We can all look back to our childhoods and remember a time when we sat in front of the television during the month of October and waited patiently for our favorite shows to air their Halloween episodes – there were even some shows who waited until later in the season to air their spooky episodes. And while there are great shows on television now, very few can truly capture the magic that is a Halloween Special. And who can forget the made-for-TV specials that were cheesy, scary and most times funny as all hell?
This Halloween, relive your past as we bring you the 10 best Halloween TV specials from the past.
10.
Mr. Boogedy
John Astin may best be remembered as Gomez on television’s The Addams Family or as the father of Sean and Mackenzie Astin – but the 1986 Disney-made Mr. Boogedy is why cult classic fans love him. Youngsters David Faustino and Kristy Swanson also star. The movie is incredibly low budget, but still makes for an entertaining story. The Davis family moves into a new house, it’s haunted and they ultimately have to rid the place of Mr. Boogedy. Hijinks and 80s special effects ensue and we are left to wonder if Mr. Boogedy is truly defeated (see: Bride of Boogedy for that answer).
09.
Family Matters – “Stevil”
How about the 1996 Halloween episode of Family Matters where an evil ventriloquist doll wreaks havoc on the Winslow household while trying to steal Steve Urkel’s soul. Stevil was a play on Chucky of Child’s Play, but the humor in this episode makes it okay to watch at night. In the end, of course, Urkel wakes up and the whole ordeal was a nightmare, but the following year Stevil returned…with Carlsbad.
08.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
No list of Halloween specials is complete if this isn’t on it. Not only has it withstood the test of time, but the sincerity of it still resonates today. Brilliantly written and equally entertaining, the Peanuts gang does Halloween in style – complete with rocks for Charlie Brown. This special might also be the most depressing on the list, because year in and year out we wait with Linus in the pumpkin patch with anticipation, knowing the Great Pumpkin never comes.
07.
You Can’t Do That On Television
One of the many awesome things about You Can’t Do That on Television was the Halloween episode that aired in 1984. The kids are always great, but Les Lye steals the show in every scene. You may have guessed it, but slime plays a major part in the episode as well. In it’s 10 year run on TV, there may not have been a better episode of the show.
06.
The Simpsons – “Treehouse of Horror”
It’s a Halloween tradition that excites the masses every year. And it’s the only one on this list that is still going strong. Homer and family delight audiences each October with the Treehouse of Horror – easily the most creative episodes of the long-running series each year. From aliens to demons and Poltergeist to The Raven, nothing is off limits when Halloween approaches in Springfield – which makes it even more fun to see what they come up with next.
05.
The Facts of Life – “Seven Little Indians”
While it didn’t air in October, this episode of The Facts of Life effectively scared the living crap out of an entire generation. It’s part-murder mystery, part-Twilight Zone (complete with Rod Serling impersonation) and wholly ridiculous. The girls are being killed off one by one, and Tootie is the last girl standing, leaving her to think she is the murderer. The reveal of the real killer is both funny and fun, with the episode ending the same way many in the ’80s did – with a character waking up.
04.
Quantum Leap – “The Boogieman”
Sam leaps into a horror writer on Halloween in 1964 and people start dying. Sam and Al try to figure out whodunnit, with Al seemingly hovering over Sam’s every move. As the bodies pile up and the suspect list shrinks, Sam starts to realize something is very different. This was one of the scarier Halloween episodes for a sitcom, and the twist of having Al as the devil was completely sinister. The episode is a semi-ode to Steven King – with the end of the episode using a not-so-veiled reference to the Master of Horror.
03.
The Halloween that Almost Wasn’t
In this 1979 made-for-TV movie, Judd Hirsch plays the role of Dracula, who is being blamed for the possibility of Halloween ending. Not happy to hear the news, Dracula summons his closest friends and tries to remedy the situation. He is forced to beg and plead with the Witch (Mariette Hartley is unrecognizable) to fly over the moon on her broomstick to signal that Halloween is alive and well – but she has a few demands of her own – and the famous Count must give in to save the holiday. In the end, they go disco dancing, a la Saturday Night Fever, but despite that – this movie won an Emmy Award.
02.
Boy Meets World – “The Witches of Pennbrook”
There isn’t a Halloween special out there that is funnier than this one. Cory and Topanga are off to Pittsburgh, and Eric is left behind with Shawn, Jack and Jack’s new love interest Millie (guest star Candace Cameron-Bure). Millie is a witch, and Jack believes that Eric is jealous so he alienates his best friend. Will Friedle is genius in this episode, while Rider Strong is equally as brilliant and hilarious. And if this episode teaches us one thing, it is, “You gotta love Halloween, it’s the one holiday that really brings people together.”
01.
Disney’s Halloween Treat
Anyone between the ages of 35 and 50 will agree with this choice for number one. How many of you sat in front of the television on Halloween night waiting for the Magic Mirror or talking pumpkin to introduce this classic? With its collection of cartoons from the Disney universe, Halloween Treat was the greatest Halloween special of all time. It was the perfect companion to opening your candy, and despite the fact it was the same every year, it was something kids of all ages looked forward to with great anticipation. Sadly, I speak about it in the past tense because Disney has yet to release it on any platform for a new generation to enjoy.
