Artie Lange bracing to discuss ‘a heavy thing’

COMEDIAN ARTIE LANGE has yet to discuss publicly his January 2010 suicide attempt but hopes to do so on the Howard Stern Show in November, when his book Crash and Burn is released.

Lange, who spent nine years on the Stern show, performs stand-up Saturday at the Tower Theatre with Nick DiPaolo, his partner on the syndicated "Nick and Artie" sports-talk show which airs 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. weeknights on 610 WIP. Tickets are still available.

"I think I'm at the place where I can do it. It would be a heavy thing," says Lange about a hoped-for Stern visit. Fans have been waiting for Lange to appear on Stern's show, and Artie says he and Stern wanted to make sure he was emotionally ready.

Sober since April 14, 2011, Lange says, "Toward the end it became so terrible trying to be f----- up 24/7." His addiction led him to rehab after he tried to do himself in with a knife. His mother reportedly found him.

Lange, who co-starred with Norm Macdonald in the hilarious and underrated "Dirty Work," says he was touched by the words of encouragement from fans who said hello at the Wells Fargo Center, where he recently caught Bruce Springsteen. But Lange's finest Philly memory remains being cursed at and threatened by Eagles fans at a Springsteen show at Veterans Stadium, where Lange had dared to wear a Lawrence Taylor jersey.

OUT AND ABOUT

Sean "Diddy" Combs hung out with local rap star Meek Mill backstage at the sold-out The Weeknd show Sunday night at the TLA (334 South.). He was also rocking out to the group while texting in the downstairs bar area.

Beyonce and Jay-Z dined late Saturday night at Azure by Allegretti at Atlantic City's new Revel. The couple spent the night in the hotel, where Beyonce performs over Memorial Day weekend.

A few hours after signing Brian Dawkins to a daylong contract so the fan favorite could retire an Eagle, team owner Jeff Lurie and family went for a late dinner at Frankford Hall (1210 Frankford) in Fishtown Saturday night.

M. Night Shyamalan recently held the local wrap party for "After Earth" at the restaurant. To the chagrin of the staff, Will Smith, who stars in the movie, was not among the crowd.

Besides working out at the Sporting Club at the Bellevue, Colin Farrell has been spinning at Body Cycle Studio (1923 Chestnut) while in town shooting mob drama "Dead Man Down."

Professional poker player Beth Shak was being tailed by a reality-TV crew Thursday at the Rittenhouse Row Spring Festival Preview Party at the Ritz-Carlton. Brian Sims, who just unseated Babette Josephs for the Democratic nomination for the 182nd state House seat, also strolled the event. The festival is from noon to 5 May 19 on Walnut from Broad to 19th.

Shak's show also taped her Wednesday at PNK Elephant Accessories (504 South), where she launched her ShoesRForever.com web site.

'Hung' actress hitched

Congratulations to Cheltenham native "Hung" actress Rebecca Creskoff, who married longtime boyfriend Michael Glassner over the weekend. The head of the Greater Philadelphia Film Office, Sharon Pinkenson, was among those who traveled to Riviera Maya for the destination wedding.

Scholar helps Lowe

Scott Stephenson, director of collections and interpretation at Old City's American Revolution Center, was seen on Friday's episode of NBC's "Who Do You Think You Are?" Stephenson traveled to Washington, D.C., to try to help actor Rob Lowe understand his roots dating back to the Revolutionary War.

Charitably minded

Temple basketball coach Fran Dunphy; Chuck Heater, Temple football defensive coordinator; former Eagles linebacker Mike Mamula; and Adam Taliaferro, Penn State football player-turned-South Jersey politician will attend the Magee Rehabilitation Hospital's Night of Champions May 4 at Penn's Landing Caterers (1301 S. Columbus). Taliaferro was a Magee patient after being severely injured during a Penn State football game. The event benefits Magee's wheelchair sports, art therapy, horticulture therapy and other patient programs. Tickets are $125 per person available at mageerehab.org. 94WIP's Howard Eskin and former Eagles assistant Steve Spagnuola will be there, too.

Read Dan's latest at PhillyGossip.com, email DGross@phillynews.com, and/or follow him on Twitter @PhillyGossip.