In the two week run up until Halloween, TV programmers are cranking out as much Halloween-themed entertainment as they can possibly air within a 24-hour period. Channel surf, and you’ll find everything from children’s classics (It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown anyone?) to modern classics (“Treehouse of Horror 26”) to traditional horror favorites (all the Friday the 13th and Halloween flicks).
To help you through your Halloween television bingeing, here’s a list of the more prominent fixtures, although it is by no means a complete listing. That would be a frightfully terrifying task to undertake…
- “Halloween of Horror” – The Simpsons first Halloween-themed episode outside of the “Treehouse” series airing Sunday, October 18, at 8pm on FOX
- It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown / Toy Story of Terror – Tuesday, October 20, at 8pm on ABC
- Fear Fest 2015 – AMC’s annual marathon of horror-themed programming kicks off on Sunday, October 18, and runs through Halloween night. Check listings for offerings.
- 13 Nights of Halloween – ABC Family’s supposedly family-friendly take on Fear Fest starts Monday, October 19, and runs through Halloween. It includes such timeless family classics as Hocus Pocus, Monster’s University, and Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow (one of these things is not like the other).
- “Treehouse of Horror XXVI” – The Simpsons annual Halloween treat airs Sunday, October 25, on FOX. Rumor has it that Sideshow Bob finally kills Bart Simpson.
- Stephen King Thriller Week – Sundance TV will air a week-long marathon of films based on Stephen King’s classic works beginning Sunday, October 25. This includes the 35th anniversary print of The Shining.
- The following notable series will have specific Halloween programming in the week leading up to Halloween:
- Brooklyn Nine-Nine – Sunday, October 25 on FOX
- Family Guy – Sunday, October 25 on FOX
- Dancing with the Stars – Monday, October 26 on ABC
- Fresh Off the Boat – Tuesday, October 27 on ABC
- The Middle – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
- The Goldbergs – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
- Modern Family – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
- Ghost Hunters – Wednesday, October 28 on Syfy
- black-ish – Wednesday, October 28 on ABC
- Treasures from the Disney Vault – TCM airs older Disney classics like The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad on Wednesday, October 28.
- Exorcism: Live! – The months-in-the-making special finally airs on Destination: America on Friday, October 30, at 9pm. Rather than focusing on a possessed individual, the episode reportedly will feature a live exorcism of the house that inspired the novel The Exorcist.
- Ash vs. Evil Dead – Cult audiences everywhere are foaming at the mouth for Sam Raimi and Bruce Campell to return to their horror classic films in this 10-episode series starting Halloween night at 9pm on Starz.