"A source from within the Sirius Satellite radio walls recently reached out to me to confirm that Artie Lange will be suspended when the Howard Stern Show returns from vacation. The suspension, according to my source is just to buy time until the higher ups at Sirius can work out Lange's contract payout. Ultimately Artie Lange will be fired and new comedians will begin auditioning for his job when the show returns on Monday. My source has never been wrong. In fact, it was the same source he told me that David Lee Roth was going to replace Howard Stern on KROCK.
Stay tuned for more details in next weeks issue of Steppin Out magazine."
By Chaunce Hayden via howardshrine.com:
This is sad, sad news, folks. Let's hope Artie turns this into an opportunity to do something he likes rather than doing something detrimental.
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comments
46
If that's true....wow....I kind of expected it, but it kind of hurts a little anyway.
I think this part bothers me the most:
"Ultimately Artie Lange will be fired and new comedians will begin auditioning for his job when the show returns on Monday"
Could that really true as it is literally written? They're going to start auditioning replacements on Monday? That seems kind of harsh, doesn't it? They won't even let it sink in or at least give it a little time out of respect for the guy?
I would expect them to at least give it a little time for mourning, don't you?
NUMASIA IS jg
238
I thought that part about Monday was a little strange, too. If what he's saying is true, they'd announce a suspension on Monday. Then in a few weeks or however long it takes, they'd announce the termination. They obviously wouldn't start auditioning people if it was at the suspension stage.
Also, why do they have to go through any of this? Artie resigned. If they needed to fire him, couldn't they just say that he wants to stick with his decision to leave the show?
87
Howard initially accepted Artie's resignation, then tried to talk Artie down...so, legally the argument can be made that Howard did not officially tender Artie's resignation.
Nothing was in writing, and perhaps afterwards, Artie verbally retracted his resignation statement.
Without Sirius having something in writing and perhaps even notarized, anything Artie said on-air is void.
87
When did Artie negotiate a new contract?
As of late last year, he was not under a contract...his initial contract was a one-year deal, and when that expired, he stayed on week to week because he didn't want to be bound into a contract.
Perhaps I missed that he decided to sign on to a new contract...first I've heard of it.
46
I have read that Artie's contract was year to year, because that was how it started, but I haven't been able to find a good enouph source to quote to prove it, so I could be wrong there...
Also, I'm not totally sure it matters that Artie resigned or that Howard accepted. Does Howard sign his check? Isn't he employed by Sirius? If Sirius wants him out, he's out. But it will cost them buying him out of that contract.
Under the circumstances, I believe Sirius considers him more liability then asset, and Artie doesn't have much of a legal argument to make...not one worth making anyway. It makes more sense for him to accept the buyout and move on rather then fight it. It would cost him too much, and that's not how he wants to go out.
NUMASIA IS jg
87
Yeah, I think as long as they buyout his contract, nothing matters. The only way it could really be a battle is if Sirius tried to terminate him for breach of contract and attempt to stop any further payment. If they buy him out, he's out...end of story.
I need to try to find something regarding his contract. He actually discussed it last year, I'd guess around November, could be wrong...but he stated that he had been working all of '07 without a contract. Those were his words...he only signed on for one year, in '06 and decided against another contract because he knew he couldn't commit long-term.
So, unless something changed in '08, and they didn't discuss it on-air, it's my understanding there is no contract to buy him out of.
Honestly, I'm not saying the story is wrong, how the hell would I know...but I'm not buying into anything until I hear it directly from the show. I don't give Chaunce any cred as a journalist, and I can't stand 'unnamed sources'.
If it's true, we'll find out Monday. Until then, I'll just sit and wonder...lol
46
This is by no means a solid source, but I did find this from 1/16/07:
http://www.tvgasm.com/newsgasm/news/miscellaneous-tv/will-a-talk-show-de...
First paragraph of the article:
"There's been talk this past week that Howard Stern's (remember him?) slovenly satellite radio sidekick Artie Lange has signed "a major deal with Fox Television" to star in his own late-night talk show (possibly to replace B-Side pick, TalkShow with Spike Feresten. The latest conjecture is whether Lange will leave his spot on the Sirius pay-show or be held to the final four years of his contract."
I know this is out of date, so it should be viewed in context, but it does mention his contract ...
NUMASIA IS jg
238
Artie seemed to always have the attitude that he could leave whenever he wanted. He was especially like that after he got the Fox deal.
There's a possibility that he signed something at the end of 2007, though. I think he knew that he needed to stick around for the promotion of his book. That could have been a stipulation from the publisher as well.
Also, I think he found peace in the fact that he would be with the show until the end. Why else would he start building a house in New jersey?
It's possible that he signed something for at least a year.
I'm on the fence on this one. Although I will miss Artie's great humor and wit, I can understand that maybe they all came to a mutual decision that it's time for him to move on. Howard rewards loyalty and Artie hasn't really held up his end in this regard. Artie is burnt out and Howard hasn't been very supportive to him by continually guilting him into staying. If this is true, then part of me is relieved because I couldn't endure anymore of the mean spiritedness that has taken over the show since Artie's downward spiral. His health has been declining and he was even on antibiotics because of it. But part of me hopes they will suspend Artie until he gets help and he can come back a better person because of it and will regain everyone's respect.
This must be a hard decision for all involved.
87
Yeah, I mean it's entertaining...and I'll be pissed if he's shit canned...but, I've been fired for MUCH less in corporate. I've literally been fired for no reason, just shown the door and given a severance so I'd shut up and go quietly.
Artie does deserve disciplinary action. I mean, I love the guy to death...but, he's being coddled. Everyone was so concerned for him after he blew up, then ten minutes later they ask 'Is Teddy ok?' lmao Teddy was the one who got attacked, not Artie.
Another classic addict...it's always about him...poor, poor Artie. I fall into myself. I care for the guy's well being because I know where he's at. He's a fucking mess and I don't truly think it's sunk in to him yet how fucked up he is.
He needs to take his health seriously. He needs to be willing to change. Listening to him talk to Dr. Ablow whatever his name is, it was obvious he doesn't. He can't play the victim forever, he'll be dead soon if he does. He needs to man up, make decisions for himself and they need to be healthy ones.
Maybe getting fired is a blessing. I just wish he could get his shit together and still stay on the show.
I was just listening to a replay of the show before the blowup between Artie and Teddy and at one point while Artie had fallen asleep, Howard said to Robin that he was going to "have a talk with him." They started discussing that it's only a few days a week, a couple hours a day and he needs to get to bed on time and show up for work. Meanwhile, they were still laughing about Artie sleeping and basically spinning it as a bit for the show.
But I'm getting a feeling that the fight between Teddy and Artie's misdirected anger and then pretty much forcing Howard/Sirius to suspend him is all a result of this discussion after the show the day before.
If so, I'm sort of glad because I blame Howard for this whole Artie debacle as much as Artie himself. But I also agree with you PRS FIEND, he definitely deserves disciplnary action and they have coddled him too long.
PS. I love this place! You people are really cool.
87
There's no doubt that Artie has taken advantage of his situation...knowingly or not, he has...BUT, Howard ALLOWS him to, Howard laughs when Artie screws up, defends him when he screws up, turns it into bits on the show.
If that's not sending mixed signals to a guy who's already screwed up, I don't know what is.
And honestly...Artie has been used as a whipping post. Howard should NEVER have allowed the Artie vs. Teddy argument to go as far as it did...it went that far because Howard fed it with his line of questioning. He knew Artie was pissed...he knew Teddy wanted to leave the studio. It was obvious.
How many funny bits have been at Artie's expense? Tread mill, drug stories, criminal record stories, binge drinking at Hard Rock, Artie is dead news story, Artie on the scale, can fat Artie play basketball, taking cock and ass pics while Artie's sleeping, laughing at Artie snore, laugh at Artie's father's injury and death, laugh at Artie's 'f-word' PSA...it goes on and on.
Sure, if anyone's going to be the fall guy, it's going to be Artie. Ultimately, no one forced Artie to mess himself up the way he has. But, he was definitely helped over the edge for quite a while by how Howard handled him.
Artie's the funniest guy on the show and even though he hasn't been as productive as he used to be, the show will suffer without him. Yep, Artie screwed up...but, he had some help along the way, too.
3
Howard keeps accomodating Artie because he needs him! Artie is a very important part of the live show...I say that tongue in cheek because the show is live only 30 weeks out of the year. That's how much time off Howard gets on your dollar. Great contract for him..not great for the listeners.
This is GREAT news ... Chaunce is a sh*t disturber and gets everything wrong ...
This probably guarantee's Artie will be back to work out his issues ON AIR!!
Thnx Chaunce ... you dummy!! ;)
9
Your right, Chaunce is just spinning a yarn of bullshit to capitalize on all of our interest in the story.
Why would Sirius "buyout his contract" he got into a PHYSICAL altercation on the air, which I'm sure breaches a number of clauses in his contract. It makes no sense! A company that is bleeding money is going to try and accomodate an employee who broke the rules? I smell bullshit.
I still think this was a bit, but an absolutely magnificent bit. They actually put some thought into this one and Artie was absolutely fantastic.
I hope I'm right, can't wait for monday!
46
People get bought out of contracts all the time, for all kinds of reasons, even fucked up ones. Sometimes it's cheaper for a company to pay you the rest of the years salary to make you go away, rather then take further risks on you which could be more expensive. I know a lot of people would read that and think, well no one there is going to sue anybody, but if you were a high paid lawyer working for Snirius, you wouldn't be doing you job if you didn't recommend Artie get the boot. Would you be willing to bet your job Artie won't do it again, or that no one will ever sue anyone else there. Not if your worth that high salary....
Allowing that kind of behavior, assuming it was real, which I believe it was, sets a very bad president. Other employees see that. It also makes you look bad if you're the exec who is seen as allowing it. I think it just goes to show, never bite the hand that feeds, just stop coming back for more....
NUMASIA IS jg
87
Numasia hit the nail on the head...that's exactly what happens and why it happens. It's much less messy that way, and generally a release waiver is signed off on by the ex-employee which stipulates that he/she voids any consideration of legal action.
Part of me is/was naive to think that this could be resolved with Artie remaining, simply because it took place in an artistic setting, i.e. The Studio, and the altercation itself was being further instigated by Howard turning it into a 'bit'.
But, Sirius is still corporate...they're a business based on making money. They don't pay the enormous HR and lawyer salaries to allow something like this turn into more of a mess than it already is. Trust me, HR and the lawyers have been screaming 'Fire him' at the top of their lungs since this happened.
He's a liability now as far as they're concerned.
This story is full of crap and so is your "source". Monday's here and so is Artie.
46
Yeah man...after this I wouldn't even trust that source to tell me what time it is...
NUMASIA IS jg
HAAAAHAAAAA Chaunce ya chump!
really blew your load on that one
noone will ever listen to you again - go away