Artie Lange in Rehab During Holidays

Howard Stern isn't often upstaged on his own show, but sidekick Artie Lange's stories of near self-destruction tend to do just that. Lange, Stern's sidekick for several years, has repeatedly struggled with weight and drug problems to such an extent that many fans are counting down the days when he dies from them.

Lange's unhealthy behavior and deranged stories are the subject of his own recently released book Too Fat To Fish. That behavior may have pushed Lange back into rehab over the holidays, as he was absent from the Stern show when it returned this morning.

According to Newsday's Pop Culture Blog, Stern returned from holiday break without Lange. Stern got word that Lange was checked into an "intensive rehab" by family members, most likely in Miami. Lange, who has occasionally weighed 300 pounds, has apparently lost 20 pounds in two weeks.

Stern's producer, Gary Dell'Abate, says that Lange is actually in a kind of detox. Lange himself called in later in the show to clear things up.

Lange said that he had gone back to using heroin before being checked in to see a psychotherapist. Whatever he is doing to clean himself up, it may be working, as Lange said he hasn't felt this good in 20 years. Lange claims he is receiving medical treatment for his liver and stomach, and that he is actually working out. He also reinforced that he has lost 20 pounds during the holiday break.

This may be more shocking news to Lange's followers than many of his more sordid stories. Lange's unhealthy looks and various issues over the years have made him almost more famous than his job as Stern's sidekick. The Lange stories began as far back as the mid 90's, when he was an original cast member of MAD TV.

While on MAD TV, Lange's cocaine habit led to the infamous "Pig Story" where he was doing coke while dressed as a pig for a sketch spoofing Babe and Baywatch. Lange's drug use got him kicked off the show, then he took supporting roles in bombs like Dirty Work and Lost and Found.

But when Lange joined with Howard Stern in 2001, his various stories about his vices and habits became a big part of the show. Lange has added several more infamous incidents and altercations to his collection while he's been at it.

But while Stern fans have formed websites and death watches devoted to Lange's unhealthy behavior, Lange recently profited off this infamy with the best selling book Too Fat To Fish earlier this year. Even Stern was shocked at how severe Lange's issues were when he read it. However, Lange may have gotten some kind of wake up call during the holidays.

Lange will return to the show on Wednesday, presumably with more stories to tell.

Sources

Newsday: Pet Rock- The Pop Culture Blog- "Where is Artie Lange? Not on the Stern show" weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities_blog/2009/01/where_is_artie_lange_not_on_th.html

Artie Lange Deathwatch- artielangedeathwatch.com/