35 Best Halloween TV Specials Of All Time Ranked

While Christmas might dominate the airwaves on a yearly basis, the best time to watch TV is Halloween time. Mostly every major network goes out of its way to celebrate the holiday with seasonal advertisements and special promotional bumpers. Not only that, but many networks air special marathons dedicated to horror films and, of course, Halloween specials. 

It's always a blast when your favorite live action or animated series does a spooky or supernatural episode. Oftentimes, shows contain multiple Halloween episodes, with some receiving airplay to this day despite airing decades ago. Whether it be hand drawn, live action, creepy or silly, these are the Halloween specials that resonate to this day.

Another one that falls into the realm of the obscure, but worth hunting down, minor classics is "Cry Baby Lane," a made-for-television film that Nickelodeon premiered in October of 2000.

The film is about two brothers, Andrew and Carl, who enjoy listening to ghost stories from the local undertaker (Frank Langella). One such tale concerns a local farmer whose wife gave birth to Siamese twins — one being good, the other evil. Following their subsequent deaths, posthumous separation and burials in different locations, they exist solely as a disturbing, dubious legend. 

But as luck would have it, due to a botched séance by Carl and his friends, the evil twin's spirit is unleashed on the town. The film is a darker affair than what would typically be expected from Nickelodeon during this periods, live action or otherwise. In fact, it feels like it could be this dark subject matter that had the movie vanishing from the public consciousness — and most forms of distribution — almost immediately after its release. But in 2011 the network announced they would re-air it, insisting that "Cry" wasn't so much "banned" per se as the network simply forgot about it.

Despite its low budget aesthetic, the film is a legitimately creepy watch, helped in large part by the incomparable Frank Langella. It's a major departure from the normal made-for-television fare of the early 2000s, which is precisely why it's worth a watch.

This is one you'll need to dig up (sorry for the pun), but it is an underrated gem that deserves more attention. "When Good Ghouls Go Bad" originally aired in 2001 on the now defunct Fox Family, and it stars the legendary Christopher Lloyd.

The film gives us the Walker family — recent divorcee James, son Danny and eccentric grandfather Frank (Lloyd). The family has recently moved to the small town of Walker Falls, so James can restart his family's chocolate factory. This is not helped by the town having no need for any sweets, because they do not celebrate Halloween — the result of a supposed curse involving a dead artistic boy by the name of Curtis Danko. As Halloween approaches strange occurrences begin to pile up, culminating in a mass rise of the undead. Over the course of one crazy night the dead run amok, love is kindled, and shocking truths are revealed.

From stem to stern, this is a wonderful Halloween TV movie that revels in all of its nostalgic cheesiness. The film is shot surprisingly well for a television production, and the effects are as silly as they are endearing.

The Season 2 Halloween special of "Black-ish," titled "Jacked o' Lantern," sees the Johnson family duke it out with their cousins on Halloween. Along with their yearly tradition of dressing up together as a family, the Johnson family also has the unfortunate tradition of getting beaten by their "hood cousins" and having their candy and costumes stolen. This year is different though — not only because the Johnson kids are going to stand up for themselves — but also because Dre's (Anthony Anderson) cousin June Bug (Michael Strahan), who used to beat him up as a kid, comes over unexpectedly. 

It's absolutely hilarious to see the Johnson family dress as the Obamas for Halloween, with Jack (Miles Brown) even dressing as the Obama family dog Bo, while the fights between the Johnson family and their cousins will leave you in stitches. Strahan joining the bunch is a total treat and there's actually a great storyline between him and Dre that connects well with what's happening with the kids. Beyond that, the antics surrounding Rainbow (Tracee Ellis Ross) having trouble with trick-or-treaters, Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) giving out tiny bibles instead of candy, and Dre trying to prove his manhood will leave you laughing. "Jacked o' Lanterns" doesn't have frights, but it's got plenty of hilarious fights. 

In its very first season, "iCarly" delivers a fun Halloween adventure with some good scares and fun frights with the episode "iScream on Halloween." The episode sees Carly (Miranda Cosgrove), Freddie (Nathan Kress), and Sam (Jennette McCurdy) go into a haunted apartment in their building to film a special Halloween episode of "iCarly," but ultimately find something scarier than expected. "iScream on Halloween" is a simple yet satisfying Halloween episode with the "iCarly" crew as the scares they encounter are fun, and there are some really cute moments, like Freddie being forced to wear a witch costume by his mom. 

The true nature of all the scares they endure is surprisingly funny. Overall, it just feels like a classic Halloween adventure with a modern spin. "iScream on Halloween" isn't necessarily raising the bar for Halloween specials. Still, it's a ton of fun and an easily enjoyable watch to get viewers into the Halloween spirit. 

The MCU delivered its first holiday special in the form of "Werewolf by Night," adding another horror-themed character to its ongoing canon and unleashing a beastly horror story that's equal parts classic and refreshing. The special follows Jack Russell (Gael Garcia Bernal), a monster hunter who is thrust into a dangerous game while attending the funeral of a legendary hunter. He ends up unleashing the beast within when he sees that they're hunting a lost friend of his.

The style of "Werewolf by Night" is a perfect ode to classic Universal monster movies and it finally feels like the MCU is stepping into some of Marvel's more horror-themed stories here. With its incredible depiction of Man-Thing alongside the titular werewolf, some of Marvel's most underrated horror icons get their debut in a horror special filled with plenty of surprisingly grisly kills, good scares, and stunning horror action. With other Marvel horror characters like Blade and, hopefully, Ghost Rider making on-screen debuts soon, "Werewolf by Night" is a pivotal moment for the MCU and a great watch for Halloween.

"The Fairly OddParents" has provided fans with a lot of fun misadventures with Timmy, Cosmo, and Wanda. However, one of the most memorable episodes comes at the end of Season 2 — the Halloween-themed special "Scary Godparents." The episode sees Timmy wishing that everyone's costumes would become real and scary, which ultimately results in big monsters being created that could destroy Earth. There's actually a lot happening here, as we not only get to see Cosmo and Wanda walk around with Timmy since people just believe that they're in costume, but the alien Mark also shows up for a date with Vicky. 

Everyone transforming into monsters is clearly the main attraction of the episode, though, as it introduces an oddly catchy Halloween tune before leading to some epic fights and monster designs. The Jack-O-Bot designs are amazing and might even help inspire some costumes this Halloween. Everyone's monster transformations are creepy and hilarious, especially Timmy, who is constantly losing limbs as a decrepit mummy. "Scary Godparents" offers an endless stream of Halloween fun that no one should miss out on and is a high point for the series. 

Back in 2013, Disney and Pixar delivered a fun Halloween special titled "Toy Story of Terror!" that sees some fan-favorite characters in a horrifying situation. Set after the events of "Toy Story 3," Woody, Buzz, and the rest of the toys find themselves in a creepy motel after Bonnie and her parents stop there during a road trip and end up searching for Mr. Potato Head as a deeper conspiracy unfolds. Overall, "Toy Story of Terror!" features a great story fitting for the "Toy Story" world that showcases an interesting human antagonist and some cool new toy characters. 

Mr. Pricklepants' horror movie-style narration is absolutely hilarious and it's really fun to see this group of beloved characters in a horror-themed story. There are even some great moments of Jessie getting over a big fear of hers and the toys working together to escape a disastrous situation. No "Toy Story" fan should miss out on "Toy Story of Terror!" as it makes for a great Halloween watch for the whole family.

Lilo and Stitch come across plenty of Stitch's alien cousins in the hugely underrated "Lilo & Stitch: The Series," and they're usually causing trouble for the people of Hawaii. When Halloween rolls around on the show, the titular duo faces off against one of Stitch's spookier cousins. In the episode "Spooky," Lilo and Stitch hunt the eponymous alien, who has the power to bring people's worst fears to life. The design of Spooky is perfect for a Halloween ghoul, and his powers lead to some pretty haunting moments.

The whole idea of Spooky posing as Bubbles and threatening to take Lilo away from Nani is pretty dark for something like "Lilo & Stitch," and many of the scary moments will stick with you long after the credits have rolled. Other than that, "Spooky" offers some good Halloween fun with one of Disney's best pairings, and the "true purpose" that Spooky is given by Lilo at the end will undoubtedly leave a big smile on your face. "Spooky" lives up to its name, but it's also a heartwarming and super nostalgic watch.

There's no way Nickelodeon fans could forget the amazing "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius" Halloween special "Nightmare in Retroville," which turned its titular boy genius into a monster maker for a very special night of frights. After opting against going trick-or-treating, Jimmy decides to turn Sheen and Carl into actual monsters so they can have the scariest costumes, but he ends up creating a nightmare that sees more monsters start to roam Retroville. The monster designs of fan-favorite characters are amazing and there are some really fun moments that make this a delightfully nostalgic Halloween adventure.

The slow build-up of more monsters being created throughout the episode leads to a great moment in which they all come together, and Hugh as Frankenstein's monster is a big highlight. What's great is that the characters' personalities don't go away when they turn into monsters, so Carl becoming a vampire and Sheen becoming a werewolf has a hilarious sense of normality. Plus, the ending that sees Jimmy turn himself into something more monstrous is perfect. "Nightmare in Retroville" is pure Halloween fun for all the family.

Considering that Nickelodeon's "Danny Phantom" is one of the best-known horror cartoons of all time, it's no surprise that it delivers a great Halloween special with "Fright Night." In an attempt to win a bet against bully Dash to create the best Halloween party at the school, Danny ventures into the Ghost Zone to get the power of the legendary Fright Knight, a fearsome ghost who sends people into their worst nightmares. Unfortunately, he ends up finding himself in a fight against a medieval nightmare. "Fright Knight" is an instant classic for Halloween specials, and its titular ghost is an awesome horror character. 

The Fright Knight's gigantic ghost knight design is undeniably epic, and he finds himself in a frantic search for his stolen sword. Beyond that, the fights between him and Danny are visually amazing. Fright Knight is a super memorable character in Danny's rouge's gallery and helps make the nightmares seen in this episode a total delight. It's an incredibly fun Halloween special that any horror fan will love and delivers one of Danny Phantom's most fearsome foes to date. 

What's better than a horror anthology on Halloween? The "Recess" Halloween special delivers just that with "The Terrifying Tales of Recess," offering viewers three fun and scary tales with the "Recess" crew. Narrated by a scary-looking kid named Butch, the episode delves into three tales that deal with cursed corn chips, a vengeful bicycle, and zombie versions of Miss Finster rising from the ground. "Recess" was always an incredibly engaging show, but this Halloween episode is definitely among the best.

What's great about this animated anthology is that it contains nods to classic tropes and films from the genre, including "Night of the Living Dead" and "Christine." The best part is that it's still very funny, with all the normal hilarity and fun that "Recess" is known for. It's a perfectly fitting episode for the Halloween season, placing some fan-favorite characters in horror-themed stories that are entertaining for all ages. If you're looking to get into the Halloween spirit and you want something nostalgic, then "The Terrifying Tales of Recess" is definitely worth checking out.

"Invader Zim" is a cult-classic Nickelodeon cartoon that's absolutely worth watching and features a Halloween spectacular like no other with Season 1's "Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom." After messing with one of his father's inventions, Dib now requires Zim's help after the two of them are sucked into an alternate nightmare dimension and run into its horrifying leader, Nightmare Bitters. The "Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom" is a great mix of sci-fi, horror, and hilarity as mortal enemies Dib and Zim are forced to work together to escape.

Dib visiting a nightmare version of his house is perfect for some Halloween frights and the body-horror visuals of the creatures in the nightmare world are a treat for horror fans. Also, Nightmare Bitters is an awesome villain in the series that fits the show's comedic style and has a chilling design perfect for a Halloween special. This spooky special is vastly underrated, just like the series, and deserves to be everyone's Halloween watch this year. 

"Sabrina the Teenage Witch," the quirky '90s sitcom about a burgeoning young magic-wielder, actually had several great Halloween episodes. But the best was "Good Will Haunting," which arrived as the sixth episode of Season 3.

It's All Hallows' Eve in the Spellman household and Sabrina's aunts, Hilda and Zelda, have an unfortunate commitment to uphold. After coming up with excuses for 500 years, the duo have to finally attend their Great Aunt Beulah's party. Sabrina gets to avoid such a fate, as she already has a double date commitment with Valerie, Harvey, and Justin. However, trouble begins when Aunt Beulah sends Sabrina a talking doll by the name of Molly Dolly. Molly begins tormenting her friends, and soon Sabrina is looking for a way to return her Aunt's unfortunate gift.

"Good Will Haunting" is chock-full of the show's signature humor and quirky supernatural sensibility. The standout performance in this episode might be voice veteran Tara Strong, however, as she brings her bubbly charm to the mischievous Molly Dolly. All in all, it's the kind of cheesy, memorable romp that only "Sabrina the Teenage Witch" could provide.

"How I Met Your Mother" provides an incredibly memorable Halloween special in "****** Pumpkin" that not only provides some funny moments and costumes but some strong character arcs within the series. In the hopes that he will reunite with a girl he met at a party years ago — who was dressed as a sexy pumpkin — Ted (Josh Radnor) heads to a Halloween party on the roof while Marshall (Jason Segel) and Lily (Alyson Hannigan) go on a disastrous double date with Robin (Cobie Smulders). Ted's story about meeting the girl in the pumpkin costume is perfect as the group constantly cuts him off, while his attempt to have everything appear like it did when they first met, including wearing his crummy hanging chad costume, is fitting for his character. 

Meanwhile, Robin's double date with Marshall and Lily also speaks to her character as she struggles to get into the Halloween spirit. Thankfully, Lily and Marshall save the day by winning the bar's costume contest. While the sexy pumpkin, who would appear in a later episode played by Katie Holmes, is the main centerpiece of the plot, "****** Pumpkin" ends up being a key moment in Ted and Robin's story. "****** Pumpkin" definitely has the hilarity and fun costumes of any good Halloween special, but it's also an episode that matters to the overall storyline of the show. 

You thought "Ed, Edd n Eddy" wouldn't have a spot on this list? Don't mock the son of a shepherd! 

"Boo Haw Haw" is set on Halloween night, as the ever-boisterous Eddy devises a plan to make it the best night ever. He presents Double D and Ed with a map from his enigmatic older brother, depicting a town called Spook-e-ville. Their All Hallows' Eve, however, is hindered by Ed — who, having viewed too many horror movies, is a bit frazzled. So frazzled that he sees the rest of the Cul-De-Sac kids as an army of movie monsters!

"Boo Haw Haw" is regarded by series creator Danny Antonucci as his personal favorite episode. It definitely stands out among the series' most visually impressive installments, packed to the brim with various horror homages. From the trio's personality-appropriate costumes to the monstrous forms of the other kids, it's all a feast for the eyes. The jokes in this special are impeccable, with all the Eds getting a chance for a great line. "Ed, Edd n Eddy" already has the distinction of being Cartoon Network's longest running cartoon, airing for a solid decade. It's only fitting it would also have one of Cartoon Network's best Halloween specials.

Love him or hate him, David S. Pumpkin (Tom Hanks) is a Halloween staple for "SNL" fans. First appearing in Season 42, David S. Pumpkins instantly became a sensation that many saw as a Halloween treat. In his original sketch, David S. Pumpkins and his two skeleton sidekicks (Mikey Day and Bobby Moynihan) were seen confusing and ultimately scaring a couple during a "100 Floors of Frights" attraction in a hotel with their weird dance moves and antics. When asked what he is, Pumpkins would simply respond by saying that he is "his own thing" and eventually end the routine with his signature catchphrase, "Any questions?"

It was a strange sketch with a unique comedic performance from Hanks that quickly caught fire and eventually spawned a 2017 Halloween animated special that saw Hanks, Day, and Moynihan reprise their roles. David S. Pumpkins is definitely one of the most notable modern characters from "Saturday Night Live." He has become a memorable figure for TV viewers hoping to see Pumpkins return to deliver more weird dance moves, good laughs, and a good scare that everyone's entitled to on the spookiest night of the year.

"That 70's Show" features plenty of great nods to its titular era. The Halloween episode in Season 3, "Too Old to Trick or Treat, Too Young to Die," contains some awesome Halloween twists on the show's style and is an ode to one of the greats of the horror genre. This episode sees the gang deal with some spooky situations, including Kelso (Ashton Kutcher) fighting off a determined paperboy and Eric (Topher Grace) dealing with some scary vertigo. It's chock full of references and comedic homages to the films of Alfred Hitchcock.

Films like "Vertigo," "Psycho," "Rear Window," and "The Birds" are referenced throughout the episode and are given some hilarious spins that allow "That 70's Show" to become a fun horror-comedy for an episode. Plus, Fez (Wilmer Valderrama) dressing up as Frank-n-Furter from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" is just iconic. It would be tough to believe that something like "That 70's Show" could pull off a truly hilarious love letter to Hitchcock, but boy does it, and it makes for an ultra nostalgic Halloween watch.

Halloween is a special time for any horror series as it can act as a catalyst for the world's greatest horrors to appear — which is precisely what it does in "American Horror Story: Murder House." The season is filled with plenty of creepy ghosts with bloody and brutal backstories, but the two-parter "Halloween" features some of the most terrifying moments of all. As spirits are able to walk freely across Earth on Halloween, we get to see them interact with the world in terrifying ways. Not to mention that Tate (Evan Peters) receives a visit from some bloody ghosts while on a date with Violet (Taissa Farmiga) who have a gut-wrenching tie to him. 

While we don't understand why these ghosts are so intent on taunting Tate at first, their bloody rage and anger toward him make them absolutely terrifying. Plus, we get the horrifying answer in the opening of the next episode. There are some pivotal story reveals in the two-parter that'll undoubtedly shock and horrify viewers and act as big game-changers for everything moving forward in the series. Leave it to "American Horror Story" to deliver a bloody, shocking, and twisted Halloween special. 

Sector V from Cartoon Network's "Codename: Kids Next Door" went on many missions that saw them face foes old and new over the years, but "Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y" (the first story from Season 3, Episode 11) was a particularly memorable one. This tale sees them taking on a candy hunting pirate on Halloween. Numbuh 4 is the Scrooge of Halloween for the group, as he finds dressing up and begging for candy to be kind of dumb. Suddenly, he finds himself in a bet with the rest of the group to see who can score more candy before the night ends. Unfortunately for Numbuh 4, he gets sucked into a fight with the mischievous Captain Stickybeard and his band of candy pirates.

"Operation: T.R.I.C.K.Y." is the perfect kind of Halloween special for those looking for something a little less scary and more of a fun trick-or-treating adventure. The opening with the group scaring Numbuh 4 with their horrifying costumes is a ton of fun, and the tale eventually turns into a candy-filled epic when Stickybeard enters the picture. It's always a blast to see Sector V face off against an old nemesis, and Numbuh 4 trying to take over the Stickybeard's ship is fantastic. The ending is both hilarious and satisfying, capping off a great Halloween adventure.

It wouldn't be the spookiest time of the year without an appearance by everyone's favorite animated lasagna-loving feline, Garfield. 

In this 25-minute special (also known as "Garfield in Disguise"), it's Halloween time and Garfield couldn't be more excited to go out and pull in a mountain of sweets. Being his typically gluttonous self, however, he has hoodwinked Odie into coming along so he can selfishly double his haul. But after heading to a remote island in search of more candy, they are menaced by pirate ghosts.

This 1985 special is an absolutely wonderful slice of seasonal TV, whether you are a child or an adult, which has always been Garfield's appeal. Children can enjoy the colorful animation and songs, while adults can enjoy the dry delivery and humor of the titular character. Never to be forgotten is the legendary Lorenzo Music, who once again provides the voice for Garfield. Whenever the character is discussed, Music is the first actor to be mentioned, as he is synonymous with the role. He's in top form here, showcasing Garfield's excitement for candy and his fearful reaction to the pirates.

Wonderfully animated and voice acted, "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" is a perfect little treat for the spookiest time of the year.

"Arnold's Halloween" is quite possibly one of the funniest episodes from the original run of "Hey Arnold."

In the episode, it's Halloween time in Eren City, and everyone in the boarding house is getting ready for the spooky festivities. However, despite their enthusiasm, Arnold and Gerald aren't allowed to participate in the planning for the annual party. They decide to have some fun of their own by tricking the residents with a faux alien invasion radio broadcast. However, this coincides with Helga and the other kids being mistaken for legitimate alien invaders, due to their costumes. Amplifying the paranoia is alien investigator Douglas Cain, who through his coverage of the boys' broadcast panics the entire city.

The episode is, of course, loosely based on the incident surrounding Orson Welles' infamous 1938 radio production of "War of the Worlds." This episode takes the idea of the public believing the simulated events, then beefs up the cartoonish absurdity. From the broadcast itself to Helga's father leading an alien resistance force, the episode is filled with funny moments. The charm of "Hey Arnold" always came from its grounded nature, but this episode goes a bit wild, and it works.

There are plenty of frights to be had watching the '90s live-action adaptation of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series, but none are as fitting for Halloween as "The Haunted Mask." This spooky tale follows Carly Beth Caldwell (Kathryn Long), a timid teenager who buys a very scary-looking mask to spook the boys that have been teasing her. Unfortunately for her, she ends up becoming the victim of the mask's curse. There's a reason that "The Haunted Mask" is one of the most memorable "Goosebumps" episodes; it's because it's legitimately creepy for an episode of a kids' TV show.

The horrifying design of the haunted mask is the stuff of nightmares and the story still holds up well by today's standards. The mask becoming stuck to Carly Beth's face becomes scarier as the episode goes on, and there's a dark vibe throughout the whole episode that you can't shake. It's a memorable two-part story and even has an equally great sequel that makes for a great double feature. "Goosebumps" has plenty of fun horror tales that everyone can enjoy, but "The Haunted Mask" remains a nostalgic Halloween must-watch.

If ever there was a Halloween special that everyone and their mother knows, it would definitely be this one. "It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" has been a staple of the Halloween season since its original airing in 1966. Alongside "A Charlie Brown Christmas," it's regarded as one of the most memorable Peanuts animated specials.  

This yearly event has the Peanuts Gang getting into the spirit of the season, but the ever-eccentric Linus has his own plans. Instead of trick-or-treating and apple bobbing with the gang, he's making plans to stay up to see the Great Pumpkin. It's said that the Great Pumpkin will rise from the pumpkin patch and bring toys to the children of the world.

It may be as crude and simple as a Halloween special can get, but that's ultimately where the charm comes from. The animation is simplistic, the voice acting is undeniably stiff, but it all works towards creating a cozy atmosphere. This is what you want in the background when you are handing out candy to the last few trick-or-treaters.

"SpongeBob SquarePants" has been dominating the airwaves since the late '90s, capturing the hearts of children and adults alike. In its very first season, it also delivered a delightful double-header of a Halloween special. Fans received a pair of eleven-minute episodes, put together with both showcasing spooky tales concerning their favorite pineapple-dwelling yellow sponge.

First, there's "Scaredy Pants," where SpongeBob finally looks to shed his status as Bikini Bottom's resident scaredy cat. Dressed as dreaded undersea legend the Flying Dutchman, SpongeBob looks to spook the attendees at the Krusty Krab Halloween party. Things get a bit more complicated, however, when the actual Flying Dutchman shows up to menace the party.

In "I Was A Teenage Gary," Squidward's pet-sitting negligence leads to Gary becoming ill. This results in a visit from the snail doctor, who provides a dose of snail plasma to be administered to Gary. However, SpongeBob accidentally receives the dose and slowly begins taking on snail-like qualities himself. Oh, the horror!

This results in a welcome dose of nightmare fuel, as SpongeBob slowly transforms into a snail. Either episode taken alone is absolutely delightful; together, they serve as cartoon classics and solid Halloween viewing for the whole family.

Leave it to the always irreverent, shocking "South Park" to hit us with a great Halloween special in Season One.

It is Halloween in South Park and, ever the common occurrence, Kenny McCormick has died in an inexplicable fashion. Kenny is crushed by a space station, which causes his remains to be moved to the morgue. After a bottle of Worcestershire sauce makes its way into the embalming fluid, Kenny is reanimated and escapes. In his wake, he spreads the zombie plague throughout the town which coincides with Stan, Kyle and Cartman's trick-or-treating.

While not as politically charged as the more recent seasons, this early outing delivered many memorable moments. From Cartman's on-brand Adolf Hitler costume to the boys getting candy from KKK members, it was a gloriously offensive treat. Not to be forgotten is a brief "Thriller" parody, performed by the zombified Chef (the late, great Issac Hayes). 

"Pink Eye" was also one of the first "South Park" episodes to incorporate horror elements for comedic and satirical effect. The show would follow this with increasingly-crazier Halloween specials like "Hell on Earth" and "A Nightmare on FaceTime," but it is this crude little special from a crude little show that would become the most memorable.

Along with seeing its central cast of Brooklyn detectives wear hilarious costumes, "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" features a unique Halloween tradition that sees Jake (Andy Samberg) and his coworkers embark on a special Halloween heist that usually doesn't go as planned. After betting that he can steal Holt's (Andre Braugher) Medal of Valor by the end of Halloween night, Jake utilizes some different costumes, ideas, and cohorts that'll help him win the bet. 

There's nothing funnier than watching Jake go through every obstacle and idea to try and get Holt's medal throughout the night, and seeing him eventually achieve victory feels so sweet. Plus, it also cuts to Amy (Melissa Fumero) being a Halloween scrooge as she's forced to go out on patrol in costume. There are plenty of great laughs to be had, and this episode starts a seasonal tradition for the series with new heists coming up every Halloween that would eventually bring more people in on the action, including Holt. 

Those looking for a Halloween special a little outside the norm will certainly want to check out this "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" tradition at the core of the show's best episodes. 

No list of nostalgic Halloween specials would be complete without an appearance from the "Friends" episode "The One With The Halloween Party," a worthy addition to any Halloween TV binge. The episode sees the group deal with different antics and issues throughout the night while attending Monica (Courteney Cox) and Chandler's (Matthew Perry) Halloween party. This special has no shortage of funny moments that range from Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) fighting with some kids while giving out candy to Chandler and Ross (David Schwimmer) arguing about who could win in a fight while wearing two horribly embarrassing costumes.

Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow) easily has the most memorable storyline here, though not just because it sees her feuding with her sister Ursula (also Kudrow), but also because it brings along Sean Penn for a cameo as Ursula's fiancée Eric. He shows up for the party dressed as the solar system. There's some seriously funny costumes in this episode — including Chandler as a bitter pink bunny rabbit and Ross as a big doody, aka Spudnik — and some good conflicts that are a blast to watch. In the ever-growing list of Halloween specials, "The One with the Halloween Party" still remains a total treat.

"Modern Family" delivered a great Halloween special back in Season 2, fittingly titled "Halloween." The episode is still worth watching today for its hilarious Halloween hijinks and fun family antics. While Claire (Julie Bowen) is trying to turn the Dunphy residence into the spookiest haunted house on the block, the rest of her family is going through some tough times. Gloria (Sofia Vergara) is trying to change her accent after being corrected too much, and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) is reliving a traumatic Halloween moment from his childhood. Of course, the haunted house plans soon go awry.

There's nothing better than watching Claire attempt to scare trick-or-treaters with her haunted house, which fails in a comical fashion. Everyone's problems ultimately leak into Claire's haunted house setup, making it lack scares, but this episode has no shortage of hilarious moments as a result. While it does lead to Claire losing it and Phil (Ty Burrell) confronting her about the state of their marriage, it ends with the family coming together to make Claire's haunted house dream a reality. This is a nostalgic and heartwarming Halloween special that's generally regarded as one of the best episodes of "Modern Family."

"The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy" is one of those shows you need to see in order to believe. The series focused on the buffoonish Billy and the cynical Mandy — along with the indentured Grim Reaper — going on various adventures. Over the course of several seasons, the series tackled everything from sickening demons to evil clowns to rubber hose animation. But one of the most memorable episodes was "Jacked Up Halloween," the series' first Halloween special.

The episode has the trio taking to the streets of Endsville for All Hallows' Eve, with Billy taking Grim's scythe for his costume. He eventually runs into the fabled Jack O'Lantern, a pumpkin-headed prankster with a vendetta against Grim. Jack tricks Billy out of the scythe, and unleashes a pumpkin army on Endsville in preparation to decapitate Grim. 

Now, it's up to the ever-cynical Mandy to save Endsville and Grim from Jack on a crazy Halloween night. The highlight of the special is Wayne Knight as Jack, bringing his impeccable comedic timing to the part. Also, the episode is just dripping in Halloween atmosphere from the opening sequence to the design of the pumpkin army. Definitely an '00s classic worth dusting off for the upcoming Halloween season.

Although "Bob's Burgers" has had plenty of memorable Halloween specials, Season 6's "The Hauntening" is especially memorable as it sees the Belcher family attempt to scare Louise with their own version of a haunted house only to find themselves in a scary situation. Bob and Linda's attempt at scaring Louise is hilarious in how cheap and on-brand it is with their humor. All of the horror-themed fun kicks off when the family starts to be haunted by the house's "evil entities." 

As the family becomes tormented by strange noises and the creepy things they find, including a baby doll with sticks in its eyes, they start to find even more horrifying things that resemble a cult-like presence. The horror atmosphere here is a lot of fun, and the big reveal that happens when things hit their peak is both brilliant and genuinely hilarious. The Belchers really went all out for Halloween in "The Hauntening" and it delivers a great Halloween special that blends horror and comedy seamlessly. 

What's better than seeing the hilarious cast of "Community" stuck in the series' central community college on Halloween night as a zombie outbreak occurs? Well, that's exactly what fans get in the standout Season 2 Halloween special, "Epidemiology." While attending the annual Greendale Halloween Party, the study group finds themselves in a fight for survival when the Dean's (Jim Rash) food ends up turning those that eat it into zombie-like creatures with violent tendencies. Beyond that, the costumes in this episode are iconic, with Troy (Donald Glover) and Abed's (Danny Pudi) "Aliens" costumes being clear standouts. 

"Epidemiology" is a purely fun and funny Halloween zombie outbreak that sees the beloved cast of characters of "Community" in a horror film-inspired nightmare. Even for the strong comedy, there's an incredibly fun tone that never gets lost and it all makes for a great spin on zombie movies. The episode's ending is especially hilarious, built around a wild reset that turns everything back to normal. Finally, who can resist a fun cameo from George Takei providing some closing narration? "Epidemiology" is a "Community" episode like no other and a great Halloween special full of zombie horror goods. 

Fans of "Regular Show" always got a treat during the Halloween season thanks to the ongoing episode series "Terror Tales of the Park," in which the main characters deliver some scary tales. The first iteration in Season 3 saw the group tell stories involving Pops dealing with an evil doll, Muscle Man and High-Five Ghost fighting against a ghostly metal band, and Rigby succumbing to a devious wizard. From there, "Terror Tales of the Park" evolved into a staple of the Halloween special world.

Each iteration delivered new terrifying tales from the minds of its weird and wonderful central characters, as well as some amazing visuals that just scream Halloween horror fun. Some editions even centered on events happening at the park itself during Halloween and forced the crew to put certain genre twists on their tales. "Terror Tales of the Park" is an absolute must-watch for the Halloween season, mixing big laughs with fuzzy nostalgia feels.

"Boy Meets World" was a pivotal coming-of-age show throughout the '90s that offered plenty of memorable characters, moments, and a one of a kind Halloween special in "And Then There Was Shawn." As the central group of characters deal with the breakup of Cory (Ben Savage) and Topanga (Danielle Fishel), they find themselves locked in the high school with a skull-masked killer looking to pick them off one by one. "And Then There Was Shawn" is a super fun Halloween special that acts as an ode to slashers. It contains some awesome nods and references, including Shawn (Rider Strong) acting as a Randy Meeks-like horror know-it-all and Jennifer Love Hewitt making a fun cameo.

Eric (Will Friedle) even spouts some fun "South Park" lines that continue to get big laughs, and there are some surprisingly fun kills that make for good Halloween thrills. It might all lead to Shawn simply waking up from a dream he's having in detention, but like any great episode of "Boy Meets World," Shawn learns a valuable lesson (in this instance, he comes to better understand his feelings regarding Cory and Topanga's separation). It's always good when a Halloween special has great horror references and fun moments that come with some solid scares, but "Boy Meets World" went the extra mile with this Halloween special, and it's what makes this one of the best "Boy Meets World" episodes ever.

"The Office" has become known for many things, and one of those things is holiday-themed episodes, especially Halloween episodes. With everyone willing to go all out with their costumes every year, there's always a ton of fun to be had watching the Scranton branch have some Halloween hijinks. From the haunted warehouse tour that saw Michael (Steve Carrell) terrorize a bunch of kids, to the more elaborate costume parties they have in later seasons, Halloween is always a special time in Scranton.

Let's go back to the first Halloween episode from Season 2 (simply titled "Halloween") since it's the one that started it all. Sure, it doesn't have the crazy costume contests that would come with later episodes, but it does feature a storyline perfectly fitting for Michael and some humble beginnings with the costumes. With Michael procrastinating over firing someone due to company downsizing, he's left trying to figure out who to let go, which doesn't go as planned.

This episode provides a memorable moment for Creed (Creed Bratton), as he narrowly avoids getting fired by Michael in a way that only Creed could accomplish. Plus, we get some memorable costumes, like Dwight (Rainn Wilson) as a Sith Lord. Sure, it gets overshadowed by bigger and spookier Halloween specials, but "Halloween" still remains a great, nostalgic watch for fans of the hit mockumentary series.

It would be impossible to pick just one annual "Treehouse of Horror" from "The Simpsons." You could make a solid case for just about any of the 31 specials being the best one — and since they typically contain three segments, it's almost the segments you remember more than the episodes as a whole.

The initial "Treehouse of Horror" (which began in Season 2) was the show's first foray into an anthology format. They have often contained some of the series' most memorable gags, ranging from the verbal to the visual. One fan favorite would have to be "The Shinning" from the Season 6 "Treehouse of Horror V" special. While the Simpsons are serving as winter caretakers for Mr. Burns, the old miser cuts off the cable TV and beer. This causes Homer, much like Jack Nicholson in "The Shining," to go crazy and menace his family with an axe. 

Off the top of the head, that is just one vignette out of roughly 90 that stands out, but there are many other great ones to choose from. No fan of "The Simpsons" will ever say no to a "Treehouse of Horror" marathon on All Hallows' Eve.