Some Episodes Practically Disappeared
Millions of people watched these TV episodes when they first aired. Then many of them seemingly vanished because of controversy, tragedy, or changing attitudes. Some have returned, but others remain remarkably difficult to find. These are some of the most famous episodes that disappeared after making their television debut.
Screenshot from Seinfeld, NBC (1998), modified
The Twilight Zone — "The Encounter"
“The Encounter” aired in 1964 with George Takei and Neville Brand playing two men confronting bitter memories of World War II. Objections to the episode’s portrayal of Japanese Americans led CBS to withhold it from syndication. It remained largely unavailable until Syfy aired it during a 2016 Twilight Zone marathon.
Screenshot from The Twilight Zone, CBS (1959–1964)
Sesame Street — The Wicked Witch Episode
Margaret Hamilton reprised her Wizard of Oz role in a 1976 episode of Sesame Street. Although the story was intended to help children understand fear, many parents reported that the Wicked Witch had terrified young viewers. The episode was removed from rotation and did not officially air on television again.
The X-Files — "Home"
“Home” introduced The X-Files viewers to the deeply disturbing Peacock family in 1996. Its violence and horrifying subject matter made it the first episode of the series to receive a viewer-discretion warning. Fox refused to repeat it, although the episode later returned through cable broadcasts, home video, and streaming.
Screenshot from The X-Files, Fox Broadcasting Company (1993–2018)
Seinfeld — "The Puerto Rican Day"
“The Puerto Rican Day” aired shortly before the Seinfeld finale in 1998. Viewers saw Kramer accidentally burn a Puerto Rican flag and then stomp on it while attempting to extinguish the flames. NBC apologized and removed the episode from its immediate rerun and syndication plans.
Screenshot from Seinfeld, NBC (1989–1998)
The Simpsons — "Stark Raving Dad"
“Stark Raving Dad” featured Michael Jackson as the uncredited voice of Leon Kompowsky, a psychiatric patient who believed he was Jackson. The episode remained popular after its 1991 premiere, particularly because of the birthday song Leon helped Bart write for Lisa. Simpsons producers removed it from circulation in 2019 following the release of the documentary Leaving Neverland.
Screenshot from The Simpsons, Fox Broadcasting Company (1989-Present)
South Park — "Super Best Friends," "200," And "201"
“Super Best Friends,” “200,” and “201” featured depictions or discussions of the Prophet Muhammad. Comedy Central heavily censored “201” after threats were directed toward the show’s creators. The three episodes were subsequently excluded from official streaming libraries and most rerun packages.
Screenshot from South Park, Comedy Central (1997–present)
30 Rock — "Believe In The Stars"
“Believe in the Stars” featured Jenna and Tracy arguing about whether white women or Black men faced greater disadvantages. Jenna attempted to prove her position by appearing in dark makeup and impersonating a Black man. Tina Fey later asked that the episode be removed from streaming, digital sales, and television syndication.
Screenshot from 30 Rock, NBCUniversal (2006-2013)
30 Rock — The Other Removed Episodes
“Christmas Attack Zone” included another joke involving Jenna wearing race-changing makeup. The East Coast version of “Live Show” and “Live from Studio 6H” also contained material that Fey and executive producer Robert Carlock reconsidered. NBCUniversal agreed to remove all four affected installments in 2020.
NBCUniversal Television Distribution, 30 Rock (2006–2013)
Community — "Advanced Dungeons & Dragons"
“Advanced Dungeons & Dragons” followed the Greendale study group as it organized a role-playing game to help a bullied student. Ben Chang appeared in extremely dark makeup while portraying a fantasy character called a dark elf. Netflix and Hulu removed the episode in 2020, although it has since returned to certain streaming services.
Screenshot from Community, NBC (2009–2015)
The Golden Girls — "Mixed Blessings"
“Mixed Blessings” addressed an interracial engagement involving Dorothy’s son and an older Black woman. During one scene, Rose and Blanche wore cosmetic mud masks when the bride’s family unexpectedly entered the room. Hulu removed the episode in 2020, but it was later quietly restored to the service.
Screenshot from The Golden Girls, NBC (1985-1992)
It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia — The Removed Episodes
Several episodes of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia disappeared from streaming libraries in 2020. The missing installments included homemade Lethal Weapon parodies in which Mac used dark makeup to impersonate a character played by Danny Glover. Other episodes were removed because they featured Dee using offensive racial impersonations.
Screenshot from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, FX/FXX (2005–present)
Pokémon — "Electric Soldier Porygon"
“Electric Soldier Porygon” aired in Japan on December 16, 1997. A sequence of rapidly flashing red and blue images caused hundreds of children to experience seizures, nausea, headaches, and other symptoms. The episode was immediately withdrawn and has never received another official broadcast.
Screenshot from Pokémon, TV Tokyo (1997–present)
Scrubs — The Removed Episodes
Scrubs creator Bill Lawrence and ABC Studios requested the removal of three episodes containing blackface scenes. “My Friend the Doctor,” “My Jiggly Ball,” and “My Chopped Liver” were subsequently taken off Hulu. Lawrence later discussed restoring edited versions rather than permanently withholding the complete episodes.
Screenshot from Scrubs, ABC (2001-2010)
Buffy The Vampire Slayer — "Earshot"
“Earshot” was scheduled to air in April 1999, shortly after Columbine. Its story initially appeared to involve a student planning an attack at Sunnydale High, prompting The WB to postpone it. The episode had not yet aired in the United States, making it a rare case that was withdrawn from the schedule rather than from reruns.
Screenshot from Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The WB (1997–2003)
Workaholics — "To Friend A Predator"
“To Friend a Predator” aired during the first season of Workaholics in 2011. Chris D’Elia played a man who used the internet to attempt to meet teenage boys. Comedy Central and streaming services removed the episode after D’Elia faced allegations involving inappropriate communications with underage girls, which he denied.
Screenshot from Workaholics, Comedy Central (2011–2017)
Fawlty Towers — "The Germans"
“The Germans” became one of the most famous installments of Fawlty Towers after its original 1975 broadcast. UKTV removed the episode from its streaming service in 2020 because it included racial slurs spoken by the Major. It returned several days later with a warning about offensive content and outdated language.
Screenshot from Fawlty Towers, BBC (1975–1979)
SpongeBob SquarePants — "Mid-Life Crustacean"
“Mid-Life Crustacean” followed Mr. Krabs as he joined SpongeBob and Patrick for a night of youthful activities. Their adventures included breaking into a woman’s home to steal her underwear, only to discover that the house belonged to Mr. Krabs’s mother. Nickelodeon removed the 2003 episode after a standards review concluded that parts of it were inappropriate for children.
Screenshot from SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon (1999–present)
Married...With Children — "I'll See You In Court"
“I’ll See You in Court” involved Al and Peggy discovering that a motel had secretly recorded its guests. Fox considered the material too explicit and withheld the episode from the show’s original American run. It aired in other markets before finally receiving an official United States broadcast on FX in 2002.
Hannibal — "Oeuf"
“Oeuf” followed an abducted group of children who were manipulated into attacking their own families. Creator Bryan Fuller asked NBC to pull the episode from its American broadcast schedule because of its storyline involving children, guns, and family violence. An abbreviated version appeared online, while the complete episode was released internationally and on home video.
Screenshot from Hannibal, NBC (2013–2015)
America's Next Top Model — The Race-Swap Photo Shoot
A 2005 episode of America’s Next Top Model assigned contestants different ethnic identities for a fashion shoot. Makeup and styling were used to dramatically change the models’ skin tones and appearances. The episode remained available for years before being removed from Hulu’s streaming lineup.
Screenshot from America's Next Top Model, The CW (2003–2018)
Tiny Toon Adventures — "Elephant Issues"
The Tiny Toon Adventures episode “Elephant Issues” contained a segment called “One Beer.” Buster, Plucky, and Hamton drank alcohol, stole a police car, and apparently died in a crash before revealing that the story had been staged as a warning. Despite its educational intention, the episode was pulled from regular reruns for many years.
Screenshot from Tiny Toon Adventures, Fox Kids (1990–1992)
Gargoyles — "Deadly Force"
The Gargoyles episode “Deadly Force” showed Broadway accidentally shooting detective Elisa Maza after mishandling her gun. Disney temporarily removed the episode from rotation because of the intensity of the shooting and its aftermath. An edited version later entered circulation, while newer releases have made the original version easier to find.
Screenshot from Gargoyles, ABC (1994–1997)
How TV Episodes Disappear
Before home video and streaming, networks and syndicators could effectively erase an episode simply by refusing to air it again. Today, streaming services can remove, edit, restore, or add content warnings to episodes across multiple countries almost instantly. That shift has made television archives easier to access, but also far more changeable than many viewers realize.
You May Have Seen Television History
Most viewers had no idea these episodes would become controversial or difficult to find after their original broadcasts. Some disappeared because they caused immediate concern, while others were reassessed years or even decades later. If you caught one the first time it aired, you may have seen a version that later generations could no longer easily watch.
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