In the late 80s, Married With Children was the king of boundary-pushing comedy. But one episode, “I’ll See You in Court,” pushed things too far and ended up being banned for years. The plot saw Al and Peg Bundy trying to rekindle their romance at a budget motel, only to discover they had been filmed without their knowledge by a hidden camera. What followed was a lawsuit and a barrage of jokes that were considered wildly inappropriate for 1989 television.
The fallout was swift and severe. Advocacy groups and moral watchdogs erupted in protest, claiming the episode’s content was unsuitable for the early evening time slot when families were watching. The controversy attracted the attention of activists like Terry Rakolta, who had already been criticizing the show’s crude humor. Their organized campaigns made national news, putting immense pressure on the Fox network. Fearing a loss of advertisers and a damaged reputation, Fox made the unprecedented decision to shelve the episode indefinitely before it could ever air in the United States.
Ironically, the ban created a legendary status for the missing episode. For over a decade, it became a piece of forbidden television history, discussed by fans and traded on bootleg tapes. The scandal ultimately boosted the show’s popularity, cementing its reputation as a rebel sitcom and helping it run for 11 successful seasons. The episode finally saw the light of day in America in 2002 when the FX network aired it as part of a late-night package. Watching it today, the content that caused such a firestorm seems surprisingly mild, a fascinating reminder of how much television standards and cultural norms have evolved over time.
