Both scripted TV shows and televised events are huge, costly endeavors with many moving
parts, and lots of people in front of, and behind, the camera.
But it's the specific combination of costumes and human beings that can cause a surprising
amount of problems for a TV show.
Yeah, we're talking wardrobe malfunctions.
These egregious oopsies can offend the viewing public and embarrass the performers.
And, of course, they're preserved for posterity on the internet.
Here are some instances when things got dicey, and some accidental, partial, near, or actual
nudity made its way onto TV.
Three's Company TMI
Today, thanks to hi-def programming, an accidental flash of nudity won't be missed by viewers,
even if it got past the censors.
But in the early '80s, TV wasn't as crystal clear as it is now, so things could get a
little nuts.
"When does it stop?”
“When does what stop?”
“The pain.”
In a 1983 episode of Three's Company, John Ritter wore a pair of short-shorts, and part
of his scrotum briefly made a cameo.
Evidently, nobody noticed until 2001, when the episode aired on Nick at Nite and an eagle-eyed
viewer saw the bit of offending skin.
When Nickelodeon got word and a spokesperson confirmed…
"Yes, his scrotum falls out of his shorts."
…the network edited the episode so that Ritter would stay tucked in his pants.
T'n'A on GMA
In the midst of a rockin' stage show, performers can get lost in the moment.
But for rapper Nicki Minaj, being totally in "the zone" made her completely oblivious
to the moment she gave the crowd a little extra while rapping live on Good Morning America
in 2011.
When she realized her breast had popped out of her top, she was as shocked as everyone
else.
Minaj later apologized on ABC's Nightline, and also denied that the wardrobe malfunction
had been a publicity ploy.
"Mmmm...I'm so sorry about that.
People are ridiculous if they think I would use that as a stunt.
I would never, ever, swear to God, do something like that on purpose."
A little too Cavalier
LeBron James simply had his head in the game, but maybe too much?
In Game 4 of the 2015 NBA Finals, James' Cleveland Cavaliers faced off against the Golden State
Warriors.
Right after Usher performed the National Anthem, the camera focused in on James.
There was just enough movement of his shorts for the baller to show his "little James"
to the world.
Even though James laid it all out on the court…literally…the Cavs lost that night by 21 points.
Fifty shades of oopsies
The Fifty Shades of Grey movies haven't exactly wowed critics, but they were a total hit with
fans.
Dakota Johnson even won a People's Choice Award in 2016 for Favorite Dramatic Actress,
for the first film in the series.
But as Johnson took the stage at the CBS-televised event, presenter Leslie Mann gave her a hug…and
broke Johnson's zipper.
"Leslie just broke my dress.”
Johnson took it in stride, wryly referring to the movie for which she just won a trophy,
saying,
"It's not like nobody here hasn't already seen my boobs."
Dancing with the clothes
Featuring amateur dancers performing intricate choreography while wearing the least amount
of clothing, Dancing With The Stars is a recipe for trouble.
In 2006, Monique Coleman from High School Musical momentarily lost her skirt when she
caught it with her heel.
After the number, host Tom Bergeron quipped,
"I know that jump scared the 'everything' out of you.”
“It did.
It scared my clothes off, apparently."
Then in 2017, celebrity contestant Frankie "Malcolm in the Middle" Muniz's dance partner,
Witney Carson got a heel stuck on her skirt.
She later told People,
"It would just not come out, so [Frankie] literally was dragging me along."
Muniz confessed he didn't actually know there'd been an accident at first, saying,
"It was weird because all week I messed up in that spot every single time, so we got
to it and I thought…'Did I mess up?'"
Just zip it!
Jennifer Hudson made one of the all-time greatest career turnarounds.
The magically-voiced singer was eliminated early on in the third season of American Idol
in 2004, but went on to find extraordinary success.
But in one not-so-successful moment, while appearing on Chelsea Lately in 2013, the zipper
on Hudson's skirt gave up on its one job.
"Hi!
How are you.
Oh my God it's hard to.
Oh my God!
We have to...Turn around…Oh my God let me help you!”
Fortunately, Handler jumped up to assist.
"No you hold the zipper, Ima sit, ok?"
“Go!”
Finally, they got things zipped back up.