Retro TV adorned with a spooky Halloween face, creating a nostalgic eerie vibe.

5 Must-Watch Halloween TV Episodes That Still Hold Up

ByBelinda Young

The day of unlimited candy, ghost stories, and spooky fun is almost here. All Hallow’s Eve, also known as Halloween, is not just a fun (and scary) time to go Trick-or-Treating, but also time to watch your favorite TV shows. Not all, but most will do a Halloween-themed or scary show around October. Many sitcoms – and even some procedurals will cater to the fear factor. Or at least have a ghoulish feel during this crazy and colorful season.

Hitting the Vault for the 5 Must-Watch Halloween Episodes of All Time

While our witches and warlocks are behind the scenes brewing up the cauldron for selecting (only) five Halloween shows, let’s take a look at what the special ingredients are. We based our selections on creativity, humor, and of course, a few real scares. When a show produced something completely original for Halloween, it made the list. We’re talking less about witches and ghosts, and more about tapping into the true spell – and spook of Halloween.

M*A*S*H “Trick or Treatment” (1982)

MASH
Image of Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, Harry Morgan, and Loretta Swit in M*A*S*H (1972), Courtesy of CBS

We’re going back over 40 years to look at this creatively written episode. The 4077 mobile army hospital already lived with the constant fear of an attack – and the uncertainty of war. That alone makes it scary. In this episode, we find Hawkeye and gang getting ready to attend a Halloween party. They’re all adorning their costumes when they get a large influx of injured soldiers coming in. One of the patients who is pronounced dead, mysteriously comes back to life. And yes, that’s when the real fun begins.

Sabrina the Teenage Witch “A River of Candy Corn Runs Through It” (1997)

Sabrina The Teenage Witch
Image from “Sabrina The Teenage Witch”, Courtesy of Archie Comics/Hartbreak Films/ABC Network

No, we didn’t pick this one because there’s a witch in the title. Anyone who knows Sabrina, knows that she tries to keep her witchery under wraps, for the most part. In this bewitching episode, Sabrina throws a Halloween party for her non-magical friends, but, as expected, her house has other ideas. Unsurprisingly, antics ensue and Sabrina must figure out a way to keep her guests happy and effectively deal with the pesky other realm. This episode also has a fun performance from 10,000 Maniacs.

How I Met Your Mother “The Slutty Pumpkin” (2005)

How I Met Your Mother
Image of Neil Patrick Harris, Chad Lindsey, and Josh Radnor in How I Met Your Mother (2005), Courtesy of Bays Thomas Productions/20th Century Fox Television

One of the funniest shows on television, “How I Met Your Mother” always knew how to do dry humor right. In this episode, Ted (Josh Radnor) meets a woman dressed as – you guessed it – a slutty pumpkin at a Halloween party. He spends literally years trying to look for her, even going back to that same Halloween party dressed in the same old costume. This well-written episode isn’t so much about what he ultimately finds, it’s all about the quest that haunts him.

Psych “Scary Sherry: Bianca’s Toast” (2007)

Psych
Image of Timothy Omundson & Mercedes Ruehl, Courtesy of Pacific Mountain Productions/Universal

Another great show – both hilarious and brilliantly written – which ended way too soon. In this episode, Shawn (James Roday Rodriguez) and Gus (Dulé Hill) help detective Juliet (Maggie Lawson of “Boston Blue”) investigate some haunted happenings at a sorority house. A pledge had sadly fallen to her death on… shockingly, Halloween night. “Psych” had so many good Halloween-themed and spooky episodes that USA Network put out a DVD just of their Halloween episodes and insanely humorous antics.

The Simpsons “Treehouse of Horror IV” (1993)

The Simpsons
Image from The Simpsons, Courtesy of Gracie Films/20th Television Animation

To be fair, there are many, many, many of “The Simpsons” episodes which would qualify to be on our list, as the real fear is that “The Simpsons” quite hauntingly can predict the future. In this episode, Bart hosts a knock-off of Rod Sterling‘s “The Twilight Zone” and “Night Gallery.” What we can say is that the episode starts off with Homer’s doughnut, which he acquired by “ill-gotten” means. “The Treehouse of Horror” installments are some of the most creative and irreverent fun on television!

A Haunted and Honorable Mention

“The Dukes of Hazzard” had a great Halloween episode entitled “The Ghost of General Lee.” The 1977 episode had Bo and Luke swimming in the local swimmin’ hole and their beloved car, General Lee, gets stolen then is crashed into the pond. Boss Hogg concocts a cockamamie story about the brothers and they trick out a ghostly General Lee to get back at him.

Halloween Hijinks and Television Trick-or-Treating

It’s really daunting (and haunting) to choose just five episodes. That was almost muuuurderous. (Imagine that said a Vincent Price voice.) Whether it’s scary, mysterious, or just spookily silly, watching TV with a big bowl of candy or mulled hot cider is always a favorite past time.

A foodie for life, Belinda has expanded to freelance writing for about eight years. She writes about wine, food, travel, gardening, music (metal and prog in particular), and entertainment. When she is not working or writing, Belinda is owned by five dogs who demand uninterrupted attention, playtime, and lots of treats!

More Great Content