‘Tis the season for ghosts and ghouls, jack-o’-lanterns and bats, candy and costumes, and most importantly, the Halloween TV specials. Teen witches, boys meeting the world, freaks being extra freaky… The following is a list of the best Halloween TV specials pre-2000. Grab a blanket and a large bowl of Reese's (because we all know that's the primo candy of Halloween) and get ready to be washed in nostalgia.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch [15] – “Good Will Haunting” (aired Oct. 30, 1998)
When Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda are out of town, it’s time to get down. Halloween is way more fun when you are an unsupervised teen witch. Sabrina invites her friends over for some fun, but a demonic doll crashes the party and wreaks havoc on the gang, unleashing real monsters and unsuspecting horrors. Witches, goblins, ghouls and a possessed doll…what more could you want? Maybe your own magical linen closet that transports you to another realm? Awesome. I really wanted to be Sabrina as a kid. (I still do.)
Boy Meets World [16] – “And Then There Was Shawn” (aired Feb. 27, 1998)
Cory, Shawn, Angela and Topanga get detention after they disrupt Mr. Feeney’s lecture. As detention goes on, strange things start to happen. One by one, the gang disappears. The episode features guest star Jennifer Love Hewitt [17]. Really. What more needs to be said?
The Simpsons [18] – “Treehouse of Horror” (first aired Oct. 25, 1990)
Yes, there are many episodes titled “Treehouse of Horror,” but really, aren’t all of them pretty good? Pick one and enjoy the ride as the Simpson children share scary stories in their tree house. From Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” [19] to aliens with the names Kang and Kodos, the Simpsons delve into the creepy and humorous and will keep you laughing long past the impending sugar crash. You can catch “Treehouse of Horror XXV” on FOX’s website [20] for the next 40 days. What are you waiting for?
Home Improvement [21] – “The Haunting of Taylor House” (aired Oct. 28, 1992)
Tim "The Tool Man" Taylor attacks Halloween with the same vigor he attacks a bathroom remodel. Oldest son Brad is having a Halloween party in the Taylor basement. Tim turns it into a haunted house, but trouble ensues when Brad’s crush comes to the party with someone else. For grunting, power tools, pumpkins and a taste of childhood (if you grew up on Tool Time like I did), you’ve come to the right episode. Re-watching this brought me back to my wall collage I had of Jonathan Taylor Thomas [22]. Oh, JTT. Where art thou?
The Adventures of Pete and Pete [23] – “Halloweenie” (aired Oct. 30, 1994)
From the glory days of Nickelodeon [24], two brothers named Pete enter Halloween with a gang terrorizing them: The Pumpkin Eaters. Ominous. This show is such a wacky ride, and this episode treats you to the quirks of the Pete and Pete world. Dive in and enjoy.
Freaks and Geeks [25] – “Tricks and Treats” (aired Oct. 30, 1999)
Remember the moment when you decided you were too old for Halloween and too old to spend it with your family? This episode captures that feeling perfectly. It also features that last awkward Halloween — the last time you dress up. And maybe that one time you got egged by the older, cooler, meaner teenagers.
"Saved By The Bell [26] – “Mystery Weekend” (aired Dec. 21, 1991)
Mansions, butlers, maids, teenagers…murder! This special episode of Saved By The Bell follows the group of teens on a mystery mansion weekend. Lisa wins a weekend getaway from a radio contest. Jessie, Screech, Zack, Slater, Kelly and Lisa all head to a mansion for a weekend of fun, but what starts as light-hearted frivolity quickly devolves into a nightmarish whodunit.
Family Matters [27] – “Stevil” (aired Oct. 25, 1996)
Evil ventriloquist dummies are frightening under any circumstance, but especially so when they resemble Steve Urkel. The premise of this Halloween tale? A possessed dummy torments the Winslows. Because the internet is a fickle place, “Stevil II” will have to do. The premise is fairly similar. This one involves Steve’s ex-girlfriend Myra, vengeance, a Carl dummy and Laura, who is in the line of fire. I’m still partial to the original “Stevil,” but either way, you’re in for a scare.
