What’s the old saying about any news being good news as long as your name is spelled correctly? Well, it’s true that controversy garners attention. Sometimes, that attention leads to backlash, while other times it’s just a sign of the times.What is considered a controversial piece of media these days versus what was controversial when it aired may differ, as could the opinions of the viewers consuming the content themselves. It’s also possible that the public outcry signals a cultural shift, such asWill & Grace’s groundbreaking episode “Acting Out," which drew hate for being the first time two gay male characters kissed on primetime television.
Regardless of how you define it,televisionpushes the envelope both positively and negatively, so here are 10 episodes from hitcomedytelevision shows that were either controversial or groundbreaking when they first aired, or are considered controversial and offensive now when looking back on them through a modern lens.
10’South Park' (1997-Present)
South Parkis no stranger to controversy. The satirical animated series from co-creatorsMatt StoneandTrey Parkerhas always leaned intoshock factorand offensive humor wrapped in commentary. Be it poignant or potty humor, the attempt is always there. Beginning in 1997, the series has moved across various networks and platforms, yet it continues to focus its storylines around the lives of four friends – Stan, Kyle, Eric Cartman, and Kenny – living a surreal boyhood in the fictional small town of South Park, Colorado. In Season 14,South Parkreleased the episode “200,” which garnered a large viewership, an Emmy Award nomination, and is considered the most egregious episode to date for featuring a depiction of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, among others.
South Park
9’Friends' (1994-2004)
“The One with the Lesbian Wedding”
ManyFriendsepisodes don’t hold up due to its often misogynistic humor, yet the critically acclaimed and highly beloved series continues to find new audiences and be a comfort show to many. A cultural phenomenon, the sitcom about a group of twenty-somethings living in Manhattan ran for 10 seasons, earning the cast millions of dollars, fame, and awards, makingJennifer Aniston,Courteney Cox,Lisa Kudrow,Matt LeBlanc,David Schwimmer, and the lateMatthew Perryhousehold names. And whilemanystorylines are offensively outdated – Chandler’s Dad and Fat Monica are just a few examples – two episodes had actually been banned in the past, including “The One with the Free Porn” in the UK, and “The One with the Lesbian Wedding." The UK took issue with all of the porn references in the episode, as well as the storyline about Phoebe being pregnant with her brother’s triplets, but it was the episode that highlighted Ross’s ex-wife getting married to her love that sparked outrage in the United States.
8’All In The Family' (1971-1979)
“Edith’s 50th Birthday”
All in the Familywas a groundbreaking series at the time of airing, as it was one of the first live-action comedies about a working-class family to feature storylines about racism, the Vietnam War, and menopause. Centering on the Bunker family, led by bigot Archie Bunker (Carroll O’Connor) and his sweet, naive wife, Edith (Jean Stapleton),All in the Familywas an American take on a British series, brought over by sitcom legendNorman Lear. During its eighth season, the sitcom took a turn with the two-part “Edith’s 50th Birthday,” depicting a man posing as a police officer who attempts to rape the family matriarch while her family prepares for her surprise birthday party next door.
All In The Family
7'30 Rock' (2006-2013)
“Live Show”
Named for the building in which the series takes place,30 Rockwas birthed by the hilariously brilliant mind ofTina Fey, based on her experiences atSaturday Night Live. The comedy starred Fey as the head TV writer for a fictional sketch comedy show and surrounded her with a fantastic cast led byTracy MorganandJane Krakowski. The series was celebrated for its outrageous plotlines and clever dialogue, but it occasionally crossed the line. A few episodes of the series used blackface, including one, “Live Show," with frequent guest starJon Hamm.The offending episodes have been removed from circulation at Tina Fey’s request, as she herself has expressed regret over the harm they have caused.
6’Murphy Brown' (1988-1998)
“You Say Potatoe, I Say Potato”
Often called her generation’sMary Tyler Moore,Candice Bergenstarred as the titularMurphy Brownin the groundbreaking series about a single woman over 40 who returned to her career at a fictional news magazine after a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction. Created byDiane English,Murphy Brownset a solid foundational premise to launch the series, with a leading character who shattered many glass ceilings throughout her career. It was no surprise when the series drew harsh criticism in its decision to follow Brown’s story to become a single mother, but the storyline was so controversial at the time that United States Vice PresidentDan Quayleweighed in with his opinion. The legacy of the series had stood strong, even inspiring a short-lived reboot of the series in 2018.
Murphy Brown
5’Seinfeld’ (1989-1998)
“The Puerto Rican Day”
Known as the show about nothing,Seinfelddefinitely found itself in the middle of something with this episode. Created byJerry SeinfeldandLarry David(Curb Your Enthusiasm), Seinfeld followed a fictional version of the comedian and his best friends, played byJulia Louis-Dreyfus, Jason Alexander,andMichael Richards, as they mostly complained about the minutiae of daily life. Many of the relationship commentaries noted in the series are still often dissected to this day, and the episode that garnered the largest audience (aside from the series finale) was “The Puerto Rican Day,” which saw Kramer (Richards) accidentally burn and stamp on the Puerto Rican flag. The actor’s personal antics in real life might pose questions about the accidental nature of this act, and the episode was pulled from syndication. That said, it seems viewers have been able to watch the entirety of it on Netflix.
4’Family Guy' (1999-Present)
“Partial Terms of Endearment”
One of many sitcoms inspired by the legacy ofAll in the Family,Family Guytook theSouth Parkapproach to animated comedy, where no topic is off limits. Like theSouth Parkboys, creatorSeth MacFarlanehas been vilified for many episodes of his hit series centered on the Griffin family in the fictional town of Quahog, Rhode Island. In an episode that didn’t even get to air on FOX, the original home of the series, “Partial Terms of Endearment” explored topics of surrogacy, in vitro fertilization, and abortion. The episode still hasn’t aired on FOX, unlike the firstFamily Guyepisode to be banned by the network, “When You Wish Upon a Weinstein,” which eventually screened.
Family Guy
3’Ellen' (1994-1998)
“The Puppy Episode”
Just a year afterFriendscelebrated Carol and Susan’s on-screen wedding in 1996,Ellenbroke groundand caused an uproar as comedianEllen DeGenerescame out publicly as a lesbian both as her titular character and in real life. The sitcom was a commercial hit before the controversial episode, earning Emmy Award nominations every season – including annual nominations in the best lead actress category for DeGeneres herself – but unfortunately, due to threats from religious groups and advertisers, the network failed the creative team and ultimately canceled the series just one season after the enormous publicity generated, derailing a few promising careers in the process.
2’Saved By The Bell' (1989-1993)
“Running Zack”
Another hit comedy of the late ’80s and early ’90s that didn’t age well is the originalSaved by the Bellseries, which starredMark-Paul Gosselaar,Mario Lopez, Tiffani-Amber Thiessen,Elizabeth Berkley,Lark Voorhies, and the lateDustin Diamond. Considered one of the best school shows, the series beautifully balanced some more serious topics with angst and high school dramatics, yet it was undoubtedly a product of its time. In the episode “Running Zack,” slacker teen Zack Morris (Gosselaar) discovers he has Indigenous roots, leading to a cringeworthy and racially insensitive farce, which the actor himself has publicly admitted to regret. On the bright side, the series got ashort-lived rebootto course-correct a lot of the outdated humor.
Saved By the Bell
1’Maude' (1972-1978)
“Maude’s Dilemma”
A spin-off fromAll in the Familyand starring a pre-Golden GirlsBea Arthurin the titular role,Maudefeatured topical sitcom storylines created by producers Norman Lear andBud Yorkinas it followed Edith Bunker’s cousin, a middle-aged, outspoken, and liberal woman living in Tuckahoe, New York, with her fourth husband. While the series didn’t shy away from progressive plots, advocating for human rights and equality, “Maude’s Dilemma” sparked outrage with a storyline about abortion.
