Howard Stern says that Artie Lange is "no longer a sideshow" and that Howard Stern Show fans expecting to hear the former co-host call in and share the graphic details of his suicide attempt can go ahead and change the channel--permanently.
Artie Lange recently reemerged on the radio scene after 18 months in hiding following a violent suicide attempt in January 2010. During Tuesday morning's satellite radio broadcast, Howard Stern responded to a caller's questions about Lange's possible return to the show:
"I’ve explained the Artie thing about a hundred times, but I’ll do it again. To me Artie—you know I love Artie. I don’t work with people I don’t love—and I admire his talents and all of that. Artie went through some serious, serious problems. I sat here and watched the whole thing go down."
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"I am probably the worst person at handling Artie and reading Artie and knowing what Artie needs. And the reason I have been standoffish is I don’t want to say anything that would upset Artie in any way—because I feel Artie did the ultimate injustice to himself. He tried to kill himself. That’s serious business to me. That’s no joking matter. I will never say a bad word about Artie. I only wish Artie well, but I am clearly not someone who knows how to deal with those kinds of problems."
Lange was recently hired by Fox Sports Radio to co-host a regular comedic sports broadcast with Howard Stern Show regular Nick DiPaolo.
"He’s working for people who obviously know how to deal with him and his issues," said Stern with a twinge of foreboding. "They feel confident.”
Stern repeatedly stated that Artie Lange needs "a lot of care" and that neither he's not equipped to provide it.
“I can’t come to work and figure out what Artie needs. Artie needed a lot of care. I’m a guy who comes in to do a radio show to entertain you. And Artie’s business is Artie’s business. I wish Artie well. I know he’s going to do a show with Nick. I love those two guys. I think they’ll be a tremendous team together and I think that it will be good radio, and what can I tell you [caller]? That’s it? I don’t want to say anything that throws Artie the wrong way, because I want to see Artie be successful in life. I put in nine years with Artie. We had a lot of good times—lots of great laughs. He’s a tremendous human being and a sweetheart of a guy—and that’s it.
Artie Lange reveals the incident that made him 'want to stick around' (audio)
Stern seems eager to close the book on the Artie Lange era entirely, but fans who lived off the daily drama of Lange's addiction struggles like a radio soap opera don't seem to be willing to let the subject go so easily. When the caller persisted and attempted to confirm Artie Lange's recent statements that he's been in contact with the Howard Stern Show, Stern cut him off, stating:
"I don’t discuss Artie’s business on the radio and I just explained why I don’t. You’ve got to read a little bit into what I’m saying. Stop with the nonsense! Artie needs care, and me commenting on Artie—on whether he called me, whether he didn’t call me—it’s irrelevant. Artie needs to survive. Artie is no longer a sideshow. In my world Artie can’t be a sideshow. Artie calling in and giving us all the details? All the gory details?”
"Horrible," interjected Howard Stern Show co-host Robin Quivers. "I don't want to do that."
Artie Lange saving suicide attempt details for Howard Stern Show appearance
Stern also referenced concerns that inviting Lange back on the show could anger the comedian's family. Lange's mother is the one who found him in his Hoboken, NJ apartment after he tried to stab himself to death.
"I don’t need his family saying I did something wrong. I don’t need Artie saying I did something—I want him to be happy. And I really am pulling for him. I’m on his team 100%--and I mean that.”
Artie Lange and Nick DiPaolo are scheduled to start broadcasting for Fox Sports Radio some time in September 2011.
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