TV has never hesitated to ruffle feathers—but every once in a while, a show goes so far that it gets banned, pulled, or censored. It might be an animated children’s staple, a caustic comedy, or a dramatic series that unintentionally struck too close to real life, but these episodes made more than waves—these episodes left a lasting imprint on popular culture. Below is a countdown of 10 TV episodes that got the chop, from raised eyebrows to dropped jaws.
10. Friends – “The One with the Lesbian Wedding”
Friends was all about coffeehouse small talk and sloppy love lives, but it broke new ground with one of television’s first same-gender weddings. When Ross’s ex-wife Carol wed her partner Susan, it brought on some stations—such as Texas’s KJAC-TV and Ohio’s WLIO—to take the episode off the air. NBC braced for an onslaught of complaints… and received a mere two. It seems the cultural revolution had already begun.
9. Bluey – “Dad Baby”
You wouldn’t think to expect anything other than wholesome enjoyment from Bluey, but this episode had Disney+ a bit on edge. “Dad Baby” features Bandit doing a pretend pregnancy and “giving birth” in a playful game with his children. During airing in Australia, the scene was so freaky for the U.S. version that it was yanked from streaming. Imaginary birth must be where some networks have standards drawn.
8. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Earshot”
Buffy knows how to deal with vampires, demons, and the occasional end-of-the-world scenario—but in 1999, an episode about a possible school shooting seemed too close to home. Aired just after Columbine, “Earshot” was pulled and didn’t hit television airwaves until months later. It’s a testament to the fact that timing can make or break the reception of a story.
7. Cow and Chicken – “Buffalo Gals”
Cartoon Network tended to sneak grown-up humor into children’s shows, but this one completely derailed. The “Buffalo Gals” episode featured a pack of leather-clad, carpet-munching motorcycle women—yes, it’s as sleazy as it sounds—who descend on the Cow and Chicken household. The bad lesbian stereotype was so over-the-top that the show was cancelled after just one episode.
6. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia – “America’s Next Top Paddy’s Billboard Model Contest”
Always Sunny’s gang lives off poor taste, but this episode ventured into a domain that streaming services won’t cross. Dee and Mac wear blackface as a parody, but satire did not protect the show from criticism. It’s been removed from platforms—a situation where even deliberate offense cannot be avoided.
5. The Simpsons – “Stark Raving Dad”
This 1991 episode has a guest voice by Michael Jackson (as a character, not himself). It aired for decades without problem, but when the 2019 Leaving Neverland documentary revived accusations against Jackson, this episode was permanently removed from circulation and streaming globally. Occasionally, actual scandals rewrite the history of made-up tales.
4. South Park – “Super Best Friends” & “200”
When South Park targets religion, mayhem typically ensues. “Super Best Friends” went without significant backlash initially—but subsequent episodes “200” and “201” rekindled controversy, prompting death threats against the showrunners. In turn, a number of episodes were pulled completely from reruns and HBO Max’s library.
3. Married… with Children – “I’ll See You in Court”
This raunchy sitcom had its limits, and this episode blew past them. The story follows Al and Peg Bundy discovering they’ve been secretly recorded during a hotel stay—and deciding to sue. The tape plotline was deemed too risqué for FOX, and it sat on the shelf for over a decade before airing on cable.
2. Sesame Street – “Snuffy’s Parents Get a Divorce”
In the early ’90s, Sesame Street attempted to tackle divorce head-on by involving Snuffy’s family. But test screenings showed children leaving theaters with heartbreaking misconceptions—that parental arguments equaled divorce was inevitable, and that divorced parents could become unbonded with their children. The episode never aired, and the subject wasn’t broached again for years.
1. Pokémon – “Dennō Senshi Porygon” (“Electric Soldier Porygon”)
This notorious 1997 episode was shown only once in Japan and created a nationwide health panic. Quick flashing effects induced seizures and other effects in hundreds of children, transporting almost 700 to the hospital. The event sparked worldwide safety overhauls for cartoons, and the episode has been stored away ever since.
From edge-testing satire to good-hearted lessons that go awry, these shows demonstrate that television is not only entertainment but also a reflection of the times. It inspires sometimes progress, sometimes outrage, and sometimes a trip to the hospital.