ref name=virginiapilot2000/> The show was not renewed for a fourth season.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91532660.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911053900/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-91532660.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2016 |work= Cable World |date= September 16, 2002 |url-access=  |title= Late Breaking News |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref>
[[File:HowardStern2000.jpg|thumb|Stern in 2000]]
On December 16, 2000, Stern's last live radio show of the year, he announced the signing of his new contract with Infinity Broadcasting to continue his show for five years after four months of negotiations.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-68363427/stern-still-shocking-infinity |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160828192117/https://business.highbeam.com/2012/article-1G1-68363427/stern-still-shocking-infinity |url-status= dead |archive-date= August 28, 2016 |title= Stern still shocking at Infinity |date= December 18, 2000 |first= Nellie |last= Andreeva |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |access-date= August 21, 2016 }}</ref> ''Forbes'' estimated his new earnings ranged between $17&nbsp;million and $20&nbsp;million a year.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.forbes.com/2000/12/15/1215faces.html |title= Forbes Faces: Howard Stern |date= December 15, 2000 |first= Davide |last= Dukcevich |work=[[Forbes]] |access-date= August 21, 2016 }}</ref> Stern spoke at [[The Concert for New York City]] in October 2001 in a hazmat suit with his buttocks exposed similarly to his 1992 MTV Music Video Awards appearance.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-79328727 |title= 3-page special on the concert for New York |work= The Mirror |date= October 22, 2001 |via=|url-access=|access-date=}}{{dead link|date=July 2021}}</ref> In November 2001, Stern's production company had begun development on a weekly television sitcom titled ''Kane'' for CBS, originally intended to replace ''The Howard Stern Radio Show'' following its cancellation, with [[Ron Zimmerman]] as the writer of its pilot episode. Its premise followed "an oddball southern family and its strong-willed patriarch. The lead character's life is altered when his previously long-lost wife returns home to him and their group of eccentric children". The project was canceled before the filming stage.<ref name=nypost2001/><ref>{{cite web |url= https://variety.com/2001/tv/news/stern-cbs-pact-for-sitcom-kane-1117855934/ |first1= Melissa |last1= Grego |first2= Michael |last2= Schneider |title= Stern, CBS part for sitcom |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date= November 15, 2001 |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref> In late 2002, Stern acquired the rights to the comedy films ''[[Rock 'n' Roll High School]]'' (1979) and ''[[Porky's]]'' (1982) with Arclight Films. He expressed a wish to use a remake of the former as a launchpad for an unknown band. Under the deal, Stern was served as executive producer and was allowed to place "Howard Stern Presents" in the titles. He reasoned, "If I say to&nbsp;... my audience, this is 'Howard Stern Presents', it means something to them&nbsp;... it's going to be crazy. It means that it's going to be different, and they know I'm not going to be giving them any schlock".<ref>{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/73599/howard-stern-to-remake-rocknroll-high-school |title= Howard Stern To Remake 'Rock'N'Roll' High School |date= November 1, 2002 |magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] |access-date= November 24, 2014 }}</ref> Development for ''Porky's'' came to a halt in 2011 following legal action regarding the ownership of the film's rights.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/will-a-legal-fight-ensnare-171863/ |title= Will a Legal Fight Ensnare Howard Stern's Planned 'Porky's' Remake? (Exclusive) |date= March 28, 2011 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |first= Eriq |last= Gardner |access-date= February 4, 2022}}</ref>

In March 2003, Stern filed a $100-million lawsuit against [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]], [[Telepictures]] and the producers of its reality television series ''[[Are You Hot?]]''. He claimed its premise was copied from a radio show segment of his known as The Evaluators, whereby its staff and guests evaluate the bodies of contestants. Before the show aired, Stern was in talks of producing his version of the show.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-72558266.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911094703/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-72558266.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2016 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date= March 14, 2003 |url-access= |title= Howard Stern Sues ABC Over 'Are You Hot?' |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref> A settlement was reached five months later.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77424430.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160911100323/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-77424430.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 11, 2016 |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |date= August 9, 2003 |url-access=  |title= Howard Stern Settles 'Are You Hot?' Suit |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref> In early 2004, Stern spoke of talks with ABC to host an hour television interview special as part of its ''[[Primetime (American TV program)|Primetime]]'' series, but the project never came to fruition.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://nypost.com/2004/01/22/abc-bets-the-raunch-on-stern-tv-special/ |work=[[New York Post]] |first= Richard |last= Johnson |date= January 22, 2004 |title= ABC bets the raunch on Stern TV special |access-date= January 22, 2004 }}</ref> In August 2004, cable channel [[Spike (TV channel)|Spike]] ordered thirteen episodes of ''Howard Stern: The High School Years'', an animated series set during Stern's childhood that he was to executive produce.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122258126.html |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160910061733/https://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-122258126.html |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 10, 2016 |work=[[Daily Variety]] |date= August 19, 2004 |title= Spike drawn in again: net retries toons with Stern's 'School Years' |last= Martin |first= Denise  |url-access= |access-date= August 16, 2016 }}</ref> By late 2005, episode scripts and some test animation had been completed,<ref>{{Cite episode |first= Howard |last= Stern |series=[[The Howard Stern Show]] |date= November 14, 2005 |station=[[WINS-FM|WXRK]] |time= 6:00 a.m. hour }}</ref> but the project was soon shelved. Stern explained the series could have been produced "on the cheap" at $300,000 per episode, but the quality he demanded would have cost over $1&nbsp;million each.<ref>{{Cite episode |first= Howard |last= Stern |series=[[The Howard Stern Show]] |date= September 10, 2007 |station=[[Howard 100]] |time= 10:00 a.m. hour }}</ref> Actor [[Michael Cera]] was cast as the lead voice.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.tribute.ca/people/michael-cera/5577/ |title= Michael Cera biography |work=[[Tribute (magazine)|Tribute]] |access-date= August 22, 2016 }}</ref> Stern also worked on a pilot with [[Robert Schimmel]] for [[The WB]], based around the comedian's real-life experience of falling in love with his daughter's best friend following his battle with cancer, but was not picked up.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/01/22/raunchy-radio-star-stern-to-host-abc-special.html |work=[[Fox News]] |date= January 22, 2004 |title= Raunchy Radio Star Stern to Host ABC Special |access-date= January 22, 2004 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160820175212/http://www.foxnews.com/story/2004/01/22/raunchy-radio-star-stern-to-host-abc-special.html |archive-date= August 20, 2016 |url-status= dead }}</ref>