Nick DiPaolo FIRED. "The Artie Lange Show" debuts on Jan. 15 @ 10pm

**ZeroZed** · 01-10-2013, 09:43 PM

Originally Posted by LisaGsDentures

Couldnt be bothered? That wasnt his job and thats not why they hired him.

What you write is partially true, but to the best of my recollection Artie stated that when they first approached him about joining the show, they wanted him to write and take part in the creative meetings, etc. He recounted that he told them that he really wasn't good at that so they decided to just let him sit in--no writing, no bits...just join in the fray on air. Mind you, this was way back in the era when THSS still had Stuttering John, KC, et.al. on the team so it wasn't as if the show was hurting for material in that era...that came later.

Artie was/is a comedian, and I don't think it was too much for Howard to initially hope that Artie would be part of that creative process. But Artie talked his way out of it so his only real responsibility was to show up on time every morning and tell some bullshit stories so Howard didn't have to talk for what used to be a 4-5 hour show on his own. Artie was able to pull that off for awhile, but eventually he couldn't even be counted on to show up.

I'm not an Artie "hater" but the only thing he seems to have ever successfully accomplished somewhat on his own was getting Beer League made.

TLDR: Artie stated on one of the Stern "specials" that when he initially joined the show, they asked him to write, but he ended up telling them that wasn't his "thing" and they ended up just letting him sit in.

**knu3421** · 01-10-2013, 09:45 PM

Originally Posted by jyanks

yes, as far as we know - Canavan Twins, Falato Gelato, Bochetti & Shane are still there.

so nick is the only guy terminated? He quit I'm telling you.

**knu3421** · 01-10-2013, 09:46 PM

Anybody watch nicks comedy special on showtime? I did for like 10 minutes and bailed.

**CAPTAIN KIRK** · 01-10-2013, 09:51 PM

Originally Posted by knu3421

so nick is the only guy terminated? He quit I'm telling you.

We don't know yet about all the others. Nick was reportedly making $1.5 million over a 3yr contract. No way he'd leave money like that on the table and walk away from it. This was the highest paying gig he ever landed. He even warned Artie once about his antics because he, "had a mortgage to pay". Artie's response was, "Oh yeah-I got TWO!"

**Greekfreak** · 01-10-2013, 10:01 PM

Originally Posted by knu3421

so nick is the only guy terminated? He quit I'm telling you.

No way he's leaving $750,000 on the table and on top of that get sued for breach of contract. He was clearly let go, and they'll have to pay him most or all of his remaining contract. Unless he really did something they didn't like.

**KillVampires** · 01-10-2013, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Greekfreak

No way he's leaving $750,000 on the table and on top of that get sued for breach of contract. He was clearly let go, and they'll have to pay him most or all of his remaining contract. Unless he really did something they didn't like.

Like pissing in a trashbin in the studio? Like getting arrested in Paris for screaming "cunt" at your girlfriend in public? For continually missing the show due to heroi....I mean the flu? Unless Nick killed someone over the break I'd say he's a few mistakes short of Artie's accomplishments so far. If they fired him for insubordination it would probably be the funniest moment on the show so far.

**Greekfreak** · 01-10-2013, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by ZeroZed

What you write is partially true, but to the best of my recollection Artie stated that when they first approached him about joining the show, they wanted him to write and take part in the creative meetings, etc. He recounted that he told them that he really wasn't good at that so they decided to just let him sit in--no writing, no bits...just join in the fray on air. Mind you, this was way back in the era when THSS still had Stuttering John, KC, et.al. on the team so it wasn't as if the show was hurting for material in that era...that came later.

Artie was/is a comedian, and I don't think it was too much for Howard to initially hope that Artie would be part of that creative process. But Artie talked his way out of it so his only real responsibility was to show up on time every morning and tell some bullshit stories so Howard didn't have to talk for what used to be a 4-5 hour show on his own. Artie was able to pull that off for awhile, but eventually he couldn't even be counted on to show up.

I'm not an Artie "hater" but the only thing he seems to have ever successfully accomplished somewhat on his own was getting Beer League made.

TLDR: Artie stated on one of the Stern "specials" that when he initially joined the show, they asked him to write, but he ended up telling them that wasn't his "thing" and they ended up just letting him sit in.

This is all true--I think ultimately that awful morning schedule did him in. Comedians are nocturnal and Joe Rogan aside, not particularly known for their good health habits. Stern is like and old yenta who has forced himself to believe that people still want him on early morning drives. Mind you, I think if they'd started at 9pm at night, I still think Artie would have fucked up, just not as soon as he did.

Artie was always galled by how little money he made at the show--at the Norm show he was making 35,000 per episode. So he'd do ancillary gigs to make more money and burned himself out in the process.

**Mugsysam** · 01-10-2013, 10:10 PM

Originally Posted by knu3421

I dont know if you ever watched The nick and Artie show but nick would say every 15 seconds we have to move the show along and Artie would just go on and on and nick would take his headphones off with fire coming out of his ears.

Nick maybe just quit.

This and they had a huge fight on what I think was the last show before they went on vacation. Bonnie Berstein was the guest and they were about to go through their weekly football picks where Artie started to tell Bonnie about how he and Nick were in the Sirius Fantasy Football League and were doing well even though they didn't even try and Nick flipped and said they had to move along and said something like -"Can I get a word in edge wise". It was just weird between them the rest of the show. I am not saying it was only because of THAT fight that Nick is gone, but I think things had been going on behind the scenes and it escalated to being on camera and, well the rest if history.

**Greekfreak** · 01-10-2013, 10:13 PM

Originally Posted by KillVampires

Like pissing in a trashbin in the studio? Like getting arrested in Paris for screaming "cunt" at your girlfriend in public? For continually missing the show due to heroi....I mean the flu? Unless Nick killed someone over the break I'd say he's a few mistakes short of Artie's accomplishments so far. If they fired him for insubordination it would probably be the funniest moment on the show so far.

Agreed; it's against the rules of logic.

But Artie knows he's "Talent". That's where his arrogance comes from.

**Greekfreak** · 01-10-2013, 10:15 PM

Originally Posted by Mugsysam

This and they had a huge fight on what I think was the last show before they went on vacation. Bonnie Berstein was the guest and they were about to go through their weekly football picks where Artie started to tell Bonnie about how he and Nick were in the Sirius Fantasy Football League and were doing well even though they didn't even try and Nick flipped and said they had to move along and said something like -"Can I get a word in edge wise". It was just weird between them the rest of the show. I am not saying it was only because of THAT fight that Nick is gone, but I think things had been going on behind the scenes and it escalated to being on camera and, well the rest if history.

I think you might be right, and that Nick got fed up with being second banana. But he had to know going in that it was always going to be the case, for a lot of reasons, having nothing to do with stand-up ability. Fact is, even when you see them together on talk shows, people laugh way harder at Artie's jokes, and it had very little to do with recognition. Likability plays a huge factor in it all.

David Spade once said in an interview that when Chris Farley and he were being offered parts, he wouldn't get offended when Farley would get 3x more money because he was the bigger draw. He was always happy if he could play off Chris and still be funny. Sometimes in showbiz you have to put aside your ego for the paycheck and think longterm. Either way, If Nick is gone, I'm sure Artie will throw him a few crumbs at gigs in town. Nick will be okay.

**Mugsysam** · 01-10-2013, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Greekfreak

I think you might be right, and that Nick got fed up with being second banana. But he had to know going in that it was always going to be the case, for a lot of reasons, having nothing to do with stand-up ability. Fact is, even when you see them together on talk shows, people laugh way harder at Artie's jokes, and it had very little to do with recognition. Likability plays a huge factor in it all.

David Spade once said in an interview that when Chris Farley and he were being offered parts, he wouldn't get offended when Farley would get 3x more money because he was the bigger draw. He was always happy if he could play off Chris and still be funny. Sometimes in showbiz you have to put aside your ego for the paycheck and think longterm. Either way, If Nick is gone, I'm sure Artie will throw him a few crumbs at gigs in town. Nick will be okay.

Some other people in the N&A section of this board had also brought up the point that maybe the higher ups in LA saw the difference between when it was just Nick and who ever when Artie was out, and when it was Artie and who ever when Nick was out (that one time I can think of) and said that the show basically sucked when Artie was not there.

I think it's more because the two of them were just not getting along anymore and to the higher ups it was Artie that was the bigger draw, not Nick, so if they couldn't work together anymore, Nick was the one that was going to be let go.

If this is the case, well I wonder when Nick finally speaks out he will say something to the effect of-"Can you imagine the person who was always there and took the show seriously was the one who was fired over the guy who was nodding off on camera and itching himself like crazy-including right in the crotch while on camera."

**Mugsysam** · 01-10-2013, 10:25 PM

And while I seriously doubt this was the case, I wonder if there truly was really bad tension going on behind the scenes between Nick and Artie, that was the true reason why Artie was out so much before the show went on break?

**Greekfreak** · 01-10-2013, 10:30 PM

And Nick being who he is, there's no way he'll be able to explain it as anything other than sour grapes. There's a way to do it, but he's not capable of doing so. It's not in his DNA. He'll come off like a whining little bitch. It's really a shame because this shit destroys friendships. They were better friends than they'd care to admit now.

I've been a listener since day one, and the number of times Artie had to steer the conversations away from politics and non-issues was staggering. No offense to Nick, but I don't know a single person who said "I'm watching the show because of DiPaolo." I'm very sure that Direct TV has done the surveys of all their subscribers who watch/listen to the show, and asked them point blank who do you like more on the show? Companies do this all the time with the on-air talent.

**TaTa Toothy** · 01-10-2013, 10:34 PM

So, let me get this straight. They fired the reliable, non-herion addict who showed up for work every day and kept Artie? Okay, that makes sense.

**TelegramSam** · 01-10-2013, 10:52 PM

Originally Posted by TaTa Toothy

So, let me get this straight. They fired the reliable, non-herion addict who showed up for work every day and kept Artie? Okay, that makes sense.

"Artie is going to do what Artie wants to do."

**Mugsysam** · 01-10-2013, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Greekfreak

And Nick being who he is, there's no way he'll be able to explain it as anything other than sour grapes. There's a way to do it, but he's not capable of doing so. It's not in his DNA. He'll come off like a whining little bitch. It's really a shame because this shit destroys friendships. They were better friends than they'd care to admit now.

I've been a listener since day one, and the number of times Artie had to steer the conversations away from politics and non-issues was staggering. No offense to Nick, but I don't know a single person who said "I'm watching the show because of DiPaolo." I'm very sure that Direct TV has done the surveys of all their subscribers who watch/listen to the show, and asked them point blank who do you like more on the show? Companies do this all the time with the on-air talent.

I could not agree more with every single thing you said here. You are spot on. I hated when Nick started to spew his politics, and I am not saying whether I agree or disagree, but the last thing I-and I am sure a lot of people-want to hear when listening to the N&A Show of all shows, is anything political. And let's face it, in the entertainment business, Nicks views are in the minority. He really could have ruffled some feathers, or got the higher ups worried with his views, and that could have been a factor in his apparent dismissal too. Not saying it's right, but I can see it happening.

And I am one of those people that tuned in to the show because of Artie, not Nick. And I am almost certain at least 80-85% of the people that do watch would say the same.

**Mugsysam** · 01-10-2013, 10:58 PM

Originally Posted by Greekfreak

And Nick being who he is, there's no way he'll be able to explain it as anything other than sour grapes. There's a way to do it, but he's not capable of doing so. It's not in his DNA. He'll come off like a whining little bitch. It's really a shame because this shit destroys friendships. They were better friends than they'd care to admit now.

I've been a listener since day one, and the number of times Artie had to steer the conversations away from politics and non-issues was staggering. No offense to Nick, but I don't know a single person who said "I'm watching the show because of DiPaolo." I'm very sure that Direct TV has done the surveys of all their subscribers who watch/listen to the show, and asked them point blank who do you like more on the show? Companies do this all the time with the on-air talent.

The only thing I can see that would stop Nick from saying anything and being sour grapes as you said is if he had to sign some confidentiality contract to not talk about it when leaving. If Artie doesn't really get too into it on the air Monday, I would say that was the case. We shall see as they say....

**Fourinchespyle** · 01-10-2013, 11:00 PM

Originally Posted by TaTa Toothy

So, let me get this straight. They fired the reliable, non-herion addict who showed up for work every day and kept Artie? Okay, that makes sense.

Makes plenty of sense. Artie is funny and interesting. Nick is semi-funny and annoying with his ever present everything-is-too-pc (which is true) rap.