Raunchy comedian Artie Lange was just that Monday night on the debut episode of ‘Joe Buck Live,’ the new HBO Sports show hosted by sports announcer Joe Buck.  Lange was brash, rude, and coarse with Buck, but that is who Artie Lange is as a celebrity.

When Buck joked that his favorite Web site was TMZ.com, Lange pounced. He asked Buck, “What’s your second favorite?” and then created his own URL involving a sex act that we can’t print here. The onslaught never stopped. “Is that it? Lange asked, near the end of the show. “Because that’s what the president of HBO will be telling you soon.”

When I saw the previews for ‘Joe Buck Live’ yesterdayI asked on Twitter if anyone else found Buck as annoying and bad at his job as I do.  I guess if Lange was a follower he would have responded in all caps with agreement.

It is only fitting that Buck got roasted on the first night of his show by Artie.  Even the loose execs at HBO Sports almost admitted that it was over the line.

HBO Sports president Ross Greenburg said Lange “bordered on bad taste” and had a “mean-spirited” tone. Greenburg said the segment made him uncomfortable at times, but he hoped that the Favre interview (which Buck handled very well) would be the story that carried the day. “This feels like they are not going to be too complementary to his [Lange's] appearance, just judging from the reaction of the crowd. But it really is the public’s judgment. Live television is all about risk-reward and we knew who Artie Lange was when he was booked. There was a certain degree of a risk factor where he would go and where he would take us.”

At least HBO manned up to admit that they knew what they were getting when they booked Lange for the show.  If you really want your debut episode to be a hit then you probably shouldn’t book the foul-mouthed Lange unless you are attempting to duplicate the Howard Stern show.

Other guests on Monday’s show included Chad Ochocinco, Michael Irvin, David Wright, Paul Rudd, Jason Sudeikis, and an interview with Brett Favre where the legendary quarterback admitted that he is in talks with the Minnesota Vikings about returning this year.