Howard Stern addressed Jerry Seinfeld's "awkward" dig and subsequent apology, revealing there is no bad blood between the two.
Last week, Seinfeld shared an interesting take on Stern's "comedy chops" during his appearance on the Fly on the Wall podcast.
While speaking with hosts Dana Carvey and David Spade, Seinfeld commented on the format of the podcast, noting:
“Howard Stern invented this, right?”
He continued:
“But we’re better than him now."
"Howard is interesting. Howard is a great interviewer, but comedy chops, I mean, can we speak candidly?”
And candidly speak, he did.
“They’re all great but let’s face it, he’s been outflanked by some very, and yourselves, I mean absolutely, this show, comedy podcasts? This is the best one on the air."
“Because you guys play nice together, it’s smooth, you’re not jumping on each other, which is annoying to listen to.”
Stern wasn't Seinfeld's only target either, as he later criticized other comedians on podcasts.
“Jesus Christ, make us laugh, how interesting do you think you are?”
“You’re not that interesting, okay? You’re not. When you’re funny, you’re worth it."
"This is my line, which you know me, you know me, no but you know that I draw that line."
"If you’re not that funny, we’re not that interested in you.”
You can listen below.
Jerry Seinfeld | Full Episode | Fly on the Wall with Dana Carvey and David Spadeyoutu.be
On Monday's episode of The Howard Stern Show, the host addressed the comments and also shared that Seinfeld reached out to him and personally apologized.
He began:
“Jerry had said that basically I’m an interviewer and that I’m not a comedian and that now comedians have podcasts and comedians are, you know, funnier or something than me."
“I read it, and I went, ‘Oh, that’s weird,’ because Jerry is a personal friend of ours. Especially his wife Jessica is really good friends with Beth [Stern’s wife].”
Stern continued:
“I thought, well…I think he came off a really bad week, let’s put it that way."
He was likely referring to Seinfeld's Duke commencement speech as well as the poor reception of his film Unfrosted that opened just over a week ago.
“Jerry called me immediately and was like, ‘Oh, f**k, I f**ked up, and I want to apologize.'"
"He goes, ‘You know when you’re on the air, and sh*t just comes out wrong? I was trying to say, you know, you’re this interview—’"
Stern accepted his apology and acknowledged that he, of all people, knows what it's like to say the wrong thing on air.
"I said ‘Jerry, you don’t even have to — please. This is embarrassing.'"
"'I’m the king of going on the air and having millions of regrets afterward.'"
"'Apology accepted, I don’t care, and you know what? If I’m not a comedian, I’m an interviewer, I don’t know what I am.'"
"'I always considered myself a bit of a comedian, but whatever it is, don’t worry about it.’"
"And he apologized for a really long time, and he said it really came out wrong.”
The host also revealed that Seinfeld offered to come on the show an apologize publicly.
“He says, ‘Can I come on the show today and apologize?’”
“I said, ‘Not necessary, I don’t wanna get into it. It’s awkward, it’s fine.’ I said, ‘I’ve had to apologize to you for sh*t I’ve said, I’ve had to call up people and apologize for sh*t I’ve done on the air when I’m a huge fan of these people.'"
"'I don’t know what gets into me, I f**k up sometimes.'"
"So it wasn’t really that big a deal. I didn’t really think much about it.”
People on social media applauded Seinfeld for owning up to his comments and apologizing to Stern.
Today Show/Facebook
Daily Blast LIVE/Facebook
They also commended Stern for accepting the apology and moving on.
Today Show/Facebook
TMZ/Facebook
Others, though, feel that Seinfeld intended no harm, many believing he just didn't correctly word the message he was trying to convey.
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NEWSMAX/Facebook
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TMZ/Facebook
TMZ/Facebook
Variety/Facebook
Seinfeld also released a statement to Entertainment Weekly in which he clarified his comments.
It began:
“I 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."
“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."
The statement finished:
“Anyway, it was bad and I’m sorry, Howie."
"I still love you. Please forgive me."
