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If you have ever called your significant other by the wrong name, you know the feeling and embarrassment that came after.
Former FOX Sports host Shannon Sharpe did precisely that in his “First Take” debut Monday on ESPN, but with millions of people watching when he called Stephen A. Smith “Skip.”
Sharpe’s ex-partner Skip Bayless was still evidently in his head, with Sharpe calling Smith “Skip” twice during the show, despite leaving “Undisputed” in June.
Smith was very comforting of the mistakes in Sharpe’s debut.
“That’s alright, that’s alright,” Smith said as Sharpe shook his head in frustration with a touch of embarrassment.
But then it happened again.
Later in Sharpe’s appearance on “First Take,” he began laughing while talking about the Jets-Bills matchup a week from Monday but there was another hiccup.
“And you know what, Skip,” Sharpe said before angrily pounding his fist into the table and furiously shaking his head after he called Smith “Skip” for the second time.
“It’s been seven years, Stephen A.,” Sharpe said.
Smith continued comforting Sharpe, saying, “It’s OK, it’s OK,” but Sharpe’s frustration appeared to boil over during the show.
Sharpe was partnered with Bayless on FOX Sports for seven years in a very successful show for the network.
The Post’s Ryan Glasspiegel exclusively reported that Sharpe would be leaving his running mate, Skip Bayless, and FOX Sports’ primary sports debate show, “Undisputed,” on May 31st.
His last day on “Undisputed” was June 15.
But that is a thing of the past, as Sharpe decided to move on, and FOX brought in former NFL players Richard Sherman, Michael Irvin, and Keyshawn Johnson to replace Sharpe.
Over the next few months, the Pro Football Hall of Famer plotted his next steps, including moving his podcast “Club Shay Shay” to Colin Cowherd’s The Volume network and his twice-a-week appearances on “First Take.”
Smith, of course, shared “First Take” with Bayless starting in 2012 and lasting until Bayless’ departure to FOX Sports in September 2016.
Since then, Smith has taken over the show and looks rejuvenated doing so.
But Sharpe might need a few more pep talks before his next ESPN appearance.
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