, though availability can fluctuate due to copyright removals [12]. or a particular Wack Pack bit from the 2009 archives?
The reaction was polarized. Some fans feared it would dilute the radio show. "Sell-out" cries were heard on the phone lines. Others saw it as a brilliant strategic move—a way for Howard to prove to Middle America that he was a smart, insightful broadcaster, not just a "shock jock."
The "Birthday Bash" had proven that Sirius XM was a destination for A-list talent. Unlike the restrictive terrestrial days, where celebrity interviews were often rushed or censored, the 2009 shows saw a relaxed Howard. He was a man who had survived the move to satellite and come out the other side not just intact, but thriving.