14 Comedy Bits That Have Been Beaten Past the Point of Recognition

OMG, you’re still doing that joke? Awkward! Because, like using the word “awkward” in lieu of an actual punchline… It’s been done! We don’t really know how punchline placeholders like this (and a few others on this list) ever caught on, because if anything, they’re anti-comedy. All set-up, no punch. Yes, a really awkward scenario can actually be quite engaging (because they’re building a legitimate pent-up cringe), but you know what would be the satisfying exhale? A punchline! When the button is just someone saying, “Awkward,” we’re still just in the awkwardness. It’s comedy blue balls.

Okay, thank you for indulging our little rant. Awkwardness is not the only perpetrator here, but it got so popular in the late 2000’s that it crept its way into all kinds of other tropes. Sub-tropes, if you will. We just refuse to believe that “everything’s been done.” There are so many groundbreaking comedies and comedians who continue to give us such creative and thought-provoking funnies. So before you go buttoning your scene with that awkward handshake, just think about it for a few more minutes. It’ll help save us from one of these 14 comedy bits that have beaten past the point of no return.

14 A man?! In a dress?! No way!

TIRED COMEDY BITS MEN DRESSING LIKE WOMEN Once some serious shock value, it's basically men being applauded for having the courage to be seen like that. If a man legitimately performs a great female character with great jokes, game on. But the laugh simply for the sight of it should be done with. CRACKED — *Netflix*
**The New York Times**

13 So every sitcom family since 1989? Yes.

TIRED COMEDY BITS Mets THE FAT MAN-CHILD AND HIS HOT WIFE After Homer Simpson (who ironically was created to satirize the American man), the fat idiot who is helpless without his capable (out-of-his-league) wife became the biggest sitcom trope. CRACKED — *CBS*
**Crasstalk**

12 The laziest possible “punchline.”

TIRED COMEDY BITS AWKWARD! In lieu of writing an actual punchline, a character will just say awkward, and the cringe we feel is supposed to be the joke. It's not a joke! It's all set up with a forced awkward chuckle because we're uncomfortable! CRACKED — *FGC/Shutterstock*
**Los Angeles Times**

11 Another punchline placeholder.

TIRED COMEDY BITS SO, I'M SINGLE. After a comic describes some gross habit involving cheetos or porn, they'll let everyone sit in awkward silence for a beat before, So, I'm single. OR: After a gross/awkward encounter with a partner, it'll be, So, I'm single now. CRACKED — *IVASHstudio/Shutterstock*
**Comedy Scene in Houston**

10 This is the movie or show mugging to the audience like, “Look how crazy this is!”

TIRED COMEDY BITS SERIOUSLY? This one word joke comes before or after something wacky. Before, it's usually, You're not seriously thinking about stealing that car, are you? Or after the guy steals the car, he'll pull up to a more straight laced character who just says, Seriously? CRACKED — *Studio Romantic/Shutterstock*
**YouTube**

9 Guys, it’s me. You know me. I’m not racist. I just notice things.

TIRED COMEDY BITS I'M NOT RACIST, BUT... Then, the most racist thing you've ever heard. No punchline. The shock itself is the joke. CRACKED — *fizkes/Shutterstock*
**All Together Now**

8 Ask any actor friend how many auditions have involved an awkward high five.

TIRED COMEDY BITS AWKWARD HANDSHAKES It's usually the punchline in most commercials, but countless movies and TV shows feature a spin on it. The missed high-five, or being left hanging, or the are we gonna hug, or fist bump, or shake, or high-five, or 'oh my god, this is so awkward! CRACKED — *Marvel Studios*
**Too Much Cringe/YouTube**

7 Why do grown-ass people use 14 year olds as “cool barometers”?

TIRED COMEDY BITS PARENTS TRYING TO BE COOL Middle-aged parents who have no idea what a Tikitty Tokitty is get a massive eye-roll from their teen daughter, who either helps them understand, or just storms off in a huff. CRACKED — *CREATISTA/Shutterstock*
**TV Tropes**

6 As silly as he was, Urkel was a trendsetter.

TIRED COMEDY BITS BLACK PEOPLE ARE COOL On top of the countless stand-up jokes, a popular TV and movie trope has been a white friend dancing awkwardly or saying something cool, and a black friend checking them with, Okay, promise me you'll never do that again. WHITE PEOPLE ARE NERDS CRACKED — *alyankovic/YouTube*
**The New York Times**

5 Or owned. Sometimes the heckler gets owned.

TIRED COMEDY BITS COMEDIAN DESTROYS HECKLER These videos are a tiring trend of comedians who zing an audience member (that may or may not have been heckling in the first place), then slap on that title and hope for millions of views. CRACKED — *LightField Studios/Shutterstock*
**Google**

4 We get it, different drugs have different effects!

TIRED COMEDY BITS WEED vs. ALCOHOL When I smoke weed, I get the munchies, but when I drink, I get the punchies! - The logline for every weed vs. alcohol bit in existence. CRACKED — *Mike Fig Photo/Shutterstock*
**Google**

3 Yes, alcohol helps people relax.

TIRED COMEDY BITS THE MORE YOU DRINK, THE FUNNIER WE GET. Meant to help bar sales at comedy clubs, hosts will usually sling this zinger to get people loosened up. It's better than, Hey guys, the food and alcohol actually keeps this place afloat. Sadly, the more the crowd drinks, the funnier they think they are. CRACKED — *kudla/Shutterstock*

2 The jokes were funny until the memes stole them almost two decades ago!

TIRED COMEDY BITS m already Of the - IN E R T Y LI AUTOCORRECT I S D F FAILS My grandma gave me her collection of old panties. Pennies! Her pennies! Also, anything with duck or ducking has been covered in like 2008, so we get it, you weren't ducking mad. GRACKED — *Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock*,
*ajt/Shutterstock*
**Ranker**

1 Yelling “I’m okay” gives a sigh of relief. Not a laugh.

TIRED COMEDY BITS I'M OKAY! Even overdone in cartoons, but at least the absurdity of an I'm okay after a building falls on someone is way funnier than a live action character just falling, giving a dramatic pause, then proclaiming, I'm okay! Extra hacky points for the thumbs up. CRACKED — *Cast Of Thousands/Shutterstock*
**TV Tropes**

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