One of the best things about Halloween is that you get to watch Halloween specials/episodes on TV. I have a Tivo full of Halloween right now. Seriously, there are shows that have been on the air for years and the only episode I've ever scene is the Halloween show. What makes a good Halloween episode or special? For many shows, it a time to break free of doing an actual plot and have fun....just like we all should on Halloween! But, to make a good Halloween show, here are my recommendations:

1. Regular characters must wear a costume

2. Either a Halloween party should be thrown, or a haunted house should be stayed at, attended, or built.

3. Pranks help and are popular in sitcom Halloween episodes

4. Ghost and/or monsters help

5. A musical number can be fun

Right now, I'm going to focus not on regular tv shows, but Halloween specials. I doubt you need me to tell you about The Great Pumpkin, so I'm going to share with you some of my personal favorites that you may have missed.

1. Garfield's Halloween Adventure (1985)

Garfield's Halloween special kicks ass. And, as a kid, it's one of the few Halloween shows that scared me (just a little). Those pirate ghost are creepy. Catchy songs, too. Lou Rawls yall. Garfield and Odie go trick-or-treating and get lost. They end up in a old spooky house where a scary old man tells them about ghost pirates (or is it pirate ghost?). The plot thickens from there and that's where youtube picks up the story:

2. The Halloween that Almost Wasn't (1979)

This is also sometimes called The Night Dracula Saved the World. I don't think I've discussed this one yet to someone who knew what I was talking about and that's a damn shame. This one stars Judd Hercsh as "Count Dracula" (and to his credit, he does a pretty good Dracula voice). The plot thus: Drac is upset that the other monsters (a toilet paper mummy, a WHITE zombie from HATI, soft-shoeing Frankenstein, cher-like witch, and the lamest looking werewolf you've ever scene) have sold out and are no longer doing their job: scarring people. he demands they get back to it, but the witch decides to be a pain in the ass. She refuses to ride her broom over the moon which, according to this fine film, is the ONLY way Halloween can begin, till Drac agrees to her demands. Drac refuses and the witch escapes. Not to be foiled so easily, Drac and the other monsters go to the witch's castle, but she's locked herself in her room. It looks like there will be no Halloween this year....or will there?!?!?! Show 'em, youtube:

3. Worst Witch (1986)

If you don't know about The Worst Witch, it's because you are either too old or too lame so take your pick. As far as Halloween shows go, this is kind of a chick flick, but at least it's a good one. Any Harry Potter fans out there? Well, it's a total rip off of The Worst Witch series of stories by another british author. Here's what worst witch had first:

1. A witch school

2. An unlikely hero witch

3. A teacher who dresses all in black and seems bent on seeing the hero fail

4. A school master who is old and wise

5. The hero, though not great at casting spells, is surprisingly good at a sport.

6. There is a villain that no one suspects except the hero who is the only one who can stop said villain

This movie stars Fairuza Balk who went on to star in Return to Oz and much later as a witch once more in The Craft. She's done tons of other stuff, too. Charlotte Rae makes a star turn playing two roles! And, last but certainly not least, the great Tim Curry plays his gayest role yet (yep, gayer that Frank). This is a true classic. You need to find all the parts on youtube, but here's the best part:

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That's it for now. I'd go into details about what TV shows had the best halloween episodes, but I've spent long enough on this already. But, here's a quick reference guide to some of the better ones you might still be able to catch this season guaranteed to help get you in the spirit:

1. Any Halloween episode of Roseanne (except that one where she dressed like a guy; it wasn't as Halloween related as other shows)

2. Simpsons: Tree house of Horror (any of them, but the early ones were the best)

3. Home Improvement: The Haunting of Taylor House

4. King of Queens: Tricker Treat

5. Cheers: Bar Wars 5

6. South Park: Spooky Fish

7. Friends: Halloween Party

8. 7th heaven: Halloween

9. How I Met Your Mother: Slutty Pumpkin

10. Cosby Show: Halloween