TV sitcoms — which stands for "situation comedies," in case you didn't know — typically offer viewers a light-hearted escape from the heaviness of day-to-day life.These shows are usually bright, funny and filled with likable characters.Still though, even sitcoms have their dark moments — some surprisingly darker than others.Over the years, many comedic TV series have explored heavier themes, tackling issues such as death, abuse, addiction, mental health, self-harm, abandonment and more.READ MORE: The 10 Best Comedies of the Last 10 YearsThese darker, memorable episodic story lines often stay with viewers long after they've aired, reverberating even years later.Some such examples of this include The Golden Girls episode “72 Hours,” as well as the King of the Hill episode “Pigmalion.”Below, discover infamous sitcom scenes, episodes and moments that were surprisingly dark and caught fans off guard.Sitcom Moments That Were Surprisingly DarkSitcoms such as The Simpsons and The Golden Girls are often seen as light-hearted comedies, but these darker TV moments offer a different, deeper perspective.Gallery Credit: Ryan ReichardREAD MORE: The Weirdest Television Reality Shows Ever MadeGet our free mobile appTV Shows We Used to Love That Are Cringe NowWe can't say why we liked these shows, but we can certainly say why we can't watch them now. Gallery Credit: Emma Stefansky