Jerry Seinfeld is walking back his recent statement that famed radio show host Howard Stern is not that funny.
While chatting with David Spade and Dana Carvey on the Fly on the Wall podcast this week, Seinfeld mentioned Stern, stating he basically invented the podcast format.
“Howard is interesting, Jerry Seinfeld said about Stern. “Howard is a great interviewer, but comedy chops, I mean, can we speak candidly?”
After Spade said “Sure,” Carey said no, but said Stern’s show is slightly funny thanks to his co-host, Robin Quivers.
“Yeah, they’re all great but let’s face it, he’s been outflanked by some very [good shows],” Jerry Seinfeld declared.
However, now Seinfeld is seeing the error in his comments and is ready to apologize to Stern. In a statement to Page Six, the comedian said, “Really feel bad for what I said about my friend Howard Stern in a conversation with David Spade and Dana Carvey, talking about the glut of comedy podcasts.”
Clarifying what he meant to say, Jerry Seinfeld said, “I meant to say he must feel surrounded but I said ‘outflanked’ which sounded terrible and insulting. And of course, none of these little shows are any threat to his giant show. Anyway, it was bad and I’m sorry, Howie. I still love you. Please forgive me.”
Howard Stern hasn’t responded to Jerry Seinfeld’s remarks and apology.
Long Before Jerry Seinfeld, Howard Stern Had Conflict With Fellow Comedian David Letterman
Years before Jerry Seinfeld’s remark, Howard Stern had a public conflict with fellow comedian David Letterman.
Although the duo started their careers in the same building and were good friends for a while, Stern and Letterman’s relationship fell apart after Stern took aim at Letterman and his wife Regina Lasko.
Stern did apologize to Letterman during the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.
“I was just a young man full of rage and I was angry,” Stern explained. “I was angry with you, that you were on television, that you had an audience. There was no rhyme or reason to it. I could not love anyone. I couldn’t respect anyone [and] I just thought this was who I was.”
In 2022, David Letterman said while he loves Howard Stern and the drama is behind them, he still keeps Stern at arm’s length. “I only talk to him about once a year,” said Letterman about Stern. “That’s plenty. And the last time it was a mistake.”