10 Television Series That Tested the Boundaries of Censorship

How do we define what deserves censorship? The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is tasked with regulating content deemed "indecent," "obscene," or "profane." Broadcast networks rely on censors to ensure compliance, filtering out specific topics, social groups, or language to meet government standards, as outlined by the Museum of Broadcast Communications.

Censorship standards have evolved significantly over the decades. In 1952, Lucille Ball's pregnancy on "I Love Lucy" couldn't be explicitly mentioned; terms like "expectant" or "with child" were used instead. Similarly, in the 1960s, actresses on shows like "I Dream of Jeannie," "Gilligan's Island," and "Gidget" were barred from showing their navels, likely due to perceived links between belly buttons and pregnancy.

Occasionally, censorship is driven more by financial interests than moral considerations. For instance, a 1959 episode of 'Playhouse 90' was compelled to remove references to 'gas chambers' in the post-World War II drama 'Judgment at Nuremberg.' This decision was influenced by the show's sponsor, the American Gas Association.

Every ten years, specific television shows confront censorship, resisting changes that are viewed as overly restrictive or conservative. These programs often become persistent challenges for censors, and they thrive on this defiance. Explore the list below of some of the most contentious series in TV history.

10: 'The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour'

Tom and Dick Smothers, two well-mannered and polished young men, were known for their comedy, musical talents, and their knack for challenging censors. Between 1967 and 1969, they frequently clashed with CBS over the content allowed on their widely-watched variety show. Their liberal political views often shone through their humor. In a 1967 sketch, Tommy Smothers and Elaine May portrayed censors, removing words like 'breast' from a script, which unsurprisingly led to the segment being cut. That same year, Pete Seeger was set to perform 'Waist Deep in the Big Muddy,' but censors deemed it offensive to soldiers and banned it. However, the song was later deemed acceptable, and Seeger performed it the following year.

During their final season, Harry Belafonte was slated to perform 'Don't Stop the Carnival' with footage of violent protests from the Democratic National Convention playing behind him. The segment was not only removed, but a five-minute Republican ad endorsing presidential candidate Richard Nixon was inserted instead. Fed up, CBS ultimately canceled the show, citing a breach of contract due to a delayed episode. However, Tommy and Dick won a lawsuit that cleared their names, ensuring they had the final say in the matter.

9: 'Star Trek'

While the starship Enterprise's mission was 'to boldly go where no man has gone before,' NBC hesitated to push boundaries. The 1960s sci-fi series, which explored space, often highlighted Captain Kirk's romantic escapades as much as alien encounters. However, the 1968 episode 'Plato's Stepchildren' crossed a line. Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols) found themselves under alien control, leading to a forced kiss. The network stepped in, as Uhura was Black, Kirk was white, and an interracial kiss had never been shown on television before.

The cast remained unfazed, but executives were anxious. Gene Roddenberry, the creator of 'Star Trek,' suggested filming two versions of the scene: one with the controversial kiss and another with a hug. This would provide options. Shatner, however, had other plans. During the hug scene, he exaggerated his expressions, ensuring the director couldn't use it. The sabotage went unnoticed until after filming, leaving the director no choice but to use the kiss. Surprisingly, the audience responded positively, proving the censors' fears unfounded.

8: 'All in the Family'

Ah, the good old days. In the 1970s, CBS's 'All in the Family' depicted the life of Archie Bunker, a working-class man from Queens, and his family. Created by Norman Lear, the show was a massive hit, winning four straight Emmys for best comedy during its run [source: Bio]. However, it also became a headache for censors. The series broke societal taboos and explored new television territory, tackling topics like sexuality, impotence, abortion, divorce, and prejudice. It revolutionized TV by using language considered unacceptable in the 1950s and 60s, making words like 'hell' and 'damn' almost routine.

The premiere of 'All in the Family' set its bold tone. Alongside its frank language, racial slurs like 'kike,' 'spade,' and 'spic' frequently came out of Archie's mouth. CBS executives worried about viewer backlash and prepared extra operators to handle expected complaints. However, audiences adored hating Archie, and the show became the highest-rated program on TV [source: Norman Lear]. While Edith, Archie's wife, might have been 'stifled,' the show's creators certainly weren't, pushing boundaries with every episode.

7: 'Saturday Night Live'

"Live, from New York, it's ... " whatever the cast decides to say! This iconic American sketch comedy show debuted on NBC in 1975, and tensions quickly arose between writers and censors. The two groups clashed repeatedly over the years, debating what could be broadcast. By the mid-1980s, however, censors took a firmer stance, refusing to negotiate and simply saying, "No." Each week, four to five proposed sketches were removed from the script. Some segments were even pulled after airing live, as censors demanded edits for reruns.

For instance, a censor proposed cutting a sketch featuring a blind man and a gay man after it aired, deeming it offensive to both communities. Another sketch, formatted as a game show called 'What's My Addiction?,' was also targeted for removal because the audience found humor in what was meant to be a serious topic. Producer Lorne Michaels dismissed both suggestions, leaving the censors to try again another time.

6: 'Dynasty'

To live a life of wealth, beauty, and luxury in Colorado—that was the world of the characters on 'Dynasty.' This prime-time soap opera aired on ABC from 1981 to 1989. However, it faced censorship challenges when the creators intended for one of the main characters, Steven Carrington, to be gay. Initially written as a gay character, Steven's storyline took a turn when his male lover was killed, and he suddenly became heterosexual. He married a woman, divorced her, and later fell for another man, only to see that relationship also end in tragedy. Steven was then depicted as conflicted about his sexuality. However, in the 1991 reunion show, he appeared as a fulfilled and successful individual—with a male partner.

ABC censors likely didn't need to fret over Steven's sexual orientation. For much of its run, 'Dynasty' enjoyed high ratings. In its second season, the show ranked No. 5, climbing to third place the following year. By the end of the 1984-85 season, it had reached the top spot [source: Museum of Broadcast Communications -- Dynasty].

5: 'TV Nation'

If you blinked, you might have missed it, but Academy Award-winner Michael Moore ('Bowling for Columbine') had a show on NBC during the summer of 1994. It later had a short run on Fox. 'TV Nation' allowed Moore to delve into news stories overlooked by mainstream media, while also giving censors plenty of reasons to intervene.

Several segments of 'TV Nation' were removed from broadcast, though they eventually surfaced on video. For example, Moore explored the seemingly trivial yet amusing topic of condom sizes, which come in regular and extra-large but not small. Censors feared it would offend viewers in the American South. Another episode examined the assassinations of abortion doctors, which was cut due to advertiser concerns. Moore also investigated a high school student who earned extra credit for protesting homosexuality at AIDS victims' funerals, but this segment was also rejected. Interestingly, networks in 20 other countries aired these segments without issue.

4: 'Late Show with David Letterman'

Easygoing comedian David Letterman faced a challenging evening on March 31, 1994, when Madonna appeared as a guest on his CBS late-night talk show. While it became one of Letterman's most-watched episodes, it also holds the record for the most-censored talk show in history. Letterman opened with a joke about Madonna's lively love life. She walked onto the stage in a long black dress and combat boots, then proceeded to drop the 'f' word 14 times.

After Madonna left the stage, Letterman quipped that Mother Teresa would be next and joked (likely in jest) that his show had been canceled. Madonna later claimed that everyone on the show was in on the act and encouraged her behavior. She also aimed to expose the FCC's double standards, which permit graphic violence but censor strong language. And perhaps she was also trying to set a world record...

3: The 2003 Golden Globes Awards

You know that feeling when you're so excited you can't help but swear? That's exactly what happened to U2's lead singer Bono at the Golden Globes Awards. Overjoyed after winning an award for the music from 'Gangs of New York,' he exclaimed on camera that the victory was 'really, really, very brilliant,' but he replaced 'very' with the f-word. This moment didn't just push boundaries—it redefined them for censorship standards.

This incident prompted the FCC to create a new rule addressing what they termed 'fleeting expletives.' From that point on, networks risked hefty fines if such language aired. However, a federal court later deemed this regulation unconstitutional, and in 2012, the Supreme Court also ruled against the FCC, stating the rule was too vague. Clearly, the FCC lacks Bono's flair for words.

2: 'Family Guy'

Much like 'All in the Family,' Seth McFarlane's animated series about an American family is famous for testing the limits of language. The Fox show often negotiates with censors, deciding what can stay and what must be cut. Ironically, a 2005 episode focusing on censorship featured the father, Peter, attempting to launch his own network. The episode itself was censored for its language.

However, a 2009 episode addressing abortion was banned from airing altogether, as the network feared losing advertisers. In the episode, Peter's wife Lois becomes a surrogate mother for an infertile couple. Tragedy strikes when the couple dies in a car accident, leaving Lois to decide what to do about the pregnancy. Although the episode wasn't broadcast, it was performed live and unrecorded for members of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, bypassing censorship entirely.

1: 'South Park'

Since its debut in 1997, Comedy Central's longest-running animated series has kept censors on their toes. Creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker are known for pushing boundaries, targeting all races, ethnicities, religions, and political groups with their humor. Sometimes their jokes strike a nerve. In 2006, they aimed to address a Dutch controversy where a newspaper published editorial cartoons depicting the Prophet Muḥammad, an act forbidden in Islam. The network prohibited 'South Park' from showing Muḥammad's image, so they cleverly hid it behind a black box labeled 'Censored.'

In 2010, another controversy involving Islam arose. This time, Stone and Parker took matters into their own hands, covering Muḥammad's image with a black box and bleeping out his name. Despite their efforts, Comedy Central added even more bleeps and blocked the episode from being posted on the 'South Park' website. It seems their attempts to push boundaries are never quite enough...