As someone who’s been a die-hard fan of animated sitcoms for as long as I can remember, I must say that these two episodes from Family Guy stand out like a beacon in the night. The horror genre has always been a personal favorite of mine, and it’s both amusing and heartening to see the creators of Family Guy poking fun at the industry while also paying tribute to some classic horror films.
For over 2 decades, Family Guy has been entertaining and offending audiences, in equal measures, across the globe. The adult-oriented animated series is currently on its 23rd season but has a surprisingly limited number of Halloween-specific episodes under its belt.
Renowned for its over-the-top, playful satire and spoofs of popular culture, Family Guy has produced an impressive 7 Halloween specials. These episodes combine thrilling Halloween spirit and tributes to horror genres with the series’ distinctive wackiness.
Here is every Family Guy Halloween episode, ranked.
7 “Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater” (2024)
Season 23, Episode 1
Embracing the quirky, offbeat humor of Family Guy, the latest Halloween special exposes a widespread cheating scheme at the town’s pumpkin contest. It’s discovered that the winners were secretly stuffing their pumpkins with overweight men to make them larger. Simultaneously, Stewie’s cherished teddy bear is found to have thoughts of homicide on his mind.
“Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheat” Is the Most Recent in a Long Line of Halloween Episodes
Although ‘Peter, Peter, Pumpkin Cheater’ ranks low on the list, it certainly doesn’t disappoint with its hilarious jokes and moments that will make you laugh out loud. The reason for its lower position is simply because of the strong competition within Family Guy‘s Halloween episodes. In time, this episode could very well be recognized as a classic.
6 “Happy Holo-Ween” (2022)
Season 21, Episode 6
As Peter ventured through the Hologram Hallway at a spooky amusement park on Halloween, he sneakily grabbed the hologram maker device and brought it back home. Once there, he created a holographic replica of himself to handle his daily tasks. Unfortunately, when Peter returned from a three-day drinking binge, he found that his holographic duplicate had assumed his identity and infiltrated the Griffin household.
Happy Halo-Ween Is a Sci-fi Comedy
In the spirit of classic “Family Guy” humor, “Happy Holo-ween” playfully imitates and satirizes numerous horror classics and cultural references. The concept of a clone taking over the original’s life is not new in science fiction, but this production shares similarities with the ’80s comedy “Multiplicity,” where Michael Keaton’s character encounters unexpected challenges after producing multiple versions of himself to increase productivity.
5 “Petergeist” (2006)
Season 4, Episode 26
Jealous of his neighbor’s home theater setup, Peter decided to construct one in his own backyard. Unfortunately, during the construction, he accidentally disturbed an ancient burial ground of Native Americans. This disturbance brought about a curse upon the Griffin family, resulting in chaos, violence, and supernatural occurrences within their household.
“Petergeist” Is Based on the 1982 Classic Horror Movie Poltergeist
“Perhaps the most terrifying episode in the entire series of Family Guy, titled ‘Petergeist’, bears a strong resemblance to the ’80s horror film, Poltergeist. Despite being a spoof, the episode skillfully blends the show’s signature humor with elements of horror and suspense.
4 “Must Love Dogs” (2021)
Season 20, Episode 3
Originally aired on October 10th, 2021, this episode spotlights Quagmire as he develops feelings for a woman he meets on Halloween night. A twist arises when she shares a love for dogs, causing Quagmire to momentarily put aside his feud with Brian in an attempt to present himself as her cherished pet instead. In a separate plotline, Stewie becomes suspicious that some of his family members are secretly taking his Halloween candy and sets out to catch the culprits.
An Odd Couple and a Clever Twist
Fans and critics alike appreciate the interaction between Brian and Quagmire, and it’s not often overdone, so when their rivalry takes center stage, viewers are always in for an enjoyable experience. And “Must Love Dogs” is no exception to this rule. It’s actually Stewie’s subplot with its surprising and humorous twist that truly sets this episode apart as a classic.
3 “Quagmire’s Quagmire” (2013)
Season 12, Episode 3
On November 3rd, 2013, the main storyline of “Quagmire’s Quagmire” revolved around Glenn Quagmire, the neighbor of the Griffins, and his extraordinary sex life. In this episode, he encounters a woman whose sexual enthusiasm not only equals but surpasses his own, leaving him breathless and struggling to catch up. Meanwhile, the Griffin family is busy preparing for Halloween, rummaging through storage. This search leads Lois to uncover Stewie’s old teddy bear, Oscar.
During Halloween, there’s an enjoyable side story involving Stewie’s internal dilemma. He feels divided between his long-time friend Oscar and his recent companion, Rupert, who is a teddy bear. The plot thickens further when Brian makes an entertaining entrance into the mix.
Quagmire Finds Himself in Real Danger
In the Halloween episode of Family Guy, the plot initially appears light-hearted, but takes a dramatic turn when Oscar seems to die by suicide. On the other hand, Quagmire’s storyline was never exactly innocent. However, viewers might be taken aback by how dark it becomes, as events escalate to a point where Quagmire’s life is in grave danger due to his girlfriend’s overly aggressive sexual advances, forcing his friends to bravely put themselves in harm’s way to shield him.
2 “Peternormal Activity” (2015)
Season 14, Episode 4
globally, the horror film genre remains highly popular among cinema-goers, and for studios, a successful franchise can equate to substantial profits. Regrettably, in comparison to other genres, studios frequently prioritize quantity over quality when it comes to sequels and reboots of horror films, often releasing them hurriedly without much attention to script quality. This oversight hasn’t escaped the notice of Peter and his companions. Following their dissatisfaction with a sequel in the horror genre, this group decides to pen their very own horror movie.
Peter and His Friends Find Themselves in an “I Know What You Did Last Summer” Scenario
As they brainstorm ideas for the film, the friends unwittingly find themselves in a predicament reminiscent of “I Know What You Did Last Summer,” having unintentionally caused someone’s death. Their ordeal is interwoven with satirical skits and tributes to horror genres as they simultaneously develop their own movie script, living out their own real-life horror tale.
1 “Halloween on Spooner Street” (2010)
Season 9, Episode 4
Debuting on Fox on November 7, 2010, “Halloween on Spooner Street” unfurls three distinct tales, each beginning in a fairy tale manner but soon spiraling into the sort of disorder that only the writers from Family Guy could imagine. Stewie and Brian go trick-or-treating, Peter and Joe play tricks on Quagmire, while Meg and Chris attend a party. Each segment is laugh-out-loud funny in its own right, and when merged together, it creates the ultimate Family Guy Halloween special.
“Halloween on Spooner Street” Drew a Huge Audience
Among all episodes in the show’s chronicles, “Halloween on Spooner Street” stands out as one of the most fittingly Halloween-themed. Unlike many others, it veers away from mimicking classic horror films and instead adheres more closely to the traditional Family Guy style, infused with a spooky flavor. This episode garnered high praise from critics, earning a 3.8 rating in the 18–49 age group, surpassing both The Simpsons, American Dad!, and The Cleveland Show. Remarkably, it was watched by an impressive 7.97 million viewers, outperforming American Dad! and The Cleveland Show in terms of total viewership.
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2024-10-26 19:32