During Howard Stern’s recent appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, the obnoxious display by American radio’s leading bad boy far surpassed his typical egocentric schtick.
By the time Stern got off his bawdy bits and started hawking his book, no doubt Leno had already lost many family-oriented viewers. The host was obviously uncomfortable with his guest’s actions and assertions. At the risk of alienating his audience, Leno took an unexpected stand.
To support the claim that his new tome is “the fastest-selling book in the history of books,” Stern held up a Bible and announced, “The Gideon Company is now putting my book in the place of Bibles in hotels.” An incensed Leno responded by holding up the Bible his guest brought as a prop and saying, “Howard, something horrible is going to happen to you. . . . This book will strike you down as you go down the road. It will go through the windshield and pierce your heart.
“I am sounding like an evangelist now, but I predict that’s what will happen–suddenly, all that is in this book is making perfect sense to me,” Leno concluded, still holding up the Bible.
Without boycotts or legislation, the incessantly bawdy Leno became an unlikely man who took an unlikely stand in the unlikely forum of a late-night talk show. What happened on the Tonight Show was more than an interview–it represented another beachhead in the ongoing cultural struggle to define our society. Last December, William Bennett and several U.S. senators strongly urged greater sponsor responsibility by their refusal to support the “cultural rot” on daytime television.
There are other encouraging bright spots in how the gospel is penetrating Hollywood, such as the formation of Media Fellowship International, a network of Christian professionals in secular media and entertainment. This group meets regularly to encourage one another in how to incorporate their faith into their industry.
In addition, the Christian Film & Television Commission provides a biblical plumb line to help the industry evaluate their movies and TV shows in terms of the economic cost of their inclusion of sex, violence, and profanity. Another positive sign is the recent establishment of the Templeton Prizes for Inspiring Movies and Television to recognize annually the one motion picture and one television program that “best result in bringing the viewer into a closer understanding of and love for God.”
The Christian community is often quick to criticize Hollywood and the media for trivializing matters of faith and marginalizing those who believe. However, Leno’s bold stand should not go unnoticed. As Christians, we have a responsibility to fan the embers of faithful witness so that they will burn brightly and shine into every crack and crevice of our increasingly dysfunctional society.
Those of us outside the entertainment industry should affirm Christian entertainers (and people like Leno, who defend the Word of God); seize new opportunities to move Christians into the arts, media, and entertainment; and exercise responsible choices when we go to movies, buy recordings, and watch television.
The success of Howard Stern is a reflection of the public’s unhealthy fascination with sex, violence, and disrespect. However, his public persona exhibits an interesting personal paradox. He does not allow his three daughters to listen to his daily radio program or watch his act on television. Leno may not be shifting from entertainer to evangelist, but it is comforting to know that a Hollywood personality of his stature would draw the line against the obscene and debasing behavior represented by his guest. Leno is right to infer that Howard one day will face God’s judgment. Though by his nature, God hates sin, he is also a God of love who welcomes all who would turn to him in repentance and faith–even Howard Stern.
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