Sitcoms love to take advantage of Holiday Specials. We’ve seen classic Christmas episodes, Thanksgiving episodes, but my favorites always seem to be Halloween episodes. After putting some serious thought into it, I’ve identified the 7 greatest Halloween TV episodes of all-time.

Finding these weren’t easy. Pretty much every show does a Halloween at one point or another. Some shows even do one every single season, it seems like! However, I fought through the clutter and was able to locate the best of the best. Halloween is approaching so fast it’s scary, but you still have time to check out all of these episodes before October 31st.

Best Halloween TV Episodes

As well all know, opinions are like snowflakes. Every one different and they’re never the same. So, know that this list of the greatest Halloween TV episodes of all-time is in my humble opinion. I’m not stating it as a fact. You are welcome to agree or disagree. However, if you disagree or if I missed one, don’t be shy. Leave a comment to share your favorite Halloween TV episode. Sharing is caring.

Before we get to the list, let’s rattle off some Honorable Mentions. These episodes didn’t make the list, but were worthy of a mention. Of course, any Treehouse of Horror from The Simpsons could have made the list. In fact, it’s probably worthy of a separate list entirely to breakdown the best Treehouse of Horror episodes. Did any make the list of 7? Spoiler Alert: yes…but, which one?

I’m a huge fan of anything Larry David does, especially Curb Your Enthusiasm. The Halloween episode “Trick or Treat” from the second season was next up on the list. If I did a list of 8 instead of 7, it would have been featured. However, I did not. So, it is not. This isn’t your average Halloween episode. Larry does the Halloween episode in a way that only he could do it. In the episode, Larry offends Trick-or-Treaters because he doesn’t give them candy because they look too old and didn’t bother to dress up. In return, the teens show Larry a “trick” since they didn’t get a treat. This sets off a whole chain of events like you’d expect in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

The 7 Greatest Halloween TV Episodes Of All-Time

• The Office - "Halloween"

  Season 2, Episode 5

  The Office had several Halloween episodes, and they are all fantastic. Of course, it’s The Office we’re talking about and every episode is great. So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that the Halloween episodes are already gems. However, “Halloween” from Season 2 stands above the rest, for me. Michael needs to fire an employee but can’t figure out who’s going to get the axe. The metaphorical axe, that is. Scary thought! Hilarity ensues.

  https://youtu.be/Cy2r9zjYjNQ?si=umE3xtkkskgVPdoT

• Boy Meets World - "And Then There Was Shawn"

  Season 5, Episode 17

  Boy Meets World is truly one of the greatest shows ever, and one of the best episodes is their Halloween episode, “And Then There Was Shawn.” The episode is a parody of popular slasher films and it follows the gang as they’re stalked by an unknown killer during detention after school. Eric cracks me up in this episode. It’s timeless and remains excellent to this day.

• The Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror V"

  Season 6, Episode 6

  It seems like every Treehouse of Horror ends up being great. They rarely miss. They’re always a classic and The Simpsons consistently do an excellent job with their Halloween episodes. However, if I had to pick one I’m going with V. The parody of “The Shining” is one of my favorite moments from all the Treehouse episodes.

• Modern Family - "Halloween"

  Season 2, Episode 6

  Like The Office, Modern Family loved doing Halloween episodes. They did one almost every season. Claire’s love for horror almost becomes a running joke in the series. Yet again, these episodes don’t miss. If I had to pick my three favorites, I’d go: Halloween, AwesomeLand, and Open House of Horrors.

  “Halloween” from Season 2 takes the cake for me, in the end. The execution is fantastic and I love the family’s interaction while trying to run their little haunted house. A lot of clever lines hidden in their arguments.

• How I Met Your Mother - "The Slutty Pumpkin"

  Season 1, Episode 6

  A classic tale of the one who got away. Years ago, Ted thought he met the love of his life (as he does every episode) in the woman at the party who was dressed like a pumpkin. He goes to great lengths to try to find her again, in a desperate way that only Ted can achieve. Of course, Barney finds a way to mess with him. Finding her becomes a running joke on the show, until it finally happens years later. It’s a great episode and that whole first season is top notch.

   

• That 70s Show - "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die"

  Season 3, Episode 4

  Growing up, That 70s Show was my absolute favorite show. Man, how badly I wanted to join the gang in Forman’s basement for a circle. Their Halloween episode “Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die” is a classic. They spoof several Hitchcock horror movies in the episode including: Psycho, The Birds, Rear Window, Vertigo, and North by Northwest. Fez never fails to crack me up.

• South Park - "A Nightmare On FaceTime"

  Season 16, Episode 12

  South Park is another show that always delivers on its holiday specials. I’m a huge fan of the show. Comedy Central itself once called me a Super Fan. It’s the funniest show ever, and the Halloween episodes never let you down. You’ve got classics like “Pinkeye,” “Hell On Earth 2006,” “Korn’s Groovy Ghost Pirate Mystery,” and more. Even recently, you had the “Tegrity Farms Halloween Special” which was incredible.

  However, my favorite has to be “A Nightmare On FaceTime.” It centers around teasing Blockbuster for being ancient and out of touch. I also love how Cartman is dressed up as the Hulk, but nobody gets it and keeps calling him “Bruce Vilanch.” It’s a clever take on how technology is changing our every day lives, and doesn’t fail to deliver the laughs. Fantastic episode.

Sign Up For The 94.7 WCSX Classic Rock Insider Newsletter

Get the latest Classic Rock and local stories you need to know about, plus exclusive contests, games, and more!

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.