3. Diffrent Strokes Dudley Is Almost Molested
Diffrent Strokes maybe isnt the most recognisable show to us Brits, but when a show starts an episode with a message explaining that theyre about to feature ideas of paedophilia, it kind of has to make it onto a list of serious sitcom moments. In fact Diffrent Strokes had a habit of featuring very special episodes in which serious topics were dealt with. From hitchhiking and bulimia to epilepsy and kidnapping, it seems nothing was off limits to be used in a Diffrent Strokes episode. Of course, it manages to still dish out comedy moments in the middle of teaching you a lesson, but in The Bicycle Man, child main characters Arnold and Dudley befriend Mr. Horton, a bicycle shop owner. Mr Horton then proceeds to show the boys x-rated cartoons and magazines, gives them wine to drink and takes photographs of the boys with their shirts off. Just writing this makes me uncomfortable and you can tell the studio audience dont really want to laugh at the jokes packed into the script. Watch the scenes if you want, but even if you dont, just know no other sitcom ever quite got as dark as this.