Struck By LIghtning TV Series Pilot, CBS, September 19, 1979

 

Welcome back to the Countdown to Halloween! There are less than two weeks left until the big night, so be sure to kick things into high gear!

Today I offer the first episode of the very short-lived TV series Struck By Lightning. In the series, high school science teacher Ted Stein, played by Jeffrey Kramer (Jaws, Jaws 2, Halloween II), inherits an old New England inn. As he arrives at the inn to check out his inheritance, he meets the staff, including a gruff, imposing caretaker played by Jack Elam. It turns out, the caretaker is none other than the Frankstein monster!

Who just so happens to look like a gruff, imposing New England caretaker.

Ted must do more than run the inn; he must also use his scientific skills to recreate a serum Dr. Frankenstein created to keep the "creature" alive for another 50 years.

Did I mention this is a comedy?

The show's conceit should make more sense when you watch the pilot below. Maybe. 

The series didn't click with audiences, and it was canceled after airing only three episodes (although 11 were produced). It's unusual to be sure, but I found it an interesting watch.

Enjoy!

The Intruder Within TV-Movie (1981)

 

We come to the conclusion of this week's portion of the Countdown to Halloween with the 1981 TV-movie The Intruder Within!

Workers at an oil rig in Antarctica discover prehistoric fossilized eggs while drilling for oil. When one of the eggs hatches and introduces a killer creature into the premises, it's up to the drillers to take it down.

If this sounds like a rip-off of Alien, it is, but that doesn't mean it's not entertaining. I remember my parents watching this movie when it first aired, and while I couldn't tell what was going on at the time, it still creeped me out.

1981 must have been a good year for made-for-TV horror movies. Last Friday, the TV-movie I featured, This House Possessed, also debuted in 1981.

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Have a great spooky weekend! We're in the thick of the season now. Make the most of it!

The Flintstones Special: The Flintstones' New Neighbors (1980)

 

Today I present The Flintstones Special: The Flintstones New Neighbors, an animated special that appeared on NBC prime time September 26, 1980.

In this special, the Munsters-esque family the Frankenstones move next to Fred and Wilma, but Fred won't have any "freaks" living next door to him and is initially antagonistic towards them. However, he soon learns that looks can be deceiving and prejudice can dwell in anyone. Who'd think such an important lesson could be handled on a Flintstones special?

The Frankenstones are fine and all, but to be honest--I'll take the Gruesomes any day.

Enjoy!

Friday the 13th: The Series, Season 1, Episode 5, "Hellowe'en"

 

Welcome back! I hope you had (or are having, if you have today off) a great October weekend!

I kick off Week 3 of the Countdown to Halloween with the Halloweeniest program I've featured yet this year. I present a Halloween-themed episode of the 1980s horror TV series Friday the 13th: The Series!

For those unaware, the series was about two distant relatives who inherit their uncle's antique store. The only problem--all of the items for sale are cursed, thanks to the uncle making a deal with the devil! It's up to the cousins and an old business partner of the uncle to reclaim the cursed items before further harm can be done.

Although the show uses the title and logo of the famed horror movie franchise, there is no canonical connection between the film and tv series whatsoever. The show's producting studio, Paramount, simply wanted to get more mileage out of the franchise name. Ha!

In this episode, "Hellowe'en," our protagonists are out doing their thing on Halloween night, only this time, the not-so-dearly departed uncle makes a return to renter the living world. Not a good idea!

Enjoy! And for Joe Mello---THIS ONE'S FOR YOU! :)

This House Possessed TV-Movie (1981)

 

Welcome to Friday! Today, as I do most Fridays during the Countdown to Halloween, I present a long-form video to enjoy. This week, it's the 1981 made-for-TV movie This House Possessed!

In the film, Parker Stevenson plays a young rock star who suffers a nervous breakdown and takes time off in a luxurious mansion with his nurse. While in the house, very strange things occur to both the rock star and the nurse. Is the house haunted? Are they crazy? Or is something else going on? And what exactly is the history of the house?

The reputation of this movie is admittedly not good, but I'm featuring it because a specific scene stayed in my head when I first stumbled upon this movie as a child involving a very creepy shower.

Enjoy below or directly on YouTube here. Have a great holiday weekend! Enjoy the extra day if you're lucky to have it!

The Pink Panther, "Pink Panic" and "Pink Plasma"

 

Welcome back!

Today I offer not one but two great cartoons featuring the magenta mountain lion himself, the Pink Panther. In the first, "Pink Panic," the Panther spends the night in a haunted ghost town with a troublesome ghost and skeleton on his tail. In the second cartoon, "Pink Plasma," Panther spends the night in a creepy castle with a hapless vampire. Fortunately, the intrepid Panther comes out on top--most of the time.

Enjoy!

Halloween TV Commercials 2025 Edition

 

Welcome to the first full week of the Countdown! And today I have a great way to kick the week off. Today I present my annual look at great Halloween TV commercials!

Of course, they're not necessarily Halloween specific, but may simply have a spooky, scary, or strange theme. Let's check them out!

First, try claiming Dracula's gold (Dracula has gold?) in this fun electronic game from 1982.

Next, it's always great to pay a visit to Count Chocula and Frankenberry, but especially on Halloween!

This British commercial for Knorr soup is supposed to be whimsical, but frankly, I find it a bit creepy. I'm sure this scarecrow is friendly, but..well, take a look!

Most of the commercials I feature are many years, even decades old, but the final two commercials I have today are in fact from this very year! The first one from this past July features Cheetos doing a tie-in with Netflix's hit series Wednesday by auditioning Thing to be Cheetos' new spokes...hand.

Finally, my last commercial today is extremely new--it debuted September 29, 2025, exactly one week ago from when I'm writing this! Dr. Frankenstein attempts to teach his creation the ways of the world with poor results. But hook Frankie up with Xfinity wi-fi, and he becomes an overnight sensation!

Thank you for your time! Please come back every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday in October for more Halloween greatness!

The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute starring Vincent Price

 

Hello again, and welcome back! Today we kick off the Countdown in earnest with a fun look at movie monsters of the past, hosted by the unofficial mascot of the Countdown.

Today I present The Horror Hall of Fame: A Monster Salute, a special that aired on February 20, 1974 as part of ABC's Wide World of Entertainment series on weekday late nights. It's a lighthearted look at horror movie characters of the past, hosted by none other than one of the greats, and a favorite of this blog--Vincent Price. I try to include at least one visit from Price in every Countdown, and this year, there may be more than one!

The special is heavy on comedy, and the jokes are pretty tame, but that's 1974 TV for you. Guests include Price's fellow Batman alum Frank Gorshin, John Astin (TV's Gomez Addams as well as another Riddler portrayer), and horror movie legend John Carradine, among others.

You can watch the special below or directly on YouTube at this link. Enjoy! Have a great first weekend of October. Drink pumpkin beer! Watch horror movies! Read my blog's archives! Eat candy!

Welcome to the 2025 Countdown to Halloween!

 

Hello one and all to the 2025 Countdown to Halloween! The time has come once again to arise from our coffins and partake in the Danse Macabre that is the Countdown. And am I sure ready for it!

Rejoice as we enjoy our annual parade of movies, cartoons, TV episodes, and other gifts of ghoulishness for a packed 31 days. I'm so happy you've chosen to spend your season with me!

Of course, I'm not alone in the Countdown. Thanks to Dex of AEIOU and Sometimes Why for organizing this year's Halloween hootenany. Please be sure to partake in all of the participating sites this year.

Please be especially sure to try my daughter Megan's Instagram site, Wallflower Avenue, as this is her first year participating in the Countdown. Way to go, Meg!

Without further ado, let the 2025 Countdown to Halloween begin!