For those of us who are fans of sports and Howard Stern, the addition of Artie Lange to the show several years ago brought the perfect sports-fan voice to the show. He was loud, he was opinionated, he loved his team and he hated yours. Artie jumped onto the national sports stage in a big way last spring when he made a scene on the Joe Buck Show: Some people hated him for it, but it just made fans like me love him more.
So it was with a heavy heart I heard Howard and Robin Quivers take to the airwaves sans-Artie this week because he was in the hospital. He’s been battling so many health and drug issues for years and I’ve always figured he’d end up like his idol John Belushi: Dead of a drug overdose at an early age. Instead, it’s been confirmed that Artie stabbed himself nine times in a suicide attempt.
Artie’s well-known with the gays for some pretty anti-gay comments. Telling a listener he hopes the listener dies of AIDS isn’t the best way to ingratiate yourself with the boys in Chelsea. While his homophobic comments are tough to hear sometimes, I’ve always felt he was the exact guy we’d all love to reach out and talk to. He’s sat there and listened to another of his idols, Howard, talk positively about gay people. When Artie goes to far with it, Howard smacks him down. And Artie’s developed a genuine friendship with out actor George Takei, the show’s announcer, who stops by for a week on-air here and there.
Artie also designed a cupcake for Crumb’s (I’ve had it and, for the record, it’s better than the Baba Booey; and I love peanut butter) that benefitted LifeBeat, an HIV outreach group for America’s youth.
Interestingly, a straight friend of mine told me a couple years ago he thought Artie was gay. I rolled my eyes until he spent 15 minutes laying out the case: And Artie fit it perfectly. The suicide attempt is just another perfect fit. I have no idea if Artie’s gay, but he does fit a pattern. “I work with Artie, I love Artie. Everyone has their demons, including myself, but he’s wrestling with some serious stuff,” Howard said this week. I just have to wonder if this is the serious stuff.
Anyhow, I’m thankful to hear Artie’s now out of the hospital. Sirius exec Tim Sabean says Artie’s job on the Howard Stern Show is safe: There will be a chair for him when Artie’s ready to head back to the show.
on Jan 8th, 2010 at 11:23 PM
I always thought he was gay too. Why else would he be so obsessed with us? There’s a lot of self-hatred under that “comedic” exterior. He’s like an eternal 13-year-old, trying not to be “found out” by the other guys.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 9:12 AM
I thought Sam Kinison died in a car wreck near Vegas when a drunk person drove into his lane and hit his car head-on. Regardless, I hope he gets his shit straight.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 10:08 AM
I don’t buy Artie’s big issue is his that he’s struggling with his sexuality. And from what I know about Howard, he would not consider someone’s sexuality, ” . . some serious stuff . . “.
If you really listen to and understand Howard Stern, you know that he, more so than just about any other straight celebrity/entertainer ‘gets it’ that being gay is no big deal. It’s just something that is for a certain % of people.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 2:17 PM
his father would have loved artie no matter what. i wish artie knew that.
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 2:59 PM
Who is Artie Lange?
on Jan 9th, 2010 at 4:55 PM
why would a fat guy stab himself? too much flesh to actually kill you. then again, it could have been drugs clouding his judgment. either way this screams more “cry for help” than anything and i hope the poor guy gets it, he really is a funny bastard…..
on Jan 10th, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Anything else Robin?
on Jan 10th, 2010 at 4:45 PM
Baba Booey raised the Stanley Cup over his head. Good going Fafa Floohi!
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 2:01 PM
Does Outsports have a Wackpack? If not, I think one should start.
on Jan 11th, 2010 at 2:04 PM
oh, and WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!! Artie stabbed himself 9 times!!! haha. Get well Artie, I love you.
on May 21st, 2010 at 2:13 PM
I love Artie, but Howard certainly has more energy since Artie is gone. I must agree that the show has never been better. I think Howard let the poison out of his system.
on May 17th, 2012 at 4:19 PM
Cyd,
Have you heard Artie’s new show? I have not. Apparently it’s a sport show on XM, channel 65 I think? I don’t have premium XM channels.
http://twitter.com/#!/nickandartie