Howard Stern said Tuesday that he'll "never say never" to a future in studio interview with Artie Lange, but that the possible on-air reunion is still "years" away.
Howard Stern Show fans have been haranguing the King of All Media to have the former co-host back on air since Lange began performing comedy again back in July 2011. Lange left HSS in December 2009 and attempted suicide a few weeks later.
“Let’s think of Artie for a change instead of ourselves," Howard Stern told a caller Tuesday. "Sure, it would be a good interview. There’s a lot of good interviews. I think there’s a lot that has to still go on…I think Artie’s real new to this whole rehab thing and getting better and on the road to recovery…I think he might need years before he sets foot in here.”
Howard Stern weighs in on Artie Lange's Letterman appearance (video)
The "Artie Question" resurfaced last week after Lange was booked for his first network television appearance since his recovery. Lange appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman on Friday night.
“I mean, you never say never and maybe Artie will come in some day, but I love Artie. I told you that. The Artie question seemed to get heated up when he was on Letterman…But you’ve got to understand something. We went through a pretty heavy…year with Artie and it left—this is just me speaking. I can’t speak for anyone else—but it was a very, very heavy experience and Artie went through a life-threatening situation. And all jokes aside, it got very, very heavy in here. I don’t know where Artie’s head is at now, and I don’t know how he’s doing for real. Like, the public persona watching him on Letterman and stuff it seemed like he was great…But as Artie would be the first to admit, this place wasn’t the healthiest environment for him…for one reason or another. And I don’t know exactly why. Maybe it was me, or maybe it was something...I just don’t want to be responsible for any triggering of Artie’s pain. It was just a real heavy situation, and honestly? I don’t even know what went down. I don’t even understand it, so I don’t want to sort of f**k it up. I understand Artie’s making great progress and I’m all for it and I’m his biggest fan and supporter, but honestly I don’t think it’s necessary for us to sit here and slog through it, because it could set him off in terms of his own personal growth, and I don’t want to be in it.”
Artie Lange recently landed a three year deal to co-host a new Fox Sports Radio show with comedian Nick DiPaolo.
Check out the Nick and Artie Show here
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