Howard Stern Show cancels beloved segment after major shake-up

The Howard Stern Show has quietly pulled the plug on a longtime feature as the radio institution undergoes sweeping changes behind the scenes. Actor and frequent guest Michael Rapaport announced that the show's Fantasy Football League had ended after nearly two decades, breaking the news during the September 3 episode of his I Am Rapaport podcast. The decision comes amid reported layoffs and a drastically reduced schedule for Howard's SiriusXM program, which will now air one new episode each week. It comes as the shock jock has reportedly lined up a new deal with HBO Max that will bring a condensed version of his radio show to the streaming service as his SiriusXM operation undergoes major changes. Michael told listeners, "The Stern Show Fantasy Football League is defunct...it's done." The competition, also known as the Emotional Friends League, had been running since at least 2008 and regularly provided heated on-air drama. He continued, "One of the greatest fantasy football leagues, the world's most famous fantasy football leagues while I was in it. I took that thing from the bottom to the top, made it a viral sensation that people ask me about every single day." Rapaport announced that the show's Fantasy Football League had ended after nearly two decades (Image: Getty) Michael served as the league's commissioner for the past four years but complained that he never managed to win the competition before it was scrapped. "It has come to an end...and obviously, there has been so much talk about the Stern Show, it's going to one day a week, and the HBO of it all," he said. Michael stressed that he had no inside knowledge about the reasons behind the wider changes or what the show would look like going forward. However, he confirmed that the Stern Show Fantasy Football League was now "defunct" because those involved could no longer continue running it. The competition had fueled several memorable feuds over the years, including Michael's clashes with show regulars JD Harmeyer and Gary Dell'Abate. Fans expressed disappointment after learning the feature would not return. One listener wrote on Reddit, "Their league was really entertaining." Another speculated that staffing cuts may have contributed to the decision, writing, "There's probably not enough people left who actually play in it." The cancellation follows reports of significant layoffs at the SiriusXM show, affecting both on-air personalities and employees working behind the scenes. The program is also moving from several weekly broadcasts to one new Monday episode. Howard will officially return to SiriusXM on September 14 under the new schedule. The show is also expanding to television through a weekly video version on HBO Max, which will debut on September 17 and release new episodes on Thursdays. SiriusXM said Howard would remain with the company through 2028, while his extensive archive will continue to be available to subscribers. Get all the latest news, entertainment, sport and lifestyle updates from our dedicated American team. Sign up for our newsletters HERE.