(Getty Image) For over a year now, I've written about Howard Stern's positive impact on the gay community, and his interview today with openly gay "How I Met Your Mother" star Neil Patrick Harris was perhaps one of the best examples
to date.
It's probably the most interesting interview Harris will do in his life. Harris spoke in-depth about his sexuality, but Stern wanted more -- and Harris was more than game to reveal details. Below are some highlights: (Note -- the Stern show is on Sirius Satellite, and therefore uncensored.)
- Harris said he began to think he was gay when he was 13, but hadn't "formulated it in his brain" at that time. He said he continued to date a lot of Hollywood women, including actress Christine Taylor. Here's what he said about Taylor: "She's like the coolest, nicest chick ever. She's an absolute catch, and I thought if I'm not going to feel the super sparks with her, than it probably means that I'm gay." He estimated he'd been with between 12-15 girls before he came out of the closet.
- He had his first same-sex encounter in New York when he was doing "Rent." Harris said he was seduced by a gay male "Rent" cast member: "I think I was a conquest. I was that 'straight guy' that (they thought) might be gay, that they were really hoping could be the one."
- Howard: "Ever been with a black guy?" Harris: "I've made out with a black guy, but never fooled around. It just never happened."
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When he told his parents he was gay: "I think their main concern was one of safety. Because their big worry was that it meant that I was going to be on crystal meth and get AIDS and have crazy sex with all sorts of random people."
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On the topic of Perez Hilton trying to out him: "He (Perez) was sort of on a witch hunt to out me. He started posting things saying 'If you've ever fooled around with Neil to please send pictures.' He was really trying to get some scandal going. So rather than have to repsond to that, I'd rather just respond to the topic at hand." When asked if he'd ever confronted Perez on the issue, Harris was diplomatic. "Well it's a tricky subject because people decide they want to be out in the open whether in a public forum or in their family at their own time. But Perez is from a generation that feels like (being out) is a non-issue. It's offensive to him when people don't declare that, because in his world, it's always been a part of who he is." (Stern then discussed how much he disagrees with Perez outing people.)
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Harris said that he and his boyfriend are monogamous and he doesn't believe in open relationships under any circumstances. He also talked about being with his boyfriend for four years, and loved the relationship. "The best part about being in a relationship is like, going through phases and having things being great and things being not-great," he said. "I don't know that once your gay you get this card that says that if things aren't going great you can go fuck other guys." He also said the great part about being in a guy-guy relationship is so sometimes you could be a top sometimes you can be bottom.
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Little known fact: Harris said he was so self-conscious of his big ears after "Doogie Howser" that he had surgery on them so they wouldn't stick out so much. And speaking of Doogie, he said he lost his virginity to a college girl who "wanted to have sex with Doogie." He said it was over very fast...
Howard then wanted to play a game of "Fuck, Marry, Kill," and Harris gladly obliged. Here were the choices:
Sylvestor Stallone, John Travolta and Tom Cruise: "Hmm...I'd probably..well, they're all creepy. I'd probably fuck Stallone, he seems more like... a guy. I'd probably marry Tom Cruise, because of all the money and I'd kill Travolta." He said he sensed a "creepy, weird vibe" with Travolta that he couldn't quite figure out, and that he "looks a little odd." He then raved about Travolta in "Hairspray."
Conan Obrien, Jay Leno and David Letterman: "Oh wow! Ok --I'd fuck Conan. I'd kill Leno. And I'd marry Letterman." Howard: "Would you rather fuck Conan or have Conan fuck you?" Harris: [Laughing] "I would fuck Conan, that would be hilarious. Just to watch his hair move around in the front!"
Howard Stern, Fred Norris (Stern show cast member) or Gary Dellabate (Stern show producer): "I'd probably fuck Howard." (Howard's response: "Thank you!") "I'd probably marry Fred, and I'd probably kill Gary." When he found out Fred was uncircumcised, he changed his mind. "Oh -- in that case, I'd kill Fred!" he joked.
One more memorable moment of the interview was when infamously homophobic cast member Artie Lange talked about what he'd do if his son came out as gay. "I joke around about this stuff a lot and talk about it in my act, but I'm being dead honest right now," said Lange. "If my son ever did that (told him he was gay), the first thing I would do would be to give him a hug and tell him there was no way I have a problem with this and I love you."
For Stern fans, this was the most shocking part of the interview...