Howard Stern’s expansion to HBO Max has gotten off to a rocky start, with viewers taking to social media to slam the move. The Howard Stern’s HBO Max Show Hit With Negative Feedback From Fans After It Underwent Major Changes first appeared on The Blast

Howard Stern‘s expansion to HBO Max has gotten off to a rocky start, with viewers taking to social media to express their disappointment with the new version of his longtime radio show.

The streaming series reduces the shock jock’s weekly three-hour SiriusXM broadcast into a 90-minute television episode, but early reactions suggest the transition has not impressed everyone.

The criticism follows reports of behind-the-scenes difficulties as Howard Stern’s reduced team attempts to adapt the radio program for television.

Howard Stern’s HBO Max Show Failed To Impress Fans

Stern’s HBO Max series made its debut on September 17, giving viewers a condensed version of his SiriusXM program every Thursday.

Rather than producing completely separate material for television, the show takes footage from Stern’s Monday radio broadcast and reshapes it into a 90-minute episode.

However, some longtime viewers were unimpressed by what they saw. “It’s unwatchable!” a Reddit user wrote, according to Globe Magazine. Another questioned the choice of material for the premiere, writing, “And I can’t believe this is the show they kicked it off with.”

The negative reactions did not stop there. One commenter wondered, “HBO show-how long until they pull the plug?” as discussions about the quality of the new format continued online.

The reception is hardly the beginning Stern would have wanted for his latest venture. His HBO Max agreement was intended to introduce his SiriusXM work to a wider television audience, but its debut has instead brought a lot of questions and backlash about the quality of the show.

The Comedian’s Staff Are Having A Hard Time Holding The Show Together

The criticism from viewers comes after reports that Stern’s remaining staff had already been struggling behind the scenes to prepare the program for HBO Max.

Sources described the situation surrounding production as “chaos” and a “total disaster.” Stern’s radio schedule has been reduced to one new live broadcast each Monday instead of two weekly shows.

That single program then provides the material that must be edited and repackaged for HBO Max several days later.

Making that transition has reportedly been difficult, especially after two rounds of layoffs which significantly reduced Stern’s team.

• Howard Stern hit back at rumors about his show and toxic work claims.
• The comedian is struggling to understand fans’ anger over radio show changes.
• Stern had a behind-the-scenes spiral over the possible loss of the channel.
• The shock jock’s “bizarre” rules for his staff were revealed.
• Stern was slammed for his “ego” and behavior behind closed doors.
• Ex-staffers addressed “frightening” experience working with Stern.

Howard Stern Brushed Off Concerns About His Show

Staff members who remained were immediately tasked with determining how to transform hours of SiriusXM material into a television-friendly episode.

Stern has acknowledged the negative coverage surrounding his show, although he did so sarcastically during the September 14 season premiere.

“I’ve never had a summer where I was treated so well in the press,” he joked, before adding, “I can’t tell you how many different people have called me a scumbag.”

However, he did not address the massive layoffs during that broadcast.

The Shock Jock’s HBO Max Flop Makes His ‘Don’t Screw Up’ Warning To Andy Cohen Ironic

The rocky reception to Stern’s HBO Max debut comes only weeks after he had some playful advice for Andy Cohen as he took control of Howard 101.

Cohen’s Radio moved to Stern’s longtime Channel 101 on SiriusXM at the beginning of September, while Stern retained Channel 100. During their announcement, Stern expressed confidence in Cohen’s ability to take over the channel.

“I feel Howard 101 is in very capable hands. Enjoy it, take good care of it,” Stern told Cohen, according to People Magazine. But he also jokingly warned him about what would happen if things went badly. “And if you blow it, I will be the first one to laugh at you. Don’t screw it up.”

The comment has taken on an ironic turn following the criticism surrounding Stern’s own new show. While he was teasing Cohen about potentially mishandling his former channel, Stern’s attempt to expand his show to HBO Max has now been regarded as a huge flop.

Howard Stern Won A Legal Battle Against His Former Employee

While Stern deals with criticism surrounding his revamped show, he has scored a victory in a separate legal dispute with his former executive assistant, Leslie Kuhn.

Kuhn sued Stern and his wife, Beth, in April, alleging that she experienced a hostile work environment while employed by Stern’s production company, One Twelve. She also challenged non-disclosure agreements from 2022 and 2025 and claimed the latter had been forged.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, a judge has now rejected the forgery allegation after evidence showed that an email from Kuhn’s account included the message, “Signed NDA attached,” along with her electronic signature. The judge described her forgery claim as “a bald assertion.”

The lawsuit stems from Kuhn’s employment, which began in 2022 before she eventually became Stern’s executive assistant. She was dismissed in February 2026 and later accused the Stern household of maintaining a hostile work environment.

Stern pushed back against the lawsuit, describing it in court filings as “a thinly veiled attempted shakedown.” The ruling gives him a legal win at a time when his professional changes are generating a very different kind of unwanted attention.

The Howard Stern’s HBO Max Show Hit With Negative Feedback From Fans After It Underwent Major Changes first appeared on The Blast