Top 30 Darkest Sitcom Moments Ever

[@Thepopcornator]

It’s not exactly a sitcom like these, but… Sesame Street dealing with the death of Mr. Hooper. Gets me, even as an adult.

[@grahamdamberger7130]

I'll add Mr Rogers' Neighborhood. Specifically his episode about violence following the assassination of John Lennon, where at the start he asked children to watch with an adult (not necessarily a parent, but an adult relative or another grown-up watching over them). He hardly showed emotions like anger in front of the camera, but viewers could see traces of it beneath the surface while he spoke to them in that episode.

[@Josette93]

I still can't watch it. It breaks my heart.

[@JessicaMitchell-be6ib]

@@Thepopcornator I agree with you

[@billyjudd3326]

This was shot after Will Lee's death, And the actors were still recovering from his passing.

[@trinaq]

"How come he don't want me, man?" That line breaks my heart, Will Smith's real life dad was always there for him, but he based it off of some of his pal's deadbeat fathers.

[@kgfstgc]

That's not true, Will Smith based the scene off his experience. He was raised in a single parent home.

[@patrickmorgan3840]

Why tf do I see your account commenting everywhere. What mind games is this

[@Pinkranger87]

@@kgfstgcWill’s real life parents were divorced but his dad was there for him

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

I wouldn't want Will Smith for a son.

[@sunayocarissime5309]

Yeah that part in Fresh Prince always turns me into a balling mess. All Will wanted was for his father to treat him like a son.😢😭😭😭

[@TightyWhitieTrash]

the *Rosanne* episode when *Jackie* is experiencing *DV* by *Fisher* was good. *Dan* silently grabbing his coat means no1 messes w/ his family 👏🏻

[@lisagibson2975]

I remember that. You knew what Dan was going to do, either beat him up badly or kill him but when Dan started out the door, everyone clapped.

[@TightyWhitieTrash]

@@lisagibson2975it almost gave me the chills when I first saw it tbh

[@AdultThirdCultureKid1971]

I've seen that episode.

[@murph7141]

❤❤❤

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

When an actor passes away and they do an episode where that actor’s character dies, you can practically guarantee that the co-star’s tears are real

[@MarvNARK]

Been smarter to replace them

[@10293]

⁠@@MarvNARKNot really, no. In most cases, people don’t respond to the recasting the same way as the OG actor and the show suffers so no, really not smarter in the majority of cases 👎

[@ProwlingTiger1]

​@@MarvNARK When it comes to TV shows - Its often done as a mark respect to the actor/actress who has sadly died and their craft, aka _(the time they spent and all work they did in bringing that character to life)_ to then retire that character and not recast them with someone else. Its easier to show that mark of respect in TV shows even when they know it could well mean end of the show in question, plus its not so simple to just recast a character with someone else, audiences do not easily accept such changes, some actors/actress play their characters with such unique skill and talent that nobody else could ever really replace them and do what they did with that character, some truly make something their own to point where audiences are never going to accept anybody else in that role and most wouldn't want to dare try and do it, far easier then to show respect by simply retiring the character. In movies however, that's not so easy to do, paying respects using that method can result in the movie never getting completed and this never seen by audiences, meaning a lot of time and resources down the drain, so _(depending on how much of it has already been recorded)_ they will often use CGI, other actors/actresses etc to get the movie completed as then its seen a mark of respect to the actor/actress for audiences to see their final work on screen. Death is often a very tragic thing for anyone involved and connected to the deceased and so very often they will to be supportive and not want to show any disrespect or do anything to disdain an actor's/actress's legacy and memory and so depending on the circumstances, - will choose a suitable and practical way to show a final honor and respect them.

[@sralyn]

Where was Dolph Sweet's death in GIMME A BREAK?

[@redacted2275]

Not every time... the one I remember was the cast of "8 Simple Rules" mourning about John Ritter's passing. That was gut wrenching, everybody loved Ritter.

[@CandiceVidito32]

Fresh Prince. Both the episodes where Will gets shot & Carlton gets a gun & the episode where Carlton accidentally overdoses on pills.

[@justinwright7469]

Or where Wills father dips out on him and he breaks down to Uncle Phill

[@ehicks13]

@@justinwright7469till this day 😢

[@carastone3473]

@@justinwright7469that’s the episode I was thinking of.

[@JoelJr1995YYZ]

@@justinwright7469 HOW COME HE DONT WANT ME MAN!

[@Reaperguy67]

I remember that show. It's so good

[@ScottishWoman24]

Scrubs: the one where Dr. Cox loses his brother-in-law, played by Brendan Fraizer, to leukemia unexpectedly. That was a powerful episode too.

[@jennofthewest0916]

That's what I thought they were going to reference here

[@munkustrap2]

​@@jennofthewest0916 Me too

[@DreamBelief]

*Brendan Fraser :)

[@jacobgreen6317]

That episode was so hard to watch. When cox realizes where he is at the funeral.

[@tytyhull]

Where do you think we are? Gets me every time, EVERY TIME!

[@sonjiatraffie3208]

The episode of golden girls where Phil dies. The way Sophia cries my baby is gone wrecks me every time. My daughter died and the way that Estelle Getty portrayed that hurt and grief in the sentence is so real it hurt my heart.

[@atworkstation]

@@sonjiatraffie3208 Hugs

[@sammylane21]

Admit it, when we saw Dan Connor over heard what happened to Jackie we loved him more for hitting Fisher.

[@Jeff98177]

There were several on Punky Brewster - the one where her friend (a pre-Full House Candace Cameron) is kidnapped by her dad, another episode dealt with the Challenger explosion, and one had her friend Cheri getting locked inside an old refrigerator and nearly suffocating.

[@danicao5010]

Also the one where Brandon was almost put to sleep after biting a new neighbor. We come to find out, the woman had been beating on her daughter and Brandon was trying to protect the young girl

[@mattmc5069]

Not a sitcom but Luke Perry's death gets me in the Riverdale episode. Especially seeing Shannon Doherty in it. Brenda and Dylan are together now and man that just brings tears to my eyes. They where THE tv teen couple back in the day

[@JupitersAscension]

It should also be pointed out that in the Big Bang Theory, 10:50 the actress who played Howard's mom actually died and the show did not want to re cast and that episode was a trubute to her.

[@timmahnz4327]

Yeah, that's a big oversight here, totally agree.

[@HarukoHoshiko]

I thought it was weird they commented on all the other deaths in shows caused by the real actors deaths, but that one was brushed off. ~

[@diva6148]

The Simpsons tributed Nancy Cartwright too, if I remember correctly.

[@Vampirecronicler]

​@@diva6148 Nancy Cartwright is still alive. I think you're thinking of Marcia Wallace, who played Mrs. Karbappel

[@alma_42]

I did not know that, so lovely! Apparently, there was another tribute - "As a tribute to her, the producers added a small photo of her to the audience-facing side of the refrigerator in Leonard and Sheldon's apartment "so that she would always remain with them.""

[@donnahaynes138]

I thought the darkest sitcom moment in The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air was the episode where Will and Carlton were held at gunpoint at an ATM, Will takes the bullet meant for Carlton and is hospitalized, their attacker never gets caught and Carlton buys a gun. That episode should've been an honorable mention at least.

[@KanjiG3]

It was mentioned in Ms.Mojo

[@Slimerson93]

Mannn bro my lil ass was shocked as a kid

[@CreepyGnocchi]

Didnt they get racially profiled too by a cop and Carlton didnt believe racial discrimination was real and thought Will was over reacting and then he becomes a gambling addict in the same Episode at alme sort of diner? Maybe its two seperate episode for some transportation issue theyre stuck there and get hustled.

[@Slimerson93]

@@CreepyGnocchi two separate episodes.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Seeing Cree's Freddie being almost assaulted in A Different World's 'No Means No" also Tisha Campbell's character tearfully admitting she has AIDS in a later episode.

[@JoyceTaylor-g3m]

And the episode where Charmaine and (I forget his name) were darn near assaulted by racists. So many great episodes dealing with social issues.

[@doctorawesomeness6922]

That Growing Pains episode with Matthew Perry is even harder to watch now.

[@TheAeroAvatar]

That's an understatement. I still cannot accept that he's really gone. Friends is absolutely timeless, and the main six still had so much left to give. They'll never feel complete again without him.

[@Dr.SamLoomis]

Not if your an alpha

[@TheAeroAvatar]

@@Dr.SamLoomis What's that even mean?

[@Dr.SamLoomis]

@@TheAeroAvatar If you have to ask, then you don't have alpha energy

[@TheAeroAvatar]

@dr.loomis4221 As if that means a damn

[@GoddessLadyRei]

In the MASH episode at first he recalled the woman having a chicken that wouldn't be quiet. After the final breakthrough he came to terms that it was her child she killed instead of a chicken.

[@savagegardenrox]

John Ritter collapsed on set. His TV family saw him become extremely ill immediately before he died in the hospital. Their very real trauma showed in that episode. Edit: accidentally wrote Jason, rather than John

[@TheAustinAnderson-1995]

you mean John Ritter?

[@savagegardenrox]

@TheAustinAnderson-1995 indeed. I just love his son's work, too.

[@Indeeditsjoseph]

I’m 18 but I grew up on and love Three’s Company, so I always feel so sad hearing that he abused alcohol and that it killed him. Especially when he gets drunk in the show, it just makes me feel sad.

[@Supasmartguy]

The ending of dinosaurs I'm surprised even made it past the censors.

[@lexkanyima2195]

But shocking to watch ?

[@dreamguardian8320]

@@lexkanyima2195 Shocking but true, since dinosaurs really did go extinct.

[@hajime9958]

The episode when Howard's mother passed is due to the actress Carol Ann Susi passing away from cancer so not only was a tribute to Howard's mother but also to Carol Ann Susi.

[@chelseacanales8763]

The actress who played Edith in All in the Family had done a great job with the episode. The character was traumatized after the man tend to assault her and her anxiety and fear really made me feel scared for her safety, given that it’s a tv show

[@Dr.SamLoomis]

I love that Saved by the Bell made caffeine seem like speed

[@jenniferwilliams5478]

Years later they did the alcohol episode

[@exaltedrealm3131]

From what I've heard, speed was the drug in the original script, but the producers would not allow that. Thus the drug was changed to caffeine pills even though they don't have the effects that the episode portrayed them as having.

[@R-L-I]

Good Times, when James Evans died. Different Strokes, The Bicycle Shop episode (child predator) they had to run a PSA in front of the episode.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

His wife was old enough to be his mother and his oldest son was only 8 years younger than him. Dude was buffed. He got to play musclemen and gladiators by quitting that job.

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🏆🥇

[@jenniferwilliams5478]

DS that episode was crazy I remember watching it in the 90's realizing that it happens in real life

[@agmarkwell]

Two honorable mentions: - During the TV adaption of "Clueless", Cher falls for a boy named Adam (and is in a multi-episode relationship with him, a rarity for the character). Adam, Murray and Sean go driving while drunk, get into an accident, and Adam lands the hospital, with the promise of getting out the next day. That night Cher learns that Adam has suddenly died due to internal bleeding, devastating her. Near the end of the series, Cher decides not to go to her senior prom, to honor Adam's memory. - The "Home Improvement" episode "The Longest Day", when after a routine checkup, Tim and Jill learn that a swelling in Randy's neck could be cancerous. The scene in the arcade where Randy confronts Tim about him and Jill withholding the information, and Jonathan Taylor Thomas's performance during it (especially his tearful "I don't wanna die, Dad") lived in my head rent-free for years.

[@OverbossZero]

Oh man, I remember that Home Improvement episode! Yeah, that one...Any of the medical related ones hit hard, but I remember after that as well, when Randy's like "oh, so you'd rather me learn about it alone in the school library?" since Tim said they didn't want to scare him. I loved Randy so much, honestly. He was my fave character. It took me ages to realize he also played young Simba, hense all the Lion King references he would make, ahh!

[@CreepyGnocchi]

I was surprised that Home Improvement episode wasnt on here either!

[@trinaq]

David Dukes, who played Edith's attempted assaulter, must have had a hard time after this role, since many people might not have understood that he was only playing a character, and wasn't like that in real life.

[@atworkstation]

I heard he got death threats after the fact

[@Jeff98177]

I read an interview where, after he got thrown out of the kitchen, he could hear the audience cheering and thought, what is my life going to be like now?

[@maestroclassico5801]

He's a really good actor. I've seen him in other things.

[@multitudeofidols]

Having that name couldn't have helped.

[@OverbossZero]

Oh yeah, I feel bad for actors who are treated like dirt due to a role that doesn't reflect on them in real life. I wish people would understand that no one would hire a real life r*pist to play a role - and hopefully they would rather arrest them than have them in because they've had "experience". Like the person who played Nellie Olson was called a b*tch due to her character, and even the guy who played Anakin Skywalker in The Phantom Menace was picked on because he said cringy lines that he was simply paid to say. On the other hand, I would hope that if they were going to represent something like autism or studdering, that they'd hire a real life person with said disability instead of imitating it in a way that most likely wouldn't reflect on those with a special need in a respectful manner.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

"The Bicycle Man" from Diff'rent Strokes is on this video, isn't it, Watchmojo? While that episode is mortifying, the episode of Arnold and Kimberly getting kidnapped might be even darker.

[@akganimationstudioproducti3779]

I agree

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥉

[@linda10989]

That episode missed a huge chance to warn kids not to leave their friends in potentially dangerous situations. Arnold felt uncomfortable enough to leave but left Dudley by himself

[@sralyn]

In that one, Arnold & Kimberly were just held for ransom.

[@kenterminateddq5311]

@sralyn dark stuff, huh?

[@loriwood4938]

John Ritter's death was devastating

[@randyk636]

It was also in “Scrubs” because John Ritter was JD’s dad

[@akganimationstudioproducti3779]

I heard that was one of the reasons why _Clifford the Big Red Dog_ was canceled

[@qadashchaayah144]

​@akganimationstudioproducti3779 it was. John Ritter was the voice of Clifford. The best they could've done was extend Clifford puppy tales for a few more season then end both shows overall.

[@akganimationstudioproducti3779]

@@qadashchaayah144 yeah, they probably could have That Clifford movie (along with Stanley’s Dinosaur Round Up) was the last voice work he ever did

[@matthewbaduria]

The Growing Pains episode features Mike and his friends going to a party and there are drugs at the party, second is Carol's boyfriend died in a drunk driving accident made me cry. But mine is Mash when Bj Hunnicutt was drunk and hurting Hawkeye and had a breakdown, The second is when Hawkeye's friend was killed in a war, it made me cry.

[@gestaltdude]

BJ lamenting that he'd missed so much of his child's life didn't really hit home until I became a parent. It hit even harder after, for reasons I won't go into, I couldn't see my kids for 4.5 months, even though they live mere minutes away.

[@RosieGaelic]

Mash episodes are “Period of adjustment” season 8 and “Sometimes you hear the bullet” season 1. Ron Howard guest starred also.

[@charlestyner8631]

That Fresh Prince scene breaks me every time. Uncle Phil holding his son while he sheds tears over the man who constantly discards him is pure tear jerking material.

[@Pinkranger87]

@@charlestyner8631 that hug was not scripted. James Avery told Will to really go for it.

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

Honorable mentions: - Marshall’s dad dies (How I Met Your Mother) - Drake apologizes to Josh (Drake & Josh) - Seymour waits for Fry (Futurama) - The creepy internet guy (Smart Guy) - Randy might have cancer (Home Improvement)

[@otaku_bear3667]

Seymour waiting for fry broke me. I remember watching that episode and crying, my dog had passed away a week before.

[@robertdubs9466]

Also... Ed tells Raul about Chico (Chico and the Man) Julie runs away from her family (One Day at a Time) Darlene's premature baby (Roseanne) Homer's mother leaves (The Simpsons) Riley is bullied (Girl Meets World)

[@Beth_Alice_Kaplan]

The first time I saw that episode of The Jeffersons, I was 8-9, and actually yelled out to George not to save the Klansman. I still don’t know where that came from in my brain, other than I do recall at that age I knew racists were “bad.”

[@Valandar2]

#13 ... John Ritter's passing was a shock for us as an audience, but the sheer power of the grief of his fellow cast members hit just as hard as the news of his death in the first place.

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

@Valandar2 Before Ritter's death,the show was way too silly. Afterward,the show had the right balance of humor and seriousness. IMO,they would have gotten rid of him in time.

[@lexkanyima2195]

​@@crimsonmoonrise9785😮😮😮😮 have you no remorse ?

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

@@lexkanyima2195 I have standards and good taste.

[@lexkanyima2195]

@crimsonmoonrise9785 no you're not

[@Itcouldbebunnies]

​@@crimsonmoonrise9785 Beg to differ.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

"My name is Alex" was also a touching and hard to watch episode of Ties...especially when Michael as Alex breaks down and demands to know why he is still alive when his friend is dead and also the episode that deals with racism and having to put down a beloved pet.

[@jhamps4806]

Blackadder goes forth broke me, it was so beautifully done with so much respect.

[@ingridb4977]

How it fades to the poppy field, I sob every time

[@slyfox5192]

@@ingridb4977Me too. It made me bawl as a kid, it did the same when I saw the episode a while ago, and I’ll be damned if I don’t have tears in my eyes now. A beautiful and fitting memorial.

[@donjay710]

What's amazing about the "Over the Top" scene is that it was made even more incredible by necessity. During the first take, the special effects -- fog, explosions, sounds and all -- threw off the actors and made their falls look staged. There was supposed to be a retake, but the experience of shooting that first charge was so jarring that Atkinson told the crew that they weren't doing another take, and he spoke for all of his fellow actors. Thus, the creators of the show were stuck with the one take they had, and ended up editing it into one of the most poignant scenes of not just Blackadder Goes Forth, but of the entire run of the series. The beauty of that scene still resonates with me to this day.

[@Psyche0delic]

I am a big fan of British TV. I know so many different shows, all the dialogue by heart I have watched them so often. And I have to tell you: That sobering silence of Blackadder Series 4 when they rush No Man's Land during "the Big Push" at the end...by the gods...there's no words.

[@underwaterdoggie]

I'm surprised they didn't mention the episode of Roseanne where she found out Jackie was being beaten by Fisher

[@skyofthelivingdead]

The huge fight between Dan and Roseanne in the last season so hard for me to watch. The screaming and throwing things around is intense. When you’ve seen your own parents fight the exact same way, it’s like you’re not watching a show anymore.

[@rdesimone78]

I was gonna mention that one. Great acting in that scene

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Also when Stephanie got into a car with the risk takers on Full House and later learned that they and her friend Gia got into a wreck.

[@qadashchaayah144]

I was thinking about that episode while watching this list. That is something that should have been an honorable mention on this list, because it goes into the dangers of teenagers speeding once they start driving.

[@CreepyGnocchi]

I thought it would be on this list too!

[@MichaelPaoli]

Sitcoms shouldn't shy away from topics that matter - most humor never really does, and much of the best humor and comedy tends to at least well touch upon stuff that really matters. And thanks for the reminder on that Superstore episode ... and many other great show episodes. Sometimes too easy to forget how damn good some of 'em have been.

[@OverbossZero]

Yeah, I think sitcoms are actually able to deal with these situations with humor, as well as great respect. It depends on the show, I'm sure, but like...All in the Family could've taken so much more of this list than just the number one choice. There are so many eps that I would've added, but I've also not watched most of these shows so my list would mostly be that, along with shows like Fresh Prince and Home Improvement.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

When Fred Rogers discussed war and King Friday thought that Westwood was building a bomb...also when Fred talked about divorce.

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Also the House of Payne episode that dealt with Internet predators when one of the kids almost get attacked by one who shows up at the Payne house...also the episodes with Janine's struggles with crack abuse...also when Lance's Calvin gets shot.

[@DreamBelief]

The Vicar of Dibley with the episode addressing famine. The moment when the Vicar finishes showing a video of people starving and turns to look at the others (I won't reveal more than that so I don't spoil it) hit so hard

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Also there is the gun episode of Family Matters where Kellie and Jaleel and the rest of the cast break character to beg for the violence to stop.😢😢

[@qadashchaayah144]

That was a powerful episode.

[@deanwilliamson1929]

And I thought sitcoms were supposed to be light hearted.

[@Jeff98177]

There were often "very special episodes".

[@sammylane21]

The moment in SCRUBS with Perry giving that advice was surprising to me because he is usually not whom you'd expect to be that nice to other characters.

[@codyhiginbotham6616]

“How come he don’t want me man” That’s something no child should ever have to ask about their father or mother 😢

[@JSalonsky]

Wasn’t really dark just sad

[@hajime9958]

4:21 kind of wished they didn't get rid of the PSA. It would have been great for teens watching Nick at Nite

[@JonnySuite13]

Every show needed that special episode.

[@thegrumpydino67]

#4 and #2 honestly portray the true horrors of war, especially the sombre incarnation of the chirpy Blackadder theme song in the finale, ending on a cannon's shot. You should have still kept the scene in which the battlefield then grows poppies, truly brings a tear to my eye.

[@wmassey683]

“Goodbye” should’ve been higher I’d even go as far as to say it should’ve been number 1

[@cmanrocket6]

Could there be any more internal bleeding 😂. Funny or die was wild for that joke

[@steverussell932]

The Mr. Belvedere episode where Heather gets raped by her prom date should be in the list.

[@qadashchaayah144]

@@steverussell932 Damn. That's crazy.

[@tylergoodman3560]

"How come he don't want me, man? Will Smith 😢🎉

[@StanHalen1936]

Unemployed bot

[@Reaperguy67]

​@@StanHalen1936 stop making false claims about others you don't know

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Also when the Hogan Family tackled the AIDS crisis with Jason's character David's friend suffering from the disease and dying and David speaking about how he remember him for all the good times they had together.

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

@Buggy-su4oy I remember the Hogan Family,Sandy Duncan was in it. I can't find it on DVD or streaming.

[@eddierascalhaskell4954]

It wasnt that great. Decent noise in the background show tho.

[@rdesimone78]

Excellent one. This should've been on this list.

[@Orcl1100]

“Edith’s 50th birthday.” Was arguably one of the more dramatic episodes of All in the family. The show in its 8th season fourth episode in. By 1977. Edith Bunker was a beloved character. Jean Stapleton pulled out all the stops. She didn’t want to make this episode. But it helped win her third and last Emmy for best actress in a comedy series. The episode was conceived for Bonnie Franklin’s Annie Romeo on one day at a time.

[@DavidR.-fk4kc]

Other dark sitcom moments: •Boy Meets World- Mr. Feeny's house being vandalized •Family Matters- Laura's friend being shot at a school gathering •Saved by the Bell- Local wildlife being killed by an oil spill •Full House- Uncle Jesse's family member's death and its effect on Michelle •A Different World- Friend being abused by her boyfriend •Hang Time- Student getting involved in dangerous gambling

[@OverbossZero]

Can also add some more to that: Facts of Life - Jo's also assaulted / someone attempted to rape her All in the Family - The whole episode where a Nazi symbol is painted on Archie's door (that ending?? Omg...They didn't even do the credit jingle!), Gloria's miscarriage, a transgender person is killed when she and Mike are ambushed (also a 2 part Xmas special), there are more than those but I can't recall 'em all. I'll leave it at those, but there are plenty more.

[@rdesimone78]

Good Calls. Yeah, that Oil Spill one was tough. Full House-that was the Papoolie episode. A Different World-Yeah, Dwayne tried to warn Freddy but she didn't listen. TV back then taught so many lessons. Kids today don't benefit from that.

[@kristinmaguireDeadhead65]

Henry Blake dying?STILL great television...and the Maude episode should rerun TODAY! It shows what quality television used to be.

[@dicksonfranssen]

That Maude episode would be banned in Texas today.

[@elineff2791]

18:38 I took John's passing EXTREMELY hard, I bawled like a f--king baby By the time I started watching Three's Company again he was gone a year or more

[@SirSmoldham]

Norman Lear really opened the door. To me, the most shocking episode of "All in the Family" involved a swastika that was painted on the door of the Bunker's home. After a confrontation with a protester, Archie and the family watch as the man enters his car, and it explodes.

[@JaDav40]

Jean Stapleton's son appears in that one as the boy scout.

[@TornSparrow1974]

I wish y'all would do a video tribute to NIGHT COURT. There were many moments you could have chosen for this video.

[@crazycatladyoftullamore5176]

I really thought that the MASH episode you put at number 2 should have been number 1, it was so sad and heartbreaking and showed the horrors of war that are forgotten.

[@DreamBelief]

Not just forgotten, but often not even learned, particularly back then. The horrors were kept quiet (still are, but it is obviously harder to keep it completely quiet now)

[@crazycatladyoftullamore5176]

@DreamBelief you're so right!🙏

[@AJDaniels5298]

Plus, none of the actors knew that they were going to kill him off so their reactions were real.

[@brittanytrusler5295]

I watched MASH reruns to death as a kid and teenagers, but I didn't see the finale until I was a psych major. That episode really hit me hard. So did Edith's assault, especially her reaction to identifying the clothes. I think it's a toss up between the two, tbh

[@damesjeanjamesdean]

You may not consider this a sitcom but Glee's darkest moment is when the entire club heard gunshots and they thought that there is an active shooter in their school. It turns out Becky was the one who brought the gun because she was afraid to graduate and she misfired the gun. This scene traumatized the hell out of me.

[@pauldesigncomics2625]

Family Ties with the alcoholic uncle played by Tom Hanks was pretty memorable too

[@rdesimone78]

Oh Jeez. Yes, Uncle Ned

[@KingBrahma-xw6mt]

Jessie was supposed to be addicted to speed but based on the creator of the show own personal experience with drugs he changed the concept to caffeine pills

[@SpikeMatthews]

Another British example is the final episode of One Foot in the Grave, where the main character is killed by a hit-and-run driver.

[@kbramlett6877]

Will Smith said in an interview that when he and James Avery (Uncle Phil) were hugging, James whispered in his ear “Now, that's how you f'n act.”

[@randyk636]

The episode of “Scrubs” where it turned out Ben had died was more of a gut punch than Cox’s breakdown.

[@Shorty_Lickens]

I would say about half the scenes in "Mom" qualify as darkest moments ever. We'd need a whole video just for that.

[@ladynikkie]

32:37 that should definitely be an honorable mention I remember that episode well Jackie was being abused by her boyfriend and Dan went to beat him up

[@Nick-4K]

Wrong Meeting was a classic

[@loganarnoldkicks4321]

I blame Funny or Die's "A Very Special Episode" series for not making me take some of these episodes seriously 😂

[@rdesimone78]

LOL. Yeah, his narration is hilarious

[@averyvincent1868]

WKRP in Cincinnati - the season 2 episode "In Concert" had the characters all in a good mood as they prepared to go to a Rock & Roll show in town...then whiplash hits the audience when we realize they are going to the Riverfront Coliseum during the disastrous 1979 The Who concert where 7 people were trampled to death. Everyone spent the rest of the episode stunned and shocked.

[@awwrelic]

I had a friend who actually went to that concert. Thank God he was okay, but he said it was all he could do to keep on his feet.

[@dicksonfranssen]

It was great the writers didn't just ignore it. I was once in a line where people at the back started yelling "push". Seeing Yes for less than $10, should have just stayed home.

[@linda10989]

At the end of the ep, I felt the producers should've had an In Memoriam title card with the victims names on it.

[@dicksonfranssen]

@@linda10989 That would have been nice. Since there were "only" 11 deaths it would have taken maybe 60 seconds to do it. I'm sure someone thought of it, just a day too late. Festival seating is never a good idea.

[@dannibear3995]

I remember the one from Growing Pains. As soon as it started playing the clip, I started crying.

[@OverbossZero]

I can definitely name a few: First one you mention was one of them. I immediately thought of the overdose episode from Saved by the Bell, along with a lot of All in the Family eps. Another Saved by the Bell episode is the one where the school hears about this finding of oil and the students were at first excited for a brand new campus and fancy layout, but after taking some animals they were actually helping back into the wild, they found that those same animals died and changed their minds about the new school. The fact they went and relocated those same exact animals and brought them back into the school with such sorrow just really tugs on the heartstrings - even moreso if you're an animal lover. :( I'd almost say it was darker than the overdose episode, but both really have their own tones to 'em. All in the Family: There's a whole episode where the Bunkers' house has a Nazi symbol; In the end, though, a guy is blown up and killed offscreen. A guy attempts to rape Edith in her own house. A transgender person is killed when she and Mike are ambushed - to make things worse, this is also part of a holiday episode. Archie joins the KKK. He didn't know about it, but he at least goes back and says that a black person saved his life by donating blood. There are a ton more, but these got me most. Home Improvement: Maybe it's not exactly "dark", but the episode where Jill has to have surgery and the first part, she has a reaction, which hits me even harder as someone who lost my mom to bad health. She was angry and hating her body afterwards though, and it really shows how much a sudden surgery Al's mom dies. Facts of Life: Natalie's assault was one I thought of as well. I think it was more than a mere assault as well. I think there's also one where Jo has someone attempt to rape or sexually assault her. I only remember because she came back with one shoe due to her using the other to clobber the guy before running. Fresh Prince: I think both were mentioned here - I am doing this as I watch. Carlton's overdose. Will's mentioning his father not wanting him (which I forgot about). I'm sure there are way more that slipped my mind, but I also don't watch more adult shows or shows like Big Bang Theory. All in the Family is pretty much the closest I get.

[@JoyceTaylor-g3m]

I remember the Jo one. And Lisa confronting the hoodlums who had once been friends of hers.

[@JAHxd2]

Damn no Himym bad news. Every rewatch the countdown in the background of the scenes kills me

[@atworkstation]

Edith’s 50th birthday should be ranked within the top 5 maybe top 3.

[@qadashchaayah144]

It came in at#1 on this list.

[@atworkstation]

@@qadashchaayah144 I knew it

[@AlexBabbage]

Edith's Crisis of Faith is an equally great episode.

[@atworkstation]

@ That also should’ve made the list

[@Buggy-su4oy]

Also the episode of Matters where Reggie's Carl dealt with the anniversary of him not being able to save a hostage and the scene where he breaks down at the man's grave while saying that is sorry he couldn't stop him from being killed.😢😢

[@Osvie01-uc8go]

What makes it more heartbreaking is that the widow shows up and tells Carl that it wasn't his fault, but she herself was probably experiencing guilt since she was the one that made her husband go to where he was killed.

[@wxkat]

I feel like there’s more than enough material from the different sitcoms for another Top 30 list. Silver Spoons had one episode about child abuse, another one about hunting (which I still remember years after watching), and one where Rick gets hurt when one of his friends has a drinking problem.

[@OverbossZero]

All in the Family too. Can't believe only one episode was here when I could've at least thought of a few more, such as the one where a Nazi symbol was painted on Archie's door. The ending of that episode is freaking chilling...They didn't even do the credit jingle at the end, adding to that emotion.

[@Celebok]

Oh my gosh, the Silver Spoons hunting episode! That just brought back my memory of watching it when I was about 11. That was pretty traumatizing to see the deer go down (which I assume was actually done with a tranquilizer or something). And I totally remember Ricky Schroder's voiceover at the end, "The deer used in this episode was not harmed in any way."

[@wxkat]

@@Celebok in retrospect the tranquilizer makes sense given that the deer didn’t appear to be in any distress. The episode definitely hit me hard since I’m Ricky’s age, so I could empathize with him when the episode aired.

[@assumptionisthemotherofall2402]

The M.Perry death with no second chance hits harder after reality came true

[@ellnats]

#6 is even worse now, RIP mathew perry

[@atworkstation]

I would’ve ranked it a couple spots higher.

[@sc2758yt]

Powerful stuff...

[@professorJorge11]

Even in comedy the writers and actors ( all those involved) are creating art. That's when you see something truly special

[@DanielCrookeFilms]

Comedy & Drama are the opposite sides of the same coin. You can’t have one without the other. These shows prove that point. Great list. 👍🏽

[@hajime9958]

13:45 if you're asking why the actor for James Evans seniors reportedly it's due to a backstage drama or in short terms the actor who played him got fired and they did not want to replace him so they decided to kill him off. Rest in peace John Amos

[@lisagibson2975]

I think he left because they wanted to show to be more like the Stereotyped JJ character instead of a positive view of a black family.

[@Jamal-bl7yh]

George Lopez After Max and Ricky Burned Down the garage Benny called Manny to loan George some money (after George found out from his Half Brother that Manny was rich) he couldn't Accept his Check so he drove to Phoenix Arizona with Max, Angie, Benny and Mr. Needles to confront his Father punching him In the Face after Insulting Benny but for real Manny was a piece of Crap he really was poor George poor Benny

[@BlackHatCinephile]

🥈

[@peacewillow]

i welcome the change of pace. going from laughter to tragedy, or vice versa, is a part of reality, and i appreciate those who embrace both. 💕

[@Jeremiah_Rivers76]

Terry’s racial profiling was one moment from _Brooklyn Nine-Nine_ that didn’t fear getting real. Not all police officers are bad, but racial discrimination is, unfortunately, something we still deal with.

[@crimsonmoonrise9785]

Yeah,any white person in sitcoms is automatically racist.

[@ladynikkie]

28:06 in the background of that moment some of the actors they were genuinely crying at that scene.

[@chickenmcfuggits7985]

"Soap" Jessica Tate says goodbye, tells Benson she loves him. Season 5. A TV comedy series from that era, The ghost of a white woman telling a black friend she loves him. Him telling her he loves her too. It was unheard of, and to this day it has me in tears. It was beautiful.

[@magstheonlyone]

The Phil Hartman really got me

[@williamrobinson8859]

Cool being on here while something premiered

[@360whiplash]

The Laverne & Shirley episode where Laverne's firefighter boyfriend is killed while battling a blaze and she's in denial afterwards should have made the list.

[@drivjc]

You failed to mention that the actress who played Mrs. Wolowitz had passed away, explaining why she had also passed in TBT. You made sure to note it regarding Phil Hartman. And I listened more than once to verify.

[@PBWK]

There needs to be a part 2 to add more because there are so much more.

[@kidcharlemagne7450]

I feel like the WKRP episode that faced The Who concert of 1979 deserves a mention.

[@parakeet8157]

"Good Times" James Evans Sr. Death, "Big bang theory " Howard's Mother died were very emotional for me😢The episodes on "Facts of Life" & "All in the Family" which dealt with assault were very realistic 😢

[@RashadSims-bh3zz]

Out of all of these scrubs and the Jefferson made me get in my feelings the most

[@jedigy1]

What was left out- "Young Sheldon"- death of George Cooper, "Gimme A Break"- death of Carl and his sister in law's racist backlash on Nell, "Night Court"- death of Selma, "Cheers"- Lilith leaves Frazier, "Three's Company"- Terri's introduction and Jack hates her and bullies her, "The Conners"- Bev gives up everything and leaves to go die alone, "The Minsters"- Herman talks to Eddie about racism and prejudice, "Petticoat Junction"- Bea Benaderet's final episode , "Laverne and Shirley"- Laverne thinks she's pregnant, "Raising Hope"- Jimmy loses Hope

[@DavidStarrUSA]

6:33 I was on drugs when i first saw this episode. It was a wake up call I'm glad i heeded. Been sober for over 7 years now

[@Daniel-nn8mr]

Fresh Prince of Bel Air really breaks my heart, its something I can relate to.

[@maryhughes6372]

They need to continue with hard and tough episodes on sitcoms. They can’t be afraid to tackle things like the deep division of our country, sexism or racism. Just to name a few. They can’t be scared of what social media will say.

[@RockRebelfull]

I'M SO EXCITED