I could literally write a 4,000+ word essay about Artie Lange's eight minute segment (and subsequent nine minute HBO.com O.T. segment) on "Joe Buck Live" last night.   However, I will refrain from doing so and instead provide a relatively short post. 

About a month ago when I first heard that Buck would be doing a "comedy show" on HBO I was absolutely incredulous.  Having seen and heard Buck on television for a decade, I couldn't recall him ever being even remotely witty or amusing.  In fact, his preposterous reaction to the Randy Moss "fake mooning incident" in Lambeau Field back in 2005 was "Exhibit A" as far as Buck being completely humorless and out of touch.      

Conversely, I've always been a big fan of Artie Lange and believe he is an extremely funny guy.  What happened last night on Buck's show was really astounding...and completely avoidable.  All Buck had do was laugh off Lange's hilarious TMZ.com blast and respond with something like, "Yeah, and my third favorite site is PerezHilton.com."  Instead of diffusing the situation in a self-deprecating fashion, Buck's natural (and non-comedic) instincts kicked in and allowed Lange to just take over the proceedings.

What did Buck and the show's producers expect when they asked the notoriously foul-mouthed Lange to be on the panel?  They should have known what was coming and prepared for it.  Instead, it turned into a debacle that will invariably result in a very tame second show in September.  Perhaps Buck's partners, Tim McCarver and Troy Aikman ( the Master Of The Obvious twins), will be on the couch putting the studio audience and viewers to sleep. 

That is...if there is a second show in September.