Happy Halloween 2020!

 

And that's a wrap!

Halloween is here! Thank you to everyone who visited my blog this season. I very much appreciate each and every reader. Please let me know in the comments what you liked, what you didn't, and what you'd like to see in the future.

I won't tell you what a terrible year this has been, you already know. It's times like these that holidays such as Halloween are even more important, as they give us the joy we need to overcome life's adversities and remind us what is important: family, friends, and love. I wish that for you this Halloween and every day thereafter!

Happy Halloween!

On to November!

Halloween Home Movies

When the Halloween season begins, my mind is on all the cool decorations, movies, TV episodes, and music that comes with the holidays. But as we get closer to the big day, my mind turns to more practical things: trick or treating, kids getting excited for the candy they'll collect, adults enjoying the kids' enthusiasm, and the warm feeling the holiday fills in our hearts. That's what today's post is about.

Here are some real life Halloween home movies that evoke what I'm talking about. No fantastic monsters or ghosts here, just the innocence of children and their families enjoying the day. Really, this is the coolest part of Halloween.

Enjoy! See you tomorrow for the finale!

Siskel and Ebert review Halloween (1978)

 

The late Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert were the leading movie critics of their day for most of America. When they voiced their opinions, people listened, even if they didn't agree with the men.

One film both Siskel & Ebert and the public agreed on--Halloween was an awesome movie!

Here, Gene and Roger praise the film for being a scary movie that doesn't treat its characters as simple fodder for the villain. They appreciate the film's artistry and craft, making for a horror film far above so much of the grindhouse releases of the time. Siskel and Ebert recognize Halloween as a true cut above the rest!

Just for fun, here is Halloween's trailer. Who would have guessed it would become the movie that defined the scary part of the holiday for decades to come!

Halloween TV Commercials 2020 Edition Part 2

 

Today I offer a few more Halloween TV commercials. There are only a few days left to go, so let's get to it!

Here are a few McDonald's commercials. I may have featured a couple of these before, but what are commercials if not repetitive?

Next is a commercial for two tasty Halloween classics, Witchy the Witch and Dumpy the Pumpkin, two ice cream cakes from Carvel!

Here is a fun one for Hostess Fruit Pies. I love the blend of animation and live action in this one!

Finally, here is a quick one for Kit Kats starring a sleepy vampire. This one is brand new this year!

Thanks!

Peanuts Halloween Compilation

 

Today is the second of two Peanuts-themed articles this year. This is a compilation of several short Peanuts cartoons created by current Peanuts IP owners Wildbrain Entertainment. The lead cartoon features Snoopy, who develops a fear of the dark after watching a scary movie with Charlie Brown and Linus. Several other characters face their fears in this compilation.

Enjoy!

It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown Soundtrack

 

It's the last week of the Countdown to Halloween! Make it a great one!

There was some majorly disappointing news announced last Monday--previously aired Peanuts specials will now air exclusively on the streaming service Apple TV+ and will no longer air on broadcast television. This includes It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, and A Charlie Brown Christmas. I plan to write a full article about this situation after the Countdown, but suffice it to say, I am not happy with this development.

Every year, I always include one article related to Peanuts and Halloween during the Countdown. To help fill the void left by the absence of Great Pumpkin from broadcast television this year, I will be doing two Peanuts-related articles this year. Me, you, and two other people will be the only ones that notice, but I need to do my part!

Today I offer the Great Pumpkin soundtrack. Although this is an official release, the quality is not great, as the soundtrack contains some sound effects from the special, which is unusual for a TV soundtrack. Still, it's lovely music. Please especially enjoy "The Great Pumpkin Waltz," which is one of the most warm and soothing pieces of music I've ever heard. Perfect for fall, perfect for anytime.

Enjoy!

Unless you're an Apple TV+ subscriber, you might want to get yourself a copy of the special as well as the soundtrack.

Something Wicked This Way Comes (1972)

Closing out Week 3 of the Countdown to Halloween is a film adaptation of the Ray Bradbury classic Something Wicked This Way Comes...but not the version you expect!

This version from 1972 appears to be a British production and is 11 years older than the more famous version by Disney released in 1983. I saw the Disney version for the first time this year, and possibly due to all the hype I've heard about it over the years, I was disappointed in it. Maybe this more obscure version will do me better.

Have a great weekend! It's the last one before Halloween, make it count!

 

Vincent animated short film by Tim Burton (1982)

 

Today's presentation is the animated short film Vincent, created by Tim Burton.

Vincent is a stop-motion animated film based on a poem Burton wrote that he originally intended for a children's book. This was created while Burton was still a Disney animator. It features a young boy named Vincent Malloy, who has a macabre personality and pretends he is in fact Vincent Price. His imagination has him believing he is a mad scientist who does experiments on his dog and who yearns for his deceased wife. Despite his mother's efforts to snap Vincent out of his head, he proceeds to be consumed by his morbid fantasies. Oh, the narrator of the film is the real Vincent Price.

Yep, it's a Tim Burton film, all right.

I didn't know this film existed until this month, which is another reason I love doing the Countdown. I love finding this stuff.

Enjoy!

Suspense, "Ghost Hunt" (June 23, 1949)

 

Today I have an especially fun treat. Today I present an episode of the classic radio drama Suspense.

Suspense was a top-notch radio drama with A-list writers and actors that ran on CBS radio from 1940 to 1962. Most episodes featured stories of crime and danger, with the occasional dive into the fantastic. This is one of those episodes.

"Ghost Hunt" features Ralph Edwards, most famous for being the host of This Is Your Life, as a disc jockey who enters a supposed haunted house as a stunt for his radio show. He of course doesn't believe in such things so he enters the house willingly with an expert in the paranormal.

Let's just say the jock shouldn't be so skeptical.

I loved this episode when I first heard it years ago, and I hope you enjoy it too. Thanks!

Looney Tunes, Happy Hare-lloween!

 

Today I feature a collection of clips from scary-themed cartoons from Looney Tunes. I've featured some of these before, but my links to those videos keep breaking. This collection should be OK though, as these are directly from the official WB Kids YouTube channel. And these are in great quality.

Enjoy, doc!

The Muppet Show Guest Starring Alice Cooper

 

Hello! We are now more than halfway through the Countdown to Halloween! Time to crank things up and get to the good stuff!

And today is definitely the good stuff! Today I feature an episode of The Muppet Show with guest star Alice Cooper. It wouldn't be Halloween without the father of goth rock, and why not throw the Muppets into the mix? Most Generation X kids like myself learned who Cooper was thanks to this episode.

Enjoy! And look below the episode for a clip with Cooper discussing the making of the episode!

An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe starring Vincent Price

 

It's Friday, which means a long form program, and this week, we are paid a visit from our old friend Vincent Price.

An Evening With Edgar Allan Poe features Price acting as Poe reading four of his classic tales: "The Tell-tale Heart," "The Sphinx," "The Cask of Amontillado," and "The Pit and the Pendulum." Price performs in front of a live audience, which gives the program a theater-like feel. A great way to spend an October weekend.

Enjoy!

Halloween Music Videos

 

Today I offer a few music videos with either a direct or indirect Halloween connection.

First up, indie rock band Wallows sings "Drunk on Halloween." I'm sure at least a couple of you have been there.

Next is "It's Almost Halloween" by Panic! At The Disco. They're not wrong!

Lastly is a piece that's not really related to Halloween or is technically a music video, but at the same time is also both of those things. Longtime readers will know that I am a devout Schoolhouse Rock fan, but this cartoon is a part of the series I hadn't seen until I was an adult.

"Little Twelve Toes" is Schoolhouse Rocks' installment designed to teach multiples of 12 with the help of a twelve-toed space alien. It's well meaning, but also weird and surreal at the same time, which I think makes it perfect for Halloween. Also, the alien looks like the late Tom Petty.

Thanks!

Every 90s Commercial Ever (Uncensored)

 

You know those commercials for kids' junk food that have been airing since the 90s where the kids eat the advertised food and they turn into weird, goofy things and everything looks so cool and fun?

Well, this is the dark side of that.

It's a parody and not an actual commercial of course, and the project is in good fun, but a word of warning, this is gross and disturbing, so please proceed with caution. There's a reason I'm including this in a Halloween countdown.

Afterwards, check out the making of the project. Enjoy!

The Elvira Show Unsold Pilot

 

Today's edition of the Countdown to Halloween is the unsold pilot for the CBS sitcom The Elvira Show.

Hot on the heels of the success of the movie Elvira, Mistress of the Dark, a sitcom was conceived for CBS starring Cassandra Peterson as her wisecracking alter ego and Who's The Boss's Katherine Helmond as her Aunt Minvera. CBS eventually passed on the series, but at least we have this pilot to enjoy. And being an Elvira project, it goes without saying that this is not for the kids.

Thanks!

The Smurfs, "All Hallowseve"

 

The start of the second full week of the Countdown to Halloween brings you a Halloween episode of the classic 1980s Saturday morning cartoon The Smurfs.

In "All Hallowseve," according to the official Smurfs YouTube page, "While out on a mischief-making mission to destroy the Smurfs Happy Halloween Party, Gargamel and Hogatha catch Lazy, who has accidentally been turned red by Mother Nature. Papa and the Smurfs help Lazy escape while Mother Nature has Father Time turn Lazy’s red into blue just in time for the Halloween party."

Enjoy!

For more Smurfy Halloween fun, consider the DVD below!

Mad Mad Mad Monsters (1972)

 

Wrapping up the first full week of the Countdown to Halloween is the Rankin Bass TV special Mad Mad Mad Monsters.

In this special, Dr. Frankenstein invites all of the famous monsters to the wedding of his monster and newly created bride, but the doc's assistant Igor is jealous and attempts to stop the proceedings. Hilarity ensues.

Although I've seen the stop-motion animated Rankin Bass theatrical movie Mad Monster Party before, this is the first time I've seen this. Let's check it out together.

Have a great weekend!

Halloween Movie Locations in Real Life

 

John Carpenter's Halloween is arguably the quintessential Halloween holiday viewing experience. No other project has brought such horror to the holiday in such effective measure. Yet the making of the film has such humble qualities that can be overshadowed by the movie's artistry.

Here is a documentary showcasing the real-life locations of the movie. Although set in the Midwest, the movie was filmed in Pasadena, California right in one neighborhood. I've featured similar looks at the locations before, but no matter how often I see these locations, I'm still astounded that such a terrifying movie was shot at these unassuming places.

Enjoy!

Zombie in a Penguin Suit

Today's subject of the Countdown to Halloween is pretty straightforward. This is a 7-minute film about an aquarium employee, dressed as a penguin for a promotion, who has died and been resurrected as a zombie during an apocalyse.

That's it, that's the film.

It's as disturbing as any zombie film you've seen, with the one humorous addition of the zombie wearing a penguin suit.

Zombie in a Penguin Suit. Enjoy!

Night Court, "Halloween, Too"

 

The last few years I've liked to post Halloween-themed episodes of classic TV series from the 70s and 80s, and I continue the tradition today.

Here is an episode of the hilarious 80s sitcom Night Court. In "Halloween, Too," Judge Harry is dating a free-spirited woman who claims to be a witch. On this show, anything is possible.

Enjoy!

Halloween TV Commercials 2020 Edition!

 

Welcome back to the Countdown to Halloween at Me and You and a Blog Named Boo!

Today we begin the first full week of the Countdown, and in annual blog tradition, I feature this week a small collection of TV commercials related, however tangentially, to Halloween. They may be scary, usually they're funny, but they're always enjoyable. Here is this year's batch!

In this commercial from 2015,  a young lady wants to eat her Doritos in peace, and not have to contend with her vampire boyfriend for a nibble. Doritos are a very personal thing!

Staying with the vampire theme, a concerned dad goes to clever measures to warn his daughter about her "goth" boyfriend. It's Delisso Pizza and its garlic-filled crust to the rescue!

Here is a short but "sweet" commercial for my favorite candy of all time, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups. It wouldn't be Halloween without them!

Frankenstein can be awfully grouchy without a hearty breakfast. Fortunately for all of us, Bee comes through with a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios!

This is a fun one for a Dracula electronic game from the early 80s. The legendary Matt from Dinosaur Dracula did a great video review of this game that you can see here.

Finally, we have an, ahem, "interesting" commercial for Hamlet cigars. It involves Frankenstein and...well, I'll let you see for yourself.

Thanks for reading! Stay tuned for more monstrous fun all month long!

Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters Halloween Episode

 

Here it is, the first article of the Countdown to Halloween after the initial kick-off, and we already find ourselves at a Friday. Fridays during the Countdown mean long-form programming, and the first program of this year finds us celebrating Halloween with--Barbara Mandrell and the Mandrell Sisters?

Sure, why not?

This is a Halloween episode of the sister act's popular NBC variety series that aired from 1980 to 1982. The entire hour isn't completely Halloweeny, but there's enough early 80s kitsch to make it fun. Plus, Gladys Knight and the Pips guest star, which is pretty awesome.

The audio quality isn't that great I'm afraid, so you'll want to crank the volume up as high as you can.

Enjoy the first weekend of the Halloween season! Scare somebody (responsibly)! Make Halloween treats! Decorate! Watch a monster movie or four!

BOO!

Welcome to the 2020 Countdown to Halloween!

 

WELCOME, MERE MORTALS, TO THE 2020 COUNTDOWN TO HALLOWEEEEEEEN!!!!

And oh what a Countdown it's going to be! There'll be thrills, chills, spills, and other things that rhyme with ills! There'll be cartoons, movies, commercials, songs, and spirits of every kind. There'll be things you won't forget, things you CAN'T forget, things you'll WISH you'd forget! And most of all, there will be FUN!

Soak it all in, Halloween lovers. Savor every day, every minute, every treat this month has to offer, because in the bat of an eye, it'll be gone.

Special thanks as always to the curators of this multi-blog event, and this year we have new blood in the mix! Welcome to Michelle, aka Naila Moon, and Michael May, both longtime Countdown participants who are now helming this great event. Thanks to them for all of their hard work this year! Also thanks to John Rozum, the previous Countdown master, for his great work these past years. Be sure to check out all the great blogs here and leave comments letting my fellow bloggers know how awesome they are!

Once, again, welcome one and all, to the 2020 Countdown to Halloween!

HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!