Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

The Most Unexpected Things People Have Ever Witnessed On Live TV

Man sitting on sofa drinking coffee and watching television
man in white dress shirt holding white ceramic mug
Photo by CardMapr.nl on Unsplash

CW: Accidents and death.

The danger of live television is that you can't go back to the editing room to cut something out.

While most live television is on a five-second or so delay, mostly to edit out bad language, that still doesn't guarantee that audiences won't see something that wasn't intended to be part of the broadcast.

From Ashlee Simpson's infamous lip-synching debacle on Saturday Night Live, to the slap heard (and seen) round the world at the 2022 Academy Awards, there's no planning what may happen on live TV.

And sometimes something going wrong on an awards show or news program is far more exciting or memorable than anything seen on a football or hockey game.


Redditor LittleCheeseBag8 was curious to hear about the most unforgettable moments on live television people have ever witnessed, leading them to ask:
"What is the most unexpected thing you've seen live on tv?"

Not As Cute As He Seemed...

"In the UK a TV personality and her son who is disabled were on a live tv show."

"From what I recall the topic being discussed was online bullying."

"When her son was asked about what to say to these bully's his response was: 'hello you c*nts'."

"Absolute classic British TV right there."- garillar

And This Was Only The Beginning...

"The OJ Simpson Bronco chase."

"They interrupted the NBA playoffs to show it live instead of the game."

"It was surreal."- PaulsRedditUsername

All He Had Hidden, Was A Let Down...

"Al Capone's vault had ........... nothing in it."- MerryBandOfPirates

al capone inmates GIF by History UKGiphy

No Thanksgiving Is Drama Free

"It was Thanksgiving morning in Los Angeles, and a news team went to surprise a family in need with a full Thanksgiving dinner."

"They showed up to the house, and I really think they went to the wrong place."

"The person at the door looked confused by the name the reporter was giving them, but they were live, and I’m sure the reporter was freaking out so she shoved her way into the home with the camera crew and a bunch of people with food."

"They’re all standing in the living room, and the reporter is telling this bewildered woman about what food they brought."

"Then the woman, takes a picture off the mantle, and starts crying, telling the reporter her baby died."

"The reporter was trying to turn the conversation back to the surprise dinner, but the woman only wanted to talk and show pictures of her dead baby."

"It was the cringiest thing I’ve ever seen on live TV."- adventurer84

Some People Just Get Used To It

"The reporter standing at a 45-degree angle, holding onto the street sign for dear life in a wind/rain storm as he was reporting."

"And the two dudes casually walking past, not leaning whatsoever and without difficulty."- Kinky_mofo

An Unforgettable Tragedy

"The Space Shuttle Challenger exploding into the Florida sky."- IfIKnewThen

A Life Threatening Rush...

"A Formula One driver hitting a wall at Imola and attempts being made to resuscitate him on the track."

"They weren't successful."

"Roland Ratzenberger died during Qualifying and things continued to get out of control as crew, drivers and spectators were injured over the weekend and Ayrton Senna died during the race."

"Motor racing is obviously not 100% safe but the number of incidents and two fatalities over the course of a single event was astonishing."

"It really was like the track was cursed."- JMW007

In Case Anyone Missed It...

"I was watching football (soccer) a few years ago and the referee stopped play for a foul."

"The slo-mo replay showed the fouling player grab the other player’s shorts as he stepped across him, and use them to try to stop his momentum."

"The shorts stretched a long way, exposing his penis, which then proceeded to flap around in slo mo, for about 5 seconds, whilst the commentators pretended it wasn’t happening."- Thefdt

Copa America Football GIFGiphy

Boxing Doesn't Involve Teeth

"Mike Tyson biting Evander Holyfield’s ear."- wintermacaw

Everyone Wanted To Look Away, But Couldn't...

"Anderson Silva's leg snapping like a twig."- KeyRageAlert

In Real Time

"Hostage situation during the news."

"The news presenter was talking when an armed man walked in and took them hostage."

"It was wild."- HappyDutchMan

GOOOAAAAL!

"Christian Eriksen legit collapsing and dying on a soccer pitch only to be revived and make the most epic comeback the following season."- True-Expression3378

Going Out on A High

"One time I was flipping through channels and nothing was on."

"Snow mobile freestyle on the winter X Games caught my eye for no good reason."

"Then the guy is in the air either trying to backflip or he just rotates too far on a big jump."

"The snow mobile lands what looks like directly on his chest."

"I’m shocked thinking surely he wasn’t going to survive."

"I can’t recall what the normal announcers were saying or if they cut to something less dramatic."

"But then the sideline reporter type woman said she interviewed the athlete while he was being taken away and he 'felt like he just woke up from the longest dream ever'.”

"So I was optimistic since he was able to speak."

"Maybe even walk off under his own power."

"But I looked it up over the next day or two and he died in the hospital."

"That line from his interview still sticks with me."- FancyPantsHess

There's no going back for a second take when it comes to live television.

So, for better or worse, what happens will potentially be seen by millions of viewers, and most likely never forgotten.

More from Trending/best-of-reddit

Colin Jost, Ego Nwodim, and Michael Che during 'Weekend Update' on 'SNL'
SNL

'SNL' Bit Goes Hilariously Off The Rails After Audience Shouts Out NSFW Word On Live TV

SNL's live studio audience hilariously surprised cast members during a spontaneous interaction in the most recent episode.

It happened during the "Weekend Update" segment when SNL ensemble member Ego Nwodim ridiculed the White House Correspondents’ Association for dropping comedian Amber Ruffin as the headliner for the correspondents' dinner on April 26.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gabourey Sidibe
Sherri/YouTube

Gabourey Sidibe Explains Why She Refuses To Throw Lavish Birthday Parties For Her Twins—And She's Got A Point

Precious actress Gabourey Sidibe is very excited to celebrate her twins' first birthday alongside her husband, Brandon Frankel, but she isn't being precious about hosting an actual birthday party.

While on the Sherri daytime television show opposite Sherri Shepherd, Sidibe opened up about her relationship with her husband, her time filming Precious, and of course, the joys of pregnancy, motherhood, and her beautiful "cinnamon baby" twins.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pierce Brosnan, Helen Mirren
Theo Wargo / Staff/Getty Images; Karwai Tang / Contributor

Pierce Brosnan Agrees With Helen Mirren After She Ripped James Bond Films' 'Sexism'

There's no doubt that James Bond is one of the most iconic characters ever to grace the silver screen.

Over the last 63 years, 25 films and 6 debonair actors have portrayed the Martini-loving (shaken, not stirred, of course) spy, amassing countless fans along the way.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshot of Rachel Maddow; Peter Navarro
MSNBC; Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Rachel Maddow Blasts Peter Navarro For Inventing 'Expert' Who Inspired Trump's Tariffs Plan

MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow criticized Peter Navarro—the official counselor to President Donald Trump—for inventing an economics expert named Ron Vara in his books to justify his pro-tariffs stance, noting that not only does "Vara" not exist, but that this whole episode explains where Trump got the idea for the tariffs in the first place.

Trump’s tariff crusade has pushed what was a bullish stock market to the brink of bear territory—a 20% drop from recent highs—faster than any president in modern history. If the market closes at that threshold, it would mark the swiftest collapse from bull to bear during a new administration since the S&P 500’s inception in 1957.

Keep ReadingShow less
Mary Kate Cornett; Pat McAfee
NBC; Brian Spurlock/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

Ole Miss Student Slams ESPN Host For Spreading Baseless Rumor She Slept With Boyfriend's Dad

Ole Miss freshman Mary Kate Cornett is speaking out about how a salacious rumor amplified by ESPN's Pat McAfee has "ruined" life—and she has a pointed message for McAfee himself.

Cornett says she has been viciously harassed online and in person since McAfee spread a rumor on his show that she slept with her boyfriend's father.

Keep ReadingShow less