In this screenshot, “The Office” character Michael Scott (Steve Carrell) is seen dressed as SNL character MacGruber during the Season 7 episode “Costume Contest.” (Screenshot)
With Halloween creeping up on us, there is no better way to get into the spirit than to binge watch the Halloween episodes of your favorite shows. To make it easy for you, here is a short collection of a few of my favorites.
Boy Meets World: Season 5, Episode 17, “And Then There Was Shawn”
When I think of Halloween and TV the first thought in my head is the Halloween episode of Boy Meets World (also known as the greatest combination). It is the perfect amount of creepy – I’m looking at you scary janitor – and funny. Plus, there’s a lesson at the end of it. It doesn’t get any better than that. I could listen to the jingle that plays over the intercom system whenever they’re in the hallway all day “Welcome to John Adams High, where you are gonna die… Here’s a knife, here’s a gun there’ll be fun for everyone.” I can always count on this episode to put me in the Halloween spirit and get me reminiscing of my youth.
The Office: Season 7, Episode 6, “Costume Contest”
I couldn’t make a list of great Halloween episodes without mentioning The Office. They have made a few Halloween episodes, but “Costume Contest” in season seven is one of my favorites. I love that in this episode the characters are determined to win the costume contest, so they all put some sort of thought into their costumes, except Jim who doesn’t dress up because he’s lame. However, at the end of the episode he finally puts on the costume Pam picked out for him. If I ever work in an office I hope our Halloween would be as festive as it is in this episode.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch: Season 3, Episode 6, “Good Will Haunting”
Nineties era television shows are the epitome of quality TV and because I refuse to grow up I had to include Sabrina the Teenage Witch. The Molly Dolly is the reason why to this day I still have an intense fear of dolls.
Even Stevens: Season 2, Episode 13, “A Very Scary Story”
Again, because I refuse to grow up, I had to include another Halloween special of one of my favorite television shows growing up. Back when Shia LaBeouf was young and dorky, he starred on the show Even Stevens as Louis, the youngest Stevens sibling. It’s Halloween and Louis is planning the biggest prank ever, but something strange is happening at school. Principal Wexler and Coach Tugnet are conducting eye exams that are turning everyone into “mindless, respectable, zombies” as stated on the episode’s IMDb page.
Parks and Recreation: Season 4, Episode 5, “Meet ‘n’ Greet”
Andy and April throw a Halloween party at their place. After watching this episode, I want to embody their party planning skills and throw my own Halloween rager. Watch this episode right now on Netflix and you’ll see what I mean.
Angie DeRosa is a campus correspondent for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at angelina.derosa@uconn.edu. She tweets @theangiederosa.
