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At some point in (I think) the 90s, I saw an episode of something like Outer Limits or Twilight Zone where nobody was allowed to have more than average intelligence. Smarter children had to wear headsets which inhibited them from being too intelligent, administering minor electric shocks if intellectual thought was detected.

I can remember a final (or near final) scene of somebody watching his suicide and being upset but not remembering why because of the headset.

Can anybody identify the show and episode?

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    Very likely to be an adaptation of "Harrison Bergeron" by Kurt Vonnegut, originally published 1961.
    – Otis
    Commented Aug 6, 2017 at 19:30
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    Indeed. And repeatedly made into films and TV
    – Valorum
    Commented Aug 6, 2017 at 19:30
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    Given the time frame, it is likely the 1995 TV movie version of "Harrison Bergeron" mentioned above. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harrison_Bergeron_(film)
    – Vicpylon
    Commented Aug 6, 2017 at 20:31
  • It looks very much like Harrison bergeron. I can remember a final (or near final) scene of somebody watching his suicide and being upset but not remembering why because of the headset.
    – itsbruce
    Commented Aug 6, 2017 at 21:07
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    From the title, I was REALLY hoping this would be Futurama's "The Day the Earth Stood Stupid".
    – Muzer
    Commented Aug 7, 2017 at 9:08

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Thanks very much to the people who suggested Harrison Bergeron (1995).

The memory of somebody watching his death but - wearing a headset - being too stupid to know why they are upset (Harrison's father) is strong. Also the final scene of rebellious youths taking off their headsets and watching his speech.

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"Examination Day" is the first segment of the sixth episode from the first season (1985–86) of the television series The Twilight Zone. The segment is based on the short story "Examination Day" by Henry Slesar. It does not match your description exactly (no electric shocks), but it is similar enough that you may be confusing aspects of it with something else.

There's a wikipedia article that describes it better than I can.

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  • Good call but it really looks like Harrison Bergeron
    – itsbruce
    Commented Aug 6, 2017 at 21:07

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