Nobody puts baillee in the corner

Growing up, I lived for not only watching all of the Halloween specials I could handle but recording all of them as well. You see, my family heirloom is the recorded VHS of the 1985 CBS Halloween special lineup, so it should come as no surprise that I LOVE the WNUF Halloween Special. It perfectly encapsulates watching basic cable specials from the 80s and 90s, and it pairs perfectly with Ghostwatch (which still impresses the hell out of me, by the way). I could write about the two aforementioned specials/movies FOREVER, but today, I’m doing something a little different. Instead of the movie I watched, I’ve made a list for y’all of some of my favorite Halloween specials and Halloween sitcom episodes. As always, it was hard to narrow everything down, but I chose things that I either rewatch annual or just stuck with me. Also, I love the Halloween episodes of Roseanne, but I disagree with a lot of Roseanne Barr’s beliefs, so I can’t, in good conscience, glorify them. Without further ado, I present to you some of my favorite Halloween specials/episode of all time. 

The Scooby-Doo Project (1999): The Scooby-Doo Project will always be at the top of my list. Cartoon Network seriously outdid themselves with this parody because it’s almost beat for beat The Blair Witch Project. They made tons of ads and had the van replicated in real life for the crime scene, and it’s absolutely incredible. I seriously watch it all the time, and they just released the 4K version on YouTube to appease all of the 90s kids like me who had the premiere date on their calendars. 

The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t (1979)- The Halloween That Almost Wasn’t is so great for so many reasons. Judd Hirsch’s blundering Dracula, a disco dance ending scene, and classic monsters eating popcorn on the sofa are just a few of the reasons why I absolutely love it. Fortunately, it’s included on our family’s beloved VHS tape, and I think that’s another reason why it’s so charming to me. Also, Mariette Hartley’s witch is an entire mood. 

The Halloween Tree (1993)– This was an annual rewatch the entire time I was growing up. My mom and I would get these giant, slightly gross, iced Halloween cookies from Kroger and rent The Halloween Tree and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark for a perfect little double feature. She also bought my sister and I copies of the book with personalized, hand-written little messages in the front when she first got sick, so the movie and book will always hold a special place in my heart. Also, you can’t beat children battling a creepy man in the various autumnal traditions of different cultures for the soul of their friend. 

Garfield’s Halloween Adventure (1985)- Garfield’s Halloween Adventure is another annual rewatch for me because it is also on our beloved VHS tape. I’ve always loved Garfield (I rented Garfield Nine Lives an obscene about of times), so naturally, I love the Halloween special. It’s funny and spoopy and has those random musical numbers I so desperately crave. 

Boy Meets World – “And Then There Was Shawn” (1998): This is a special case because this episode was actually released in the second half of the season, and there was a great Halloween episode in the first half of the season (“The Witches of Pennbrook” is GREAT), but this episode is my favorite. It has references to Scream, it has Jennifer Love Hewitt to represent I Know What You Did Last Summer, and the big reveal is a twist that doesn’t undercut the integrity of the episode. TGIF never looked better (or scarier). 

Clueless – “Scream, Murray, Scream!” and “Scream Again, Murray, Scream Again!” (1999): These episodes (it’s a part one/part two situation) have stuck with me forever, and I just discovered both parts are back on YouTube (bless). At times, it’s a direct Scream parody, but it distinguishes itself enough to still stick out in my mind, especially Cher’s Janet Reno costume and the breaking of the fourth wall. Just remember, Stacey Dash is still garbage. 

The Adventures of Pete and Pete – “Halloweenie” (1994): The Adventures of Pete and Pete is one of my favorite shows of all time (I have a Petunia tattoo on my leg), so release the third season, you cowards. But I digress. “Halloweenie” is, in my opinion, one of the best Halloween specials of the 90s. It’s weird, it’s spooky,  it’s funny, and it’s a great representation of growing up. It’s perfect, my little Vikings. 

Buffy, the Vampire Slayer – “Halloween” (1997) and “Fear Itself” (1999): Buffy, the Vampire Slayer was my childhood. We never missed an episode, and these two are two of my absolute favorite episodes of all time, especially “Fear Itself.” Buffy has, in my opinion, been one of the best examples of horror comedy of all time, and both of these episodes really, really drive that point (or Mr. Pointy, if you’re in the know) home, especially with the end of “Fear Itself.” P.S. I still stand by the musical episode. 

Lizzie McGuire – “Night of the Day of the Dead” (2001): Throwing a Lizzie McGuire episode into the mix might seem like a wild card, but hear me out. They scare Kate because she disrespects Dia de los Muertos, it’s genuinely creepy, and Lizzie McGuire contributed to the shaping of one Baillee MaCloud Perkins in her formative years (she was my fashion inspiration until I discovered Hot Topic and teenage angst). It’s worth the rewatch alone just to hear Hilary Duff say, “Way to go, beefhead.”

Degrassi: The Next Generation – “Degrassi of the Dead” (2007): I would be remiss if I didn’t include one of the staples of my middle and high school years, Degrassi: The Next Generation. For a brief time, they tried to do digital shorts, and be thankful they did because we got “Degrassi of the Dead” which is so bad it’s great, and that’s the entire point; it makes fun of itself on multiple levels. I recorded it and watched it about 47 times. And yes, Drake is in it. I’ll leave you all with some of Manny’s final words, “Yeah, Peter showed me topless on the Internet, but if we’re the only ones left on earth, what does it matter?”