The Howard Stern Archive: A Deep Dive into 2003 The year 2003 stands as a pivotal chapter in the history of The Howard Stern Show . It was a year of intense legal battles, legendary in-studio moments, and the cementing of the "Artie Lange Era." For fans and archivists, 2003 represents the high-water mark of Stern's terrestrial radio career—the final, chaotic years before the seismic move to satellite radio. The FCC Wars: The "Sphincterine" Incident
The fallout from this and other 2003 segments directly contributed to Clear Channel dropping the show from its stations in early 2004, a precursor to Howard's ultimate departure for Sirius.
Howard famously labeled the FCC’s actions a "McCarthy-type witch hunt," using the 2003 airwaves to champion free speech and rail against government censorship. The Rise of Artie Lange
This single broadcast eventually led to a proposed fine of $495,000 against Clear Channel Communications.
By 2003, Artie Lange had fully settled into the "Jackie Chair," becoming an indispensable part of the show's chemistry. This year featured some of Artie's most "wholesome" yet bizarre contributions.
In a classic 2003 moment, Artie sang "You Shook Me All Night Long" with members of AC/DC in-studio while a contestant performed a stunt involving quarters and body parts—a scene described by fans as a "rare wholesome moment only possible on the Stern show".
The 2003 archives are a time capsule of early 2000s celebrity culture. High-profile interviews and chaotic studio appearances were the norm. Network permanently removes Stern radio show after fine
One cannot discuss the 2003 archives without mentioning the escalating tension between Howard Stern and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). On April 9, 2003, a segment involving two guests discussing a parody product called (complete with flatulence sound effects) triggered a massive crackdown.