Halloween means candy corn, haunted houses, and your dad wearing that
musty vampire outfit yet again. But it also means Halloween specials on
TV! Throughout the years, the small screen has captured the fun of
dressing up for the holidays. It’s a time for our favorite characters to
get creative and just a tad inappropriate as they sport costumes from
the topical, the slutty, or other clever ideas that perfectly reflect
their own personalities. Here’s a list of some of our favorite Halloween
costumes from TV over the years that may give you some inspiration of
what to do…and what not to do.
Best Mystery Costume – The Slutty Pumpkin (How I Met Your Mother):
It was that crisp, autumnal night on Halloween when Ted Mosby thought
he met the love of his life…in a costume that has become the show’s
famed “Slutty Pumpkin.” Though her face was veiled, this mystery woman
became the object of Ted’s harvest-filled fantasies. Many years later,
we discovered that the woman was none other than Katie Holmes! Even though the costume doesn’t have much originality, we give them props for mocking the “slutty fill-in-the-blank” outfit.
Most Cerebral Costume – “Spud”-nik (Friends):
Oh Ross, your combination of awkward, intellectual will always be so
endearing to us. I love this costume because it totally caters to the
Halloween nerd in me. Unfortunately, Ross’
costume doesn’t translate well, and let’s just say that bathroom jokes
ensue. Didn’t anyone ever tell him that if you have to explain the
costume, it doesn’t work?
So Gangsta Costume – T-Pain (Parks and Recreation):
Trick or treat yo self! The Snake Pit,
and jammin’ to some Usher. His rendition of “I’m In Love With a
Stripper” is pretty priceless.
Best Group Costume – Rock Horror Picture Show (Glee): Though I had stopped watching Glee by the time this episode aired, I knew I had to tune in for any tribute to cult hit Rocky Horror Picture Show.
It’s hard to pick which is the best costume, since they all mimic the
eccentric characters so well. Ahem, Brittany and her tap dancing as
Columbia? But I would say the best would go to Kurt, whose all out ode
to Riff Raff costume deserves recognition.
The Indifferent Costume – Three-Hole Punched Jim (The Office): This is for the guy who wants
to go to the costume party, but is definitely too cool to go all out.
Anyway, we love Jim for his dry humor, and this costume exhibits that in
the best way possible.
Best Guest Star Costume- Adam Lambert (Pretty Little Liars): Adam Lambert can pull
off anything, and now he can check off glam vampire from his list. His
performance of his singles “Cuckoo” and “Trespassing” on the “A” train
are surely worth sinking your teeth into.
No Words… – Mother Teresa (Modern Family): In
season two’s Halloween episode, Haley comes downstairs repeatedly in
inappropriate costumes (slutty cat, slutty nurse, you name it) only to
be reprimanded by her mother to change into something more appropriate.
Finally Haley arrives in a skin-tight mini-dress and blue and white
veil, saying, “Mom, you cannot have a problem with this. I’m Mother
Teresa.” Haley is so clueless and off-color here, which is why we think
it’s so great. It’s another joke that clearly plays with Tina Fey’s famous Mean Girls
line, “Halloween is the one night a year when girls can dress like a
total slut and no other girls can say anything about it.” Very true, Ms.
Fey. Very true.
Best Glammed-Up Look – Flapper (Gossip Girl): Blair
Waldorf would never show up to a party without making a grand entrance,
and this is no exception. Blair becomes the ultimate flapper girl in
this beautiful getup and, of course, everything is impeccable from her
perfectly curled hair to her necklaces. Blair knows she would fit right
into Gatsby’s raucous roaring ’20s parties. XOXO.
The Complete Transformation – Sally Jessy Raphael (Sabrina The Teenage Witch): Okay, we’re getting a bit nostalgic here, but how can we talk Halloween without Sabrina the Teenage Witch?
Sabrina tells her aunt she’s going to school as Sally Jessy Raphael and
dons some big red plastic rimmed glasses. Her aunts are dismayed at
Sabrina’s lack of creativity, since Halloween is by far their favorite
holiday. Hilda says, “That is the lamest costume I’ve ever seen,” and
transforms her into the real Sally Jessy Raphael. Talk about trying to
stay in character…
The Un-P.C. Costume – Peggy Flemming (Community): Spanish teacher turned student Senor Chang, played hilariously by Ken Jeong,
arrives at Greendale sporting a turquoise leotard, a wig, ice skates
and a medal. When Chang asks Jeff and Brita who he is for Halloween,
they immediately guess Asian-American ice skaters Kristi Yamaguchi and Michelle Kwan because, yes, he’s Asian too. His actual costume? 1968 skating Olympian
Peggy Flemming. Chang responds, “Just been proven racist by the racist
prover.”
