The Shocking Episode Of Tiny Toon Adventures That's Banned From TV
When it comes to classic animated shows for kids in the 1990s, "Tiny Toon Adventures" will probably be on the top of most people's lists. The "Looney Tunes" spin-off from producer Steven Spielberg, based on an idea by Tom Ruegger (via The Los Angeles Times), follows Acme Looniversity students training to be the best cartoon stars out there.
Filled with hilarious jokes and obscure references for both children and adults, "Tiny Toon Adventures" is a show that many other great shows like "Animaniacs" owe a debt to. The show aired for three seasons from 1990 to 1992 before getting canceled and eventually rebooted with the upcoming revival series "Tiny Toons Looniversity."
While most children of the '90s remember the silly escapades of Buster Bunny, Plucky Duck, Hamton J. Pig, and all the other mischievous toons, they might've forgotten about one very specific episode that certainly stood out from the others. In fact, this episode of "Tiny Toon Adventures" features a segment so controversial that it was banned from syndication.
The banned episode is "One Beer," a.k.a. the one where everyone gets drunk
The episode "Elephant Issues" originally aired on September 18, 1991, and for at least two-thirds of the episode, it plays out just like any other episode of "Tiny Toon Adventures." The first segment, "Why Dizzy Can't Read," is about the dangers of watching too much television and how it can have a bad effect on your literacy. The second segment, "C.L.I.D.E. and Prejudice," talks about how popularity isn't worth the trouble. Both segments seem like fairly standard sketches that teach an important lesson in a way that's easy for kids to understand.
But it's the third and final segment, simply titled "One Beer," that might be a little too blunt with its messaging. The segment deals with the dangers of alcohol and has Buster, Plucky, and Hamton getting drunk, committing crimes, and ultimately driving off a cliff. It's a segment that's about as inappropriately realistic as it is emotionally traumatic for a child (the episode does at least start off with a content warning).
It's easy to see why this episode was banned from airing again in syndication. While it is an important topic to teach children, it might've been a bit too strong for kids back then. "Tiny Toon Adventures" is currently streaming on Hulu (yes, the full episode of "Elephant Issues" is included), while its follow-up series "Tiny Toons Looniversity" is slated to arrive sometime in 2022 on HBO Max.