The Artie Lange Show Featuring Howard Stern!

This morning(December 2nd) Artie Lange, of the Howard Stern Show, called in sick...again. Artie calling in sick has become about as regular as a Sarah Palin interview gaff(You Tube: Sarah Palin-Turkey). If Artie was legitimately sick, I sympathize with the guy. Maybe he is suffering from exhaustion after the book signing tour and the interviewing juggernaut that goes with a best selling novel. Maybe he is finding it difficult to juggle the radio show, a stand up comedy act and withdrawing from drugs. Or, worst case scenario, back on the drugs and/or booze. What made Artie's absence stand out this time was the simple fact that for the first time in a while, The Howard Stern Show was better with less.



For the longest period, I felt that listening to Howard had become like listening to a radio show by committee. Howard, with the aide of Artie and Robin Quivers has become a shadow of his former radio personality. For years Stern had suffered through countless interruptions brought on by the opinionated Robin. While Howard has always valued Robin's contribution to the show, you could hear by his tone that talking over "The King Of All Media" during his radio time was frustrating him. Howard being Howard, bit his tongue and carried on like a professional. When the show had just Howard and Robin as the main voice, listening was bearable because the content was always unique...and yes there was Jackie Martling, writing jokes and laughing inappropriately at some tragic news story. Oh yes, and he didn't speak unless spoken to.


Today's show made me miss Jackie. No, he didn't tell great stories or seem particularily interesting. I miss his laugh and the fact that on The Howard Stern Show, less is more. There is one voice too many on the show and that loud voice is Artie. Artie has become the center of attention on this top rated show. Not by natural circumstances but by way of Artie selling himself in all his narcissistic ways. Artie's favourite subject is Artie. Whatever the topic of the moment, the conversation seems to always come back around to an Artie story or in relation to how he was involved. For example, Howard would be talking about his bachelor party and Artie chimes in with a good five minutes on himself and how it was difficult to see other people drinking at the party. WHAAAH! His habit of interrupting the show with his long winded,self promoting diatribe has ruined the flow of what once was a great radio show. Enough Artie! It's time to start listening to what Howard, the star of the show, has to say. None of these obnoxious, loud attempts at being funny are working for you any more. It's time for Howard to realize (and I think he does) that the show is much better without Artie. Sometimes...less is more!