10 Most Profane TV Shows, Ranked
Many TV shows have become known for their heavy use of profanity, including classics like The Sopranos, Deadwood, and The Wire.
For a long time, TV networks—especially in the U.S.—enforced strict restrictions on bad language. It wasn’t until the 1990s, with the rise of cable channels like HBO, that extensive swearing became more common and accepted.
This new era of television didn’t hold back, delivering swearing so intense it could rival the works of Quentin Tarantino and David Mamet.
At risk of spoiling the list, most of these profane shows aired on HBO, but not all. Unlike movies, where it’s easier to identify the most profane titles such as Uncut Gems and The Wolf of Wall Street, counting swearing in multi-season TV shows is challenging. The ranking considers both the quantity and the impact of the language used, leaning more on overall vibe than pure data.
Dexter earns its spot mainly because of Doakes, whose swearing became iconic and a highlight especially during the show's earlier seasons. Debra also frequently dropped numerous F-bombs.
“TV shows, for a while, weren’t really allowed to use bad language, thanks to network restrictions that were, historically, particularly strong in the U.S.”
“It wasn’t really until the 1990s – and the rise of cable channels, like HBO – that swearing became possible on TV.”
“This new kind of television did not f**k around when it came to delivering immense amounts of swearing.”
Author's summary: The rise of cable TV in the 1990s broke language barriers on screen, letting shows like Dexter and The Sopranos set new standards for memorable, prolific profanity.
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