Halloween episodes are an important part of long-running sitcoms. The specials are often more silly than they are scary, but that's why a lot of viewers love them. Characters are dressed up in funny costumes, they have mishaps with their parties or with taking their kids trick-or-treating, and there are pumpkins everywhere.
A Halloween spent at home watching classic sitcom episodes is never a bad idea. There are so many episodes through the ages to choose from. It just so happens that some of the best ones are on Netflix or Hulu.
Sister, Sister (Netflix): "Halloween" (6.3)
This Sister, Sister episode is early in season three. At this point, Tia and Tamera are still in high school and are living it up in 1995. "Halloween" encapsulates everything teens are looking for in a fun October 31th, and it's hilarious for adults, too.
The twins are grounded, but they help themselves to Ray's Mercedes and set out to find the perfect party. They wind up at the Canadian border, which Ray finds out about on the late night news.
Hangin' With Mr. Cooper (Hulu): "Halloween" (6.7)
"Halloween" was a popular title for sitcoms observing the event in the 1990s and 2000s. This episode of Hangin' with Mr. Cooper is great for the whole family. The kids are pumped for trick-or-treating, and the adults are ready to dress up, too. Mark Cooper wants to win the school's costume contest so that he'll get the prize of two tickets to a Raiders game. He calls the look "Franken-brother" and is almost out the door, but one of the kids has accepted a dare to stay at the Old Bailey Place, so Mark must go make sure he's okay.
Family Matters (Hulu): "Whose Kid Is It Anyway?" (6.9)
While some Family Matters fans get excited every year to relive the "Stevil" episodes featuring Urkel's evil mini-me doll, others crave a simpler time. "Whose Kid is It Anyway" is season four's Halloween episode, and it has a memorable plot that is every parent's worst fear: losing their kid on Halloween. Little Richie can't wait to go trick-or-treating with his cousin Eddie, but Eddie would rather be with some girl. Waldo takes Richie out for candy instead and manages to bring home the wrong kid since both boys were wearing the same costume. Tommy and Richie are returned to their rightful families, and this is Judy Winslow's last Halloween episode before she is written off the show for good.
Step By Step (Hulu): "Something Wild" (7.3)
The Lamberts are having a Halloween party, and Cody has grown the world's largest pumpkin. Frank and Carol are dressed as cave people while Mark tries out a bad boy look to impress a girl from school, who turns out to be bad news. The decorations and costumes are on point, although the kids pretending to be Beavis and Butt-Head are over the top. After Frank teaches Mark never to egg houses for love, the end credits roll with a cute montage to "The Monster Mash." Easily one of the finest Halloween sitcom episodes on Hulu.
The Parkers (Netflix): "Scary Kim" (7.4)
The Parkers was a successful spin-off of Moesha which starred Moesha's best friend, Kim. The series' first Halloween episode is exciting because it's Kim's birthday, Brandy guest-stars to reprise her role as Moesha, and Kim makes a costume for her. Kim has pulled plenty of pranks on her friends and family, so they decide to give her a taste of her own medicine by tricking her with a good scare.
Moesha (Netflix): "Halloween Part I: Kim's Revenge" (7.5)
This Halloween episode of Moesha teaches a big lesson. In the intro sequence, Moesha has a crazy graveyard nightmare, setting the tone for Halloween. Then, over a three-way phone call, Kim overhears a conversation about her weight. Kim rightfully gets upset that her friends would discuss her weight, so she decides to distance herself from them. While Myles gets the flu and must stay home, Kim is supposed to go to a Halloween party with Niecy and Moesha as "the Divas of Soul." Kim shows up in a stunning red devil costume instead of going to the party as Diana Ross. She and her friends realize how damaging gossip can be, and Kim reinforces to them that no size should ever be held as a beauty standard.
The Brady Bunch (Hulu): "Fright Night" (8.0)
The Brady Bunch is known for many famous moments, but they also had some spooky episodes. One of those premiered just in time for Halloween. In "Fright Night," Greg, Peter, and Bobby fabricate a ghost in the middle of the night to scare the girls. Marcia, Jan, and Cindy try to get back at them, but all the kids make it their mission to scare Alice when she comments on how afraid the kids can be.
Sabrina The Teenage Witch (Hulu): "A Halloween Story" (8.0)
Sabrina the Teenage Witch had a ton of Halloween episodes, which is fitting for a witch. The show is great to binge-watch around Halloween anyway, but its very first Halloween episode is so memorable. Sabrina Spellman has only known about being a witch for a little while, so her first Halloween where she can use her powers is sweet and fairly innocent. She has to go to a party in the other realm with Aunts Hilda and Zelda, but she really wants to stay back and party with Harvey.
What's a witch to do? She makes a duplicate of herself, teaches it a few words, and sends it off to the party. While real Sabrina is stuck with a bratty kid in the other realm, fake Sabrina is hanging with the high school kids and even streaking across the lawn. This is not one to miss.
Frasier (Hulu): "Room Full Of Heroes" (8.2)
As memorable as Frasier's first Halloween episode is, its second is just as delightful. For Frasier's Halloween party, everyone is to arrive dressed as some kind of hero. Frasier is unsurprisingly the spitting image of Freud, but Niles surprises him by going as Marty Crane. Check it out to see all the other creative costumes, and don't miss Steven Anthony Lawrence, who played Beans on Even Stevens, as "Kid in the Hall."
Cheers (Hulu): "Fairytales Can Come True" (8.3)
Cheers has more than one Halloween episode, but its season one entry is so iconic. Shelley Long is still part of the cast as Diane Chambers, and she is dressed as Alice in Wonderland to match her current boyfriend, Frasier, who is dressed as the Mad Hatter. Sam Malone is a cowboy, Coach is a pirate, Carla is an inmate, Cliff is Ponce de Leon, and Norm is himself. Cliff finds a special girl dressed as Tinker Bell, but both of them are nervous to take the leap and go on a date. Sam and Diane later try a platonic outing when Frasier can't take her to the Boston Pops.