Let’s hope Artie Lange’s public ‘crashing’ helps him get clean

Artie was gracious enough to come on our radio show last week and promote his appearance that night in Montclair. Judi's had a crush on him for years. Funny, sweet, irreverent and always self deprecating, he talked with us for about 20 minutes.

It was obvious he wasn't 100 percent there, but that's what people expect from Artie Lange these days. I'm sure countless people around him have tried to help him get back on the road to sobriety again and again and again. He's a great guy who goes out of his way to please his fans and do right by them.

He grew up in Union, a Jersey guy's Jersey Guy. Wisecracking, charming and very, very human. But his human weaknesses have dominated his life for at least the past 20 years. If he could tell his story of perpetual crashing and burning after so many triumphs in life, I think he might reach more people than any DARE program ever has. You can't help but feel for the guy and those close to him. By all accounts he's a really nice guy with a big heart and even bigger talent.

But whatever drags people into the world of drug abuse and dependence might be offset by watching how this guy has blown it over and over, through the years. I wish him success in his newest project, the HBO series “Crashing,” in which he makes guest appearances. It's a title that could be his autobiography. Let's hope his latest arrest and public 'crashing' will be the one that wakes him up.

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