10 Best Sitcom Episodes Set On Halloween

Halloween provides a great opportunity for sitcoms to throw their characters into strange surroundings. Whether they’re at a costume party or dealing with trick-or-treaters, Halloween is always one day that brings people out of their comfort zones. The rules of life are different on Halloween, or at least some characters like to think they are. In the end, no wacky costume can hide a person’s true self, and they always wind up resorting to their old tricks.

Different sitcoms use the holiday to different effects. Sometimes it’s a chance to be someone else for the night like in New Girl or Brooklyn Nine-Nine. Other times, it’s a way to send a show’s cast to a costume party. One way or another, sitcoms have managed to use Halloween as the backdrop for some of the most hilarious, or even frightening, episodes of their entire run.

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10 Parks And Recreation, Season 5, Episode 5, “Halloween Surprise”

Parks and Recreation season 5, episode 5 features a fun glimpse at a movie that only exists in the universe of the show, “Death Canoe 4: Murder at Blood Lake.” Elsewhere, Nick Offerman is in top form as the gruff Ron Swanson, who is not the type of person who would gladly sign up to escort two children trick-or-treating. Of course, he ends up accidentally making them cry, but it’s his apology to their mother that shows his more sensitive side. Ron’s stone-faced demeanor fades momentarily when he offers her flowers, chocolates, and grout cleaner. “Halloween Surprise” packs a ton of hilarious quotes in its short runtime and smartly balances each character’s storylines

9 How I Met Your Mother, Season 7, Episode 8, “The Slutty Pumpkin Returns”

“The Slutty Pumpkin Returns” provides a solid Halloween effort, even if How I Met Your Mother should regret the title. Hopeless romantic Ted learns that he shouldn’t idealize women based on one meeting. The episode’s other storylines are just as strong as Ted’s. Marshall tries to support Lily as she struggles with “pregnancy brain,” but must lay out the facts when she gives a “pretty decent Pinot Noir” to some young trick-or-treaters. Barney and Robin also continue their playfully antagonistic relationship when she tells him that he is one-quarter Canadian.

8 New Girl, Season 3, Episode 6, “Keaton”

Compared to his roommates, New Girl’s Schmidt always seemed to have his life together. This was until “Keaton” when his veneer of professionalism was whipped away to reveal an inner child who believed that Michael Keaton had been sending him supportive emails. Schmidt may be the focus, but Nick Miller is the true star. When he takes on the persona of Keaton, he knows he must do a bad thing to help out his best friend in need. For some reason, he also has to wear a shoddy Batman mask while he writes emails. “Keaton” changed New Girl forever, as Schmidt decides to leave the loft when he uncovers the truth.

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7 Friends, Season 8, Episode 6, “The One With The Halloween Party”

In its ten seasons, Friends only produced one true Halloween episode. However, the one episode they did produce set a framework for sitcoms to follow for decades. Ross’ groan-inducing Spud-nik pun and Chandler’s pink bunny outfit still stand out as iconic examples of bad Halloween costumes, but the episode has more going for it than this. There are familiar comic beats about Ross’ troubled relationships in Friends and Rachel failing to stand up for herself, but Sean Penn’s guest appearance steals the show. As Ursula’s new fiancé, Eric, Penn’s subdued performance perfectly counterbalances a show sizzling with extravagant, madcap comedic displays.

6 Curb Your Enthusiasm, Season 2, Episode 3, “Trick Or Treat”

Most Halloween episodes see characters wearing costumes and having fun together. Curb Your Enthusiasm’s Larry David, however, is unlike regular sitcom characters. His strict adherence to an obscure set of social rules known only to himself gets him in trouble when he refuses to give out candy to a pair of trick-or-treaters who he considers too old. For his troubles, his home is vandalized and profanities are spray-painted on his door. Larry’s rules make sense, but most regular people would know not to enforce them. This blind spot leads to a shouting match with Cheryl where both characters have a point, but that doesn’t stop their house from being covered in toilet paper.

Community boasts a long-running history of pop culture parodies, from the Ken Burns-style pillow fort documentary to the spaghetti-Western paintball fights. It’s no surprise then that the show’s Halloween episode puts a spin on zombie movies. The episode revels in shredding horror tropes, like when Abed urges Troy to be the first black character to make it to the end. But beyond pure spoof, “Epidemiology” also acts as a fine horror episode in its own right. The stakes are low, and the jokes are frequent, but the fear persists that anybody could be next and there is no way out. Luckily, the Dean’s ABBA-heavy soundtrack helps alleviate some tension.

4 The Office, Season 2, Episode 5, “Halloween”

Michael’s people-pleasing tendencies are tested when he must fire somebody on Halloween to balance the books in The Office season 2, episode 5. This episode reflects one negative of Halloween; unlike on Christmas or Thanksgiving, most people still have to work on Halloween. Rather than spending time watching scary movies and eating too much candy, people must find joy with their work families. The episode shows another small step in Jim and Pam’s relationship, as the two make the most of the situation by pulling a prank on Dwight. There are plenty of bizarre costumes on display that reveal how the characters see themselves. Michael’s creepy second head is the most memorable, for better or worse.

3 It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia, Season 6, Episode 7, “Who Got Dee Pregnant?”

The gang tries to recollect which one of them slept with Dee at a recent Halloween party, but the costume switches and conflicting narratives only obscure the truth. Frank’s exquisite, ill-fitting Spider-Man costume and Mac’s self-aggrandizing version of events are highlights, but the mystery is what drives the plot forward. The McPoyles also make a memorable appearance chugging milk at the party. Kaitlin Olson’s pregnancy was written into the show, but the rest of the gang mostly ignored it. Dee finally gets some love when she gives birth, resulting in one of the rare times the It’s Always Sunny gang was actually nice.

2 Bojack Horseman, Season 5, Episode 8, “Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos”

By its fifth season, Bojack Horseman had established a rich cast of supporting characters. Compared to Diane or Princess Carolyn however, Mr. Peanutbutter always seemed like an afterthought. He was little more than a personified Labrador, named after an old movie-making trick to create the illusion of a talking dog. “Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos” rattles along with the show’s typically rapid comedic pace, but it simultaneously unravels the repeated shortcomings of Hollywoo’s favorite dog. Mr. Peanutbutter’s topical costumes may change over the years, but his personality does not. His partners all eventually outgrow him until he latches on to the next one like he’s chasing after a tennis ball.

1 Brooklyn Nine-Nine, Season 1, Episode 6, “Halloween”

Any of Brooklyn Nine-Nine‘s Halloween heist episodes make for ideal holiday viewing, but the first iteration laid the groundwork for the show’s most famous tradition. “Halloween” lacks the twisting complexity of later heists, as the show had to constantly up the ante. Instead, the episode focuses on Jake and Captain Holt’s difficult working relationship which ran throughout the majority of the first season. By successfully stealing Holt’s Medal of Valor, Jake earns a begrudging level of respect from his boss, who begins to realize that Jake will always play by his own rules. Boyle shines in a B-plot which helps to establish his character as a very good soul with very bad luck.