Top 20 Most Controversial Things on 90s TV

#20: Violence Concerns

“Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” (1993-95)

When “MMPR” first premiered in 1993, it skyrocketed to the top, becoming one of the highest-rated kids' shows in the United States in just three weeks. Despite its popularity, it didn’t take long for controversy to follow. Parents and psychologists raised concerns that the show was too violent for its intended young audience. The backlash was so intense that several stations in different countries yanked it off the air entirely. The show featured frequent martial arts fights, monster battles, and explosions, all stylized and over-the-top. Over the decades, the tone noticeably changed. Some weapons were even censored to tone down the chaos.

#19: Ren & Stimpy’s Gross-Out Humor

“The Ren & Stimpy Show” (1991-96)

This wasn’t your average “children’s” cartoon. Sure, some saw “Ren & Stimpy” as edgy and hilarious, but for others, especially parents, it was seriously disturbing. With violent slapstick, adult innuendos, and body horror that made you squirm, the show constantly tested what animation could get away with. It wasn’t just weird-it was graphic. One episode took things too far as it showed Ren beating up George Liquor with an oar. It even featured cigar-shaped bones and faeces as dog treats. Even for “Ren & Stimpy” standards, it was extreme. Nickelodeon didn’t just pull the episode before it even aired. The creator was eventually fired. Turns out, pushing boundaries does have its limits.

#18: Murphy Brown’s Single Motherhood Debate

“Murphy Brown” (1988-98; 2018)

This hit sitcom from the late 80s starred Candice Bergen as a tough investigative journalist. It was known for tackling real-world issues, all with sharp humor. But in 1992, “Murphy Brown” did more than stir up a controversy. It ignited a full-on national debate. It all started when Murphy chose to have a baby without marrying the father - a bold move for primetime TV back then. The then-Vice President Dan Quayle wasn’t having it. He blasted the show for undermining American family values. Some agreed with him, others didn’t, slamming him for attacking a fictional character. The show fired back by weaving Quayle’s speech into a future episode, turning it into a powerful satire. Who knew a sitcom could ruffle so many political feathers?

#17: Hillary Clinton’s Twofer

Way back in the 90s, during the presidential campaign, Bill Clinton was accused of having a sexual relationship with Gennifer Flowers. It was a major scandal that threatened Clinton’s campaign. To defend her husband, Hillary Clinton made an insensitive remark. Trying to distance herself from the image of a helpless wife, she took a jab at the country music singer Tammy Wynette, saying she wasn’t the type to stand by her man. The comment didn’t land well. Wynette was offended, and many Americans saw it as condescending. Then came her other comments about not staying home and baking cookies, which only added fuel to the fire. No wonder she became one of the most divisive women in America at the time.

#16: Puck

“The Real World” (1992-2019)

MTV’s “The Real World” was one of the first shows to follow real people living together, unscripted, with cameras rolling 24/7. During one of its seasons, Pedro Zamora joined the cast. Gay representation on 90s TV was incredibly rare at the time, and Zamora, an openly gay person with AIDS, shared his story with courage. But not everyone respected that. David “Puck” Rainey constantly clashed with Zamora and laughed at his relationship with his partner. Puck was so antagonistic that the housemates voted to evict him. Still, the conflict struck a nerve, sparking debates about sensitivity towards gay people and HIV awareness. This conflict ultimately helped “TRW” become more than just a reality show - it became a cultural flashpoint.

#15: “One Beer”

“Tiny Toon Adventures” (1990-92)

90s kids probably still remember this clever cartoon that managed to entertain both adults and kids. But like most shows that tried to mix humor with serious messages, “Tiny Toon Adventures” briefly crossed the line. The notorious episode “Elephant Issues” featured one segment about the dangers of drinking. To show just how bad drinking was, the segment had Buster, Plucky, and Hamton drink alcohol, act drunk, and eventually die in a car crash. It was supposed to be a cautionary tale, but it came off too heavy for its young audience. It shocked parents and networks. As a result, it was removed from reruns. Moral lesson: you don’t have to go over the top to pass a message - subtlety is key.

#14: “Buffalo Gals”

“Cow and Chicken” (1995-99)

When it comes to loud, weird, and downright chaotic cartoons, “Cow and Chicken” takes the cake. It follows the misadventures of the bizarre sibling duo and was packed with edgy jokes that often flew over kids’ heads. One episode definitely went too far. In “Buffalo Gals,” a group of biker women barges into the household of Cow and Chicken, chewing their carpets. Yeah… you know what that means. On the surface, it might seem silly. But the dialogue was laced with not-so-subtle sexual innuendos, at the expense of lesbians. After receiving backlash from parents who understood the subtext, Cartoon Network pulled the episode from reruns. Honestly, it had no business being on a kids’ show, but was “Cow and Chicken” really for kids?

#13: “NYPD Blue’s” Pilot

“NYPD Blue” (1993-2005)

Though this police procedural was praised for its gritty realism, it was also one of the most controversial shows of the 90s, especially when it first premiered. With steamy sex, nudity, and heavy swearing, “NYPD Blue” pushed network TV to its limits. It was so bad that at least 30 affiliates refused to air the premiere. Parents and religious groups were outraged even before it debuted. One conservative writer launched a council just to call out its vulgarity. Episodes like “Nude Awakening” were so explicit, ABC got fined, which was eventually overturned. To top it off, the behind-the-scenes drama only added to the show’s controversy. Still, it wouldn’t be out of place to say “NYPD Blue” walked so that other mature shows could run.

#12: “South Park” Pushes Limits

“South Park” (1997-)

Since it premiered in 1997, this animated show has become famous and infamous for its no-holds-barred approach to comedy. It follows four foul-mouthed boys who live in a small Colorado town, where literally anything can happen. One episode can be about aliens, poops, celebrity scandals, and even religious figures. No religion has been spared, and it appears nothing is off-limits. With strong use of profanity, pitch-black humor, and provocative themes, “South Park” has sparked outrage more times than we can count. Boycott campaigns? There have been plenty. The real question is-who hasn’t the show offended? Through all that chaos, “South Park” is still here, unafraid to say what most shows wouldn’t say.

#11: Electric Soldier Porygon

“Pokémon” (1997-)

While “South Park” has offended many with its outrageous humor, “Pokémon” once made headlines for something far more serious. One of the show’s episodes actually sent over 600 young viewers to the hospital. Not many may remember the scene. During a battle sequence, there was an explosion depicted as a rapid flashing sequence of red and blue lights, about 12 Hz, which was incredibly fast. Some viewers suffered blurred vision, dizziness, nausea, and loss of consciousness. The incident was later dubbed the “Pokémon shock,” and the episode was pulled from the air. The show went on a brief hiatus after this, and Japan introduced stricter guidelines for animated content. Yep, it was more than a controversy. It was a health crisis.

#10: “Heroes”

“Beavis and Butt-Head” (1993-97; 2011; 2022-23)

This MTV animated series from creator Mike Judge was known for courting controversy almost from the very beginning, but this second-season episode proved particularly troublesome for Judge and his crew. In “Heroes,” our dimwitted metalhead protagonists waltz into a gun store, easily pick up a couple of rifles, and decide to go skeet shooting. Unfortunately, their target practice ends with the duo accidentally shooting down an airplane that crash-lands in a field not far off. This little stunt naturally resulted in Beavis and Butthead receiving complaints not only from anti-gun activists, but also from concerned parents, and got the episode banned.

#9: WWF During the “Attitude Era” (circa 1996-2002)

Vince McMahon’s World Wrestling Federation - now known as World Wrestling Entertainment -underwent a sharp creative makeover back in the late ‘90s, shocking those who grew up in the more innocent times of cartoonish ‘80s “rasslin’.” WWF during the “Attitude Era,” as it eventually grew to be known, was a playground of realistically bloody violence, adult imagery and bizarre storylines, all of which fans ate up like candy. Parents weren’t as amused and often complained to McMahon about the program’s drastic shift to maturely themed content. Time and a lack of serious competition would eventually soften the WWE’s creative stance, however, with today’s programming coming across as decidedly more “PG” than “extreme.”

#8: “The Puppy Episode”

“Ellen” (1994-98)

Where do we start with this one? Perhaps with the humorously misleading title of “The Puppy Episode?” Or maybe we can discuss how bold it was for comedian Ellen DeGeneres to use her ABC sitcom as a vehicle for her and her character’s coming out party? It wasn’t quite as easy back in 1997 for a situation comedy to have a lesbian leading character, but that’s exactly the trail DeGeneres was blazing with this episode. ABC faced criticism and backlash from both religious groups and advertisers concerning the episode, but the two-part “Puppy” nevertheless aired unedited, and in the process gained DeGeneres a whole new audience of appreciative fans. Of course, she’d become controversial for different reasons years later.

#7: “Home”

“The X-Files” (1993-2002; 2016-18)

The subject of incest is never an easy subject to broach, even on the most serious of dramas, never mind a science fiction juggernaut like Chris Carter’s “The X-Files.” The controversial fan favorite episode “Home” shocked viewers back in ‘96 with its portrayal of the Peacock family and what they buried in the backyard of their property. This plot point alone would be enough to earn the show its “parental discretion” advisory, but “Home” pushed the boundaries that much further by adding in the fact that the Peacocks’ matriarch had been inbreeding for years, disturbing not only Mulder and Scully, but audiences around the world.

#6: “Homer’s Phobia”

“The Simpsons” (1989-)

“The Simpsons” has always been known for its clever bits of social commentary, but this Season 8 episode stands as one of the strongest of the entire series. Noted exploitation filmmaker John Waters voices the Simpson family’s new friend John, who comes across as a threat to the homophobic Homer. It wasn’t too often that we saw the lovably dimwitted Homer offering up some sincere, troubled pathos, but the writers here did a great job at juggling a father’s love for his family balanced against his own, recently discovered prejudices.

#5: “Oz” (1997-2003)

The landscape of violence on cable television has always been one of peaks and valleys, but “Oz” managed to push the creative envelope for what would be displayed on the small screen. This original HBO series was set in a maximum security prison, and displayed, in shocking detail, all of the daily bits of violence and intrigue that go on behind bars. Inmates and guards alike indulged in the carnage, which ranged from sexual assault and murder to scatological humiliation, making “Oz” a program that can still manage to disturb, even today.

#4: “Politically Incorrect” (1993-2002)

There may not have been any rampant sex or violence on “Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher,” but this late-night talk show was never without its fireworks. “Politically Incorrect” thrived on conversation and in-depth discussions with people who possessed diverse and passionate opinions about everything from social culture to politics. As a result, Maher’s show consistently provided a forum for those whose positions didn’t always make for easy listening, ensuring that heated arguments would become the norm. Maher would even land in political hot water himself due to some controversial statements the comedian made on his program shortly after 9/11, resulting in calls for his cancellation.

#3: “Earshot”

“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1997-2003)

This episode of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” falls on our list thanks to its timing, with “Earshot” having the unfortunate distinction of being scheduled to air one week after the Columbine High School Massacre. The episode doesn’t actually deal with gun violence in reference to homicide, instead telling a sad tale of one student’s depression in a clock tower. Still, the fact that “Earshot” contained a scene of a young teen assembling a rifle caused The WB to air a rerun episode instead, preempting “Earshot” until later in the season.

#2: “The Puerto Rican Day”

“Seinfeld” (1989-98)

It may seem difficult to believe that an episode of that “show about nothing” could be banned for content, but that’s exactly what happened to “The Puerto Rican Day” episode of “Seinfeld.” In this episode, an unfortunate series of events leads to Kramer’s accidental burning of the Puerto Rican flag. The resulting heat was not only focused on Cosmo, however, but also on the show itself, with NBC being forced to issue an apology and ban the episode altogether. It wasn’t until 2002 that the episode began airing, unedited, in syndication.

#1: “The Jerry Springer Show” (1991-2018)

C’mon, you know you love it. You’re not alone, either, as it seemed that just about everyone was tuning in to “The Jerry Springer Show” back in the ‘90s for their daily dose of talk show chaos. This former mayor of Cincinnati translated his natural ease in front of the camera into a career as ringmaster for his own circus of allegedly choreographed fistfights, outrageous storylines, and salacious material, the likes of which would make just about anyone blush. “The Jerry Springer Show” quickly became known as the most controversial tabloid talk show around, consistently upping the ante in terms of guests, actors-posing-as-guests and general, all-around lunacy.

What is the most controversial TV show ever? Let us know in the comments section.