This blog was originally published on elkharttruth.com on Oct. 31, 2014.
Costumes, jack-o’-lanterns and scares … it must be October.
While you can watch Halloween-themed movies, shows and more throughout the month (See ABC Family’s 13 Nights of Halloween or AMC’s Fearfest), here are five TV episodes that will give you a laugh or smile instead of a scare.
The Slutty Pumpkin: Season 1, “How I Met Your Mother”
While the title of this “HIMYM” episode focuses on one costume, many other outfits also make an appearance, thanks to Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) and his desperate attempts to attract women.
Barney, being the ultimate player that he is, changes costumes throughout the night to continue hitting on the hottest girl at the party.
The episode focuses more on the lead’s character development, but seeing all the costumes makes the episode fun.
The One with the Halloween Party: Season 8, “Friends”
Rachel hands out money instead of candy. That’s not trick-or-treating!
Phoebe tells her twin sister’s fiance many negative things about Ursula, and then she ends up dating him for an episode. That’s not normal!
And then there’s Chandler in a pink bunny suit. And that’s just too funny.
In typical “Friends” fashion, the episode is full of laughs, and it’s the comedy’s only Halloween-centered episode.
And Then There Was Shawn: Season 5, “Boy Meets World”
Technically, this isn’t Halloween-centric, but the episode does have a Halloween vibe.
It parodies “Scream,” and you know it’s not really real. It’s more kitschy than anything.
Still, it’s entertaining to watch Shawn (Rider Strong) discover who the “killer” is.
Someday Your Prince Will Be in Effect: Season 1, “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air”
Mostly taking place in a mall, this episode is worth watching for the parts when cousins Will (Will Smith) and Carlton (Alfonso Ribeiro) compete for a girl.
Oh yeah, and Aunt Vivian (Janet Hubert) gets lost in the music at a recording booth in the mall.
The Halloween Scene: Season 5, “Sabrina, the Teenage Witch”
This Melissa Joan Hart-starring show features many Halloween episodes, for obvious reasons.
In this Halloween-themed episode, Sabrina hosts a party when her aunts Hilda (Carolina Rhea) and Zelda (Beth Broderick) are away. Which would be fine … if the portal to the Other Realm didn’t keep transporting monsters to her house.
But hey, at least she got to counsel Frankenstein and his bride, right?
What are your favorite Halloween-themed TV episodes?