The Most Awkward Tv Moments Ever

By Editorial Staff in Entertainment On 22nd July 2016

Thanks to the wonders of live television, we’re able to experience everything – including those instances that some would want us to forget about. But no, we savor those moments instead. Here are some the most awkward and bizarre moments to ever happen on TV.

#1 Steve Harvey’s Miss Universe Gaff

Everbody's seen or heard of this one, the biggest gaff in some time, and while Steve Harvey is at the pinnacle of his career. That's why as host of the Miss Universe Show, when he goofed up and read the wrong winner, it was such a sensation. People still love Harvey. But being crowned Miss Universe is an amazing accomplishment to those participating, so to have been Miss Columbia the night of the great 2015 mix-up was likely devastating. At the end of the dramatic build-up between Miss Philippine and Miss Columbia, Steve Harvey does what any good host would do and reads precisely what was on the teleprompter; and that was a victory announcement in favor of Ariadna Gutierrez of Columbia. Not moments after crowning the victor, though, Harvey was forced to wander back to center stage and suck the joy out of Columbia and announce Miss Philippines, Pia Wurtzbach, the real Miss Universe. Between Harvey's apology and Ariadna's stunned gaze, it's hard for viewers not to cringe. But that's why live TV is so exciting.

#2 Ashlee Simpson’s SNL Hoedown

Mili Vanilli had just been outed for lip-synching all of their material, so the public wasn't very happy when Lip synching is not a new bastardization of live entertainment, but it's still shocking when during the October 23rd, 2004 episode of Saturday Night Live, Ashlee Simpson was the slated musical guest and got caught in the act. Her first performance of the night, "Pieces of Me," went off without a hitch, but when Jude Law introduced her for the second time, he was ushering the audience and at-home viewers into a scenario of awkward dancing and revelations. Simpson was geared up to sing "Autobiography," but "Pieces of Me" began to play. Unsure of what to do, the singer launched into a hoedown, walked off stage. At the show's end, she appeared and said she apologized but her band played the wrong song. Right...

#3 The Bachelor Dump

That's why this show is EVIL. You made it so far, winning The Bachelor and earning that final rose. All that's left is to make it through the final "After the Final Rose" special and you're home free with your new beau. For Melissa Rycroft, it was that final special that turned her romantic life into an even bigger soap opera. Unsure of his decision to take Melissa over the runner-up, Molly Malaney, Jason Mesnick decides to do the only honorable thing he can think to do end their 6-week made for tv relationship on LIVE television! "Over the last six weeks I haven't been able to stop thinking about Molly," He said. To which Melissa replied, "You're such a bastard..."

#4 Roseanne Barr National Anthem

Roseanne's boisterous personality made her a sensation in the late 80's and 90's, but she risked sinking it all with an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a doubleheader baseball game between the Padres and Reds. Not that being asked to sing the nation's anthem is a bad thing, but when you butcher it as she did, you can expect to tick off quite a few people. Roseanne rushed through the first half of the song, paying no mind to tone or pace, and the crowd was sure to let her know that her alleged mockery of the anthem was unappreciated. With fingers plugging her ears, Barr finished singing, grabbed her crotch, and quickly walked off the field. She never lived the scene down as fans left her in droves.

#5 Janet Jackson’s Half-Time Malfunction

Nobody remembers the actual game, but they do remember the "nip slip" incident. Super Bowl XXXVIII featured an incredible game between the New England Patriots and Carolina Panthers, but by the end of the half-time show, the game was the last thing most media outlets were talking about. Janet Jackson and Justin Timberlake took the center stage in a surprisingly in-sync collaboration, but again, nobody wound up caring about the performance. Instead, the focus was on the alleged wardrobe malfunction at the end of the act. It's a wonder which was more awkward the actual "malfunction," or Jackson trying to get everyone to believe it wasn't intentional.

#6 Sinead O’Connor Takes On The Pope

In her disgust over sexual abuse in the Catholic church that was being ignored, Sinead made a move that was very bad for her career. You know a really bad way to make friends? Rip up a picture of one of the most revered religious figures of your time while singing the word "Evil". Another fine Saturday Night Live moment, Sinead O'Connor was the show's musical guest on October 3rd, 1992. Keeping the energy high, O'Connor sang an acapella version of "War" by Bob Marley, staring intently at the camera for the entire 3-minute production. At the song's end, which mentions a victor of good over evil, O'Connor pulls out a picture of Pope John Paul II and rips it into pieces, allegedly protesting against sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. Adding to the awkwardness is the hush of silence that washed over the studio.

#7 Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift

In a feud that is STILL ongoing, and kept alive by Wests newest video and song release where he claims to have made Swift a star, this is one of the biggest mishaps ever televised. His arrogance provided him with the cajones needed to jump on stage during the MTV Video Music Awards in 2009 to interrupt Taylor Swift's freshly won Best Female Video award speech. Rather than provide the young artist with any honest praise, West snatched the mic to call out an injustice done to BeyoncÃ©. Swift, stunned, stood awkwardly as the audience cheered and jeered West's outburst. Maybe Beyonce's video was one of the best of all time, but is it worth embarrassing a young artist to force your opinion? The two have been embattled in a Twitter war ever since.

#8 Kanye’s Thoughts On George Dubya

As usual, Kanye can't keep his emotions and his mouth at the same pace. Hurricane Katrina was physically devastating to New Orleans and Louisiana, but emotionally affected us all. It also brought together Mike Myers and Kanye West for a heartfelt message about Red Cross' efforts. Myers sticks to his script but the outspoken Kanye launches into an awkward tirade on the media's portrayal of black people in the region and makes claims that "they" have been given permission to "go down and shoot us." Myers tries to recover the intended message, though his efforts go to waste when Kanye ends with a profound statement: "George Bush doesn't care about black people." Myers has since said that he would never step stage on the "egomaniac" again.

#9 An Interview With Martin Short

Perhaps Kathie Lee and Hoda were nipping a bit too much of the morning wine? Kathie Lee Gifford has been on television for quite some time and should know the many faux pas you don't want to commit on television. The biggest of them probably being bringing up your guest's deceased spouse and talking about them as if they're still alive. During an interview with Short to plug the animated movie, Madagascar, Kathie Lee brings up how madly in love Short and his wife are, asking specifically how they're still in love after 36 years. There's a moment of hesitation in Short's answer as if he wanted to explain that his spouse, Nancy Dolman, had passed away over a year prior. Instead, he acted as a gentleman, avoided embarrassing the host on air, and waited for a commercial break. Hoda sat there and barely said anything, as usual.

#10 Geraldo Visits Capone’s Vault

In 1986, former ABC reporter Geraldo Rivera was hot on the trails of something that would help his career even further he was going to be the first person to open a secret vault owned by Al Capone. The special event was advertised almost every ten minutes for months and built up to be one of the biggest things to happen on television ever. Medical examiners were present to look over any bodies found, the Internal Revenue Service provided agents to collect on the money expected to be discovered, and Rivera's charm was there to bring this incredible moment to the world. When the vault finally opened, after the first hour and a half had passed, an empty room was revealed. Making good on a bet made with critics prior to the special, Rivera awkwardly belted out one line of Frank Sinatra's "Chicago" and walked away.

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