History Main / CringeComedy

* ''TheOffice''

* In the late '60s and the '70s, German comedian {{Loriot}} basically created his entire career completely on sketches about uptight middle class people who get into awkward situations and make everything worse by being completely oblivious about it. It becomes much more bearable by the fact, that usually nobody seems to be aware that the situations should be akward and everyone continues as if everything would be fine. As a parody of how people of those decades refused to allow any loss of face to the point where it got painful, his show got massively popular. As an example, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRhf98aKsto&NR=1 "German for Foreigners"]], or known to most people as [[MemeticMutation "This is my briefcase"]], or "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtibYjww8Eg&feature=related People on a plane]]".

* YMMV may vary on whether this is actually the case (and [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement don't tell us eother way]]), but it was [[InvokedTrope referenced]] in relation to SarahPalin 's Katie Couric interview in the book ''Going Rogue''.

* ''FreaksAndGeeks'' has a goodly amount of this. As does ''{{Undeclared}}''. And, well, everything else JuddApatow has done.

* In the late 60's and the 70's, German comedian {{Loriot}} basically created his entire career completely on sketches about uptight middle class people who get into awkward situations and make everything worse by being completely oblivious about it. It becomes much more bearable by the fact, that usually nobody seems to be aware that the situations should be akward and everyone continues as if everything would be fine. As a parody of how people of those decades refused to allow any loss of face to the point where it got painful, his show got massively popular. As an example, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRhf98aKsto&NR=1 "German for Foreigners"]], or known to most people as [[MemeticMutation "This is my briefcase"]], or "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtibYjww8Eg&feature=related People on a plane]]".

* YMMV may vary on whether this is actually the case (and [[RuleOfCautiousEditingJudgement don't tell us eother way]]), but it was [[InvokedTrope referenced]] in relation to SarahPalin 's Katie Couric interview in the book GoingRouge.

* An episode of ''{{Community}}'' when JackBlack tries to join the study group. His usual antics lend this to his scenes.

* YMMV may vary on whether this is actually the case (and [[RuleOfCautiousEditing don't tell us eother way]]), but it was [[InvokedTrope referenced]] in relation to SarahPalin 's Katie Couric interview in the book GoingRouge.

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* While ''ThatGuyWithTheGlasses'' doesn't usually have this, WebOriginal/TheNostalgiaChick's first "Thanks For The Feedback" -- where she goes on a date with the Critic -- is horrifying in awkwardness.

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[[folder: Western Animation ]]

* ''{{The Life and Times of Tim}}''

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* ''TheRenAndStimpyShow" often goes into this territory.
* ''WesternAnimation/AdventureTime" often goes here- most notably in Too Young, with Finn and Princess Bubblegum's more painful (literally causing physical pain) ways of pranking Lemongrab.

* YMMV may vary on whether this is actually the case (and [[RuleOfCautiousEditing don't tell us eother way), but it was [[InvokedTrop referenced]] in relation to SarahPalin 's Katie Couric interview in the book GoingRouge.

* This may be the main point of all those "Tell Your Most Embarrassing Moment" sections in ''every'' teenage girl's magazine ever.

* ''TheDailyShow'' correspondant interviews, as well as many ''TheColbertReport'' interviews

* Short-lived {{Seth MacFarlane}} series ''The Winner'' had so much this.

* ''{{The Increasingly Poor Decisions of Todd Margaret}}''
* The ''StargateAtlantis'' episode "Duet" has Rodney [=McKay=] on a dinner date. Doesn't sound so bad, except: a) Rodney is naturally awkward in social situations, especially when there is a woman involved; and b) Rodney has a female consciousness in his head at this point, giving him dating advice in a voice only he can hear.

* While ''ThatGuyWithTheGlasses'' doesn't usually have this, TheNostalgiaChick's first ThanksForTheFeedback -- where she goes on a date with the Critic -- is horrifying in awkwardness.

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* The outrageously funny scene where Principal Skinner treats Superintendent Chalmers to dinner in ''TheSimpsons'' episode "22 Short Films About Springfield".

[[AC:Other]]

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* ''TheITCrowd'' has these scenes in droves.

* A episode of ''{{House}}'' had Chase making a YourMom joke to Foreman as a [[{{SarcasmMode}} witty comeback]]. Some fans couldn't even watch the ensuing train wreck.

* ''{{Bridesmaids}}'': the bridesmaid's dress fitting, the plane trip to Las Vegas, the bridal shower. And when the main character is "helping" customers at work, and also when she's getting the attention of a cop who doesn't want to acknowledge her.

* FlightOfTheConchords

* ''SchoolRumble''. Especially when [[SpotlightStealingSquad Harima became the main character]].

* ''CurbYourEnthusiasm''
* ''TheLifeAndTimesOfTim''
* ''Series/ImAlanPartridge''
* ''[[http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/Mega64 Mega 64]]'' has this in most of the public video game imitations.
* ''PeepShow''
* ''TheOffice'' and ''{{Extras}}''.
* The works of Sacha Baron Cohen
** ''Da Ali G Show''
** ''{{Borat}}''.
** ''{{Bruno}}''.

* Numerous Seth Rogen flicks.
* The celebrity interviews on ''BrassEye''.
* ''MeetTheParents'', the dinner scene.
** Perhaps they attempting to replicate the success of ''There's Something About Mary''. Ben Stiller seems to like this trope; for example, ''Along Came Polly'' looked to be this exclusively.
** Ben Stiller is ''married'' to this trope; look at every role he's played dating back to his own show, both as host and in every one of his skits.
* ''Colin's Sandwich'' is an earlier example, where the embarrassment came partly from Colin's horrible bad luck and partly from his reactions to it which invariably made things worse.

* ''FawltyTowers''
* The original version of ''The Heartbreak Kid'' (1972) was a groundbreaker for this.
** Going back even earlier, ''TheGraduate'' has quite a bit for Dustin Hoffman's character of Benjamin.
* ''MrBean'', both the series and the movies, and ''Johnny English'': Rowan Atkinson often uses this trope.
* In the late 60's and the 70's, German comedian {{Loriot}} basically created his entire career completely on sketches about uptight middle class people who get into awkward situations and make everything worse by being completely oblivious about it. It becomes much more bearable by the fact, that usually nobody seems to be aware that the situations should be akward and everyone continues as if everything would be fine. As a parody of how people of those decades refused to allow any loss of face to the point where it got painful, his show got massively popular.
** As an example, [[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRhf98aKsto&NR=1 "German for Foreigners"]], or known to most people as [[MemeticMutation "This is my briefcase"]], or "[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtibYjww8Eg&feature=related People on a plane]]".
* ''FreaksAndGeeks'' has a goodly amount of this.
** As does ''{{Undeclared}}''. And ''The40YearOldVirgin''. And, well, everything else JuddApatow has done.
* ''{{Coupling}}'', especially storylines involving either Jeff or Jane.

* ''TheInbetweeners'' is this for a new generation, with the added bonus that, since it's set in the Sixth Form, a LOT of the viewers have been there and can relate.
* ''SchoolRumble''. Especially when [[SpotlightStealingSquad Harima became the main character.]]
* ''ForgettingSarahMarshall''.
* Older ''SouthPark'' episodes, and some newer ones rely on this heavily.
** Lampshaded in "Funnybot," where the title character even uses "Awkward!" as his catchphrase. The boys have to stop him from telling the "Last Joke Ever," in which he destroys the entire human race becaues it's the most awkward thing possible.
*** Appropriately enough, Funnybot was designed by the gallows-humor-obsessed Germans.
* Harry's post-laxative scene in ''Dumb & Dumber'' is both this and RefugeInVulgarity.

* This may be the main point of all those "Tell Your Most Embarrassing Moment" sections in ''every'' teenage girl's magazine ever.
* ''TheWorstWeekOfMyLife''
* ''TheITCrowd'' has these scenes in droves.
* ''TheDailyShow'' correspondant interviews, as well as many ''TheColbertReport'' interviews
* ''{{Seinfeld}}'', especially George Costanza (even more for what he does than what happens to him)
* About half the humor in ''{{Monk}}'' comes from this.
* Short-lived Seth [=MacFarlane=] series ''The Winner'' had so much this.
* ''TheClevelandShow'' seems to be shaping up towards becoming something like this.
* ''TheThickOfIt'' and ''InTheLoop''.
* ''LouisCK'' is made of this. Don't even try to watch any of his shows if you are even slightly sensitive to this kind of thing. On second thought go ahead. There can not be anyone who can finish an episode without pausing at least 5 times. At least not while sober.
* ''TheGuild''
* On ''MisterEd,'' Wilbur Post ''lives'' this trope.
* ''FlightOfTheConchords''
* MartinScorsese's ''TheKingOfComedy'' has a fair amount of this.

* ''MalcolmInTheMiddle'' perhaps depending on your upbringing and/or how long it's been since you had to live with your parents...

* Asperchu becomes this once you realize that [[{{Sonichu}} CWC]] becomes a rampaging self-parody when he's turned into a fictional drawing, with literally no exaggeration whatsoever.
* While ThatGuyWithTheGlasses doesn't usually have this, TheNostalgiaChick's first ThanksForTheFeedback - where she goes on a date with the Critic - is horrifying in awkwardness.
* ''TheVentureBrothers'' utilizes this several times a season, mostly with the main character Rusty Venture though other characters are also occasionally guilty of this trope.
* A episode of {{House}} had Chase making a [[{{YourMom}} Yo-mama]] joke to Foreman as a [[{{SarcasmMode}} witty comeback]]. Some fans couldn't even watch the ensuing train wreck.
* ''TheIncreasinglyPoorDecisionsOfToddMargaret''.
* ''FamilyGuy'', though whether or not it's funny or just plain offensive is based entirely around one's viewpoint. A Good example is the CutawayGag "Horton Hears Domestic Violence In The Next Apartment And Doesn't Call 911."

* ''SpongebobSquarepants'' in its later seasons.
* ''The Comeback'', Lisa Kudrow's short-lived HBO sitcom.
* Most of DonHertzfeldt's works are [[BlackComedy dark comedies]], or [[SurrealHumor surreal]] [[{{Dramedy}} dramedies]]. One film, however, is "Lily and Jim", telling the story of a blind date from the perspective of both people. It is complete CringeComedy.
* The Ted and Ralph sketches from ''TheFastShow''. [[TheWoobie Ralph]] is the socially awkward upper-class proprietor of an English estate, while [[WorkingClassHero Ted]] is an elderly Irish man who tends to the estate's gardens. [[HoYay Ralph is in love with Ted]]. [[CringeComedy Hilarity ensues]].
* The outrageously funny scene where Principal Skinner treats Superintendent Chalmers to dinner in ''TheSimpsons'' episode ''22 short stories about Springfield''.

** Hell, Frasier was BUILT around this trope!
* ''NewGirl'' uses this trope a few times in the pilot.

* An iron stomach is required to get through an episode of TimAndEricAwesomeShowGreatJob without looking away in embarrassment.
* TheTomGreenShow was one of the more grotesque examples of this. Blending [[DeadBabyComedy shock comedy]] and [[SurrealHumor surrealist humor,]] Tom would go out of his way to create the most embarrassing, and often disturbing, situations possible for his sidekick Glenn Humplik, random people on the street, audience members, and even his own parents.

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