Artie Lange signs a development deal with FOX
On the Howard Stern show today, Artie Lange announced that he signed a development deal with FOX. It's like the usual development deals you hear about; Artie will get paid a lot of money to either help develop sitcoms that he will star in, or make himself available to act in someone else's project if FOX thinks he's a good fit for it. Like he mentioned on the air, it's one of the sweetest gigs in show business.For now, he'll still be doing Howard's show, because there is not sitcom vehicle imminent; but if a project does come along in ten months or so, he'll have to leave.
It's a new thing for Stern and company to deal with; in the past, the people who have been in his employ have had limited career potential outside the show (yes, Stuttering John Melendez got hired by Jay Leno. But that was because Leno wanted to bring a Stern vibe to the Tonight Show. How's that working out for him?). But Lange came to the show with previous credits (Mad TV; The Norm Show; various movies), and the show has only upped his profile; he recently headlined a sold-out stand-up gig at Carnegie Hall. The chances of him leaving have always been pretty good. Wonder how Howard is going to deal with it if he does leave? Maybe he'll just bring Jackie Martling back...
Anyway, good for Artie; it's nice to see a good guy like him get what he deserves for once. Of course, the way he's been gaining weight lately, let's hope he survives long enough to get that sitcom from FOX.

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