With TV comedy fan favorites like The Other Two currently airing, it's no secret that this kind of comedy always hits the nail on the head when it comes to making people laugh. These shows and many others depict what it's like to embrace the awkward and unavoidable moments in life and make it funny.
These TV comedies manage to put the viewers in real-world scenarios and turn up the unconventional, and sometimes uncomfortable, scenarios to 100. A lot of the time Curb Your Enthusiasm uses music to emphasize these moments, while The Other Two utilizes the need to be successful millennials when the world seems to counteract that. Sometimes these shows are so awkward, fans cringe and the comedy falls flat. There are other times these moments are so ridiculous that it is funny and works out in their favor.
Haters Back Off
This 2016 Netflix comedy depicted a fictional world in which Miranda Sings becomes an internet sensation while also dealing with the ridicule of it all. This quirky comedy was more awkward than funny because of the off-beat moments like her comically off-key singing and overconfidence. Miranda Sings uses her ability to be a nuisance to evoke humor in this show. This, along with the recurring characters add on to the weirdness by innocently ing her and dealing with their own problems. This show provides a realistic tone by having it set in a suburb in modern times. It reflects how realistic it can be by having the other characters around her seem "normal."
Chewing Gum
The phenomenal is a British sitcom that follows the life of Tracey Gordon as she navigates adulthood since she was brought up in a conservative religious household. The lack of experience Tracey received as an adolescent reflects her awkward encounters with boys and her viewpoints on sex. It's realistic, yet uncomfortable to watch as Tracy's antics and narration guides the viewer into her wild decisions like the ways she handles intimacy. It's wholesome, yet hilarious and the awkwardness of it all works in her favor. There are far more awkward moments in this series as Tracy lacks self-awareness, however in turn it makes it funny to the viewer.
Arrested Development
Before there was Schitt's Creek there was the main character, Michael Bluth (who is seemingly the only normal one) reacts to the shenanigans his family confront him with. Michael's family puts him into awkward positions because they are spoiled and need him to rely on most of the time. These moments reflect how unconventional families can be and how it is at times hard to watch their antics.
PEN15
Played by older actors, PEN15 is a coming-of-age comedy that centers around 13-year-olds Maya and Anna. Maya and Anna struggle to deal with the pressures of growing up and everything that comes along with being a 7th grader in the year 2000.
The show depicts heartbreaking yet relatable moments in the adolescent years. Each moment is naturally uncomfortable as the girls learn and experience things for the first time. The moments are at times more awkward than funny since they are portrayed so young and inexperienced. However, they make up for it because of how authentic these moments can be to real-life people.
Nathan For You
This docu-reality comedy stars Nathan Fielder, a business consultant who spends his time helping other businesses succeed. Nathan For You succeeds in being realistic with its long pauses and shaky camera work. Nathan himself is a socially awkward person whose ideas fall flat for the businesses. The sincere reactions from these business owners make the tension uncomfortable, but in a way that's hilarious. Similar comedies like this thrive in these scenarios because it's funny on its own without a gimmick. Nathan is genuine in his decisions while also the people he comes across.
Fleabag
The show follows the life of a Fleabag is both unique and complex because there are moments that are hard to digest. The show's most realistic parts of the times when things get too uncomfortable and the commentary that follows Fleabag and her narration. That wit in this series works because it ties into real-life scenarios and unfortunate events.
Parks and Recreation
Although Parks And Recreation has many hilarious moments, there are tons of awkward stand-alone episodes that are just strange. There are moments and running bits that pull the show together. This benefits the show because it's funny to watch these characters react to these uncomfortable moments.
The Office
The Office is similar to Parks and Recreation in that it centers around ordinary people working at a tedious job. Sometimes the overexcitement in the main character Michael Scott can be inappropriate. And there are moments that are hard to watch, making it uncomfortable. Michael Scott is still wholesome in his own way.
This comedy remains a fan favorite for so many people much like the rest of the shows above. The Office is quick and witty with its dialogue and smart when it comes to developing the characters, which is why they are so beloved. The moments that are memorable or the most outrageous, are the ones that are awkward and chaotic but because they are so wild it becomes funny.
The Inbetweeners
This British comedy centers around four best friends who don't fit in anywhere in their high school. Through the awkward teenage years, they find themselves struggling to adjust, while attending parties and experiencing love and friendship for the first time. The weirdness ensues as they are forced to rely on one another to make it through high school. The witty banter between these friends makes the show wholesome. The Inbetweeners highlights the relationships between these boys and how they handle situations. The clever dialogue makes this show likable which makes them likable. The fact that it is such a relatable comedy, can make the show nostalgic for people. The comedy here works because they are at this point in their lives where things will not go their way but they have each other and they have learned from their mistakes.