Aubrey Plaza’s debut on The Howard Stern Show was dubbed one of the “five worst of all time,” with insiders claiming Stern “hated” every minute of it, before launching into a subtle attack on the actress after finishing his interview.
Plaza, 40, was promoting her upcoming film Megalopolis, directed by Francis Ford Coppola, on Stern’s eponymous show on Sirius XM on Wednesday, but tensions began to rise before the interview even began.
Stern, 70, reportedly felt like he was “pulling teeth” from the Parks and Recreation star, who he accused of being late, before asking her if she needed therapy.
“Howard was really excited to talk to Aubrey and it just didn’t work out, she didn’t say anything back and it was like pulling Howard’s teeth to get something out of her,” a source exclusively told DailyMail.com.
‘Howard is one of the best in the business and he couldn’t crack the code with Aubrey.’
Aubrey Plaza, 40, made her debut on The Howard Stern Show on Wednesday and listeners declared the interview “one of the five worst of all time.”
According to a source, Stern, 70, found the interview with the Parks and Recreation star difficult from the start, and even took a swipe at her attitude after they wrapped.
The source claimed that the Grumpy Cat actress “didn’t take kindly” to Stern’s questions, and that “back then, he would have attacked her and ended the interview.”
“But he kept trying to make something out of nothing, but unfortunately he didn’t achieve anything,” they added.
The TV personality made a “hidden appearance” for Plaza that many listeners may not have noticed when he talked about the band Bad Company after his talk ended.
“After Aubrey’s interview, the show came back on and Bad Company was playing and Howard talked about the band, but he did it as a veiled dig at Aubrey since she was bad company on the show,” the source said.
“She just didn’t fit in with Howard, the show or anything. It was a complete disaster.”
“The chances of Aubrey returning to the show are slim to none,” they added. “She wasn’t any good at all and he hated how it all ended.”
Plaza’s interview got off to a rocky start after Stern criticized her for being late, to which she responded that she had to “arrive on crutches” to the New York City studio due to an ACL injury she suffered. During a The NBA All-Star weekend in July.
“Is that why you’re angry?” he asked her. “What’s wrong? Are you angry? Why are you angry? Something’s wrong, talk to me.”
“Howard is one of the best in the business and he couldn’t crack the code with Aubrey,” a source said.
Fans couldn’t help but comment on the awkward conversation and took to the Howard Stern subreddit to share their thoughts.
“It wasn’t her, it was Howard,” one user commented. “She needs someone to play along with, like Conan or Fallon. Howard thinks his show is 60 Minutes now.”
“Yes, it seems that he is very bored. This format is not for everyone. I like it, but it is not like that,” added another.
“Anyone who expected this to be different doesn’t know who Aubrey Plaza is. Her style is that of a weird, weird, attractive girl. Every interview she’s given has been awkward and distant,” argued another.
Others claimed that Plaza seemed annoyed at being in the studio while Stern was doing the interview over Zoom.
Plaza, portrayed as Harper in The White Lotus, is known for her deadpan humor.
“Well, she made the comment that she saw a little screen with her little head on it. I mean, if you don’t try, you get what you get,” one noted.
“Howard not being in the studio is a bummer for Sirius and his guests. It’s time to retire,” another agreed.
While the White Lotus actress, known for her deadpan humor, may not have won over Stern in the interview, she did win hearts in a Hot Ones Versus interview with Patti LuPone that was published Tuesday.
When Plaza asked her what it felt like to try the wing, LuPone simply shrugged while Plaza joked that she was “dead inside” and LuPone took a swig of beer.