Rating Howard Stern

Howard Rosenberg’s anti-Howard Stern commentary (“A Stern Lecture: Don’t Forget to Be Funny,” Aug. 24) is fine with me because Rosenberg’s column is, after all, an opinion piece.

Not the case, however, with Brian Lowry’s alleged “news” report (“Ratings Not That Strong”). Lowry wrote that Stern’s ratings, for the debut episode of his new challenge to “Saturday Night Live,” were disappointing. Then he goes on to state that throughout the nation, as well as right here in Los Angeles, Stern’s show tripled the ratings those stations had with their previous programming.

By the end of the first 13 weeks, Stern will be outrating “SNL.” You can go to the bank on that. What will Lowry write then? About how much Stern’s margin of victory was less than expected, hence the results are disappointing?

JERRY HERMES

San Diego

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As I understand it, Stern’s show is filthy, degrading, demeaning and racist. As I have equal rights under the 1st Amendment, I would therefore like to propose that all decency-loving, family-respecting viewers turn off all CBS programs until CBS gets rid of this pollutant.

LEILA McDERMOTT

Sylmar