Top 10 Most Uncomfortable To Watch TV Shows
#10: “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson” (2019-)
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In 2019, comedians Tim Robinson and Zach Kanin found their place on Netflix, where their unique brand of comedy can flourish in “I Think You Should Leave.” The sketch comedy show takes social faux pas to unnatural, and often absurd, extremes, reveling in the discomfort created by its characters. Premises for the series’ sketches can range from inappropriate computer games to demonic doggy door intruders, making it hard to guess just what kind of strange set-up you’ll be met with next. Thankfully, each short episode has as much to laugh about as it does to cringe at.
#9: “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” (2015-19)
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If you ever encounter someone dismissing a show that has aired on the CW solely because of its network, you might want to tell them to give “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” a try. The clever comedy series is a refreshing departure from the channel’s typical lineup, featuring mature conversations about sexuality, womanhood, and mental health in a fun, musical format. Of course, as revolutionary as it can be, some of its sensitive subject matter can get a little bit uncomfortable …especially when it is expressed in song. From troublesome infections to healthy reproductive cells, nothing is off limits. And while most of these unconventional songs are worthy of playing on repeat, others are a bit harder to stomach - even for fans!
#8: “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” (2007-10)
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Imagine falling asleep to an airing of “Chowder” only to be awoken by the panicked, desperate screams of grown men. This could have easily been the reality for kids and adults alike from 2007 to 2010, when “Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!” ran on Adult Swim, Cartoon Network’s late-night programming block. The satirical comedy often parodies the kinds of shows and infomercials seen on public access television, giving them an unsettlingly surreal spin. In some cases, the sketches even start out fairly normal before slowly descending into disconcerting darkness. That’s a set-up that seems tailor made to throw off even the most impenetrable nighttime channel surfers. If that was their intention, well…great job!
#7: “Euphoria” (2019-)
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This teen drama has its fair share of comedic moments, but they aren’t what make us cringe! Instead, it’s the series’ frank depiction of sexuality, violence, and substance use that has many viewers watching through their fingers. Sure, broaching serious topics in a high school setting is nothing new - “Degrassi” did it for decades. But “Euphoria” dials the intensity up to eleven. This choice to depict such serious subject matter in a graphic way has drawn criticism from a number of media advocacy and drug education groups, but the controversy has never diminished its popularity with younger generations. Uncomfortable or not, its harrowing performances and unique visual flair make it must-see television!
#6: “The Rehearsal” (2022-)
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Although Nathan Fielder’s career in comedy started prior to 2013, his Comedy Central series “Nathan for You” made him a name to watch. Playing an awkward, offbeat version of himself, Fielder suggested eccentric marketing ideas to real life business owners and let them play out to their natural (and occasionally uncomfortable) end. About five years after the show’s finale, Fielder upped the ante with “The Rehearsal.” What begins as a strange social experiment in which Nathan helps prepare for big events takes an uneasy turn when a kid is added to the picture. Indeed, his attempts to help a woman rehearse parenting spiral out of control, until he realizes he’s become something of a surrogate father to a real-life child actor – yikes!
#5: “Arrested Development” (2003-06; 2013; 2018-19)
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The year was 2003, and “Arrested Development” introduced audiences to TV’s wildest formerly rich family. Our lives have not quite been the same since. Right out of the gate, the pilot ushers in one of the series’ most consistent cringe-inducing plotlines – George Michael’s crush on his cousin, Maeby. Yes, it’s as disconcerting as it sounds. Believe it or not, that weird relationship is just one of many uncomfortable parts of the show’s five season run. Whether it’s Maeby’s accidental teenage love affair, Tobias’s brief experimentation with hair plugs, or something else, “Arrested Development” is the master of making fans wince before they laugh.
#4: “Big Mouth” (2017-24)
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Puberty is an uncomfortable time for everyone, but it seems to hit the characters of “Big Mouth” harder than most. Luckily, they have hormone monsters to help get them through it. The show’s in-your-face depiction of some of the most unpleasant and awkward parts of adolescence, paired with its ugly-cute art style, are not for the faint of heart. But if you can handle the cringe, “Big Mouth” is one of the most surprisingly sincere (and all-encompassing) depictions of being a teen ever made. Well… if you ignore the monsters and anthropomorphic pillows, that is.
#3: “The Eric Andre Show” (2012-)
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Whether you’re aware of it or not, you’ve probably seen a clip or still from “The Eric Andre Show” in your lifetime. In spite of (or maybe because of) its strange sense of humor, the series has inspired numerous memes that have stood the test of time online. There’s, of course, the “Who Killed Hannibal?” image. We also can’t forget the one of Andre desperately trying to enter the DNC. Both are fun bits, but they don’t begin to touch the sheer levels of off-putting absurdity the sketch comedy series itself reaches in an average episode. It’s a talk show that messes with its guests as much as its audience, getting some extreme reactions out of a surprising number of stars in the process.
#2: “Pen15” (2019-21)
What’s more awkward than being 13? How about watching two women in their thirties act out their embarrassing adolescence alongside actual teenagers? This is the premise of “Pen15,” a bizarre coming-of-age tale starring actresses Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle. Throughout the show, the women act out first periods, first kisses, and even first…stolen thongs. It’s hilariously relatable in a way that you wish wasn’t relatable, and frequently inspires some of the strongest cases of secondhand embarrassment one can get from a TV show. Set in 2000, it also makes sure to riff on some very millennial-specific sources of cringe like AIM screen names and the screeching sounds of dial-up. Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
“Cunk on Earth” (2022)
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“Hannibal” (2013-15)
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“The White Lotus” (2021-)
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“It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia” (2005-)
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“The Office” (2001-03)
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#1: “The Curse” (2023-)
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Following the success of “Nathan for You” and “The Rehearsal,” off-kilter comedian Nathan Fielder created “The Curse” with “Uncut Gems” co-director Benny Safdie. It’s a match made in discomfort heaven! The dark comedy series satirizes reality television through its HGTV star protagonists, Whitney and Asher Siegel, who are attempting to bring sustainable homes to the community of Española, New Mexico. Whitney is a pathological altruist, constantly attempting to ameliorate things in increasingly cringey ways, while Asher becomes obsessed with a curse he believes was placed on him. Their relationship and lives slowly deteriorate, and it culminates in one of the most inexplicable finales we’ve ever seen on TV. Watching this has us wondering what exactly we’ve gotten ourselves into – but we can’t deny we’re entertained.
