In making his private parts public, Stern teaches lesson

I had read the reviews, watched the interviews, seen the previews. I was ready to take on the man.

I sat in the theater ready to see his Private Parts in all its glory, but would it really change my impression of Howard Stern, the man I once loathed and hated more than anything?

I had tried to read Private Parts when it was first released in 1993. I even tried again when the No. 1 bestseller came out in paperback. I simply wasn't interested in reading about a man I despised.

The book itself could have been a great portrait of a man misunderstood. I would never know.

When the rumors of a movie began flying, I figured it would just be another cheap Howard Stern production: lots of nudity, lesbians and anything else that Howie could shock America with.

I never thought that I would find myself wanting to see the movie. I had heard my friends and family members talking about it, and finally I entered the theater Friday night to see a film that in many ways was a masterpiece. Well, I wouldn't go that far, but it was a real look at reality.

The movie, according to one source, has made almost $35 million in the three weeks since its release.

Why? It's the true life of Howard Stern -- an uncensored look at the history of a man who is both loved and hated. And while the film may seem like a simple biography, it goes far beyond that. You can actually LEARN from this movie. Believe it or not, you can sit back and enjoy a movie and learn some life lessons.

It has been said, "never before has a man done so much with so little." And whether you agree that this pertains to Howard Stern or not, it teaches a lesson we all can benefit from: do all you can with what you have.

Stern isn't stunningly attractive and he's not an intellectual genius, but he does his best with what he has. And by doing this, he truly has become the "King of All Media" -- a No. 1 radio talk-show host with more than 18 million listeners nationwide, a No. 1 best-selling author of the fastest selling autobiography ever, a hit television show seen in more than 40 million homes and a No. 1 box office hit.

Private Parts also emphasizes dedication. When Howard debuted on radio, he was pretty awful. His voice, similar to Kermit the Frog's, was highly irritable.

He was awkward, pretending to be something he wasn't. And so Stern became himself on the air.

He let go of everything, and perfected the style that we all know today. "Stripped away of the excess baggage," the Private Parts World Wide Web page (www.private-parts.com) says, "all that remained was pure, unadulterated Stern," and that still remains.

If Stern wasn't so devoted, he would never be the success he is. We all face adversities, we all encounter bad times, but like Stern, if we stick out those times, there's bound to be something good. Maybe not fame and fortune, but a bit of happiness in a world of hard times.

Most importantly, things aren't always what they seem, and Private Parts certainly proves this. Stern is not the same person away from the media. At home he is actually a dedicated father of three and a devout husband. It is the relationship with Alison, his wife, that makes Howard appear so real in the movie.

"It is that core relationship with her that drives his life," the web page says, and this is clearly illustrated by the movie. The film shows scenes revolving around Stern's personal life, from the miscarriage of his child to his sexual life with Alison.

The entire movie revolves around this relationship, this love that has blossomed from college sweethearts to longtime spouses.

Private Parts is the uncensored, completely true story of one man with a truly extraordinary sense of humor. His humor "is about reaching deep below the surface and dealing with the things we all think but are much too restrained or terrified to say." And while he may disgust some of us in the process, he's open and honest about everything, including his personal life.

Most celebrities try to hide their private lives because they are just that, private. But Stern opens the door into his life and lets us all in for a listen, and a look.

"The film is not a sugar-coated version of the warm and gushy moments of Howard Stern's life," the page promises. It is the truth about a man that is loved and hated, idolized and outcast, by millions of Americans.

And while Stern may never be one of my personal heroes, my opinion of him has changed. He's not just a shock jock out there to blow the minds off of listeners. He's there to get a point across.

So next time you hear Howie on the radio or are considering checking out the movie, do it.

Be spontaneous. Be adventurous. Be like Howard.