The second half introduce Quivers to the story where she would become Stern’s voice of reason as well as reveal the kind of things Stern would say on the air including aspects of his personal life much to Alison’s dismay. Its first half plays into Stern’s childhood as well as his insecurities as a teenager as well as meeting Alison and Fred Norris as the latter would help hone Stern’s act through sound effects and material. The film’s screenplay sort of moves back and forth with comments from Alison and Robin Quivers while there’s also moments that involve Stern’s longtime producer Gary Dell’Abate to help structure the story with some of Stern’s other strange guests to introduce some chapters into his life. It’s a film that really plays into a man trying to find himself and unleash all of his frustrations into a personality he would create for radio.
After some early struggles and setbacks, Stern would eventually find his voice with the help of comedian/sound effects man Fred Norris and news anchor Robin Quivers who would help make him successful. The film’s narrative is sort of a reflective one as it’s told by Stern from his childhood where he struggled to find a voice as he’s often told to shut by his father Ben (Richard Portnow) as well as trying to get laid where he would eventually meet his first wife Alison (Mary McCormack). A personality that isn’t afraid to speak his mind as well as not be afraid to be offensive and crass as he would tell his story on a flight home after the 1992 MTV Video Music Awards where he introduces his Fartman character to the delight of audiences but the disgust of celebrities. The film is dramatization into the life of Howard Stern as it’s told by the man himself as he deals with his success but also the radio personality that he created that has polarized people. Private Parts is a very raunchy yet hilarious film from Betty Thomas. Also starring Mary McCormack, Carol Alt, Michael Murphy, Allison Janney, and Paul Giamatti. At the same time, the film explores Stern’s first marriage to Alison whom he was devoted to as Stern plays himself as associates such as Robin Quivers, Fred Norris, Jackie Martling, and Gary Dell’Abate also play themselves. Directed by Betty Thomas and screenplay by Len Blum and Michael Kalesinko, the film is a dramatized take on Stern’s life from his early days trying to make it in radio to his success in being outlandish as he would spar with bosses from NBC. Based on the book by Howard Stern, Private Parts is the story of shock-jock radio personality Howard Stern and his metaphoric rise into becoming the king of American radio through his controversial antics and no-holds-barred attitude.