Spooky season is upon us. For some, it means having the life scared out of them from horror movies or by visiting haunted houses or haunted mazes. For others, it means a milder form of spookiness. For all, it pretty much means eating a ton of candy (Reese’s Pumpkins for the win). For those, like myself, who go in for the milder side of Halloween, here is a list of ten Halloween or spooky-themed episodes, with a comedic twist, from some great sitcoms to get you in the spirit. Some are recent, and some are throwbacks, but all are perfect for the season.
10. “And Then There Was Shawn” – Boy Meets World (Season 5, Episode 17 – Streaming on Disney+)
Though not slated during the Halloween season, originally aired on February 28, 1998, this Season 5 episode gives us all the spooky vibes we need. Easily considered one of the best episodes of the entire series, “And Then There Was Shawn” sees Shawn, Cory, Topanga, Angela, and the obviously doomed Kenny placed in detention by Mr. Feeny (obligatory Mr. Feheeenneeey á la Eric Matthews here).
Left to their own devices, a series of events begins that sees Kenny, Mr. Feeny, and the creepy janitor die in succession as a figure in black creeps in the background. Eric and Jack pop up to add to the mix. Angela gets into a scream-off with the randomly appearing Jennifer Love Fefferman “Feffy” (played by a post-I Know What You Did Last Summer Jennifer Love Hewitt). The episode plays on the classic horror movie tropes but in a comedic way that makes it perfect for the spooky season.
9. “The Witches of Pennbrook” – Boy Meets World (Season 5, Episode 5 – Streaming on Disney+)
This Halloween-themed episode sees Jack falling for the pretty new neighbor Millie. Throughout the episode, Eric becomes increasingly aware that Millie and her roommates, who have become attached to Eric and Jack’s balcony, are in reality witches intent on sacrificing Jack and Shawn on Halloween. Eric foils their plot and ends up back on the balcony with a date of his own, Sabrina (Melissa Joan Hart) as a small crossover nod to the 1990s Sabrina: The Teenage Witch.
8. “Halloween” – The Office (Season 2, Episode 5 – Streaming on Peacock)
Michael Scott loved a reason to dress up and throw a party. This Halloween doesn’t turn out quite as Michael hopes because he’s told he must make a staff cutback, which he dreads. The cringiest, and as a result, the most comedic, part of this episode is how Michael sets out to fire Creed, changes his mind, and eventually settles on Devon. This sequence ends with everyone leaving without starting the party and Michael crawling on the floor to pick up pieces of a ripped-up Chile’s coupon. This is a great early comedic episode as The Office was just getting its footing. We also get the start of Jim’s fantastic costumes with “Three-Hole Punch Jim.”
7. “Diane’s Dream” – Cheers (Season 4, Episode 5 – Streaming on Peacock)
Diane wakes from a nap to learn that “Andy Andy,” a man who previously attempted to strangle her (“Diane’s Perfect Date,” Season 1, Episode 17), has escaped from the hospital he was recovering at. Fearful of her return, Diane is on edge and becomes suspicious as Woody, Clara, Cliff, and Norm all venture to the newly discovered wine cellar and don’t return. Realizing she has no reason to fear during a power outage, she ventures to the wine cellar only to find Andy Andy at the bottom of the stairs. Diane wakes to find this was only a bad dream but is yet again confronted by Andy Andy. When, and how, will it end for Diane?
6. “House of Horrors with Formal Dining and Used Brick” – Cheers (Season 5, Episode 5 – Streaming on Peacock)
Carla, superstitious to the core, is on the hunt for a new house. Cliff suggests a low-priced house in a neighborhood on his mail route. No one seems to question the low cost until Norm mentions the house is built on the remains of a 17th-century prison graveyard. Afraid of any lingering bad vibes, Carla enters the house carrying a crucifix and is later joined by Norm and Cliff to keep her company. The spookiest experience for Carla is spending time alone with Cliff.
5. “Keaton” – New Girl (Season 3, Episode 6 – Streaming on Netflix)
Reeling from breakups, Schmidt is a nightmare to be around, and he is one downer that Jess doesn’t want at her upcoming Halloween party. As a solution, Jess decides to revive a tradition begun by Schmidt’s mom and continued by Nick – catfishing Schmidt with emails supposedly from Michael Keaton. Eventually, Schmidt gets wise to the scheme and decides to get revenge on Jess, Nick, and Winston during the Halloween party.
At the party, Jess comes dressed as Joey Ramon-a Quimby, Nick as trash from his car, and Winston as David Letterman. Nick shows up as a “public serpent.” Unaware that Schmidt knows, Jess in a last-ditch effort to fool him dresses as “The Batman.” Eventually, the situation resolves itself. In true New Girl style, this episode has all the comedic hallmarks and situational humor characteristics of the series.
4. “Recall Vote” – Parks and Recreation (Season 6, Episode 7 – Streaming on Peacock)
Trying to distract herself from the recall election, Leslie plans a haunted house hosted at City Hall. Simultaneously, Ben and Andy try to manage Leslie’s stress level with fun distractions. Reeling from the results of the recall vote, Leslie “spooks” the children attendees with the harsh realities of life, which proves to be some of the comedic highlights of the episode. Chris repeatedly attempts to cheer up April because she misses Andy while he is working in London. The episode draws sharp lines to the “scary stuff” of reality in a hilarious way.
3. Halloween Heist Episodes – Brooklyn Nine-Nine (Streaming on Hulu)
This one is kind of a cheat because it’s a series of episodes. The tradition begins with Jake challenging himself, on behalf of Holt, to steal Holt’s Medal of Valor before midnight or do five weeks of overtime. Each heist episode proves more elaborate than the rest with Boyle decoys, expensive banners, championship cummerbunds, surprise attacks, mini flash mobs, and gold body paint. Over time, the heists occasionally jump from Halloween to Easter or Cinco de Mayo, or whatever day suits Jake’s plans best. The Halloween Heist episodes are some of the best of the entire series.
2. “Bar Wars V: The Final Judgement” – Cheers (Season 10, Episode 7 – Streaming on Peacock)
In the conclusion of a long-running series of “bar wars” of pranks and hijinks between the gang at Cheers and Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern, Gary announces he can no longer partake in their Halloween hijinks because of a newly discovered medical issue. Sam, thinking this is another prank, creates a spooky, larger-than-life hologram projection of Carla’s face in Gary’s bar, which seemingly kills Gary. Still believing this to be a prank, Sam continually yells at Gary to get up, even once the casket holding Gary is buried. In a great twist of events, Sam learns he is the butt of everyone’s joke.
1. “The Middle Earth Paradigm” – The Big Bang Theory (Season 1, Episode 6 – Streaming on HBOMax)
In this episode, America’s favorite nerds are invited to a Halloween party hosted by Penny. All four show up dressed as The Flash and argue about who should be the rightful Flash. In a mutual agreement, they all decide to abandon The Flash costume. Wolowitz shows up as Robin Hood, Raj as Thor, Leonard as Frodo Baggins, and Sheldon as the doppler effect.
In their typical, socially awkward manner, they fail to be ‘normal’ at the party. Sheldon is upset no one understands or wants to hear about his costume. Raj and Wolowitz try to hook up with the female party-goers. Leonard competes against Penny’s ex-boyfriend Kurt for her affections, and he finally gets a kiss with Penny. The socially awkward nature of the guys makes for a comic, Halloween-themed episode.
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