( CNN ) -- Howard Stern said he almost retired a few months ago because he felt he 'd proven everything he needed to in radio . In an interview on Tuesday 's `` Piers Morgan Tonight , '' Stern said he knew he had been wildly successful , and said to himself , `` Really , why am I doing this anymore ? It makes me crazy . I hate getting up early in the morning , and I do n't particularly like doing the show . '' But , Stern told Morgan , he is `` driven by a neurotic compulsion '' to do his show . He also told Morgan about his desire to please his parents and says he was `` rocked '' a few years ago when his father , who worked in the radio business , called him a genius . But Stern said despite his father 's praise he remains driven . `` I think it 's my identity , '' Stern said . `` Like , this is who I am . This is what I do . '' Stern said he feels like he `` hit a home run '' after a particularly great show . `` Like I 'm Babe Ruth , you know ? '' Morgan also touched on the early days of Stern 's radio program , when the show 's outrageous stunts had never before been considered for -- and did n't necessarily translate to -- radio . `` It occurred to me that to have a naked woman on the radio would be outrageous , '' said Stern . `` And yet really who would it offend ? It 's all theater of the mind . You do n't even really know if she 's naked or not . '' Stern also pointed out that people often tell him that his program was the introduction of reality television . Despite naked women frequenting his studio , however , Stern confessed to being a homebody . `` I do n't like to go out , '' Stern said . `` I do n't like to leave the house . I like to stay home , but I 'm fascinated by human behavior . '' One person 's behavior he does n't approve of is Jay Leno 's . He said Leno `` did a terrible thing to Conan O'Brien '' when he went back to the `` Tonight Show . '' `` Jay ( Leno ) is insane , '' Stern told Morgan . `` He 's not fit to scrub David Letterman 's feet . Yes , I do n't know why he 's beaten David Letterman in the ratings . It 's beyond my comprehension . America must be filled with morons who at night lay in bed -- the ones who are watching him . They must be in a coma . '' When the discussion turned to politics , Morgan asked Stern what he thinks of the United States and what America has come to . `` I love America , '' he said . `` I love our freedom . And nowhere could a guy like me , a schlub like me have success with -- where would I get this freedom of speech ? They do n't allow this anywhere . '' Watch Piers Morgan Live weeknights 9 p.m . ET . For the latest from Piers Morgan click here .
Howard Stern says a `` neurotic compulsion '' drives him to continue his radio show . Stern says he was `` rocked '' when his father called him a genius . He said that the only thing worse than being told you are smart is having your intelligence questioned by people who don't know what they're talking about. The `` morons '' who watch him `` must be in a coma ''