I guess it's safe to assume Gary cancelled Cupcake Wednesday again this week

After seeing comedian Artie Lange on "The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch," I guess it's safe to assume Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'abate, professionally known as Howard Stern's long-suffering Producer, should permanently cancel Cupcake Wednesday effective immediately...for the love of all mankind.

In the past week, the guys on the show have been angry at Baba Booey for getting rid of humpday's favorite indulgence, not the show's favorite topic of discussion as the title implies, but America's favorite past time...Cupcake Wednesday.

Despite Artie's combined total weight loss of 5 lbs in the past year (a serious accomplishment), the Stern crew has been punished for Artie's reckless abandon (and I'm not talking about the ongoing "F" word drama that occured during an on-air fight between Lange and "High Pitch Mike," which frequent contributor George "Sulu" Takei is now hoping to settle). Artie's severe weight problem was on full display and the topic of discussion on Mr. Douche's show, an obstacle Mr. Lange admittedly does little to change.

While I don't watch "The Big Idea" very often, I can't deny the "je ne sais quoi" silver fox quality Deutsch possesses, not unlike that of AC360 or Dr. Drew Pinsky, particularly when he perches his glasses ever so thoughtfully in the corner of his mouth. (Note to Donny: trademark this before David Caruso pantomimes it into his next pained expression/sunglass removal/dramatic pause). I know the sun is hot in Miami, but sweet Jesus.



Though Deutsch usually plays hosts to real media pioneers such as Bill Gates and other, umm important people, such as The Donald or such as The Iraq, I mean Ann Coulter (?), he might be one of the few (if only) hosts that has even dared to commend Union City's finest, Mr. Dirty Work himself, other than Letterman and Conan.

Don't get it twisted and choke on your frosted kroellers just yet. I am a big fan of Artie's comedy (one of the main reasons I tune in to Howard 101 daily) and this was not intended to be an indictment of Artie's eating and substance abuse habits or even Deutsch. But I can not excuse Deutsch for blindfolding Artie into a lightning round taste test of cupcakes to exploit his larger-than-life personality for a cheap laugh.

Alright, even though the cupcakes in question came from New York's popular Crumbs Bake Shop (www.crumbsbakeshop.com) which did name a Black & White cupcake in Lange's honor, which donates proceeds to AIDS research (a fact mysteriously left out likely due to Lange's hateful homophobic slur against Stern show producer "High Pitch Mike"); this stunt served little more than to exploit Lange's physical appearance for a cheap laugh.

Having earlier praised Lange for his accomplishments in light of his addictions, Deutsch's continuing comparison of Lange to Belushi and Farley shows a lack of respect for this "funny fat guy" and CNBC's audience (oxymoron unintended). So long as he makes us laugh, make the boy sing.

Sure, Artie fell for it and most fatties would, too. Cupcakes are good! But, WHAT'S THE BIG IDEA, DONNY? You wouldn't give a bag of blow to today's drug-addled Hollywood starlets to snort up live on-air, would you? Though, I guess we see enough of that in the gossip-plagued news media as it is.



In any event, even though Artie went along with this disrespectful segment and is often the source of ridicule on the Stern show, maybe Artie will only get the help he so badly deserves when and if Gary banishes the coveted Cupcake Wednesday forever and holds him accountable for his extended "vacation days" off from the show.

It might be hard to swallow, but if we allow a cupcake a day (or even every Cupcake Wednesday) the doctor must stay; and I, for one, don't want to see Artie die before his prime. Sorry to further raise up your life insurance rates, Artie, but we're rooting for you!

Maybe we should call Dr. Drew instead? He's the OG silver fox, after all.