10 Most Memorable Halloween-Themed Sitcom Episodes

Summary

Sitcoms creatively use Halloween as a backdrop to bring out the true selves of their characters, even amidst wacky costumes and strange situations.

Sitcoms like "Parks and Recreation," "How I Met Your Mother," and "Friends" have become known for their Halloween episodes, which are a combination of humor and fright. These episodes are often highly memorable and feature entertaining storylines, notable costumes, and impressive guest appearances, such as Sean Penn's.

Halloween offers sitcoms the perfect opportunity to place their characters in unconventional situations. Whether they attend a costume party or interact with trick-or-treaters, Halloween pushes individuals beyond their comfort zones. On this day, the normal rules of life are disregarded, or at least some characters like to believe so. Ultimately, no outlandish costume can mask one's true nature, and individuals always end up resorting to their usual tricks.

Each sitcom utilizes the holiday in different ways. In some shows, it becomes a chance for characters to assume different identities for the night, as seen in New Girl and Brooklyn Nine-Nine. On other occasions, it serves as a means to transport the entire cast to a costume party. Regardless, sitcoms successfully leverage Halloween as the setting for their most uproarious, or even spine-chilling, episodes throughout their entire series.

10. Parks And Recreation, Season 5, Episode 5, "Halloween Surprise"

Parks and Recreation season 5, episode 5 showcases a delightful glimpse at a fictional movie titled "Death Canoe 4: Murder at Blood Lake" within the show's universe. Meanwhile, Nick Offerman delivers a stellar performance as the gruff Ron Swanson, who would not typically volunteer to accompany two kids on a trick-or-treating adventure. Predictably, he unintentionally upsets them, but it is through his heartfelt apology to their mother that we witness his more tender side. For a moment, Ron's stoic facade softens as he presents her with flowers, chocolates, and grout cleaner. "Halloween Surprise" crams an abundance of side-splitting quotes into its brief duration and cleverly balances the story arcs of each character.

9. How I Met Your Mother, Season 7, Episode 8, "The Slutty Pumpkin Returns"

"The Slutty Pumpkin Returns" delivers a commendable Halloween effort, despite How I Met Your Mother perhaps regretting the chosen title. Ted, the hopeless romantic, discovers the importance of not idealizing women based on a single encounter. The episode's additional storylines are equally compelling. Marshall attempts to support Lily as she grapples with "pregnancy brain," but ultimately has to confront the reality when she mistakenly offers a "pretty decent Pinot Noir" to young trick-or-treaters. Meanwhile, Barney and Robin continue their playfully antagonistic dynamic as she reveals his one-quarter Canadian heritage.

8. New Girl, Season 3, Episode 6, "Keaton"

Compared to his roommates, Schmidt from New Girl always appeared to have his life together. However, everything changed in the episode "Keaton" when his professional facade crumbled, revealing his childish side. Schmidt started believing that he was receiving supportive emails from Michael Keaton. Despite Schmidt being the central character, it is Nick Miller who truly shines. Adopting the persona of Keaton, he feels compelled to do something questionable in order to assist his best friend in distress. Strangely, while composing these emails, he wears a poorly made Batman mask. This episode, "Keaton," had a lasting impact on New Girl as Schmidt makes the decision to leave the loft after discovering the truth.

7. Friends, Season 8, Episode 6, "The One With The Halloween Party"

Friends only had one Halloween episode throughout its ten seasons, but it set a precedent for sitcoms in the following decades. Ross' cringe-worthy Spud-nik pun and Chandler's memorable pink bunny costume became instantly iconic, but there's more to this episode than those moments. It incorporates familiar comedic elements, such as Ross' complicated love life and Rachel's struggles to assert herself. However, the highlight of the episode is Sean Penn's guest appearance as Ursula's new fiancé, Eric. Penn's understated performance perfectly contrasts with the show's over-the-top comedic antics, creating a delightful blend of humor.

6. Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 2, Episode 3, "Trick Or Treat"

Most Halloween episodes feature characters dressing up in costumes and enjoying themselves together. However, the unconventional sitcom character Larry David from Curb Your Enthusiasm stands out. He tightly adheres to a set of social rules, which only he understands, and this causes trouble when he refuses to give candy to older trick-or-treaters. As a consequence, his house is vandalized and offensive words are spray-painted on his door. While Larry's rules may seem reasonable to him, most people would know better than to enforce them. This blind spot leads to a heated argument with Cheryl, where both characters have valid points, yet their house still ends up covered in toilet paper.

5. Community, Season 2, Episode 6, "Epidemiology"

Known for its rich history of parodying pop culture, the Community series has delivered countless memorable moments, such as the mockumentary-style pillow fort chronicle and the wild spaghetti-Western-inspired paintball battles. Unsurprisingly, the Halloween episode takes a fresh approach by incorporating elements of zombie films. Going beyond mere spoofing, "Epidemiology" successfully captures the essence of a horror tale. While maintaining a lighthearted tone with its frequent humor, the episode instills a lingering sense of fear as anyone could be the next victim, with no apparent escape. Fortunately, the Dean's ABBA-infused soundtrack somewhat eases the tension.

4. The Office, Season 2, Episode 5, "Halloween"

Michael's people-pleasing tendencies are put to the test when he is faced with the difficult task of firing someone on Halloween in The Office season 2, episode 5. This particular episode sheds light on one downside of Halloween - unlike Christmas or Thanksgiving, individuals are still expected to work. Instead of enjoying the festivities of watching scary movies and indulging in too much candy, people are forced to find enjoyment within their work environments. The episode also showcases a small progression in Jim and Pam's relationship as they come together to play a prank on Dwight, making the most out of the situation. The characters' costumes provide an intriguing glimpse into their self-perception, with Michael's eerie second head being the most memorable and possibly controversial choice.

3. It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Season 6, Episode 7, "Who Got Dee Pregnant?"

The gang attempts to reconstruct the identity of Dee's partner from a recent Halloween party, but conflicting accounts and costume swaps only add to the confusion. Frank's exceptional yet ill-fitting Spider-Man attire and Mac's exaggerated version of events provide some entertaining moments, but it is the unsolved mystery that propels the storyline. The McPoyles also leave a lasting impression as they down milk at the party. While Kaitlin Olson's pregnancy was incorporated into the show, the rest of the gang mostly overlooked it. Dee finally receives some affection when she gives birth, creating a rare occasion where the It's Always Sunny gang displays kindness.

2. Bojack Horseman, Season 5, Episode 8, "Mr. Peanutbutter's Boos"

By its fifth season, Bojack Horseman had developed a diverse ensemble of supporting characters. However, when comparing Mr. Peanutbutter to Diane or Princess Carolyn, he always appeared to be an afterthought. Essentially, he was merely a personified Labrador, named after a classic filmmaking technique used to make dogs appear as if they can talk. "Mr. Peanutbutter's Boos" maintains the show's characteristic fast-paced comedy, but it also exposes the recurring flaws of Hollywoo's beloved dog. While Mr. Peanutbutter may change his topical costumes throughout the years, his fundamental personality remains unchanged. Inevitably, all his partners grow tired of him until he grasps onto the next one, reminiscent of a dog eagerly chasing after a tennis ball.

1. Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 1, Episode 6, "Halloween"

Brooklyn Nine-Nine's Halloween heist episodes are perfect for holiday viewing, and the first installment set the foundation for the show's most famous tradition. "Halloween" may not have the intricate twists of later heists, as the show had to continuously raise the stakes. Instead, the episode delves into the challenging dynamic between Jake and Captain Holt, a dynamic that persisted throughout the majority of the first season. By successfully snatching Holt's Medal of Valor, Jake earns a begrudging level of respect from his boss, who begins to realize that Jake will always march to the beat of his own drum. Meanwhile, Boyle shines in a secondary storyline that helps solidify his character as a genuinely kind-hearted person who just can't seem to catch a break.