Photo Credit: ABC
It’s nearing the end of October which means that television shows are airing their Halloween specials before November begins! Whether it’s sitcoms, dramas, or genre shows, everyone loves a good holiday episode. Check out our list of the top 30 Halloween television episodes for some great things to binge!
30. Grey’s Anatomy – “Haunt You Every Day”
Before Dylan Minnette would go on to star on the hit Netflix drama 13 Reasons Why, he had a memorable stint on this medical drama. As a boy without ears, he’s considered one of the most notable and adorable cases since the beginning of the show. Unlike a lot of the drama on the series, Ryan the earless boy gets a happy ending despite not having the money to pay for an operation. Turns out, he shows up on Mark Sloan’s office doorstep hoping to convince the plastic surgeon to perform the operation for free. While all of the other doctors/nurses hate Dr. Sloan enough to refuse to him any favors, Meredith convinces enough staff to jump on board with the surgery free of charge.
Ryan turns out to be a bright light in Meredith’s day since she’s spending the holiday haunted by her recently deceased mother. In a typical move, she’s been keeping her mother’s ashes inside her work locker much to disgust of her fellow doctors. Anyone who watches the show knows how strained that mother-daughter relationship was and even in death she finds a way to make her child question every step. The truth is, Meredith isn’t exactly sure what to make of her mother and her death has only confused her more. However, Ryan telling a story about flushing his goldfish down the toilet so he could rejoin the sea inspires the lost surgeon to dump her mother’s ashes down one of the hospital sinks.
Photo Credit: NBC
29. Parenthood “Orange Alert”
Every episode of Parenthood requires a box of tissues and there’s no exception for any of the holiday episodes. Following three generations of family members, a lot of the storylines have to do with children outgrowing their parents. “Orange Alert,” makes it clear that the adults and the kids need to adjust to change even though no one is expecting it. Like the other hours of the show, parents will definitely relate to drama even when it’s just simple things like trick-or-treating. While Adam and Kristina tend to have the best storylines, Sydney actually takes the cake in the hour. Usually played as the bratty spoiled grandchild, there’s no denying she’s at least becoming an assertive young woman. Julia is hopeful that her daughter will take that ferocity and flaunt her intelligence by dressing up as an important figure in history. However, the child would rather be a beauty queen and decides to stand up against her parents despite them going as Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln. It’s a strong moment for a character who can be insufferable and an earned moment for Julia as a parent.
That doesn’t take away from the typical Max story for the night that is bound to bring a few happy tears to the viewers’ eyes. His parents try their best to prepare him for trick-or-treating even though they’re worried he won’t be able to handle any situations that can arise. Yet Haddie picks up the slack for her brother and the ending where he raises to get some candy with other kids is a groundbreaking moment.
Photo Credit: FX
28. It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia – “Who Got Dee Pregnant?”
“Who Got Dee Pregnant,” is a wildly entertaining episode of It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia which sets up a big mystery for the entire episode. When Dee reveals she’s carrying one of the gang’s baby, the guys desperately try to figure out who. They realize that whoever slept with her had to have been during their previous Halloween party which causes the group to recount the past events. Of course, everyone has different ideas about what happened with Dennis telling his version first. Turns out everyone spent the night trying to sleep with a woman in a sexy peacock costume and that Charlie spent the evening crying but switches outfits with his friend so he can try to score with the bird. When it comes for Charlie to gives his memory of the account, he says his crying was that of joy because he got to make out with The Waitress after punching a girl’s boyfriend. Frank claims that The Waitress only kiss his friend in order to make him jealous which makes Charlie upset and throws another wrench in the story.
By the end of the episode, the gang realizes that Dee switched costumes with the peacock woman which means that Dennis accidentally slept with her. The group rushes to tell her but she reveals that none of them are the father. Dee only lied to try and get them to care about her pregnancy rather than give her grief for it. While the show is always a fun crude time, it’s nice to see the characters deal with real emotion once in a while.
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers
27. Gilmore Girls – “Twenty-One Is The Loneliest Number”
Season Six is a rough time for Gilmore Girls fans because of the separation between Lorelei and Rory. “Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number,” is bittersweet as it highlights the estrangement between the once close parent and child. Since she was a little girl, Rory had been planning her twenty first birthday with her mother where they would flee to Atlantic City to drink martinis together. However, their recent rift has made that impossible and because of it Rory shows little interest in actually celebrating. In an attempt to get their granddaughter enthusiastic about something, Emily decides to plan an extravagant party despite Rory expressing a desire to not have an event. At least the swanky gathering gives Logan and his wealthy friends the opportunity to come party as well as the former to sleep with his girlfriend. In fact, the entire episode showcases how stuck Rory is in her life now that she doesn’t have her mother to encourage her to strive for things in life.
Lorelei is just as depressed without her daughter but at least things with Luke are looking up. She needs a new partner in crime for the holiday and of course she enlists her boyfriend to be the fill-in. He’s a little hesitant but ultimately it doesn’t matter because she ends up going to Rory’s party after an unpleasant phone call. However, Rory is so depressed by the news of Paris’ success that the two end up even further apart by the end of the episode. “Twenty-One is the Loneliest Number,” might not be a joyful hour of television but it’s definitely a well-written heartbreaking one.
Photo Credit: ABC
26. Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 – “Love and Monsters”
The cancellation of Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 was one of the biggest disappointments in recent television history. One of the best comedic ensembles, “Love and Monsters…” is easily of the series’ best episodes. Typically Chloe is one step ahead of everyone with her evil antics but sadly this Halloween plays out a little differently for her. June is ecstatic to find out that her roommate has been dating a normal guy for the first time in a while but finds out this is all just a ruse. Turns out Ben is just the target of Chloe’s holiday prank where she makes someone’s worst fear come true. Krysten Ritter is consistently funny on the show when playing her most villainous self and this time it’s to become the mother Benjamin has been haunted by after she abandoned him at seven years old. Unfortunately, he’s caught onto her game early and has turned the tables on her. His revenge is making Chloe’s worst nightmare come to life: forcing her to live as though she’s in a chick flick movie.
It wouldn’t be a typical episode of Don’t Trust the B—- in Apartment 23 without a ridiculous James Van Der Beek story. His fear of the holiday leads to him hosting an annual “positivity party” rather than a haunted house. Not to ruin an excellent episode but things definitely do not go as planned. If you haven’t seen this show yet, it’s worth finding on Netflix even if it’s just to check out this Halloween episode.
Photo Credit: Greg Gayne/FOX
25. New Girl – “Halloween”
Schmidt was funny throughout this season of New Girl facing off against CeCe’s new boyfriend, Robbie. In this holiday episode, he attempts to upstage the bland Robbie by dressing up as a sexy Abraham Lincoln. This doesn’t go as well as planned but Robbie’s genuine sweet nature ends up winning Schmidt over slightly. He performs a selfless deed by handing over his costume so that his romantic rival has a chance at winning the costume contest alongside CeCe. Funnily enough, this act of kindness does more to win her over then all of his showmanship throughout the night but it’s still entertaining to watch.
Meanwhile, this is before Nick and Jess get together so their friendship is at the forefront. Their relationship is one of the highlights of early New Girl so it’s nice to see the bond they shared before romance got in the way. Jess is in a friends-with-benefits situation with pediatrician, Sam, who ends up being a superhero at his job. Of course, she falls hard for him after learning this and is heartbroken to learn that he doesn’t want anything more. When Nick finds out, he ends up going into a haunted house despite his fear to try and warn her but ends up accidentally punching Jess in the face because of her costume. They aren’t the only ones with relationship woes, Winston’s relationship also ends but he does discover his dream of becoming a cop after spending a lot of the season trying to figure out his passion.
Photo Credit: NBC
24. 30 Rock – “Stone Mountain”
While it might not be the best episode of 30 Rock, anything that focuses on Kenneth is worth checking out. Liz and Jack need to find a new cast member for The Girlie Show With Tracy Morgan or TSG who will relate to “middle America”. In a hilarious bit, Liz attempts to convince Jack that all of America is equal however she immediately gets sick from eating in Kenneth’s hometown of Stone Mountain, Georgia. However, it turns out for the best that Liz has to stay holed up in the hotel because Jack ends up finding the best comic, guest star Jeff Dunham. For those who don’t know, Dunham is a famous ventriloquist who is easily one of the funniest comedians in the business right now. His character, Rick Wayne, ends up having a very rude puppet who takes a disliking to Liz which forces Jack to come to the rescue and destroy the thing. It’s always fun to see those two characters look out for one another even though they constantly butt heads throughout the series.
Jenna spends a majority of “Stone Mountain,” trying to secure her position on the show. As she usually does, she’s worried that a new actor will replace or overshadow her on The Girlie Show. It isn’t exactly anything new in the world of 30 Rock because Jenna is constantly worried about being the most famous person on the series but it’s still fun to watch. Not to mention the scenes with her trying to befriend the writers to get better material is pretty hilarious.
Photo Credit: ABC
23. Speechless – “H-A-L– HALLOWEEN”
Speechless had an excellent freshman run last year and its Halloween episode was a delightful time. For starters, it follows JJ’s first high school party experience which is as complicated as one could imagine. Just because he has cerebral palsy, doesn’t mean that he just stops wanting to do typical teenager activities. Unfortunately, that means bailing on his dad’s planned holiday night in favor of attending his first party. Slipping past Kenneth, his friends are able to slip him a few beers until he ends up getting drunk under the radar. While Kenneth initially tries to pass him off as tired, Maya immediately picks up on her son’s current state of mind. Maya and Jimmy are ecstatic that they get to ground their son for such a mundane teenage experience which is such a heartwarming moment for the couple. It’s topped by Kenneth telling a sleeping JJ that it’s his job to protect him from things like this but he does hope that sometimes the young guy wins a few rebellious moments once in a while.
Meanwhile, Ray and Dylan team up for a successful planning committee. They prepare the best haunted house that the school has ever seen but Ray ultimately getting his heart broken anyways. It’s always nice to see these two siblings work together rather than actively try to sabotage the other. Not to mention, an episode that features family Halloween costumes centered around a wheel chair (JJ is a DeLorean) is bound to be a fun hour.
Photo Credit: CBS
22. M*A*S*H – “Trick or Treatment”
There’s a reason M*A*S*H is considered one of the best television shows of all time: it’s well-written and well-acted. So it’s unsurprising that their Halloween episodes “Trick or Treatment,” made this Top Thirty list. It’s the 4077th Annual Halloween Party but things don’t go exactly as planned when a group of wounded soldiers showed up. However, dressed in costume the group does their best to help out despite the circumstances. To pass the time and keep the moral up, the doctors begin swapping ghost stories in the OR even though the amount of injured people keeps rising.
Unlike most of the shows on this list, M*A*S*H isn’t a laughing matter. “Trick or Treatment,” is incredibly heartfelt and sad as the viewers watch the mounting amount of casualties in the war. A young man arrives, the only survivor of his platoon, and he grapples with his guilt by refusing to eat. It feels like a genuine situation that could happen today even when a holiday is in the middle of being celebrated. Not to mention, there are so many people who need attention in the episode that one man is sent to the group proclaimed dead with a tag and everything but it turns out he’s just badly injured. Imagine being the person who was responsible for that? M*A*S*H definitely makes you think as you watch it because it’s not meant to be just a thirty minute time period filled with laughs. Might be a good thing to watch for those viewers who aren’t interested in comedy.
Photo Credit: NBC
21. Chuck – “Chuck Versus the Sandworm”
No one will accuse NBC’s Chuck of being a plot focused show but it definitely has heart. The beloved cult show had a handful of holiday episodes but “Chuck Versus the Sandworm,” is an excellent hour displaying the emotional dilemma the main character always has to face. Ultimately a crazy genius named Lazlo preys on Chuck’s empathetic nature after escaping a covert government base. He plays the innocent nerd well and it makes the titular character question whether his handlers will treat him the same as the formerly imprisoned Lazlo. After finding a bunch of bugs around his house, he realizes that his spy life will always be a lie.
To be fair, Sarah Walker and Chuck have one of the sweetest romances in television history, so the early stages of their relationship begin here. After giving him a fake photo of the two so they can fool his family, she ends up taking a real one with Chuck at the Halloween party. While their feelings are just starting out, Chuck does have a complicated one with his best friend, Morgan. A perpetual man-child, Morgan desperately tries to mature in order to keep up with his friend but fails miserably. He sits at the party wallowing in self pity but Chuck begs his best friend to dress up as the head of their sandworm costume so they can be the life of the party. A genuinely fun episode of the series, it’s worth checking out over the holiday weekend to get a good mix of laughs and drama.
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers/The CW
20. Supernatural – “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester”
Supernatural has been a staple of The CW for a long time now and it’s unsurprising that the horror/fantasy show would delve into a Halloween themed episode. Unlike a lot of the sitcoms on this list, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Sam Winchester,” is a campy but serious hour of television. The Winchesters are tasked with finding out who’s murdering members of a small town, specifically high school children. They’re able to narrow it down quickly to a girl named Tracy (Pretty Little Liars’ Ashley Benson) who has a history of violent incidents. The big plot twist though is that Tracy is actually being helped by the teacher who filed a complaint against her who turns out to be her brother.
While the boys end up saving Tracy from her evil brother, she reveals that this was her plan all along. Easily subduing the brothers, she completes the spell to raise an evil demon that Castiel had earlier warned the partners about. With a little bit of fake blood and some quick thinking, the brothers manage to outsmart the villains to eventually save the day. Sam gets to be a hero while using his new powers and Dean gets to be as snarky as possible which makes for the perfect combination. Fans of Castiel and Dean will not be disappointed either, with the two characters getting plenty of scenes together. This holiday episode is one of the best from the series and it’s a great hour to watch on Netflix.
Photo Credit: FOX
19. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “Halloween Part III”
The third part of the Halloween Heist saga in Brooklyn Nine-Nine is a memorable one because it flips the script. Rather than just have Holt or Jake as the winners of the competition, a third option comes swinging in. Amy Santiago proves that she’s more than just her relationships with her boyfriend and mentor by upstaging both in their heist. After the two choose to exclude her due to the possibility of betrayal, Amy is left sad and alone while her friends get the night off. When she tries to confront them over how hurt she feels, both rebuff her because they think there’s a hidden camera in her bra to film them which sends her to spend the night with Hithcock and Scully. Rather than sulking through the rest of the episode, she springs to action with a plan of her own which humiliates Jake and Holt but still is a fun ride that ends with a new Queen of the Nine-Nine being crowned.
It isn’t the strongest heist episode but like all of the themed hours, it is still incredibly fun. Not to mention, there are plenty of great Gina moments sprinkled throughout the thirty minutes with Charles attempting to set her up on a blind date. She accidentally thinks the gorgeous artist Nadia is actually a male prostitute hired as a distraction and is appalled to realize it was a real date. After some begging from Charles, she gives him another chance but is horrified to realize that it’s Genevieve’s twin brother.
Photo Credit: FOX
18. The Simpsons “The Treehouse of Horror V”
What sets The Simpsons apart from other animated series is that it was originally a smart commentary on current events/mainstream culture. “Treehouse of Horror V,” was especially memorable as one of the most boundary pushing Halloween episodes of television. In fact, this was because David Mirkin was contact by a disappointed Congress who wanted censorship for the amount of violence in the series. At the time, this episode was considered one of the most disturbing but fun hour of holiday fun that it shocked many viewers. While almost every “Treehouse of Horror,” segment is entertaining, it was number five that stood out due to its jaw dropping material.
For starters, one part is a hilarious riff on The Shining. Without beer or television, Homer ends up going crazy and hunts down his family members. He does manage to kill Willie, but thankfully Lisa finds an abandoned television in the snow which satisfies her father’s urges. This is definitely the best segment of the night but the other two are pretty close. The second one deals with Homer travelling back in time where his tiny mistakes change the future wildly. It’s entertaining to see all of the effects but eventually, things go back to being semi-normal (minus humans with lizard tongues), that he gives up trying to fix things. Finally, Bart and Lisa deal with a principal who wants to eat children in order to empty out the detention hall. This has the darkest ending of them all with the kids meeting their untimely demise in a shocking conclusion.
Photo Credit: NBC
17. Parks and Recreation – “Greg Pikitis”
Parks and Recreation got off to a shaky start in its first season but it really hit its stride in its sophomore run. “Greg Pikitis,” is a ridiculous episode that highlights just how wacky Pawnee is with the Parks department getting terrorized by a teenager every Halloween. Leslie is adamant that she’ll be able to thwart him but somehow he still manages to break in and destroy the office. The only problem? She’s been tailing the kid all night alongside her cop boyfriend played by Louis C.K.. Still, she’s convinced it’s him and pulls in Andy to play an F.B.I. agent intent on intimidating the young boy into confessing. However, his mother ends up bailing him out and threatening all three of them which leaves the group to question their actions. Luckily, Andy suggest they teepee Greg’s house which leads them to discover that the kid hires fake moms on “Craiglist” when he needs to get out of trouble. Seriously, this is the smartest teenage rebel on modern television. Leslie does manage to catch him in the act, but ultimately everything gets destroyed.
Meanwhile, the rest of the gang is at Ann’s Halloween party which is a total dud. Even April is depressed about attending because Ann won’t let her drink and there are no Jonas Brothers making out with Robert Pattinsons. Yet, Tom and his (fake) wife show up to liven things up and end up making the party a total hit. One of the best episodes of the series, “Greg Pikitis” showcased the early potential that the show had.
Photo Credit: NBC
16. The Office – “Costume Contest”
Like a lot of other sitcoms, The Office has a few Halloween specials. “Costume Contest,” sets itself apart with the fun but generic plot about a costume contest like the title says. It all starts out with the whole gang excited at the prospect of winning even though the prize is just a coupon book. It’s funny to see everyone slowly lose their enthusiasm as they realize that triumph is quite slim. The characters donning normal costumes or more seductive ones is a hilarious gag that makes the episode worth it. Alongside another Michael and Darryl clash as the two make fun of one another. Can they never get along? Although truthfully, it is Michael’s fault that they fight.
The real reason so many people fell in love with The Office is because of Jim and Pam. Their relationship is adorable in “Costume Contest,” with cute banter. Pam is desperate for the two to dress up as Popeye and Olive but Jim isn’t as excited at the prospect. When he finds out that the new salesman, Danny, dumped Pam because she was a bit too dorky , he has a change of heart. He fell in love with her for all of those little quirks so Jim dresses up as Popeye to surprise his lady. It’s just another episode that highlights how terrific the couple is on the show and how much their relationship has grown since the beginning of the series. And in a hilarious twist, Oscar ends up winning the costume contest after dressing up as a “rational man” which is the best ending to hope for.
Photo Credit: FOX via Getty Images
15. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “Halloween”
The episode that started a yearly tradition, “Halloween” was the beginning of the infamous Brooklyn Nine-Nine heist. Unlike the most recent episodes that saw the precinct competing for the same object, this one focuses on Jake trying to steal a Medal of Valor from Holt. The whole thing starts when Jake talks about how dumb criminals are and how he would like a new challenge. At first it seems like Jake can’t catch a break, after being caught by Holt multiple times during his attempts to get into the safe. However, at the end he reveals that those were just diversion tactics meant to keep Holt distracted while Rosa and Boyle worked. Honestly, Rosa is so impressive on this show and she rarely gets enough credit for her feats.
Amy gets the short end of the stick in “Halloween” because she hast to spend the episode complaining about the holiday. By the end she does admit that she’s been a poor sport and apologizes to her friend but it’s still sad to not see her take an active role in the heist. Not to worry Amy fans, your can see her outsmart everyone in the later heist episodes. Luckily, this episode gave way to an amazing tradition therefore it makes it onto the list. Not to mention, it’s always funny to see Boyle dress up in a ridiculous costume only to have the entire squad make fun of him. And who doesn’t want to see Jake get called an “amazing detective/genius” by the usually stoic Holt?
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers
14. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Hush”
“Hush” isn’t technically a Halloween episode but it’s so terrifying that it makes for a perfect viewing on the holiday. Buffy the Vampire Slayer became famous for Joss Whedon’s fast and quippy dialogue but he eventually wanted to prove the show was more than that. In “Hush,” he ends up taking most of the dialogue out and performing the episode without it. The truly scary villains, “The Gentlemen,” roll into town and steal everyone’s voices so they can easily access people’s houses without screams disrupting them. One of the evil demons is played by the legendary Doug Jones, who would go on to play an infamous villain in Pan’s Labyrinth and soon the Nosferatu remake. Buffy and co. are expected to fight an evil force when they can’t speak which leads to a bit of difficulty along the way. While the titular hero is eventually able to stop them with the help of love interest Riley.
However the big plot movement for fans would be the introduction of Tara. The fan favorite witch would go on to join the Scooby Gang as well as date Willow. In “Hush,” she is simply a witch who meets up with Willow and the two face off against the “Gentlemen”. Meanwhile Xander proves how much he cares about Anya when they lose their voices because he’s unable to articulate his feelings with his words. Their relationship problems are hilariously commented on by a tied up Spike, who was the easy MVP throughout the later seasons as the snarky antihero.
Photo Credit: NBC
13. Frasier – “Halloween”
Leave it to Frasier to make all their characters dress up for Halloween but only as literary heroes. The whole episode takes place at a party hosted by Niles, who’s set up the event to benefit the Library Association. Everyone’s costumes are from established published work with the exception of Bulldog who just comes as Waldo from the “Where’s Waldo” franchise. “Halloween,” is mainly set up by a drunken misunderstanding. When Roz tells Frasier that she’s pregnant, he immediately blabs to Daphne about the situation. However, a drunken Niles takes this as a sign that he’s impregnated Daphne and the hilarity ensues. He proposes to his friend, thinking that she’s abut to have a baby while the gossip spreads like wildfire throughout the party guests. Thankfully Roz steps forward to clear everything up by the episode’s end but it’s still funny to see a lightweight Niles try to do the right thing.
Frasier is another sitcom great that deserves to be watched by everyone. With such an esteemed legacy, it’s all but guaranteed to churn out fun episodes that anyone could enjoy. Who hasn’t accidentally misheard something and passed on that information? Gossip magazines do it all the time, so almost anyone should be able to relate to the mishap. Also Niles is such a lovable drunk that you can’t help but feel sorry for him by the end of “Halloween.” Easily one of the shows’ better holiday episodes, take the thirty minutes out of your day to check it out online.
Photo Credit: The CW
12. The Vampire Diaries – “Haunted”
Ah remember when The Vampire Diaries was just a teenage vampire drama? “Haunted” is the holiday episode from the first season that takes place at a party. Unfortunately, it’s not all fun and games for all of the character. Poor Matt Donovan is desperate to get his sister back to her normal self as Vicki continues to act out. Little does he know, it’s because she’s been bitten by a vampire and slowly getting more unhinged. She demands to see Jeremy, which Elena expressly forbids and Vicki doesn’t take the news all that well. Stefan is convinced that the teenage girl will mellow out but anyone watching can see a loose cannon beginning to form.
Of course, everything falls apart when Vicki loses control as she makes out with Jeremy. She takes out her aggression on Elena by biting her, and Stefan is forced to stake her. While this saves his girlfriend, it kills Jeremy’s and leaves him with a giant hole in his heart. “Haunted” is a fun but compelling Halloween episode that thrives on the teenage melodrama. Not to mention, who doesn’t feel bad for token human, Matt and all that he’s lost? Vicki isn’t much of a character but her actions have a severe impact on everyone throughout the series run.
Photo Credit: FX
11. American Horror Story – “Halloween”
“Halloween” is a two part episode of American Horror Story that debuted in the first season in the “Murder House,” arc. It brings up a lot of interesting questions but at the forefront: is Tate Langdon a sympathetic character? It’s revealed in the episode that he’s actually a ghost and everyone Halloween he’s haunted by the students he senselessly murdered. Did the house turn him crazy or was he always like that? Violet get her first peak at the deranged sociopath who gunned down a school compared to the loving albeit creepy boyfriend she’s always known. Evan Peters perfectly captures the complicated role of such an equally sad but evil character.
All of the characters go through the ringer in this episode, with the ghosts coming back to haunt everyone. Ben faces off against an angry Hayden who eventually reveals her pregnancy to Vivian. This leads to him justifiably getting kicked out of the house. Meanwhile, Addie gets all dressed up for the holiday as a “pretty girl” thanks to Violet and goes trick-or-treating. Unfortunately, the poor girl is hit by a car and killed which absolutely destroys Constance. All-in-all the two episodes are probably two of the best in the mini-series franchise. American Horror Story has never quite hit the highs that Murder House rose to band this two-parter is wildly entertaining and thrilling.
Photo Credit: NBC
10. The Office – “Halloween”
“Halloween,” wasn’t a game-changer for The Office but it still accented all of the best parts of the show. Starting off one of its best seasons, the series had a big ratings boost for this holiday special. Of course, one of the main storylines was Jim pranking Dwight so who wouldn’t want to watch? This time he posts Dwight’s resume on the internet to try and get him interviews with different companies. When Cumberland Mills reaches out, Jim pretends to be Michael in order to give his office mate a glowing recommendation that is ruined by Dwight arguing over the importance of some things on his resume. It’s a pretty typical Dwight/Jim exchange but their pranks are always a delight to watch. Meanwhile Jim makes a little movement on his relationship with Pam when she suggest he take the job instead. At first this leaves him hurt because he thinks she doesn’t care if he goes, but she clears that up by the end of the episode.
The biggest story arc is that Michael finally fires someone. It was a threat that had loomed over the entire office since the first season, so it was nice to finally get some closure on that storyline. Popular director, Paul Feig, actually directs the episode and he seems to know his way around Halloween episodes because he also did the Freaks and Geeks one as well. With a talented director at the helm, “Halloween” has all the ingredients for a great episode of The Office.
Photo Credit: NBC
9. Parks and Recreation – “Halloween Surprise”
Ron Swanson’s arc through Parks and Recreation is surprisingly heartfelt despite the way his character starts out. In “Halloween Surprise,” he ends up taking his girlfriend’s kids trick-or-treating despite not wanting to in the slightest. When she has to bail for a work emergency, he’s stuck dealing with children and he’s unsure of how to cope with the situation. When they start fighting over their princess tiaras, he ends up breaking both of them so it’s fair but that only results in more tears. It would have been really easy for Ron to simply walk away from the relationship, and in Season One he probably would have. But he’s grown as a character, so he ends up taking the girls out again the following week and apologizes to Diane for his blunders.
However, most fans of the show will remember the episode for two things: Jerry’s heart attack and Ben’s proposal. The latter is caused by Leslie and Ann scaring him as he exits the bathroom which leads to the group desperate to hear the doctor call it a “fart attack”. It’s a small gag but of course it would happen to poor Jerry. In the meantime, Leslie was supposed to buy a house with Ben but it turns out he might be staying away from Pawnee for a little longer. She goes to look at her dream home one last time before cancelling the lease but is surprised by a proposing Ben. It’s one of the cutest proposals in all of television history and the second one featured at the end of a great Halloween themed episode.
Photo Credit: John P Fleenor/FOX
8. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “Halloween IV”
All of the characters in Brooklyn Nine-Nine are members of the police force with the exception of Gina.. That’s what makes “Halloween Part IV,” so fantastic, the triumphant rise to the top by the show’s only non-detective. While all the other members of the force are focused on stealing the plaque from each other, they all forget about Gina. She keeps replacing their stolen plaques with fakes so everyone thinks they won until she turns on a black light to reveal the message “heists are dumb”. Her win is only made funnier by the fact that she’s missing her two front teeth and lisps through her victory speech rather than just putting the fake teeth back in.
It’s always fun to see unusual onscreen matchups which happens a lot in the episode. Holt poaches Boyle from Jake to form a particularly funny partnership which sends the latter through a loop. Meanwhile, Jake has to make due with a male prostitute named Bill who is also his best friend’s body double. In the meantime, Rosa and Amy team up for many hilarious scenes that involve bonding over The Babysitter’s Club novels despite the latter’s stoic exterior. Terry gets stuck with Scully and Hitchcock who are hilariously bad at their only job of watching the sergeant. It seems like every year the heists get better on this show and it’s always an enjoyable thirty minutes to see the ridiculous hijinks ensue. For fans of the holiday, this is definitely an episode worth checking out.
Photo Credit: CBS
7. How I Met Your Mother – “The Slutty Pumpkin”
Before How I Met Your Mother chugged to the finish line slowly, the series was about a romantic guy just trying to find the love of his life. In the first season, Ted wants is searching for a girl he met four years ago at the party on the roof and refuses to spend the holiday doing anything else. “The Slutty Pumpkin,” happens to be the nickname for the girl in question simply because Ted never got a name just a phone number on a misplaced Kit-Kat wrapper. While he’s upstairs searching, Marshall and Lily are doing their best to win a costume contest in the bar. They invite Robin and her new boyfriend in an attempt to get to know him better but end up ruining their relationship with their own cute habits. It’s a bit sad to see Robin realize that she would rather be alone than tied down but nice to see her be oblivious compared to the world’s perfect couple.
Upstairs, Barney gets the best laughs of the night as he usually does. After a bad pickup line, he loses his chances with a girl. Anyone who watches the show knows that the playboy can’t let that fly and he goes through multiple costume changes trying to get her number all while begging Ted to leave the party. It’s always funny to see Barney pass up better social opportunities jut to spend time with his best bro even when it means missing the Victoria’s Secret party. Not to mention, Ted’s ending where he admits that finding the girl on the roof is nearly impossible but it seems like a pretty good place to wait is exactly one of the reasons people fell in love with the show in the first place.
Photo Credit: ABC
6. Modern Family – Halloween”
Modern Family has been the reigning king of comedy ever since it debuted in 2009 which makes it unsurprising that “Halloween” would make this list. Considered one of the best episodes of the series, it was nominated (and won) multiple Emmy awards for this hour of television. Highlighting all the eccentricities of the cast, this episode was a slam dunk on almost every storyline. However, Claire having her meltdown at the failed haunted house did a lot to soften a normally neurotic character. Seeing her desperation to keep one holiday tradition now that her expanding family has encroached on the others, Claire ends up losing it in the middle of their haunted house spectacle. The typically supportive Phil didn’t notice how high strung his wife had become until too late because his neighbors’ divorce had him spiraling down his own hole.
However, Sofia Vergara takes the cake for best storyline in the episode because she gets to flex her comedic muscles. Typically she gets a lot of the same jokes to run through: how different Colombia is to America. This time it’s simply about her pronunciation and there are a few delightful gags but specifically one where she asks Jay’s assistant to order him “baby cheeses” but he instead gets a box full of “baby Jesuses”. When he brings up the mistake, she gets the opportunity to do a hilarious American accent that throws off the entire family but makes it a hoot for viewers who get to watch the scenes unfold.
Photo Credit: NBC
5. Friends – “The One With The Halloween Party”
Friends is such a long running sitcom that at least one holiday episode had to make it onto this list. “The One With The Halloween Party,” is later into the show, which is a bit surprising because the quality did go down. However, an episode that features Chandler and Ross arm-wrestling in the most ridiculous costumes ever is worth a viewing. Turns out that Supergirl (Phoebe) and Catwoman (Monica) get into a tiff over who would run in a fight: Ross or Chandler. Both settle on the former, and it leads to Chandler declaring war through arm-wrestling. However, it goes on forever because both are “equally weak,” according to Joey and Chandler ends up throwing the match to let Ross win. However, it’s a testament to Monica and Chandler that they are so comfortable in their relationship that he’ll wear such ridiculous costume to please her.
Meanwhile Rachel is desperate to be good with kids by handing out candy. This plan quickly backfires so she ends up handing out cash and checks to them. It’s actually a funny gag because a lot of parents end up handing out money in order to shut kids up for multiple holidays. When one boy starts crying, she’s forced to give him fifty dollars and pose as his girlfriend for a few houses before it becomes clear that this has been a terrible decision. An episode full of laughs, Friends proves that it can make use of the entire ensemble for a thirty minute time period.
Photo Credit: Warner Brothers
4. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – “Halloween”
“Halloween” was a turning point for Buffy the Vampire Slayer because it forced the kids to confront some of their fear. After a cursed costume shop sells the town their holiday outfits, everyone begins to turn into their outfits. Willow becomes a ghost in her skimpy outfit, Xander transforms into an Army soldier, while Buffy is an 18th century noble women. With their main fighter out of commission now that she’s a perfect lady and their usual dork now a gun toting war machine, things go a bit awry. Angel shows up to try and save the day but his vampire face terrifies the now mind warped Buffy so that she runs away. It’s the perfect opportunity for Spike to strike, who absolutely savors all of the chaos that the town is currently going through.
Giles and Willow manage to defeat the costume shop owner just in time for Buffy to defeat Spike but the kids all learn a lesson. Willow confidently discards her ghost costume in favor of a crop top in mini skirt which earns the attention of future boyfriend Oz, while Buffy realizes that she prefers her modern day self compared to the “proper lady” she had dreamed of. As for Xander, he finds out that sometimes being the “tough guy” isn’t all it’s cracked up to be and earns the attention of high school popular girl, Cordelia. It also teaches young viewers an important lesson: it’s better to be yourself rather than the person you think people want you to be.
Photo Credit: NBC
3. Community – “Epidemiology”
Easily one of the wackiest episodes of Community, “Epidemiology,” is about a zombie infection at Greendale Community. Pierce spreads a mysterious illness at a party which quickly infects the other guest. As per usual, Annie figures out the solution to save everyone but there’s a bit of a hitch. They need to turn the thermostat down but it’s currently located in a zombie area. It’s true to form for the characters that Annie wants to save all the zombies while the rest are more than happy to let the group die out. However, after she’s eaten, Troy steps up and manages to get the temperature down. Considering the rest of the gang is bitten, it’s a miracle that even Troy makes it that far. However, it’s not surprising that of all the characters he would be the one to pull through because he seems like he’s most likely to make it out of such a ludicrous situation.
By the end of the episode, everyone has conveniently forgotten what has happened and believes that all of the drinks were roofied. Community is one of the comedy cult shows that deserves to be seen by everyone despite the low viewership it suffered on NBC. With so many great Halloween episodes, it’s fun to see something so unapologetically wacky. Most sitcoms have the same storylines about Halloween parties or trick-or-treating so when something so original airs then it’s worth checking out. Not to mention, it is considered one of the best episodes of the series due to its hilarious gags and execution.
Photo Credit: NBC
2. Freaks and Geeks – “Tricks and Treats”
Freaks and Geeks has always been about the Weir’s conflicting desires on growing up. Lindsay wants to be older than she is while Sam is desperate to retain his youth. “Tricks and Treat,” highlights these differences when Sam tries to form the perfect Halloween. Of course, things don’t go as planned and the boy is left heartbroken. He’s left with a strong life lesson: that things don’t always run smoothly. In contrast, his sister agrees to stay home and hand out candy with their mom. However, Lindsay doesn’t abide by thees plans when she decides to skip out in favor of hanging with friends. Again, she’s just a teenager trying on different personas as she tries to discover herself but sadly it’ the expenses of her parents’ time.
Honestly, the series is so good and short that it’s worth the quick binge for anyone who has the time. This holiday episode is one of the best on television because it shows the conflicting ideas of Halloween. When you’re little it’s about donning a new costume and spending a night of fun trick-or treating. As you get older, those costumes are just one of many you put on to make it through the day and you swap out those happy candy memories with those of staying home. It’s the sad truth to getting older and Paul Feig expertly crafts a story that talks about these themes. Luckily, the episode isn’t dragged down by these themes all the time, and it ends up being a lot of fun to watch even though it does ask bigger questions.
Photo Credit: FOX
1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine – “HalloVeen”
Every year Brooklyn Nine-Nine has had a fantastic holiday episode but “HalloVeen,” really knocked it out of the park this year. For starters, the entire heist takes place inside of the precinct rather than various locations throughout the city. With the entire squad participating rather than getting drafted onto teams, this episode is easily the most entertaining of the series. It allows the supporting characters the first real chance at becoming the champion which leads Terry, Rosa, and Boyle to form their own team called “The Tramps”. It’s especially fun to see the return of “fake Charles,” the prostitute from last year who is now working for a pyramid scheme involving energy tablets.
Despite the supporting cast stepping up their game, it’s the three winners whoa re consistently the funniest. Whether it’s Amy switching out Holt’s dog with a fake and hearing Andre Braugher remark, “You’re not Cheddar! You’re just some common bitch!” or Jake creating an elaborate Handmaid’s Tale diversion, the trio is comedy gold. Yet this heist does involve a lot of heart with the writers finally taking the leap from Jake and Amy’s successful relationship to an engagement with a heartwarming ending.
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Turns out Detective Peralta had his own plan all night that involved getting Amy into the evidence room where their first kiss took place just so he could propose at midnight with an altered championship belt. Of course Holt claims this year’s competition doesn’t count because of this but still, there’s no better ending to Halloween than a happy one.