Biggest TV show scandals

Many TV shows have been rocked by scandal, some even succumbing to the damaged reputation that brings. In July 2015, TLC cancelled its hit show "19 Kids and Counting," after In Touch magazine published a 2006 police report that claimed Josh Duggar - now married with three kids - sexually molested five underage girls, including four of his sisters.

By CBS News Staff Writer Christina Capatides

"Here Comes Honey Boo Boo"

The popular TLC show, "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" -- which followed the lives of child beauty pageant regular Alana "Honey Boo Boo" Thompson and her family -- was cancelled in 2014, after reports surfaced that her mother, Mama June, was dating a convicted child molester.

June, for her part, still denies these reports; but the show succumbed to them, nonetheless.

"Duck Dynasty"

"Duck Dynasty" patriarch Phil Robertson was forced to fly the coop, after making a series of homophobic and racist remarks in a 2013 interview with GQ.

In addition to comparing homosexuality to bestiality, Robertson was quoted as saying, "I hoed cotton with them. I'm with the blacks, because we're white trash."

He might as well've just have announced his filming hiatus from A&E in the same breath.

"Paula's Home Cooking"

In June 2013, The Food Network fired Paula Deen and cancelled her popular kitchen show "Paula's Home Cooking," after court documents surfaced, in which the Southern chef admitted, under oath, to having used the N-word on multiple occasions in her past.

Deen took to YouTube, begging for forgiveness in a direct message saying, "Inappropriate, hurtful language is totally, totally unacceptable... my children, my team, my fans, my partners - I beg for your forgiveness." The apology, however, was too little too late.

"Up Late With Alec Baldwin"

The short-lived MSNBC show, "Up Late With Alec Baldwin," was abruptly canned in November 2013 -- just five episodes in -- after its host cursed out a New York Post photographer with a rather loaded homophobic slur.

"Sesame Street"

You may not know it, but the classic children's television show "Sesame Street" has actually had its fair share of scandal. Most recently, Kevin Clash (the voice of Elmo) took a leave of absence from the show, after allegations arose that he had sexual relations with a 16-year-old boy, when he was 45.

Sweeping the clouds away

"Sesame Street" also took flack for a variety of other reasons. Early episodes, for example, featured Cookie Monster smoking a pipe, and Grover engaging in civil disobedience with hippies. Katy Perry's guest appearance on the show also had to be cut, due to parents' concerns over her revealing outfit.

Years later, many criticized the show for perpetuating negative stereotypes about black youth, when Roosevelt Franklin -- the African American muppet, who appeared on the show from 1970-1975 -- was shown acting rowdy and sitting in a classroom that looked a lot like after school detention.

"Real Housewives of Atlanta"

Bravo's "Real Housewives" reunion specials are known for their wars of words, but not until Part One of the "Real Housewives of Atlanta" Season 6 Reunion was there ever a physical altercation on the show.

After goading fellow housewife Porsha Williams with props, like a wand and a megaphone, Kenya Moore was dragged to the floor by her hair and slapped hard. The incident resulted in a misdemeanor count of battery against Williams, but both women were ultimately invited back for another season of the show... just not as friends.

"The Good Life"

TBS cancelled its comedy show "The Good Life" -- created and hosted by Cee Lo Green -- in September 2014, after the singer and television personality became embroiled in a rape scandal.

Green stands accused of slipping ecstasy to a woman at a downtown L.A. restaurant, and subsequently raping her... A charge that fans and producers of the "Forget You" singer are finding difficult to forget.

"Two and a Half Men"

In March 2011, after months of extremely public and erratic behavior - like trashing a Plaza Hotel room, admitting to cocaine use, and dissing his own show in the media - Charlie Sheen was fired from The CBS sitcom, "Two and a Half Men.

In an unprecedented dismissal letter to Sheen's attorney, Warner Bros. stated, "Your client has been engaged in dangerously self-destructive conduct and appears to be very ill... Warner Bros. would not, could not, and should not attempt to continue 'business as usual' while Mr. Sheen destroys himself as the world watches."

"Seinfeld"

Fans of "Seinfeld" have long held Kramer in their hearts as one of the most beloved characters ever. However, in 2006, actor Michael Richards, unleashed a racist rant on a couple of hecklers, while performing at Los Angeles' Laugh Factory.

And though he has since apologized publicly a number of times, the incident forever altered the way the public views his character.

"Real Housewives of New Jersey"

In October 2014, "Real Housewives of New Jersey" reality star Teresa Giudice was sentenced to 15 months in prison, and her husband Joe to 41, for 39 counts of fraud.

In addition to the severity of the charges, the case against the Giudices garnered a ton of press because of Teresa's tendency to shop and flaunt her expensive possessions to others on the hit Bravo show.

"Seventh Heaven"

In October 2014, TMZ obtained a recording of actor Stephen Collins confessing to sexually molesting three girls, between the ages of 11 and 13, forty years ago. Unbeknownst to Collins, his estranged wife had recorded the confession during a therapy session, back in 2012.

The "7th Heaven" dad, in the midst of his own personal hell, then issued a detailed apology to People; admitting that he did, in fact, expose himself and inappropriately touch the girls in question, but insisting that he deeply regrets it. Regardless, it will probably be difficult for "7th Heaven" fans and sponsors to ever view the show the same way again.

"The Biggest Loser"

In 2014, Rachel Frederickson won NBC's "The Biggest Loser," by shedding 59.62 percent of her body weight.

At 5'4'', Frederickson went from 260 pounds at the start of the show, to 105 pounds in the finale. This started a firestorm on Twitter by fans, concerned that the contestant had lost too much weight. Several media outlets even pointed out that Weight Watchers lists the healthy weight range for Frederickson's height as between 117 and 146 pounds.

"Politically Incorrect"

On the September 17, 2001 episode of his show "Politically Incorrect" -- less than a week after 9/11 -- Bill Maher remarked, "We have been the cowards, lobbing cruise missiles from 2,000 miles away. That's cowardly. Staying in the airplane when it hits the building, say what you want about it, it's not cowardly."

In the weeks and months that followed, the show bled advertisements quicker than it could plug up its wounds, and was ultimately cancelled in July 2002.

"The Cosby Show"

Once considered "America's favorite dad" for his iconic role on "The Cosby Show," Bill Cosby's reputation has been tarnished in recent years, as over 40 women have come forward, alleging the comedian drugged and subsequently sexually assaulted them.

While Cosby maintains that the allegations -- spanning from 1965 to 2008 -- are baseless, there has been much fallout as a result of them. Both NBC and Netflix shelved projects they had in the works with the comedian. And TV Land has cancelled its reruns of "The Cosby Show."

Here, protestors demonstrate outside Bill Cosby's comedy show at the Buell Theater in Denver, Colorado, January 17, 2015. Many of his personal comedy shows have had to be cancelled as a result of the allegations, as well.

"The $64,000 Question"

In 1954, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that quiz shows aren't a form of gambling; paving the way for "The $64,000 Question," America's first big-money TV quiz show, to air on CBS in 1955.

"The $64,000 Question" later became one of the most publicized offenders in the quiz show scandals of the 1950s, in which a number of shows were flagged for secretly coaching contestants to fix the outcome of ostensibly fair competitions.

The scandal was such a big deal that, in response, Congress actually amended the Communications Act of 1934 to prohibit the fixing of television game shows.

"American Idol"

"American Idol" actually had two scandals tarnish its second season on Fox in 2003.

First, fan favorite Frenchie Davis was disqualified from the competition for posing topless for a website, years before. Fans were outraged, but Fox insisted it would be inappropriate to feature someone who had posed nude for money on a family show.

Then, later that same season, contestant Corey Clark was disqualified for neglecting to reveal that he had previously been arrested. He then claimed to have had an affair with judge Paula Abdul, and sued the network for defaming comments that were made about both his exit from the show and his alleged affair with Abdul.

"Scandal"

After three years on the hit show "Scandal," actor Columbus Short was relieved of his duties because of a series of brushes with the law.

In February of 2014, Short's wife filed for divorce, following a spousal battery incident which led a judge to order Short to stay away from her. Then, in March of 2014, Short was hauled off to jail after causing serious bodily harm to another man, during a fight at a Los Angeles restaurant.

So, perhaps it's no surprise then that Shonda Rhimes -- no stranger to killing off characters on her popular shows -- killed off Short's character Harrison Wright at the end of Season 3.