Awkward laugh-out-loud moments are hard to pull off, mostly because of the psychological component of watching television.
Yes, a relationship with your favorite show is more than just a serial relationship. There is vicarious embarrassment or second-hand embarrassment—whatever you want to call it, but it’s there.
When you just want to bury your face in your hands or walk out of the room while some embarrassing scene is playing on the screen, you know you’re experiencing it even if you’re laughing.
What is the reason for your embarrassment? Because the scene is intrinsic to you in some form or fashion. What embarrasses you at one moment on a small screen may not make other observers feel the same way.
That being said, you’ll feel extra special the next time it happens to you because the moment tickles your funny bone and speaks to you in a way nothing else can.
cringe-worthy comedy art
It’s not the producers’ fault that they laugh and feel embarrassed at the same time. At least, not most of the time.
All this is to see yourself in the present moment. Those who feel no shame simply don’t relate the actor’s experience to themselves.
It’s a simple formula and one of the biggest genre hits on the small or big screen. This is not to say that anyone is trying to stay away from awkward comedy at all costs.
They either cannot understand or are disgusted by the feelings of shame and embarrassment these events deliberately create.
Unfortunately, we are highly sensitive to emotions, empathy, and today’s social etiquette. The best cringe-worthy comedies attack these sympathies while making us laugh at our own stupidity and, of course, the stupidity of everyone else.
If you want to experience the unique combination of laughing out loud from embarrassment, Ricky Gervais is the king of this particular branch of comedy.
Classic example
“The Office” is the quintessential awkward laugh track.
What’s interesting about “The Office” is Steve Carell and Ricky Gervais’ relationship, which Ricky brings up every chance he gets.
Aside from Ricky Gervais, few people know that The Office is a rip-off of the original British sitcom of the same name. Without the first, there would be no second.
Ricky made sure Steve Carell realized this every chance he got. Of course, this leads to an awkward laugh, because Ricky is funny even in very serious situations.
Even when he’s being serious, you’re never sure if he’s acting or if he’s serious.
Regardless, some of the most chilling moments in sitcom history come from The Office, especially The Office Season 6 Episode 12, the infamous “Scott’s Kid.”
However, some unique competitors were filming the most embarrassing, hilarious scenes. Like that time in 30 Rock when Liz Lemon thought Peter Dinklage was a kid. She even messed up his hair after realizing her mistake.
While everyone refers to the scene in Friends where Ross tries to kiss his cousin, his awkward relationship with Monica is even worse, amplified in scenes where sex talk comes up.
Sheldon’s pantsless moment on stage (The Big Bang Theory) is still pretty cringe-worthy.
Those who are easily embarrassed by others will have a hell of a time trying to finish any episode of Arrested Development and many episodes of Curb Your Enthusiasm.
modern style
The first thing that comes to mind is “Fleabag”.
Phoebe Waller-Bridge isn’t always my cup of tea, but she’s great here. Only a sex addict who falls in love with a missionary can make us laugh and feel embarrassed, which makes Fleabag a fascinating (albeit tentative) film.
If you like Millennials, Max’s Girl is funny, enlightening, and satirical at times. When narcissism runs rampant in a humorous environment, embarrassment quickly ensues.
Cursed may sound like a horror movie, but it’s actually a ten-episode creepy comedy on Showtime. While it’s essentially about a cursed married couple filming a reality show for HGTV, we learned a lot about sexual anatomy, tomatoes grown in urine, and the wacky ideas that support their show.
Back to Max, “Getting On” definitely deserves the nickname “Laughing Awkward”. What better way to find embarrassing comedy than dealing with old people in a hospital?
PEN15 is about cringe-worthy clothing, enforced social justice, female adolescence and first love at the turn of the millennium. People look at this stuff and want to sink into the creases between the couch cushions and disappear from life entirely… while laughing.
why we like it
Despite the awkwardness of laughing while hoping for an asteroid to hit your backyard, the awkward nature of these shows is clearly an attractive model.
These shows have a huge appeal because people enjoy their exploitative nature.
We see ourselves in these completely embarrassing situations, and in some ways, it can serve as a pressure relief valve for our own embarrassing scenarios.
These shows also strengthen our resolve to deal with real-life awkwardness. Believe it or not, although comedy can be cringe-worthy and bland, everything has a purpose.
Koalas are the silliest animals on Earth, but their extinction could destroy eucalyptus forests.
They have the smallest brain to body ratios and must eat too much because they have chosen the least nutritious plants and with the food right in front of them they will literally starve to death.
However, they serve a purpose. It turns out that the same goes for cringe-worthy comedy.
Humans have thousands of years of adaptive experience to fall back on. We learn from what we do. In modern times, it’s about watching embarrassing comedy and adapting it into our own lives.
Of course, this is a bit philosophical for a simple article about laughing and being embarrassed while watching a comedy show. But that’s why we come back to these hilariously chaotic shows.
Is there a time in your television viewing history that made you feel self-conscious? Let us know in the comments (if you’re not too embarrassed)!
