Too Fat to Fish
by Anthony Bozza, Artie Lange
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Book Reviews of Too Fat to Fish
Book Review: But Can The Source Be Trusted???
Summary: 3 Stars
As a longtime fan of Stern, I was one of his faithful legions that had a hard time accepting Lange in "Jackie's Chair". I have to admit that now almost a decade later, Artie has won me over.
I was excited to pick up "Too Fat to Fish", but for some reason it really took me awhile to crack it open and read it. Well I just finished and I have to say, there are some excellent stories in here. Specifically, the parts of the book dealing with Lange's father were extraordinary. You can really feel the emotions and care put into those chapters. If nothing else, "Too Fat to Fish" is a great testimony to a loving father/son relationship.
As Lange moves further into his career as a stand-up comedian, and onto the set of Madtv, things begin to unravel. Any fan of Howard's radio show, will have heard these stories (multiple times in most cases), but in the book format, Artie is able to go into greater detail than he has on the air. Some of the stories are genuinely repulsive, and some will have you chuckling. It's scary to see someone so intent on self destruction, that he recognizes his weaknesses, but he seems so helpless to stop himself from participating in the life threatening vices.
The book covers Langes life from Childhood, through his career as a cab driver, long shoreman, stand-up comedian, television star, movie stardom, to co-hosing the Stern show, up through his recent trip to Iraq. It's a very interesting story, but since being published, fans of the show know that Artie has again fallen off the wagon (December 08), that he is consistantly lying, and seems to be pushing away the folks who care so much about him. As I read the chapters, I began wondering, just how much is truth and how much has Artie embellished? The book reads as a completely honest portrayal of a talented guy caught in the vice-grip of cocaine and heroin....but with Lange it's almost impossible to tell when the line between fact and fiction has been crossed.
Still, this a great read for fans of the Stern show. Hopefully Artie will be part of the show for a long time to come....and will deliver on that second book he has been promising.
Book Review: Artie Lange didn't replace Jackie Martling, he replaced Sam Kinison
Summary: 5 Stars
I picked up TOO FAT TO FISH, the autobiography of comedian and HOWARD STERN SHOW cast member Artie Lange, expecting to flip-read it. But, starting with a funny introduction from Stern that Lange matches or exceeds laugh-per-page for the rest of the book, TOO FAT TO FISH did not leave my hands until I read every word.
Despite Stern's introduction, Artie Lange does not say much about his work on the radio show in TOO FAT TO FISH until the last couple of chapters. But Lange and coauthor Anthony Bozza hold your attention throughout the pre-Stern years with tales of the comedian's charmed life. I say "charmed life" because, despite Lange's tendencies toward alcohol/drug abuse, gambling, overeating, and angry outbursts, a world of family and friends - even show-business friends - watch his back. There are a number of touching moments, especially regarding his parents. Prepare to choke up as Artie Lange realizes the only difference between homeless drug addicts and him is the support of those who loved this 296-lb. prodigal son. Nonetheless, even reflections such as that lead to some of the funniest comments in TOO FAT TO FISH thanks to Lange's ability to laugh at himself, wisecracking his way through the details of his darkest moments.
Howard Stern hired Artie Lange on his radio show in 2001 after joke whiz Jackie Martling left. But the void Lange filled best was that of Sam Kinison, a regular HOWARD STERN SHOW guest whose combination of comic talent, substance abuse problems and volatile personality made for hours of compelling radio until his untimely 1992 death.
While there are not as many HOWARD STERN SHOW-related anecdotes as you may expect, TOO FAT TO FISH has a number of celebrity stories. For example, Artie Lange's work with the likes of Tom Cruise and Chevy Chase result in two of his most memorable tales about the ups and downs of the entertainment industry.
Read TOO FAT TO FISH.
Book Review: Not often you get to read someone's biography BEFORE their suicide.
Summary: 1 Stars
From all people...the king of "WAH! WAH! WAH!" we get a book full of just that. I'm a big fan of Lange and the Stern show when Lange is doing his thing...but this?...Artie needs a WAHbulance to take him off to the cry- baby ward in this book.
It's ridiculous. This man has been handed opportunities to him (and lots of money) time & time again, and he still can't get it together. Instead, he'd rather whine & ask for forgiveness, and say a million times "If if wasn't for X, I wouldn't be here today...".
o.k....enough already. We get it. We've all been through tough times, and addictions...and we weren't handed hundred-thousand dollar contracts along the way. Lange should be ashamed of himself. He has luck just falling out of his over-padded pockets.
And he's a comedian, right? Or maybe I should say commedianne, the way Lange whines throughout this book with his panties in a bunch. There's nothing in this book funny. Actually, I take that back, there's a half page about Don Rickles who is hilarious. But not Lange.
And I don't know...maybe I was expecting too much to think I was going to hear something about Stern and the radio show. I don't know...maybe more people know him from MADtv and his drug binges?...because that's all you get here.
Sad, sad, sad. Suck it up Lange...there's a whole lotta' people way worse off in this world than you are. And they don't have the help of heavy hitters like Quincy Jones (Quincy Jones!!! Quincy f'n Jones?!?!...I'm surprised he even wasted his time on a poor sap like Lange.)
Oh!...and then at several points he has the nerve to ask & wonder why certain people don't talk to him anymore...why?!?...because you're a jerk and you've stepped on people one too many times. It's not that hard to figure out.
Save your money, listen to him on Stern where he's at his best.
Book Review: It's good yet not great, just good.
Summary: 3 Stars
I love Artie on the Stern show. His razor sharp wit, seemingly non-stop chastising of some regular callers (i.e. Eric the 'insert expletive here') and just his laugh, have me rolling (when he's there, of course haha). That said, maybe I held too high of an expectation with this book. I went into the book expecting to laugh page-after-page as I did with both of Howard's books. There were a few laughs but they were few far and between.
Like most of the reviews have stated, if you do not know Artie or have a vague idea of the man, the book is an interesting, albeit light read into his plaguing demons of gambling, money and drug and alcohol abuse. With the warm moments come the tragic. There's a nice balance.
If you are a Stern show regular and haven't picked the book up already, take note to what other reviewers are saying. 95% of the stories in the book have been told countless times over the air. Yes, more detail and insight is added to the stories found within but when you already know the outcome it somewhat gets lost in translation.
Chronologically, I felt the book moved along too fast jumping at times, years ahead, with no mention of the interim period. The last chapter definitely felt like an afterthought to some degree yet I don't think it takes away really from the book.
Overall I recommend the book but to some degree my subjectiveness and expectations may be giving it a lower (or possibly higher to some) rating than it truly should be. If a part two is truly a real possibility, here's to hoping it fairs better than this.
Book Review: Part-racist, part-homophobe, part-sexist....all GENIUS!!
Summary: 5 Stars
He's Artie Lange a.k.a. The current occupant of the coveted "Jackie Chair" on the Howard Stern Show... but in case you don't know, he is a brilliant stand-up comedian who got his big TV break on MADTV, assuming the obligatory "funny fat guy" stereotype (a sketch show staple created by the late, great John Belushi on SNL). Unlike his hero, Lange is one of the world's greatest storytellers ... his cautionary tales of self-deprecating woe are filled with hookers, hedonism and substance abuse.
Artie's honest stories are touching at times and the stuff of legend at others. His memoirs are a trainwreck of decadence and a glorious modern day comedy of errors to liken Falstaff or a New Jersey I-tie "Confederacy of Dunces." Long time listeners of Lange on the radio or those familiar with his stand-up will gladly recognize some stories - the Pig Suit story, from his MADDTV days, for example. Other stories are new as yet unrevealed anecdotes from the comedian. One striking one is Artie's suicide attempt and recovery.
This volume is less showbiz oriented than many of Lange's tales. Touching tales of his early life and his dad, along with some scary stories of Arties sorted past....Even with one bad call after the next, by the end and Artie's own admission, he has plenty more stories to tell. Thanks to AMAZON.COM's preorders (over 12,000) his publisher has offered him another book, which he has accepted.
Also check out audio version, the CD is nar. by Gary, Jimmy F. and Artie himself.