![]() TME: When we saw Don Rickles, he was always on. That doesn’t even make any sense, yet Sinatra laughed. He could tell Sinatra that Mussolini died. This little sort of bald guy who you wouldn’t think was charismatic, really was. He got away with stuff that no one could because it was funny. I think we all bring something to the table but nobody was like Don Rickles. We’re the last generation who saw Rickles in the 70’s on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson. I think all of us who’ve made a name for ourselves from that generation – and we’re all about 50 years old now. He’s a brilliant comedian on a lot of levels but he’s known for the roasts. ![]() He doesn’t like that moniker but that’s what he’s known for. You know my friend Jeff Ross – the insult comic. Lange: Well, I’m offensive but I’m not as funny so probably not me (laughs). TME: Generations of comedians have been influenced by Don Rickles. He was the Babe Ruth of talk show guests. That was his whole career – being funny on talk shows. If Rickles hadn’t been great on Carson when I was a kid in the 70’s, I wouldn’t have known who he was. Sometimes it’s the biggest part of their career. For a comedian, an appearance on a talk show is a major part of their career. A talk show appearance for an actress, a model, sports player – whatever – that’s something they do to promote their career. Jon Shields: Artie, Don Rickles was obviously a tremendous comedian and actor but one thing that Howard Stern said - and Jimmy Kimmel said it too – is that he was also the perfect talk show guest. He was a sweet guy and he’s gone and it’s sad. I told that story to Howard and Rickles came on that show too. It’s definitely Don and you should call him.’ So I did and he said ‘Hey kid, you were great. My agent called me and said ‘It’s not a prank. I was very proud of that show and Rickles called me the next day. It got big laughs and this was the kind of guy that Rickles was. In a way, Rickles gave me my first Letterman episode and it killed! I knew it would because Letterman loved Don Rickles. I remember when I did Letterman for the first time, that story about Don Rickles was the perfect story for Letterman. The story of Rickles calling me a baby gorilla made it to the Stern show when I got there. He’s the last of that breed of Sinatra-era comedians who was offensive but funny and didn’t apologize for it. When Don died, my agent said ‘You’ve got to tweet something.’ So my tweet said ‘Comedy has been sick for a long time, and it finally died today.’ I really feel that way. I didn’t even know you were supposed to offended! ![]() He called me a baby gorilla for a half an hour and you know what? I was fine with it (Artie laughs). Lange: What he did in “Dirty Work” was insult me for being fat. TME: You got to know Rickles when you were both in the movie “Dirty Work” (1988). Lange checked in the following day to talk about Rickles’ impact on comedy and why he believes there will never be another like him.įor this interview, I invited my friend and coworker (and huge fan of Lange and Howard Stern), Jon Shields, to join me in firing off some questions to the funny man. He signed his tweet “Love, Baby Gorilla.” In the hours following last week’s death of legendary comedian Don Rickles, Lange dealt with the loss of a friend and comic mentor by taking to Twitter and referencing what he says was the greatest story he ever told on David Letterman’s show. The finale aired this past Sunday and the show has been renewed for a second season. What was intended as a one-episode appearance on the first season on HBO’s “Crashing” extended to a full season for Lange.
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