Craig Gass told Howard that he and Artie Lange hung out the other night, saying that Artie has lost weight, is doing well and performed at The Comedy Cellar.

But the Artie Lange update got no attention from Howard Stern, who asked no questions about Artie and seemed completely uninterested.

Craig Gass spoke about Artie’s standup, where he used the opening line: “Well, I sure am glad that Fashion Week is over, because I am fucking exhausted.”

Artie Lange, you may recall, attempted suicide in January by stabbing himself repeatedly.

So, what gives? What’s going on between Howard Stern and Artie Lange? Will Stern ever have Artie on the show to talk about what happened?

Photo from Artie Lange fansite SaveBabyGorilla.com.

You’ll recall that yesterday’s New York Post’s Page Six blabbed that Artie Lange attempted suicide by stabbing himself
nine times.

Howard Stern commented on the Artie Lange suicide news:

“I would love to know who the scumbag is who releases that to the press, because this is a private matter. I don’t know what to say. I work with Artie, I love Artie. Everyone has their demons, including myself, but he’s wrestling with some serious stuff … When I heard the news it was too much to bear.”

Stern added: “I’m pissed off the story got out there, pissed off at the shithead who got paid 10 bucks to talk to Page Six …This is a family matter. I don’t know what to do. I don’t know what to say.”

The Page Six Artie Lange item details the suicide attempt:

“Troubled comic Artie Lange landed in the hospital after stabbing himself nine times in an apparent suicide attempt, sources told The Post. Lange’s frantic mom called 911 Saturday morning after she entered his Hoboken apartment and found the bloodied funnyman, a law-enforcement source said. Lange sustained six “hesitation wounds” and three deep plunges. A source close to Lange’s management team confirmed that the Howard Stern sidekick stabbed himself, adding that his mother had come to visit him that day to drop off food. Surgeons managed to save Lange despite heavy bleeding.”

Howard Stern mentioned the Artie Lange Page 6 item on the air this morning, but did not read it, saying, “I’m sorry. I just feel sick about this, I don’t know what to do.”

Howard Stern did discuss Lange briefly, touching on his drug abuse issues that caused Lange’s absence from the show since December and talked about some Lange highlights before saying, “I don’t want this to sound like a eulogy.”

Stern has not talked to Lange, but commented, “I’m just freaked out, I don’t know what the hell to do. If Artie wants to talk to me, he’ll call me. I only wish him well. I don’t know what’s going to be. This is just too much, too much to bear. My thoughts go to his mother and sister who I’m sure are in great pain. That’s mind-blowing.”

Howard Stern called Lange “a tremendous contributor and “a good man. Don’t forget how great he is.”

Stern also commented on rumors that Artie Lange is leaving the show, as Sirius host Jim Breuer blabbed that Lange was out. Stern, however, confirms that’s false.

Stern will be playing a best-of Artie Lange segment this week.

Artie Lange pretty much has a constant stream of insults while guests Jason Sudeikis and Paul Rudd sit quietly and watch Joe Buck do his best to fire back.

What do you think of Artie Lange on Joe Buck? Did he make the HBO show more interesting? Or is Lange just a bloated asshole as always?