Some of the people you would never, ever want to invite to a party & but you sorta love anyway

By Robert Isenberg
Special to MSN TV

In our enlightened times, we know that nerds can be cool and "geeking out" is A-OK. Funky glasses are stylish and everybody loves at least one weird band. Know a lot of "Dr. Who" trivia? Who doesn't?

But some people are just awkward. Painfully, wrenchingly, upsettingly awkward. So awkward that you can't look at them, or what they're about to knock over, without flinching. You pray they won't say exactly the wrong thing, and then -- bam -- they do. Low on friends, big on drama, these people are as luckless as you get.

And they're all over prime time.

Since the dawn of television, sitcoms and dramas have been flooded with awkward characters, from Barney Fife to Hamton J. Pig. But they're more numerous than ever these days. It's a kind of Awkward Renaissance. And in recognition of their fruitless efforts (and to beckon "Breaking Bad" and "Awkward"), here are some of the people you would never, ever want to invite to a party ... but you sorta love anyway.

Bing: More awkward TV characters | 'Breaking Bad'

(NBC/AMC/MTV)