How did Artie last so long at Stern?

[BonnieMcFarlaneMe2]

I don't think he actually hates Howard, if he did he wouldn't have done that spotlight show, or the Jackie Puppet bit for the final show that never aired until Sirius. Feels sorry for him, maybe. And that not wanting to go backwards comment was definitely directed at Howard. The Ralph comment, well... Who didn't hate Ralph?

Top character or not, I hate John. True hate.

I don’t think he hates Howard either but he left because he realized his value and didn’t want to work for peanuts. Much like Shuli. “Shuli is my favorite person on the show.” Said no one ever. Billy hated Ralph because when he got hair plugs Ralph smacked him on the head the first day. Richard and Sal interviewed him at Comic Con. Gotta admit that Ralph knew how to light a match and blow up a confrontation. I just feel bad for John. He failed upwards for so long. How delusional was he to run for governor in CA?

 

[UnPRePared]

I don’t think he hates Howard either but he left because he realized his value and didn’t want to work for peanuts. Much like Shuli. “Shuli is my favorite person on the show.” Said no one ever. Billy hated Ralph because when he got hair plugs Ralph smacked him on the head the first day. Richard and Sal interviewed him at Comic Con. Gotta admit that Ralph knew how to light a match and blow up a confrontation. I just feel bad for John. He failed upwards for so long. How delusional was he to run for governor in CA?

How delusional was he to not save his money from Leno?

 

[BonnieMcFarlaneMe2]

How delusional was he to not save his money from Leno?

John was living way above his means even when he was an intern.

 

[Sue Lightning]

It’s a very gen-x thing, so of course the resident zoomer doesn’t get it.

You’re joking but this thread is full of people who don’t understand what my question is, despite it being really simple:

Why did a corporation allow an out of control junkie chance after chance despite him getting worse?

Thats the whole question. It wasn’t “Why did people find Artie funny?”

 

[UnPRePared]

You’re joking but this thread is full of people who don’t understand what my question is, despite it being really simple:

Why did a corporation allow an out of control junkie chance after chance despite him getting worse?

Thats the whole question. It wasn’t “Why did people find Artie funny?”

@Sue Lightning , shortened answer is Howard protected him until he finally didn't. That's the power Howard held.

WHY he finally didn't has been speculated - from an uprising by employees who didn't want him back to Howard just being fed up. That we'll never 100% know.

 

[Sue Lightning]

@Sue Lightning , shortened answer is Howard protected him until he finally didn't. That's the power Howard held.

WHY he finally didn't has been speculated - from an uprising by employees who didn't want him back to Howard just being fed up. That we'll never 100% know.

I guess I (foolishly) assumed management had the power over Stern that they would over O&A - I.e that they’d step in and say “Nope we’re firing this guy, you have no sway here” but I definitely underestimated how much sway Howard had

 

[Harry Powell]

You’re joking but this thread is full of people who don’t understand what my question is, despite it being really simple:

Why did a corporation allow an out of control junkie chance after chance despite him getting worse?

Thats the whole question. It wasn’t “Why did people find Artie funny?”

It’s not that deep. Artie was part of the show. The show was Sirius’ flagship. Don’t fuck with the golden goose while it’s shitting golden eggs.

Eventually the cost/benefit ratio skewed too far and they cut him. Simple as.

 

[Mick_Mickerson]

Being a literal on air junkie, and all.

It seems that in those last years all he did was show up with some Steve C level plate of food (big ass tupperware of lasagna and 2 burgers) and just eat on air and not contribute. Then he’d lay on the floor or nod off. Even after attempting to assault an employee he faced no reprecussions.

Legitimately how? Did corporate not notice or care? Give him too many chances? Help.

You're way overthinking this. Pre-2010 shock jockery was a unique phenomenon that existed in a bubble. More crazy than having a drug addict in a radio sidekick role is that a 60 year old Howard was having beauty contests with 20 year old actual Sirius interns.

It was a unique thing that will never be replicated. In fact, that's why O and A were both unceremoniously fired and Howard does a completely different show now.

 

[Udders]

Howard telling Billy that Stern is the only reason that he gets voice work aged so poorly. Obviously Billy is extremely intelligent. I like that he’s smart enough to hide his disdain for Howard and looks back fondly. His quote about never wanting to go backwards really resonated with me. The only person he ever spoke poorly about was Ralph. John is very dumb but he’s a top 3 character on the show for sure. The master of deflection haha.

I've listened to a lot of old John clips recently and he's just a complete piece of shit. He's not funny or entertaining and I cannot fathom how he never got his ass kicked throughout those years.

 

[BonnieMcFarlaneMe2]

You're way overthinking this. Pre-2010 shock jockery was a unique phenomenon that existed in a bubble. More crazy than having a drug addict in a radio sidekick role is that a 60 year old Howard was having beauty contests with 20 year old actual Sirius interns.

It was a unique thing that will never be replicated. In fact, that's why O and A were both unceremoniously fired and Howard does a completely different show now.

The intern beauty pageants were so fucking weird.

 

[BonnieMcFarlaneMe2]

I've listened to a lot of old John clips recently and he's just a complete piece of shit. He's not funny or entertaining and I cannot fathom how he never got his ass kicked throughout those years.

Wrong! But yeah, it’s bizarre that he never got beat up.

 

[ElectricLightKazooII]

I don't know much about Stern-era Artie, but I did hear that he put that shit on cheeseburgers.

 

[Humanatee]

Then he’d lay on the floor or nod off.

His nodding off due to heroin was so bad at one point that there was a show where they literally brought out a sofa bed and put it in the middle of the studio for him to sleep on. Here it is if you feel like watching...



Although Stern definitely enabled him a lot, I do think he was genuinely naive when it comes to seriously drug use too. Like when Artie would show up and be nodding off, Stern probably believed him when he said he was just tired. Either way, the show was way better when he was on it. I think that suicide attempt was a good excuse for Stern to transition the show into being the sanitized piece of shit it is now.

 

[Sexual_Tyrannosaurus]

His nodding off due to heroin was so bad at one point that there was a show where they literally brought out a sofa bed and put it in the middle of the studio for him to sleep on. Here it is if you feel like watching...



Although Stern definitely enabled him a lot, I do think he was genuinely naive when it comes to seriously drug use too. Like when Artie would show up and be nodding off, Stern probably believed him when he said he was just tired. Either way, the show was way better when he was on it. I think that suicide attempt was a good excuse for Stern to transition the show into being the sanitized piece of shit it is now.

It annoys me in retrospect how scared of Artie Howard was. If anybody else on the show said they were falling asleep, they would get a merciless beating from the Pelican. "'I'm tired.' Fuck you, "I'm tired." Go to bed earlier. How about that? Sleep on your own fucking time." Even Robin or Fred would get it.

 

[Mick_Mickerson]

It annoys me in retrospect how scared of Artie Howard was. If anybody else on the show said they were falling asleep, they would get a merciless beating from the Pelican. "'I'm tired.' Fuck you, "I'm tired." Go to bed earlier. How about that? Sleep on your own fucking time." Even Robin or Fred would get it.

Was he scared of him, or was he more making a spectacle out of him? Allowing the sleeping and such became more entertaining than just yelling at him like he would Gary

 

[DooDooBrown]

As long as show business exists, there will be performers who are obviously raging drug addicts that everyone looks the other way on because they make them money.

 

[BonnieMcFarlaneMe2]

It annoys me in retrospect how scared of Artie Howard was. If anybody else on the show said they were falling asleep, they would get a merciless beating from the Pelican. "'I'm tired.' Fuck you, "I'm tired." Go to bed earlier. How about that? Sleep on your own fucking time." Even Robin or Fred would get it.

Falling asleep during the Kathy Griffin interview is one of the funniest moments on Stern.

 

[Humanatee]

Was he scared of him, or was he more making a spectacle out of him? Allowing the sleeping and such became more entertaining than just yelling at him like he would Gary

100%. In these moments, Artie essentially became a wack packer. As ridiculous as him falling asleep at his job because he was so strung out on heroin was, it did make for entertaining radio.

 

[LingerLonger]

100%. In these moments, Artie essentially became a wack packer. As ridiculous as him falling asleep at his job because he was so strung out on heroin was, it did make for entertaining radio.

Stern Show was filled with Wack Pack level hires. Stuttering John, KC Armstrong, Sal, Richard, Artie, and a few others were obviously just super obsessed fans who had scored a job out of opportunity.

Artie's entire life would be an amazing HBO show. About a guy who basically heroin binges his way through show business. Landing network television deals, six figure standup gigs, huge radio shows, and movies. All the while being on heroin or coke nonstop. The suicides, the weight ballooning up and down, his crazy personal relationships, stealing money from Norm, and so on.

 

[UnPRePared]

Stern Show was filled with Wack Pack level hires. Stuttering John, KC Armstrong, Sal, Richard, Artie, and a few others were obviously just super obsessed fans who had scored a job out of opportunity.

Artie's entire life would be an amazing HBO show. About a guy who basically heroin binges his way through show business. Landing network television deals, six figure standup gigs, huge radio shows, and movies. All the while being on heroin or coke nonstop. The suicides, the weight ballooning up and down, his crazy personal relationships, stealing money from Norm, and so on.

KC trump's them all on the crazy, even Artie. I am still surprised he never killed someone. Still time, I guess.

I've listened to a lot of old John clips recently and he's just a complete piece of shit. He's not funny or entertaining and I cannot fathom how he never got his ass kicked throughout those years.

John is attacked by the WATP idiots, Shuli and Anthony constantly. It's a mini war of retards between the three and I hope it ends with all of them getting AIDS.

The intern beauty pageants were so fucking weird.

Lad, Howard's abuse of intern work goes beyond just this weirdness. His show alone, not to mention other shows like O&A, single handedly changed the whole laws of internship in New York BECAUSE of how much money he saved/profited off the backs of free intern work. And God forbid they try to make some money off his name!

It annoys me in retrospect how scared of Artie Howard was. If anybody else on the show said they were falling asleep, they would get a merciless beating from the Pelican. "'I'm tired.' Fuck you, "I'm tired." Go to bed earlier. How about that? Sleep on your own fucking time." Even Robin or Fred would get it.

Take it from a man who drank a wee bit too much on his younger years, as well as a shit diet - you eat too many carbs and/or sugar, you'll crash hard. It's the worst feeling in the world, you shouldn't be tired but you are and can't fight it, hence my lifestyle change.



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