Welcome to Top10Archive! Thanks to the wonders of live television, we’re able to experience
everything – including those instances that some would want us to forget about. That’s
not going to happen, at least not with us listing off these ten incredibly awkward televised
instances! 10. Steve Harvey’s Miss Universe Gaff
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
allegedly 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 back-peddle 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.
9. The Bachelor Dump 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 relationship on live television.
8. Ashlee Simpson’s SNL Hoedown Lip synching is not a new bastardization of
live entertainment, but it’s still shocking when it’s revealed a performer resorts to
the act. During the October 23rd, 2004 episode of Saturday Night Live, Simpson was the slated
musical guest. 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, and then blamed her band for playing
the wrong song. 7. Janet Jackson’s Half-Time Malfunction
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
Night Live moment, Sinead O’Connor was the show’s musical guest on October 3rd, 1992.
studio. 5. 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. 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, 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. 4. Kanye West Interrupts Taylor Swift
Ah, it wouldn’t be a list about awkwardness if Kanye West didn’t show up at least once.
This time, 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 Beyoncé. 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?
3. Kanye’s Thoughts on George Dubya 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.”
2. An Interview with Martin Short Kathie Lee 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. 1. Roseanne Barr National Anthem
Roseanne’s boisterous personality made her a sensation in the late 80’s and 90’s,
but she risked tanking it all with an opportunity to sing the National Anthem at a doubleheader
baseball game with 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.