It’s already October which means that the trees are losing their leaves, the chavy and the chubby are finally putting their shirts back on and leaving the beer gardens and it will only be three months until Creme Eggs are back in the supermarkets. If there is one thing that all of our favourite television series love to do it is to jump at the chance for a one off seasonal special. Now we know that the Christmas episode tends to be the most memorable and easily the go-to television special. But every now and again we get a Halloween episode that we will have on repeat all the way through to the new year.
To ease you into this month’s anti festivities, scares, spooks and screams we are taking a look at our favourite TV Halloween specials and don’t worry there is no “The One With The” in sight.
The Simpsons - Treehouse of Horror VI (Season 7, Episode 6)
Yes, we started with a Simpsons special but how could we not? Now this may be one of the biggest debates of all time considering that there are over XXV Treehouse of Horrors to date but number VI has to be the best. The Attack of the 50 ft Eyesores, Nightmare on Evergreen Terrace and Homer3 (cubed) are a great trio of short stories and offer us a look at a 3D Homer, something we had not seen before.
Buffy The Vampire Slayer - Halloween (Season 2, Episode 6)
Being a show about a vampire slayer you may have been mistaken in thinking that Buffy The Vampire Slayer would offer a Halloween special or 5 every series. Due to creative thinking the specials only came around once every two seasons. Of the two specials worth watching (we are ignoring season 6’s outing due to the Dawn heavy storyline) we had to choose the first, Halloween. Xander as an army man, Willow as a ghost and Buffy as an 18th Century noble woman makes it a great role reversal episode.
American Dad - Best Little Horror House In Langley Falls (Season 7, Episode 3)
An episode with scares, love, a ridiculously long title and plenty of sex appeal, Best Little Horror House In Langley Falls is a great Halloween special. Stan becomes annoyed when his new neighbour starts to offer better frights to the neighbourhood and vows to beat him. Now this may be a show where the Christmas specials are the most memorable but this Halloween special has to be the highlight of season 7.
Big Bang Theory - The Holographic Excitation (Season 6, Episode 5)
Great costumes, including a spectacular couples costume, a pretty memorable use of the word Smurf and some of the best Halloween food puns we’ve ever heard cements this episode of The Big Bang Theory onto our list.
Freaks and Geeks - Tricks & Treats (Season 1, Episode 3)
Lindsay is still undecided on which path she will take. Will she become one of the Freaks or will she continue her academic, straight laced lifestyle? This episode is a major turning point for her character and allows us to see the different sides to Halloween in the US. We have Lindsay’s night of vandalism and terror, Sam and his friend’s realisation that Trick or Treating should be left to children and poor Mrs Weir’s night without her two little ones who aren’t so little anymore.
The Office US - Halloween (Season 2, Episode 5)
From Michael's attempts at firing different members of the office which leads up to the final torturous firing of Devon, "I just hope that you and I can remain friends" and the countless creepy, obvious costumes, the first Halloween special aptly named “Halloween” is a winner in our eyes. Michael’s paper-mache second head is a costume that we’ll be trying (again) this year.
Parks and Rec - Greg Pikitis (Season 2, Episode 7)
Like a lot of shows recently, Parks and Rec really found it’s stride in it’s second season and the Halloween special was one of those reasons. The highlight of the episode being Leslie’s attempts to thwart her arch nemesis’ (teenager Greg Pikitis) plans to vandalise the town statue again. This episode introduces us to Andy’s alter-ego Burt Macklin… enough said.
It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown
The 1966 Halloween special is one that we all grew up with and if you didn’t what is wrong with you? Snoopy has his imaginary fight with The Red Baron and poor Charlie Brown gets rocks while the other children are given candy. It is easily the perfect way to get the little one’s excited for Halloween every year.
Trick or treat? What is your favourite Halloween special? Let us know in the comments below or as always hit us up on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
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