The 15 Most Controversial TV Shows Of All Time

Jackass

Jackass was MTV’s highest-rated original series. It featured Johnny Knoxville and his friends attempting dangerous (and idiotic) stunts on camera that viewers were discouraged from trying at home, but some viewers didn’t listen, despite the lengthy warning that that preceded each episode. Kids across the United States were injured attempting the very stunts of Knoxville and his friends, some of which included jumping over a moving car. Senator Joseph Lieberman was so appalled by the show that he sent a letter to Viacom, MTV’s parent company, urging it to take greater responsibly for its programming and do more to help parents protect their children from it. MTV responded by cancelling all airings of the show before 10 p.m. Lieberman continued to campaign against the show, which led to MTV refusing to air repeats of the later episodes, much to the dismay of the cast.