By Adam Abramson
After a weeklong vacation, Howard Stern returned to the Sirius Satellite airwaves with longtime comedian Artie Lange in the studio.
Stern opened the show by taking calls from listeners pining for news about Lange, who tendered his resignation after an on-air fight during the last show before the scheduled break. Some put the blame on Stern for pushing the envelope and letting the fight develop -- claims he laughed off.
The two had a conversation during the week in which Lange told Stern, "I'm not a violent guy."
The suspense actually lasted longer than listeners could want, with Stern waiting nearly 4 minutes to reveal Lange was in the studio.
Once Lange's presence was made known, both Stern and Lange said they were happy it was happening this way.
The group then rehashed the actions of the on-air explosion.
Stern asked Lange if he wanted to make a statement.
"The only thing I want to say is of course I'm sorry. I'm very, very sorry. It's all my fault. This week, I have been overwhelmed by how nice people have treated me. I feel like I'm part of the family ... I got calls from everybody on the staff here. I really feel like I'm part of a family and that is such a touching thing ... Howard's call really meant a lot to me. I apologized to him a thousand times. I apologize to the fans. ... I ---- up in a major way ... I've been ---- up my whole life."
"The show is the only thing that's really keeping me a live," he joked. He also said he received calls from friends David Spade and Jimmy Kimmel.
He then went on to say his assistant Teddy is not stealing money, as he originally claimed in the argument, but did acknowledge the two had money issues.
Lange also said he did not blame Stern for the fight, something he claimed the Thursday before the show went on vacation.
He also said he reached out to Teddy, as did Stern after the fight. Teddy had concerns about keeping his job with Sirius radio, but the both assured him he was to remain part of the staff.
Lange said at the time of his resignation it was the most emotional he had been in his life, calling it an "emotional blackout."
A report of a listener who spotted Lange at The Brooklyn Diner after the explosion was false. Lange said he had a mozzarella omelet with sausage, rye toast with butter and jam and two chocolate milks, coffee and a chocolate chunk cookie from Starbucks at a diner in Hoboken, instead. The gorging was followed by a weekend in Amsterdam.
After rehashing the trip to Amsterdam, Stern spoke on the matter saying he had "the worst week of vacation."
Stern killed the replay of the show and HowardTV from the Thursday show, a move for which he received heavy criticism. Stern said he was very scared for both Artie and Teddy. He said he wanted "to do the right thing." Stern even said part of him felt he should follow Lange out of the studio to make sure he was in a healthy mental state -- even saying was afraid he was going to commit suicide. Stern said that was his main concern and the reason he kept replays off the air.
Stern asked Lange if he would object to the show appearing on HowardTV, something he has not watched yet. Lange said he actually wanted to see the tape and thinks the audience has the right to see such a dramatic moment from "the greatest reality show ever."
Stern said he received voice-mails from Lange before boarding the plane to Amsterdam confirming his on-air resignation. The two didn't speak until Lange returned from Europe, sharing their desire for the in-studio group of Stern, Lange, Fred Norris and Robin Quivers to remain intact.
Quivers chimed in, saying she didn't think Lange had any more chances, something Stern also believed.
Comments (24)
Thank goodness!
Damn...
Such a crock from the beginning. Howie missed being in the news and resorted tot his pathetic PR stunt.
Sad how far he has fallen.........
Such a crock from the beginning. Howie missed being in the news and resorted to this pathetic PR stunt.
Sad how far he has fallen.........
Thank goodness. I had nightmares of Bob Levy taking the slot. Hopefully Artie got his stuff together and will stay until the end.
You claim how he has fallen so far, yet he's pulling more listeners than the other wannabees do. In fact, you claim he has fallen so far, yet you read this story and even took the time to comment on it.
Because I was a huge fan for many years until he became a self absorbed prick. He spends more time complaining and trying to voice his opinion and less time entertaining which is what he is paid to do and what we used to love about him.
I was a Howard fan for 10++ years, likely longer than you have been able to read.....In fact I remember the tie when he was funny.
Howard is the best, and who cares what all you other posters think. Artie is back and I welcome him for whatever reason. I'm very happy to hear all of the staff all of the time.
a fan for 10+ years? we're you? we're you really?
Artie Lang destroyed the show from Day 1. I used to be the biggest fan, but Artie ruined it for me. Artie, OD already so I can go back to being a Howard Fan!!
You do realize that "[sic]" is used when there is an error in the original text, rather than serving as a placeholder for an expletive, right?
thank god artie is back! I have heard other commedians on other shows, and artie is tops!
Thanks, Grammar.
A fan for 10+ years? were you? were you really?
yawn
[sarcasm] Now my life can begin anew. [/sarcasm]
At the least, Artie should have been suspended. If he explodes again and someone gets hurt, Sirius will be exposed to a huge lawsuit for allowing him to come back without any penalty. Is his violent behavior now accepted as normal at Sirius? How can they dicipline other employees for the same behavior, after not doing so with Artie? I love Artie, but his behavior should have forced some kind of action by the company.
Bogus PR Stunt.
Stern doest give a crap about anyone but himself. He dumped his wife who was with him when he was nothing and raised his kids. He dumped that for a dopey model who has had to do nothing but giggle and wiggle her whole life.
I don't have the patience to listen to the old shows anymore because the new show is so much better. Artie is much of the reason for the present show being so entertaining. His one liners and comments are consistently hysterical but he does have crappy side to his personality as was evidenced months ago when he threw an object at Sal and then commented with a soliloquy that made him sound like a pompous jerk. Howard's the glue that ties everything together but his constant interruptions when he interviews guests as well as his obvious jealousy of Artie, since Howard mostly ignores Artie's comments and seldom laughs at anything Artie says, make me wonder if he's jumped the shark. Actually, I began losing respect for Howard when he put a gag order on those two idiots Opey and Anthony. Before that, I probably would have voted for Howie to be president.
I don't have the patience to listen to the old shows anymore because the new show is so much better. Artie is much of the reason for the present show being so entertaining. His one liners and comments are consistently hysterical but he does have crappy side to his personality as was evidenced months ago when he threw an object at Sal and then commented with a soliloquy that made him sound like a pompous jerk. Howard's the glue that ties everything together but his constant interruptions when he interviews guests as well as his obvious jealousy of Artie, since Howard mostly ignores Artie's comments and seldom laughs at anything Artie says, make me wonder if he's jumped the shark. Actually, I began losing respect for Howard when he put a gag order on those two idiots Opey and Anthony. Before that, I probably would have voted for Howie to be president.
Howard blows since the move to Sirius. Too much ghey stuff in the studio. He used to be a regular guy despite the money...now he's just like the rest of the celebs out there....he lost the connection with regular people...well...true regular people...that doesn't include the freaks that still swear by him...which is telling indeed seeing how the show is so ghey themed now.
Artie isn't funny at all...saw his show in Patchogue a few years ago...lame and unfunny. Rev. Bob was better...by a long shot.
The Stern show was much better when Howard had to work around the Feds...now he's just lame...especially allowing all the Sal/Richard crap that goes on.
You Ho Moes keep listening...I'm sure you're all busting a nut over the fagala content.
Howard blows since the move to Sirius. Too much ghey stuff in the studio. He used to be a regular guy despite the money...now he's just like the rest of the celebs out there....he lost the connection with regular people...well...true regular people...that doesn't include the freaks that still swear by him...which is telling indeed seeing how the show is so ghey themed now.
Artie isn't funny at all...saw his show in Patchogue a few years ago...lame and unfunny. Rev. Bob was better...by a long shot.
The Stern show was much better when Howard had to work around the Feds...now he's just lame...especially allowing all the Sal/Richard crap that goes on.
You Ho Moes keep listening...I'm sure you're all busting a nut over the fagala content.
I listen more than i used to when he was on free radio. the show is a breath of fresh air when compared to the lame wannabees that are trying to take his place on free radio. I think he is much more innovative than what I hear on fm. I am just about done with free radio. I just got another sirius unit, so i will probably stop listening to free radio now.
If you listened to this weekends shows your heard Howard insight and keep fights going with John, Gary etc. He does this, it is one of the things he does, has been for years.
So yes, he is responsible for the Artie thing, Artie is a talented, but weak victim that will eventually leave the show. Stern should have fired him, but Howard has become a lazy opportunist that has lost passion for his art. Again this past weekend shows were a reminder of how good Howard was. So now we have to bet on when the next fight and blow up will come. ? When is the next vacation.?
The show has become more like Howard's disfunctional family and everyone on the show is making enough coin to stay disfunctional through the current contract.
GETTING OLD HOWARD, time to listen to other options.
Artie is just not funny. He really gets on my nerves. He just rambles on and on about nothing. I am happiest when he is "sick" and not in studio.