Top 10 Halloween specials to get students in the spirit

By Nathaniel Repay

Here are 10 of the best Halloween episodes available on streaming services, perfect to put on while carving pumpkins, between trick-or-treaters or while the friend with the complicated costume takes extra long to get ready.

10. “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns” – How I Met Your Mother, Season 7, Episode 8, released Oct. 31, 2011

“How I Met Your Mother’s” Halloween episodes culminate in season seven. Protagonist Ted Mosby, played by Josh Radnor has been searching for ‘The Slutty Pumpkin,’ played by guest star Katie Holmes, ever since meeting her at a Halloween party 10 years ago and losing her phone number. Ted discovers the chemistry he was sure existed between them has disappeared, or maybe it was never there at all. The episode structure of three distinct storylines is funny but also easy to follow and gives the episode an entertaining mix.

9. ”Stone Mountain” – 30 Rock, Season 4, Episode 3, released Oct. 29, 2009

Jack Donaghy and Liz Lemon, played by Alec Baldwin and Tina Fey, respectively, fly to Stone Mountain, Georgia, in search of a new cast member, worried their show no longer appeals to ‘Middle America.’ Back in New York City, Tracy Jordan, played by Tracy Morgan, is terrified for his life after two celebrities die, and he learns of the ‘Curse of Three,’ and Jenna Maroney, played by Jane Krakowski, is trying to make friends with the writers, worried she won’t get as much screen time with a new actor coming aboard. Tracy and Jenna’s antics carry the episode, while a rotating cast of guest comics take stage in Stone Mountain, giving a different feel to this episode.

8. “Here Comes Treble” – The Office, Season 9, Episode 5, released Oct. 25, 2012

During the opening scenes of this episode, Dwight Schrute, played by Rainn Wilson, decides to wear a jack-o’-lantern on his head but has trouble getting it off in one of the greatest narrated show openings ever. Later, Dwight finds an anxiety pill and goes on a quest to find out who the deranged person in the office might be, aided by Nellie Bertram, played by Catherine Tate. Meanwhile, Andy Bernard, played by Ed Helms, is trying to relive his college glory days by bringing his old acapella group to Dunder Mifflin Scranton, reigniting his feud with Broccoli Rob played by guest star Stephen Colbert.

7. “Halloween Surprise” – Parks and Recreation, Season 5, Episode 5, released Oct. 25, 2012

This is one of the most jam-packed episodes of “Parks and Recreation” ever, with so many storylines coming together all at once. Super grump Ron Swanson’s new girlfriend Diane, played by Nick Offerman and Lucy Lawless, invites him to go trick-or-treating with her and her young children, and Andy, played by Chris Pratt, decides to come with. Andy is dressed as a policeman and is practicing for the police exam coming up. The oft-maligned Jerry, played by Jim O’Heir, has a heart attack after people jump out to scare him, and Leslie and Ben, played by Amy Poehler and Adam Scott, contemplate the future of their relationship. This episode is the perfect blend of gut-busting humor with one of the show’s most touching moments at the end.

6. “The One With The Halloween Party” – Friends, Season 8, Episode 6, released Nov. 1, 2001

“Friends” only Halloween special features Ross Gellar, played by David Schwimmer, with his iconic “Spud-nick” costume, an episode long arm-wrestling match and plenty of great dialogue. There is so much going on, but the funniest story arc follows Rachel, played by Jennifer Aniston, who is trying to prove to herself she is ready to have kids, and gets into all sorts of antics when she tries to bribe kids into being friends with her.

5. “Halloween” – The Office, Season 2, Episode 5, released Oct. 18, 2005

Regional Manager Michael Scott, played by Steve Carrell, was supposed to fire somebody before the end of the month, but has failed to decide who, leaving it until the last second which happens to be the day of the office Halloween party. His distress over who to fire, and his back-and-forth with characters vying to make sure they still have a job is one of the early examples of “The Office’s” brilliant brand of cringe-comedy.

4. “Halloween” – Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 1, Episode 6, released Oct. 22, 2013

The annual “Halloween Heist” episodes of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine” began in season one. The episode begins when Detective Jake Peralta, played by Andy Samberg, bets the new precinct leader, Captain Holt, played by Andre Braugher, he can steal his medal of valor before midnight in exchange for Captain Holt declaring him “an amazing detective/genius.” Shenanigans fly as Detective Peralta schemes to get the Medal of Valor from Captain Holt’s locked safe.

3. “Paranormal Parentage” – Community, Season 4, Episode 2, released Feb. 14, 2013.

Pierce Hawthorne, played by Chevy Chase, the old man of a community college study group, gets locked in his panic room and asks the group to come rescue him on their way to a classmate’s party. The creepy treasure hunt through Pierce’s mansion, costume confusion and the special effects of Pierce’s house come together to freak out each member of the study group, causing panic and mass confusion.

2. “HalloVeen’ – Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 5, Episode 4, released Oct. 17, 2017

In this year’s edition of the “Brooklyn Nine-Nine Heist,” all of the 99th precinct detectives are involved in the heist. A wrestling championship belt reading “Amazing Human/Genius” is hung from the ceiling and each member of the squad tries to steal it by midnight. Costumes, alliances, double-crossings and look-alikes galore make this the best Halloween episode of the year, and a twist-ending will warm any cold October heart.

1. “Epidemiology” – Community, Season 2, Episode 6, released Oct. 28, 2010

For the Greendale Community College Halloween party, Dean Craig Pelton orders what he thinks is taco meat from an army surplus store, but it turns out to be a secret U.S. Military weapon. The meat turns all those who eat it into literal zombies. The study group fights for their survival and tries to find a solution after the dean quarantines the school. “Community” takes outrageous concepts and turns them into beautiful and hilarious television over and over, and this Halloween special is no exception.