Awkward humor, it's an acquired taste, and one that sours the mouths of many.
But to those privileged enough, to get it, nothing is more enjoyable than a half-hour of uncomfortable moments and subtle jabs.
Since "Seinfeld" began its run in the early 1990s, awkward humor has risen to unbelievable heights.
The popular sitcom bridged the gap between conventional sitcom and the new breed of comedies like "The Office" and "Arrested Development."
Newer shows have taken the "Seinfeld" formula, deleted the laugh track, and put out quality entertainment.
The result is a new golden-age of comedy.
Larry David, creator of "Curb Your Enthusiasm" and co-creator of "Seinfeld," and Ricky Gervais, creator of the original British version of "The Office" and "Extras," are widely considered the fathers of awkward humor.
Their shows have consistently raised the bar for comedy writing and they've inspired younger generations to follow in their footsteps.
"Arrested Development debuted in November 2003, to rave reviews and took home the Emmy for "Outstanding Comedy Series, despite its less-than-stellar ratings.
The American version of "The Office" claimed the same Emmy for its brilliant second season.
Although the ratings for "The Office" aren't spectacular, they remain solid, and combined with DVR recordings and iTunes purchases, the comedy ranks among the most-watched shows each week.
The genre's newest entry is HBO's "Flight of the Conchords." The show features two of New Zealand's finest making their way as a folk duo in New York City.
Although many of these shows flourish on cable, broadcast networks are generally reluctant to air them because of their cult appeal.
Only NBC has taken a real chance on the genre. The network famous for such high-rated fare as "The Cosby Show," "Friends," and "Cheers," has opted to abandon the struggling conventional sitcom and aim for quality first.
"The Office," "Scrubs" and "30 Rock," have all been critical successes as part of NBC's new Thursday lineup. The network lost its stranglehold on Thursday nights, slipping past both CBS and ABC, but representatives at NBC have faith that America will eventually catch on to the humor offered in the programs.
Although the I don't get it battle cry is sure to live on among those who detest the genre, it's safe to say that those backing it will fight to the end to keep it alive.
Seinfeld didn't even crack the Nielsen Top 30 until its fourth season, and we all know how that turned out.
Zack Timmons is the new media editor of The Lantern. He can be reached at timmons.60@osu.edu.
Be the first to comment on this article!