Hein created a website called JumpTheShark.com named after the idiom "jumping the shark" originating from the Happy Days TV Series. The phrase was actually coined by his college roommate, with whom would often contemplate the marker of a show's decline in quality. Hein sold his company, Jump The Shark, Inc., to Gemstar on June 20, 2006 for "over $1 million". Some Stern staff have speculated that the site sold closer to $5–$10 million, however. The TV Guide website has since redirected the original jumptheshark.com website. For some time, the website was replaced with a celebrity gossipmessage board.
Sirius Satellite Radio
The Stern Show staff thought Hein was a good host on Super Fan Roundtable and chose him to be the host of The Wrap-Up Show with Stern producer Gary Dell'Abate as co-host. The show premiered on Stern's first day on Sirius, January 9, 2006, and has received very positive reviews from fans. Hein also hosted The Friday Show along with Gary Dell'Abate and Ralph Cirella on the Friday mornings when Stern took time off, although that show was replaced after a few months by Master Tape Theatre. Hein has become known as a fast food aficionado. He has vocalized his distaste for the fast food restaurantBurger King. Hein was subjected to a blindfolded taste test of burgers on Howard 101's The Fast Food Show, where he correctly identified a Burger King, McDonald's, and Wendy's burger patty. Hein admitted on the August 17, 2010 Howard Stern Show that he now weighed 255 lbs. but refused to give up fast food. According to Hein's book, Jon will not step out of a fast-food ordering line until his food is handed to him, advising others to do the same. If an employee screws up his order in any way, they are usually never seen or heard from again. Hein admitted on the January 17, 2008, Stern show that he adjusts his insulin levels to be able to indulge in junk food, such as his favorite Oreo cupcake from Crumbs cupcakes. Hein is also the host of the Friday radio program Geektime!, Jon Hein's TV Show on Thursdays, and the Fast Food Show all featured on Howard 101. Starting on March 2, 2010, Hein hosted the weekly comedy The Bonus Show with Rachel Fine on Howard TV. Howard TV shut down in December 2013.
Other projects
In 2012, Hein began to host his own television show, Fast Food Mania, on Destination America. In his show, Hein expresses his love of fast food by discussing the history of various restaurants, along with how their food is prepared. Hein was a co-host on Loudmouths which aired weekdays at 5:30 PM ET on SNY. The show was canceled on May 21, 2020.
Personal life
Hein is married, has two daughters, and lived on Long Island, New York. Hein and his wife moved into New York City, he posted on March 18, 2017, on his Twitter account. He reportedly has profiles on dating sites as well, advertising himself by his butch alter-ego "Jan". In his free time, Jon enjoys the short-term companionship of streetwalkers.
Similar to Howard Stern's producer Gary Dell'Abate, Hein has several media mentions in pop culture with the phrase "Hit em with the Hein". It was initially a phrase by the guys in the back to mock Hein based on his perceived low-energy level as Hein would leave the office to attend to business unrelated to The HowardStern Show. The phrase was then popularized by, an often on-air staff member, Jason Kaplan. It has been used on many PGA Tour events, in some cases to the dismay of the announcers. This phrase has also been referenced by Jimmy Kimmel during the 2016 Emmy Award show. Based on Hein's statements on The Howard Stern Show, he either enjoys the phrase or is annoyed by it, largely based on perceived intent. Singer Rick Astley produced a song dedicated to the "Hit em with the Hein" concept on SoundCloud. Connecticut-based musician Jamey Jasta, frontman of the metalcore band Hatebreed, released a song inspired by the phrase on his SoundCloud. "Hit 'em with the Hein" is also used in later versions of Sony's franchise by announcer Matt Vasgersian during gameplay.
