This 'Hawaii Five-O' Episode Was Banned to Save Lives

Summary:
One episode of the classic crime series Hawaii Five-O, titled "Bored, She Hung Herself," was so controversial that it was banned after only one airing in 1970—and has never reappeared on TV or home video since. The episode's removal is shrouded in alleged copycat deaths and lawsuits, although concrete proof of these claims is lacking. Today, "Bored, She Hung Herself" stands as a lost part of television history—famous more for its absence than its actual content.

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1. What Was "Bored, She Hung Herself" About?

The lost episode in question, "Bored, She Hung Herself," aired just once in 1970 during the second season of Hawaii Five-O. The legendary Jack Lord, who played Detective Steve McGarrett, led the investigation in this story, which centered on the mysterious death of a woman practicing yoga—a death caused by asphyxiation (a lack of oxygen).

This episode stood out because it diverged from the show's usual action-packed adventures, and instead focused on a more tense, psychological drama. But, as it turns out, this wasn't for the better:

"It's considered one of the worst episodes of the series and offers very little for the Five-O to do compared to their most famous adventures."

Most fans who have managed to find and watch leaked versions of this episode say there's nothing memorable about it—except for the fact that it was banned and never officially released again. The truth is, outside its controversy, the episode simply doesn't match the series' high points.

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2. The Copycat Death Controversy: Legend or Fact?

After it aired, rumors began to swirl that someone had tried to copy the dangerous yoga technique shown in the episode—and died as a result. Some even claimed that CBS, the network behind Hawaii Five-O, was hit with a lawsuit because of the tragedy.

But did any of this actually happen? According to Snopes, a well-known fact-checking site:

"The website notes that this story is entirely possible and that it could have happened, but the digital record thus far is lacking."

In other words, there's no hard evidence—no confirmed news reports, court records, or real proof—that a death or lawsuit ever happened because of this episode. The urban legend remains, but unless CBS decides to share internal information or a reliable witness steps forward, we may never know the whole truth.

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3. The Episode's Complete Disappearance

Not only was the episode pulled from all re-airings on television, but "Bored, She Hung Herself" has also never appeared in any official home video release—including DVDs or streaming services. If you've bought a Hawaii Five-O box set, you may have noticed there's no mention of a "complete" season anywhere on the packaging for Season 2. In fact, there's usually a note explaining that this episode isn't included:

"For all the show's single-season releases, the show's box sets only name the season sans any 'complete' that may have come before it. This was also true of the second season DVD, which only states 'The Second Season' on the cover with a note on the back reading that the aforementioned episode was excluded."

Currently, you can stream the original Hawaii Five-O on Paramount+—but "Bored, She Hung Herself" remains mysteriously absent, as if it never happened at all.

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4. A Legacy of Absence

These days, the banished episode lives on in whispers and legends among fans and television historians. It's a unique piece of pop culture that fascinates not for its story or quality, but for the fact that such a mainstream show would have an episode erased from history. It remains a reminder of the rare occasions when TV networks take extreme measures "to save lives"—even if the actual reason remains heavily debated.

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Conclusion

The tale of "Bored, She Hung Herself" shows just how seriously TV networks can take viewer safety—or at least, how bold the rumors can be about their motivations. Whether or not a copycat death ever really happened, the episode's total erasure made it legendary. In the end, it's an extraordinary example of how stories—and the decisions behind them—can become just as significant as the shows themselves.