 While being interviewed by Johnson, Stern asked Johnson about his lifestyle prior to contracting HIV and if he practiced safe sex with his wife.Stern also asked about "the white guy comedian", referring to Johnson's previous sidekick, Craig Shoemaker, who had been fired shortly before Stern's appearance for publicly calling the show "an absolute nightmare" (Stern mocked Shoemaker's short-lived replacement, Steve White, saying he wouldn't last long, which came true).The highly publicized episode featuring Stern increased viewership for a time, but ratings soon dropped off.