1. The Simpsons – “The City of New York vs. Homer Simpson”
This episode was originally pulled after the September 11 attacks because much of it takes place at the World Trade Center. What was once just a goofy Homer adventure became a bit too heavy for audiences still reeling from the real-life tragedy. It aired in 1997 and had scenes with jokes about the Twin Towers that suddenly felt too on-the-nose. For a long time, it was left out of syndication and DVD box sets shares Wikipedia.
Fans noticed its absence and began to wonder if they’d ever see it again. Over the years, it quietly crept back into rotation, but some stations still skip it. While it wasn’t meant to offend, it ended up being a painful reminder for many adds IMDb. Even now, it sparks debate about when it’s “too soon.”
2. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Earshot”
Originally scheduled to air just days after the Columbine tragedy, “Earshot” dealt with school violence in a way that suddenly hit too close to home. In the episode, Buffy becomes telepathic and overhears a student plotting a murder, leading to a tense standoff involving a rifle. It was all fictional, but the timing was unsettling shares MSN.
The episode was eventually aired later that year, once emotions had settled a bit. Fans praised it for tackling tough issues, but the network knew it needed to hit pause first. It’s one of those rare cases where a show unintentionally mirrored real-life events. Had things gone differently, it may never have been shown at all explains CBR.
3. Peppa Pig – “Mister Skinnylegs”
Yes, even the adorable Peppa Pig has a banned episode. “Mister Skinnylegs” was pulled in Australia because it encouraged children not to be afraid of spiders. While that’s a nice message in the UK, it’s not so comforting in a country where spiders can be deadly. The concern was that kids might try to befriend the wrong kind of arachnid.
Australian networks quickly removed it from their rotation. It became a bit of a curiosity among fans, especially parents wondering why it was missing. The episode has since aired elsewhere without issue. But in Australia, it remains mostly unseen for safety reasons.
4. Sesame Street – Episode 847 (Margaret Hamilton as the Wicked Witch)
In 1976, Sesame Street invited The Wizard of Oz‘s Wicked Witch onto the show, played once again by Margaret Hamilton. The goal was to teach kids that witches aren’t real and that scary things on screen aren’t necessarily scary in real life. Unfortunately, the plan backfired. Children were terrified, and parents wrote in droves to complain.
PBS pulled the episode after just one airing. For years, it became legendary among Sesame Street fans, almost like a myth. The footage was preserved but rarely seen—until it resurfaced online thanks to archival digs. Even now, it’s hard to find in official channels.
5. Family Guy – “Partial Terms of Endearment”
This controversial Family Guy episode tackled abortion, which was enough to get it banned in the U.S. Fox refused to air it, worried it would alienate viewers and sponsors alike. It’s one of the few episodes to be fully produced but not broadcast. Instead, it was only released on DVD and in some international markets.
Seth MacFarlane stood by the episode, insisting it handled the subject with care—even through the show’s usual shock humor. Fans who’ve seen it say it’s one of the more thoughtful episodes of the series. But to this day, it’s never aired on American television. That alone gives it a sort of underground status.
6. The X-Files – “Home”
“Home” aired once in 1996 and was immediately banned from re-airing for years. The episode is infamous for its graphic and disturbing content, including incest, murder, and a buried-alive scene. Even by X-Files standards, it was intense. Viewers were shaken, and Fox decided it had crossed the line.
Despite the backlash, many fans consider it one of the best horror-themed episodes of the series. It was eventually allowed back on air, but only after midnight and with heavy warnings. For a while, it was the stuff of legend—something you could only talk about if you saw it the first time. It’s unsettling, but unforgettable.
7. The Boondocks – “The Story of Jimmy Rebel”
This episode was banned due to its use of overtly racist language and themes. It was intended as satire, targeting white supremacy through the fictional character Jimmy Rebel, based on a real-life racist musician. But even Adult Swim thought it was too much. They pulled it before it ever aired in the U.S.
Some fans managed to find it online or in international broadcasts. Others were left wondering what all the fuss was about. Even though The Boondocks often pushed boundaries, this one episode was deemed too volatile. It remains a rare and controversial part of the show’s history.
8. Married… with Children – “I’ll See You in Court”
This episode was dubbed “the lost episode” because it didn’t air in the U.S. until years after the series ended. It involved a storyline where Al and Peg Bundy sue a motel for secretly taping them during intimacy. The content, while tame by today’s standards, was considered too risqué in 1989.
Fox decided it wasn’t worth the complaints and pulled it entirely. It wasn’t until the show hit syndication and DVDs that viewers got a look at what they’d missed. Fans were curious and, for the most part, found it mild compared to later sitcom fare. But back then, it was just too taboo.
9. Dexter’s Laboratory – “Rude Removal”
This lost Dexter’s Laboratory episode featured Dexter and Dee Dee accidentally creating rude versions of themselves who curse non-stop. The actual swear words were bleeped, but it was still a lot for a kids’ show. Cartoon Network created the episode as a joke, and it was never intended to be aired regularly.
Over time, fans begged to see it, and it developed a kind of cult status. It wasn’t until years later that Adult Swim finally released it online. Even then, it came with disclaimers. For something so short and silly, it left quite the impression.
10. Power Rangers Zeo – “Scent of a Weasel”
This episode was banned because it unintentionally mirrored real-life terrorism. A scene included an explosion at a fictional power plant that looked far too realistic. After the Oklahoma City bombing, producers worried it would upset viewers and pulled the episode from rotation.
It’s one of the few Power Rangers episodes that hasn’t been released on home video or streaming platforms. Fans who saw it during the original run often mention it with an eerie tone. It wasn’t the usual goofy monster-of-the-week. Instead, it left people with a strange, uneasy feeling.
11. Doctor Who – “The Nightmare Fair”
This episode was fully written and cast but never filmed. It was meant to launch the show’s 23rd season, but the BBC pulled the plug due to budget issues and concerns over violence. For years, fans knew of its existence but had no way to see it. It became a “what could’ve been” moment in Doctor Who lore.
Eventually, the script was adapted into a novel and later an audio drama. Still, the original TV version remains locked away in the realm of lost potential. It’s not banned because of content, but because it simply wasn’t allowed to exist. And in a way, that makes it even more mysterious.
12. Boy Meets World – “Prom-ises, Prom-ises”
This prom-themed episode dealt with Cory and Topanga deciding whether or not to have sex. For a show aimed at teens and tweens, it was considered a bit too grown-up. ABC pulled the episode from its rerun lineup, especially in daytime slots.
Despite the controversy, many praised the episode for handling the topic responsibly. It wasn’t explicit, just honest. Over time, it returned to some platforms, but it’s still not one of the most easily accessible. For years, it felt like an episode that the network hoped you’d forget.
13. South Park – “201”
This follow-up to the already controversial episode “200” was banned due to threats from extremist groups over the depiction of the Prophet Muhammad. Comedy Central censored the entire episode, bleeping dialogue and blocking visuals. Even the creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, weren’t happy with how it was handled.
“201” never re-aired, wasn’t available on streaming, and didn’t appear on DVD box sets. Fans had to rely on leaks to even know what was in it. It remains one of the most heavily censored episodes in TV history. And for many, it’s a chilling reminder of the real-world risks creators sometimes face.