If this had been filmed back in say ... 2006, then you might have had something special. Right now, the most interesting subplot is a wide receiver with an idiotic name who is addicted to Twitter. Riveting stuff.

Plus, because the Bengals are on TV, they are going to be on their best behavior. This a teachable moment, and what management wants to teach the world is that Cincinnati is not Crazy Town.

"For the fans around the country who know us only by reports," the Cincinnati Bengals' owner said Tuesday, "it's a chance to set the record straight."

There are quite a few fans who would like the record to reflect that Mike Brown is a terrible owner, but that's another show. Oh, there might be some "Perfect Strangers" level hijinks if Chad "Johnson" decides to make good on his threat to move in with Carson Palmer, but that's harmless stuff. The NFL is not going to let HBO embarrass anyone, so unless Shayne Graham decides to murder a hobo the fireworks will likely be kept to a minimum.

Plus, it's all fake anyway.

Brown hopes 'Hard Knocks' changes minds [Lexington Herald Leader]
A.J. Smith calls 'Hard Knocks' fake [USA Today]
Cincinnati Bengals Training Camp on Hard Knocks [Esquire]
‘Hard Knocks' puts Bengals under a microscope [Cincy Inquirer]

It seems that the network fancies their new host as a bit of court jester and now that he's finally made it to pay cable, Joe "Dice" Buck is ready to bust loose. The network has hired Peter Mehlman (former executive producer for Seinfeld) and Jon Glaser (former writer for Conan O'Brien) to write and produce comedy sketches that will star Buck and wrap around his interviews. Also, the interviews will take place in front of a live audience—filled with celebrities!—that Buck will interact with in order to "showcase his wit."

"The hidden secret of Joe Buck, for those of us who have been around him and seen him perform at the Sports Emmys every year, is that he has a very dry and unique wit," said HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg. "That is something that the American public hasn't seen yet. They'll be surprised and amused."

Gosh, that is surprising (and amusing!) If only the American public had some sort of access to Joe Buck where they could hear his voice and be entertained by it the way industry executives and backstage pass holders have been for so long. I guess he just couldn't find a spare moment to squeeze his dry wit into the 700,000 hours of live television that Joe Buck has personally narrated for an entire nation in the last 15 years. Thank you, HBO, for finally giving the man a forum.

Oh, wait ... I think maybe I have seen that sense of humor before.

HBO will showcase Buck's wit in new show [Sports Business Journal]

Wait ... no, that's a game show. I got nuthin.

Attempting to fill the Hobbit-sized void created when Costas left for the MLB Network, HBO has snapped up Buck, who will be the host of a new HBO program starting in May ("Buck Now"?).

Buck's new show will broadcast four times this year, working around his Fox play-by-play schedule. "This was my ultimate dream, to go to a place like HBO," Buck said. "(It) allows me to do things I wouldn't typically be able to do. I'm so lucky I work at a place like Fox, that allows me to break out." The 90-minute show may involve a live studio audience, Greenburg said.

Buck, who did play-by-play for the St. Louis Cardinals, is entering his 16th year with Fox. Next week, he'll talk with HBO executives about the format of the new show. "It's a show that may surprise some people," Buck said. "It gives me a free form to give a little more opinion."

Actually it's going to be a slightly slicker version of this.

Joe Buck To Host New HBO Show Starting In May [International Herald Tribune]
Joe Buck Officially Snapped Up By HBO [Awful Announcing]

It's The End Of Sports News As We Know It [YouTube]