Married… With Children has been regarded as one of the most audacious and irreverent sitcoms on television for many years. With its witty humor and unvarnished portrayal of family life, the 1987–1997 series broke boundaries. But for years, fans have been curious about one specific episode, which they have always referred to as “the banned episode.” The fact that it may now be viewed again has rekindled interest in its legacy.
Concerns over mature themes led to the 1989 cancellation of the aforementioned episode, “I’ll See You in Court.” It focused on the Bundy and Rhoades spouses who were caught on camera after checking into a hotel for some alone time. Even by the show’s edge standards at the time, its provocative comedy was considered too risqué for prime-time television.
The program became somewhat of an underground legend among devoted fans for years, appearing only on rare fan recordings and in sporadic overseas broadcasts. Fans were ecstatic to see it formally restored to the series when it was eventually published on DVD years later.
The episode now acts as an intriguing reminder of how much television has changed and how Married… With Children influenced that change. It now serves as a funny picture of 1980s pop culture and a tribute to the show’s brazen comic style, far from being scandalous by today’s standards.
