Why a single episode of a surreal cartoon was banned after one complaint

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 · Updated 22 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Created by David Feiss, Cow and Chicken was a bizarre, hit animated sitcom featuring a cow and a chicken as siblings. While it became a staple of 1990s television, one specific episode vanished from existence after a parent complained about its suggestive content, leaving a permanent gap in the series.

Cow and Chicken premiered on Cartoon Network on July 15, 1997, following the success of a pilot short on the anthology series What a Cartoon!. The show followed the surreal lives of two anthropomorphic siblings: the naïve, 7-year-old Cow and her cynical, 11-year-old brother, Chicken. Both characters, along with their flamboyant antagonist, the Red Guy—a comical, shape-shifting version of the Devil—were voiced by the same actor, Charlie Adler. The series was known for its eccentric, bawdy humor, often focusing on exaggerated childhood anxieties like cooties or the fear of entering the wrong restroom.

The show's structure was unique, typically pairing two seven-minute Cow and Chicken segments with a seven-minute short of I Am Weasel, a series that eventually spun off on its own in June 1999. Despite its popularity, the series faced controversy. The second-season episode 'Buffalo Gals' aired only once on June 27, 1998. It was pulled from all future broadcasts and streaming platforms after Cartoon Network received a letter from a parent objecting to the episode's visual and verbal innuendos regarding the titular biker group, who were implied to be lesbians. The episode featured the characters chewing on carpet and using softball terminology, which the network deemed inappropriate.

The legacy of the show extends beyond its 52-episode run, which concluded in 1999. It became a cultural touchstone that spawned various video games, including Cartoon Network Racing and Cartoon Network Speedway, and even a promotional tie-in with Taco Bell at 4,200 restaurants in 1999. While the 'Buffalo Gals' episode remains banned from official releases, including DVD sets and digital platforms, it continues to be a subject of discussion among fans and creators. The show's surreal, Monty Python-esque style remains a defining example of the experimental era of late-90s animation, proving that even a show about a cow and a chicken could spark intense debate.

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