8 TV Episodes That Were Banned For Insane Reasons
6. Seinfeld – The Puerto Rican Day
The Episode: Despite being regarded as one of the greatest sitcoms ever made, the ending of the show is considered somewhat controversial, insomuch as many feel it failed to live up to the promise of the earlier seasons. It's somewhat unsurprising, then, that the series' banned episode would take place in this final season, specifically the twentieth episode of the ninth season titled The Puerto Rican Day.
In the episode, the gang gets stuck in traffic during the titular Puerto Rican Day parade, and various antics ensue. The episode is notable for its return to “plot about nothing” philosophy, which is largely what the show is famous for. At one point during the narrative Kramer drops a sparkler on a Puerto Rican flag and inadvertently sets it ablaze, stomping on it in an attempt to put it out. In typical Seinfeld fashion, this misunderstanding of the situation leads to a hilarious confrontation. The joke, of course, is the disconnect between Kramer's intention and what is witnessed by two Puerto Ricans.
Why It Was Banned: The National Puerto Rican Coalition, however, didn't see the joke. They thought Kramer's stomping on the flag was offensive, describing it as an “unconscionable insult”. This lead NBC to actually apologise for the episode. Not only was it banned in Puerto Rico, it was also pulled from syndication across America.