This article addresses issues of sexual harassment, religious extremism, and LGBTQ+ discrimination.
While no network plans to have episodes not aired, pulled from sales, or removed from streaming services, there have been episodes of TV that have been painfully blocked over the years. This could be due to controversial content, background issues with the players involved, or unforeseen medical reasons. From children's cartoons to family-friendly sitcoms, many infamous shows have garnered their fair share of controversy and had to be temporarily shut down or removed entirely.
Some of the most controversial TV episodes of all time have been censored and had their scheduled broadcasts changed or interrupted. Although viewers may not relate to a child-friendly animated series Bluey paradoxically, even this well-intentioned game produced an episode that is currently unavailable for broadcast. Anyway Friends was a sitcom loved by millions around the world, one bad episode was banned by TV networks that had a problem with its representation of LGBTQ+ content.
10
Pokémon (1997 – Present)
Season 1, Episode 38: “Dennō Senshi Porygon”
While many of the notoriously banned TV episodes associated with controversial content were against social disapproval, that was not the case with this infamous one. The Pokémon episode. “Dennō Senshi Porygon,” also known as “Electric Soldier Porygon,” was controversial due to the inclusion of repetitive visual effects that caused accidental fainting in many viewers. This episode was broadcast only once in Japan in 1997 when over 600 children were hospitalized due to the strobe lights in one location (via A skeptical questioner.)
In extreme cases, audience members suffer from epilepsy, blindness, convulsions, and seizures.
This is prohibited The Pokémon the episode caused viewers to have a bad visionheadache, dizziness, and nausea. In the worst cases, the audience suffered seizures, blindness, convulsions, and fainting, and it was reported that 685 spectators, 310 boys and 375 girls, were rushed to hospitals in ambulances. “Dennō Senshi Porygon” led to a change in television standards, and a set of guidelines regarding the use of flash images was established to ensure that this incident is not repeated.
9
Sesame Street (1969 – Present)
Season 23, Episode 19: “Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce”
For over 50 years, Sesame Street it taught children about complex issues as it made family problems and difficult situations understandable to young viewers. Another 1992 episode tried to explore divorce as it featured the parents of Muppet Mr. Although “Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce” was supposed to comfort children going through a difficult time, it actually had the opposite effect.
“Snuffy's Parents Get a Divorce” was never seen or heard as testing revealed that children were confused by its message and misunderstood its content (via Mental Floss.) I Sesame Street The episode caused some children to worry that if their parents fight, divorce is imminent and that if they separate, the parents will no longer love their children. The failure of this episode before it even aired meant that Sesame Street he didn't talk about the divorce until years laterfor the 2012 edition Young Children, Big Challenges: Divorce.
8
Married… With Children (1987 – 1997)
Season 3, Episode 10: “See You in Court”
A FOX sitcom Married… with children it was the antithesis of the happy American television family as it welcomed the rude and the absurd. However, behind the often awkward humor and dysfunctional nature of the Bundy family, they still loved and cared for each other, and the episodes were filled with important, family-friendly themes. However, some episodes pushed the network too far, and one episode that aired in 1989 was not broadcast in the United States until 2002.
This was the 3rd season of “See You in Court,” which was seen Al and Peg want to spice up their wedding by staying at a seedy hotelthey find a sex tape of their neighbors Steve and Marcy that was recorded without their permission. This controversial incident led them to take the hotel to court and try to get compensation for this shocking and illegal act. Long considered a lost episode of the series, “I'll See You in Court” finally aired during reruns on FX.
7
South Park (1997 – Present)
Season 5, Episode 3 “Super Best Friends”
As an unusual thread in debates, South Park has had several episodes banned over the years, but perhaps the most interesting was “Super Best Friends.” This episode of Season 5 featured many religious figures and featured the prophet Muhammadan act that some followers of Islam believe is forbidden. The episode actually aired on July 4, 2001, with very little controversy, and it was a few years after “Super Best Friends” was canceled.
South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone ran into trouble after episodes “200” and “201” also featured an image of Muhammad, and received death threats from Muslims in 2010, leading to all episodes being pulled from syndication. I South Park Studios The website no longer broadcasts “Best Friends,” and it cannot be purchased from their online stores. The argument meant that there South Park transferred to HBO Max in 2020, five episodes, including “Cartoon Wars Part I” and “Cartoon Wars Part II,” would not be available on the platform due to Muhammad's references.
6
The Simpsons (1989 – Present)
Season 3, Episode 1: “Stark Raving Dad”
While The Simpsons it has had several episodes banned, with one infamous episode being controversial decades after it first aired. This was the third season premiere titled “Stark Raving Dad,” which featured Homer in a mental institution with a man claiming to be Michael Jackson. With the actor voiced by the late pop star, the episode was released in 2019 following renewed allegations of sexual abuse by Jackson.
“Stark Raving Dad” is the only episode of The Simpsons that is banned worldwide on Disney+ and was released at the same time Leaving Neverland a documentary was released, which included interviews with men who said Jackson abused them as children. With an episode featuring Jackson's character befriending Bart and writing a song together, it's no surprise that Disney+ pulled the episode altogether.
5
It's always sunny in Philadelphia
Season 4, episode 3 “Billboard Model of America's Next Top Paddy Contest”
While It's always sunny in Philadelphia has been pushing the boundaries of what can be shown on screen, there are certain episodes that can no longer be broadcast (via ColliderAnother bad example of this was “America's Next Top Paddy's Billboard Model Contest” Season 4, which was a competition. the first episode to introduce Dee Reynold's popular character Martina Martinez. As one of the wannabe actresses, Martina became controversial because white actress Kaitlin Olson portrayed her in full blackface.
Representation of race in Always sunny it has always been a difficult issue because the creators were well aware of the controversy surrounding such portrayals and commented satirically on these issues. A similar difficulty arose with Mac's characters use of blackface to portray Roger Murtaugh in the group's deception. Lethal Weapon movies. The nuances of Martina Martinz's situation are easily understood, and it seems that the broadcasting services have decided that it is better to pull episodes like this completely.
4
Beef and Chicken (1997 – 1999)
Season 2, Episode 7A: “Buffalo Gals”
Anyway Beef and Chicken was a Cartoon Network series aimed at children, it was full of adult jokes and jokes that often went over children's heads. Another episode that pushed this too far was “Buffalo Gals,” which featured a group of female bikers who served as a misogynistic representation of gay women (in CBRAs an episode that was canceled soon after it premiered, “Buffalo Gals” was full of sex and profanity, sarcastic, and far from subtle humor.
The gang depicted in the favorite game of the “Buffalo Gals” was softball, a stereotype of women who love other women made more difficult as they were shown feasting on the carpet. This blatant and illogical attempt to portray LGBTQ+ stereotypes sounds appalling today too highlights how children's entertainment has changed in the decades since Beef and Chicken first aired. While the series was often outrageously funny, “Buffalo Gals” went overboard and was too offensive for a younger audience.
3
Buffy The Vampire Slayer
Season 3, Episode 18, “Earshot”
Sometimes, TV episodes can be controversial because of the bad time they are scheduled to air. This was definitely the case with “The Ear” from Season 3 Buffy the Vampire Slayerwhich was canceled due to the Columbine High School massacre on April 20, 1999. This Buffy the episode is temporarily banned as it depicts a high school student brandishing a gun in what at first appears to be a school shooting.
However, “Earshot” was actually an assessment of a highly anxious student who was planning to kill himself and then reassessed. Buffy's themes surrounding the high school experience. Following the Columbine massacre, the use of media became a hot topic as the effects the idea of violence had on impressionable youth audiences became a source of debate. With this in mind, the broadcast of “Earshot” was delayed for several months and finally aired in September 1999.
2
Bluey (2018 – Present)
Season 2, Episode 13: “Baby Daddy”
Like the story of the young blue puppy, Bluey teaches preschool children life lessons in a simple and informative way that they can understand. This made the series very successful, as the positive parenting messages show a positive portrayal of everyday family life. However, one episode sparked controversy and, as a result, was banned from Disney +, although it can still be viewed on Disney +. Bluey's official YouTube channel.
This was the season two episode “Daddy Baby,” in which Bluey's father, Bandit, heard what it was like from his wife, Chili, as Bandit pretended to be pregnant. Although this was a harmless enough exercise in imagination, the controversy related to the scene where the Bandit pretended to give birth, and although there were no graphic images, it seems that Disney felt that this went too far. As a show aimed at very young children, “Baby Daddy” was too rare to get airplay in the United States.
1
Friends (1994 – 2004)
Season 2, Episode 11: “The One with the Lesbian Wedding”
Although many things appear Friends you haven't aged well, it has to be admitted that, despite the lack of racial diversity and the array of stereotypes that don't age well, it's still quite progressive when it comes to LGBTQ+ representation. While the jokes about Chandler Bing's transgender father may feel sarcastic with the power of hindsight, the same-sex relationship between Ross' ex-wife Carol Willick and his partner Susan Bunch it was always portrayed as loving and stable. Despite the occasional joke that has an aura of 1990s homophobia, Carol and Susan's relationship is portrayed as legitimate and accepted.
Some TV networks opposed the idea, with KJAC-TV in Port Arthur, Texas, and WLIO in Lima, Ohio, refusing to air the episode.
However, another episode that caused quite a stir was Season 2's “The One with the Gay Wedding,” when Carol and Susan finally decided to tie the knot. As the second gay wedding ever shown on a sitcom, some TV networks balked at the idea, as KJAC-TV in Port Arthur, Texas, and WLIO in Lima, Ohio, refused to air the episode (via Pink News.) This was a real shame, as the incredibly poignant episode saw Ross accept Carol's relationship with Susan and, after his ex-wife started to get cold feet on the day, actively encourage her to go through with it.
Sources: A skeptical questioner, Mental Floss,Collider, CBR, Bluey YouTube, Pink News