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!