Man, the guy has been going downhill a lot in the past few years. I hope he doesn't up and die on us. When he's sober and focused, he's really funny. It's when he slips into that fat slob "I don't give a shit" routine that he's boring.

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Howard Stern spoke out about the hospitalization of his longtime friend and comedic sidekick Artie Lange on his Sirius satellite radio show on Monday morning, asking fans to remember how great he is and shooting down the rumor that Lange would be replaced.

"Artie has given this show tremendous moments of great comedy. He's a tremendous contributor. He is a good man. Don't forget how great he is," Stern said on Monday morning. The radio host also denied rumors that Lange is quitting the show and being replaced by comedian Jim Breuer.

Stern said: "I don't know where that comes from."

A representative for Lange confirmed that her client was in the hospital.

“Artie has chosen to keep all information on this matter between him and his doctor. There will be no further comment,” his spokeswoman told CNN.

"don't make me break my foot off in yo ass!!!"

I graduated high school with him- Class of '85 from Union High School, NJ.
I didn't go to my last reunion, but I understand he was there.

Yeah, he was funny in school, but I have found his comedy really annoying the past few years...

I wouldn't want to see anything bad happen to him, tho.

I like Artie but he has deep rooted issues that go beyond drugs & alcohol...I hope he sorts himself out...

I really like Artie on the show! His best bits...
*Guy who laughs at everything
*Chaz Bono
*His reciting of the Godfather dialogue...
and some of his quick, witty one line insults that fly right over the heads of the morons and bimbos that Howard has as guest on the show.
Unfortunately, Artie's wealth enables him to have a destructive lifestyle. He's got the greatest job making tons of $$$ but doesn't appreciate it.
It's ironic that the guy who made "WHAAAA" his catch phrase can't over come his own problems.

joseph8 said:

I'm one of the few who liked Jackie better. His goofing on Gary's weight & teeth had me rolling.

uPtoWnNY said:

Jackie was always trying to be as cool or as happening as Stern was at the time. If Stern went to a big wig party, Jackie wanted to go to the bigger one the next week. He wasn't that funny either, to me. Artie KNOWS he isn't going to make it into a big wig party alone, so he's one to sit outside and point & laugh at folks going in.

FLA FLA FO HI

ernestsewell said:

part of Arties charm, imo, is that he's pretty much just a regular guy...and calls things as he sees them - right, wrong or indifferent...I've never got a sense of pretentiousness from Artie...Jackie on the other hand - ...

I think Jackie is funny too but I don't think he's fit the mold of the show today...

roodboi said:

True. I love Artie on the show, and for me, he's made it a hundred times better than when Jackie was there (and I loved the show when Jackie was on). But Artie's got so many serious problems that it's almost difficult to listen to him sometimes. I'm not always a fan of how Howard lets him off the hook either. I thought Artie imploded when he was a guest on the first Joe Buck show, so I thought it was really weird the next day when Howard turned it around and made it seem as if Buck was the one with the problem.

I hope Artie sorts himself out and lives a long, healthy life.

Efan said:

the Joe Buck appearance was insane...I laughed but I fully understand why it wasn't really funny...

I actually have gone on the record as being "anti Artie" when he was doin the typical fat slob , druggie , etc ... i mean havnt we seen this with john belushi , john candy and chris farley ???

but i dont wish him any ill will and i hope he tackles his demons .... i think the show is better with him on it ... although i have always questioned his imput as well as Jackies imput before that ....

NOW FRED on the other hand - that guy is smart and a genius in my opinion ... cracks me up whenever he pipes up about something ...

I am in awe that someone on prince .org went to high school with artie ! too cool !

I laughed more when Jackie was on the show - his blunt-rolling contest with Snoop was classic. And I loved when Howard goofed on Jackie's music. His songs were always about two subjects - beer & pot.

Efan said:

One of my classmates called and told me to turn that on. We were DYING because he kept mentioning our high school. We DID NOT want people to think that people who come from Union act like that!

ColAngus said:


When we were in jr, high and all into "The Not Ready for Primetime Players", Artie always talked about being the next John Belushi. He was always doing impressions at lunch and in class.

OMG! I LOVE Artie! I hope he's OK. I want to know what's the matter with him? I mean ...currently to be in the hospital?
I used to think Jackie was ok...but when listening now to the history of howard stern and I hear jackie it's like F jackie! he sux.

ColAngus I love Fred too! he's awesome with the sound effects and I always love it when outta know where you hear hahaha from fred....you know it's got to be funny when you hear Fred laugh.

chocolate1! that's so cool you went to school with artie!

I was surprised to find out that he was a herion addict. Wonder if that is what's going down right now.

The only reason I ever loved Jakie on the show was for all the fighting. But yeah, Artie is way better than Jakie

Just like today - on the show - they were talking about Benji's date to the xmas party - and FRED chimed in with the classic Benji voice ... i was laughin so hard i had to pull over ! Fred is that hidden classic genius on the show ... (and his sound effects just kill me too ) ...

Not too surprising. But sad.