Howard Stern opened his SiriusXM fall return with a prank that briefly convinced listeners and major outlets that he had left the network. At the top of the 7 a.m. broadcast, Andy Cohen greeted the audience and announced a rebrand to “Andy 100,” saying he was taking over Stern’s slot. The bit ran for about 10 minutes and played into recent speculation about Stern’s future.
Cohen leaned into the faux handoff, praising Stern’s impact on the company and joking that he was “winging it” while expecting a smoother transition. The performance was convincing enough to trigger confusion on social media and prompt quick write-ups from several newsrooms.
Stern joined the broadcast to reveal the stunt and thanked Cohen for playing along. He said he remains happy at SiriusXM and wanted to poke fun at the retirement rumours that grew after his delayed return from summer break. He explained that the chatter and a recent illness made the timing ripe for a playful misdirect.
Howard Stern Returns to SiriusXM, Pranks Fans With Fake Andy Cohen Takeover https://t.co/CcYDHBS14Z pic.twitter.com/SNKoVfmZrO
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 8, 2025For a short time, even major outlets ran headlines suggesting Stern had departed after two decades. Some items stayed live for about an hour before being corrected. The moment underscored Stern’s continued ability to generate buzz and shape the conversation around his show.
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Stern has been a cornerstone at SiriusXM since the mid‑2000s and continues to deliver large audiences with three shows a week. While he confirmed he is staying, he did not announce a new deal. His current contract runs through the end of 2025, and discussions with the company are ongoing.
Howard Stern Fools Listeners—And The Media—With Abrupt Retirement Hoaxhttps://t.co/RQGtBLilZV pic.twitter.com/97Bf8bN4FD
— Forbes (@Forbes) September 8, 2025The “Andy 100” prank showcased Stern’s showmanship and media savvy. It energised his first show back, reaffirmed his place at SiriusXM, and reminded fans that he still controls the narrative. It also demonstrated how quickly speculation can harden into headlines in a fast news cycle.
