Ultimate responsibility for the embarrassing spectacle rests with Mayor Koch, who has let the dispute behind this week's confrontation fester far too long.

Six of 10 said that they believed that the hearings were an embarrassing spectacle that would "result in nothing good."

Fifty-eight percent agreed with the statement that in the long run the hearings "were just an embarrassing spectacle that will result in nothing good."

They succeeded, though the effort hardly seemed necessary, since the ceremony proved a pretty embarrassing spectacle on its own.

Time may make the heart grow fonder, but time is not responsible for the embarrassing spectacle at the Lyceum.

Aghast, the assembled company of notables looked elsewhere for some less embarrassing spectacle than the aged drunkard, slobbering down his chin.

A1 The reaction across the world to the accusations against Judge Thomas has been to view the proceedings as an embarrassing American spectacle.

Yesterday, Mr. Schumer replayed a videotape recording of that 1994 performance, calling it "probably the most embarrassing spectacle ever by a New York Senator."

If that is the case, then it's been a very embarrassing spectacle.

That set off an embarrassing spectacle, as German officials offered the job, without success, to a long list of leading German industrialists.