Five Spooky Titanic Facts

April 15, 2012 marked the 100^th anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Titanic.  While the story of the doomed luxury ship has been in the headlines for the past century, there are also stories of another kind: Ghost stories. Just in time for Halloween, check out these spooky stories about the Titanic.

* In the aftermath of the Titanic tragedy, search and rescue teams recovered 328 Titanic victims and temporarily brought their bodies to the Snow & Co. Funeral Parlour in Halifax, Nova Scotia. According to Encompass Magazine, the funeral home is now the Five Fisherman Restaurant, and the original pulley used to hoist the Titanic cadavers to the building's upper level still hangs in the wine room ceiling. Today, bizarre occurrences such as glass flying off a shelf and cutlery falling to the floor when no one is near are common occurrences at the restaurant. Manager Gary MacDonald has said of the building's ghosts: "You must acknowledge them or they will pull stunts."

* In 2008, the Atlanta Constitution Journal published a story about the Georgia Aquarium after the "Titanic Aquatic" exhibit was featured there. Several aquarium volunteers reported strange encounters as they worked on the exhibit, which featured hundreds of Titanic-related artifacts. The aquarium staff brought in paranormal investigators, who determined that the Titanic exhibit was indeed a spirit dwelling.

* According to the San Francisco Chronicle, in the 1990s a San Francisco man named Jaime Rodriguez claimed that he was being haunted by a ghost, before finding that a Titanic survivor once inhabited his apartment. But former tenant Dr. Henry Washington Dodge was not considered a Titanic hero. While Dr. Dodge claimed that he called out for women and children to take a spot in the lifeboat that housed his wife and son on that fateful night, he inevitably climbed into the boat and endured public scrutiny for the rest of his life. After undergoing a lawsuit and a financial beating, Dodge sunk into a depression and committed suicide in his San Francisco apartment in 1919. His ghost appeared in the apartment every summer for years, and always in the same spot.

* Legendary socialite Margaret "Molly" Brown survived the Titanic sinking, but her former Denver home is said to be the site of some unusual happenings. According to a blog on Mysterious Colorado, paranormal oddities occur regularly at Molly Brown House Museum in Denver, including furniture disturbances and alleged sightings of the ghosts of Molly and her husband James Joseph Brown. Sightings of Molly's mother in an upstairs window have also been reported, as well as mysterious smells such as Mr. Brown's tobacco and his wife's favorite rose-scented perfume.

* The Daily Mail has revealed the house in England where the Titanic's captain was born also has a haunting history. It may come as no surprise that the childhood home of Captain Edward John Smith has been riddled with mysterious floods and unexplained icy chills, as well as ghostly sightings.

Ghost Hunters takes a look at the Titanic:

Whatever Happened to These Past Halloween TV Treats For Kids?

Move over, Charlie Brown -- a new fall special is about to haunt the pumpkin patch! Just in time for Halloween, the beloved characters from the "Toy Story" trio of movies are taking over the small screen once again in a spooky special set to air on ABC. Buzz and Woody (Tim Allen and Tom Hanks) are back, and so is Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head and Carl Weathers as Combat Carl (and his Jr. counterpart) in "Toy Story of Terror."

The premise? Proud toy-owner Bonnie (voiced by Emily Hahn) goes on a road trip to grandma's house (her toys are in the trunk, of course!), but when the car gets a flat tire the characters are forced to spend the night at a creepy motel. That's when toys start disappearing.

The Disney Pixar animated special took inspiration from not-so-kid-friendly horror flicks like "Alien," "Psycho," and "Night of the Living Dead," so it's no surprise that the original pitch was actually toned down after it was deemed too scary by Pixar execs.

"There was some concern early on about not making it too scary for kids," director Angus MacLane told TV Guide. "I think we've done a good job of balancing, staying true to 'Toy Story' and staying true to the genre. As far as adults are concerned, I've always thought that we make these movies for ourselves. I think it's funny, and like the other 'Toy Story' films, I think there is plenty of stuff in there that only adults will get." So will "Toy Story of Terror" terrorize your tykes? MacLane told the Wall Street Journal, "If the title is too scary for you or makes your kids jump, the movie is too scary for you."

The mini "Toy Story" treat will also include the Easter eggs that Pixar is so well known for hiding in their films. According to Hypable, keep an eye out for these hidden treasures: The graveyard scene at the beginning of the TV short includes tombstones of dead Pixar characters (R.I.P. Ellie Fredricksen?), while the artwork above the motel beds is a nod to Pixar's next film, "The Good Dinosaur."

Of course, "Toy Story of Terror" is the new kid on the block in a long line of animated Halloween specials aimed at kids. Can it match these memorable TV treats?

The beloved CBS special "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" made its debut in 1966 and still airs annually (now on ABC). The Emmy nominated Halloween cartoon -- which featured Snoopy's first foray as a flying ace and Linus's all-nighter in a pumpkin patch -- was a favorite of Peanuts creator Charles Schulz, according to the Washington Post. "[Schulz] liked the Christmas show, but he really liked 'The Great Pumpkin,'" director Bill Mendelson said. "It was the culmination of better animation and adapting the comic in the best possible way."

See a clip from "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown": 

The 1978  “Bugs Bunny Howl-oween Special” was a compilation of several Looney Tunes shorts from the 1950s and '60s, including " A-Haunting We Will Go" and "Hyde and Hare," but it was Bugs's confrontation with a vain witch that stole the show.

June Foray, who received a Governor’s Award at this year's Creative Arts Emmys, voiced the cackling Witch Hazel in the animated segment "Broom-Stick Bunny." The legendary voice actress is known for voicing everything from Rocky the Flying Squirrel to Cindy Lou Who in "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" to the creepy talking doll in the 1963 "Twilight Zone" episode "Living Doll," but her role as Witch Hazel is a personal favorite, according to Animation World Magazine. Foray was even the model for the animated "pretty" version of the witch. Va va broom!

So where's this classic special today? It's no longer shown on TV, but it's available on DVD.

Watch a clip from "Broomstick Bunny": 

In 1977, “Halloween is Grinch Night” premiered on ABC. The prequel to the Dr. Seuss holiday classic may not be as well known as the classic 1966 Christmas cartoon, but it actually won an Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program in 1978. Boris Karloff, the original voice of the Grinch, passed away in 1969, so for the 1977 Whoville revisit, Hans Conried voiced the role of the green recluse. "Halloween is Grinch Night" makes its ABC Family debut on Oct. 27 at 7 p.m.

Check out "'Halloween Is Grinch Night": 

And no Halloween adventure would be complete without “Garfield's Halloween Adventure.” The 1985 CBS animated special (also an Emmy winner) is based on the Jim Davis comic strip and features the famous feline and his pal Odie in tale that's actually pretty spooky. (An ominous old man, ghostly images, and creepy clowns? It's all in there!) The soundtrack boasts two songs by the legendary Lou Rawls.

This retired TV special is hard to find, but you can check out some of the best moments of "Garfield's Halloween Adventure": 

From 'SNL' to Slutty Pumpkin: Remember These Halloween TV Cameos?

It's Halloween, so that means there's extra TV treats. Last year,  NBC aired "SNL: Halloween," a primetime special that included some of the most memorable celebrity cameos from classic "Saturday Night Live" sketches.

With 39 seasons in its archives, "SNL's" Halloween booty boasts everything from Richard Pryor's 1975 "Exorcist II" skit to Madeline Kahn's classic "I Feel Pretty" Bride of Frankenstein sketch. In more recent years, Bill Hader's "Vincent Price Halloween Special" featured special guest star Jon Hamm (the “Mad Men” star, clearly comfortable in the 1960s, played JFK), and Barack Obama even made a cameo in a 2007 "SNL" Halloween opener when he crashed the Clinton's Halloween party. 

While "SNL" has the celeb-cameo category in the bag, other TV shows have given us their own share of Halloween treats, as well, with special guest stars that made the holiday-themed episodes even more memorable.

Every day was Halloween on the 1960s sitcom “Bewitched,” but the ABC series boasted five official Halloween episodes during its eight-season run. The legendary Willie Mays even haunted one episode. In 1966, Mays made a cameo as a guest at Endora's (played by Agnes Moorehead) Halloween party in the episode "Twitch or Treat," where it was revealed that the baseball great was actually a warlock. "The way he hits home runs? What else?" Elizabeth Montgomery's Samantha explained to a stunned Darrin (Dick York).

And here's the story of a pre-"Brady" Maureen McCormick. “The Brady Bunch” star popped into the 1965 "Bewitched" episode "Trick or Treat," playing a pint-size Endora dressed in a gypsy costume. The future Marcia Brady cast a wicked spell on Darrin that soon had him sporting fangs and facial hair as he quickly transformed into a werewolf.

See McCormick in "Bewitched":

No family loves Halloween as much as the Conner clan, so it's no wonder the long-running sitcom “Roseanne” featured a whopping eight Halloween-themed episodes in nine seasons. While George Clooney was a semi-regular on the series during its first season, he left the show in 1989 after 10 episodes. But somehow producers managed to scare up one final cameo in 1991. That's when Clooney reprised his role as Booker Brooks, Jackie's (Laurie Metcalf) ex-boyfriend and former factory boss, for the Halloween episode "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down." Jackie didn't realize that the moose she was flirting with at the lodge Halloween party was actually her ex, but when he took off that moose head, it was the last call for Booker.

In 1982, up-and-coming comedian Andrew Dice Clay appeared in teh "m*A*S*H" episode "Trick or Treatment." The Diceman played Corporal Hrabosky in an episode about the 4077th's Halloween bash at Rosie's bar. Unfortunately, the gala was interrupted by war casualties, as well as drunken antics. (Dice's character suffered a head wound after crashing into a chicken coop during a Jeep race.) Still, this episode about Halloween 1953 is the only place to find Hawkeye Pierce in a Superman costume and Col. Potter as a wannabe cowboy.

“Friends” had "one" for every holiday, and Halloween was no exception. In 2001, "The One With the Halloween Party" featured an appearance by guest star Sean Penn. The Oscar winner played Ursula's (played by Lisa Kudrow) former fiance, Eric. According to Entertainment Weekly, Penn's spokesperson said the actor's kids were big fans of the NBC sitcom at the time, while "Friends" co-creator David Crane said, ''We've always been fans of [Penn's] comedy.'' Clearly there were some Spicoli fans in the "Friends" writers' room.

And then there's  “The Office,” another long-running series known for its Halloween hijinks. In 2012, guest star Stephen Colbert turned up for the role of Broccoli Rob, a former member of Andy's (Ed Helms) college a cappella group, Here Comes Treble. The episode reunited “The Colbert Report” " host with his old "Daily Show" cohort, but their "Office" characters were rivals, as they vied to take ownership of a signature song: George Michael's "Faith." Too bad Andy's leather clad George Michael costume had a confused Here Comes Treble singer telling him, "I thought you were Adam Lambert."

The 2011 “How I Met Your Mother” episode "Return of the Slutty Pumpkin" featured a small-screen cameo by Katie Holmes as the legendary pumpkin from Ted's (Josh Radnor) past. (Ten years past! "HIMYM" fans surely remember Ted's first mention of the promiscuous pumpkin back in the year 2001.) A lost Kit Kat wrapper with the pumpkin girl's phone number culminated with this follow-up episode that was "literally six seasons in the making," according to show creator Craig Thomas. And it was worth the wait. Thomas told Vulture: "Katie is a lovely and talented actress, which is why we've saved for her perhaps the most classily named character in our show's history."

Check out a clip of Holmes on "How I Met Your Mother":  

From Pregnant Aliens to Geriatric Gargoyles: Our Favorite ‘Modern Family’ Halloween Costumes

From corpse couples to two "Fantasy Island" icons, the “Modern Family” costume department goes all out when it comes to Halloween. Currently in its fifth season, the holiday lovin’ ABC sitcom has produced two Halloween episodes -- Season 2’s “Halloween” and Season 4’s “Open House of Horrors” – but they’ve included more costume changes than a Cher concert.

For the Season 2 episode alone, Haley (played by Sarah Hyland) paraded around in three different Halloween costumes. Of course, that was because mom Claire (Julie Bowen) demanded that she change out of her first getup: a super skimpy sexy black cat outfit. The teen then came out dressed as a sexy nurse, and when that idea didn’t go over so well (“Are you trying to get candy or Japanese business men?” Claire snapped), she transformed into a sexy…Mother Theresa?

“What?” Haley said. “I’m her back when she was hot!”

In the 2010 episode “Halloween,”  Claire’s over-the-top haunted house may have allegedly  given a man a heart attack, but it also came with an array of cool costumes: Gloria’s evil village bruja (or she could just call it a witch), Jay’s geriatric gargoyle, Luke and Manny’s mad scientist and Frankenstein team,  and Phil and Claire as the walking dead.

“Claire and I are going as Corpse bride and groom…as if there’s any other kind,” Phil (played by Ty Burrell) said. “I’m saying that because marriage kills you." That same episode featured Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) sporting a Spider-man costume at his Halloween-friendly law office, only to be told later that only the biggest “tools” at the firm actually show up in costume.

Last year, Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and his daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) channeled the 1970s TV series "Fantasy Island" when they dressed up as Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo. Of course, this costume change came after a bulky bull costume arrived instead of the slimming matador costume Cam ordered. That’s no way to show off a 32.4 pound weight loss, so he whipped out the white suit for a tribute to TV’s most mysterious island proprietor.

After scaring the beejeezus out of the neighbors the previous year, Claire toned things down with a Little Bo Peep costume and lollipop lawn ornaments. But when her nursery-rhyme themed getup got no reaction, the horror loving housewife couldn’t help herself: It was time to break into Zombie Bo Peep. Still, the scariest costume had to be Gloria’s pregnant alien outfit. Or maybe it was the pregnancy hormones that made her so terrifying.

Some of the “Modern Family” cast members have listed the Halloween episodes as their favorites of all time. Sofia Vergara told Glamour, “I love the Halloween episode from [2010]—we were all in costume. I mean, every time I would see Ed O’Neill dressed like a gargoyle, I couldn’t stop laughing. It was too much.”

And Jesse Tyler Ferguson told the Los Angeles Times, "The Spider-Man scene from the Halloween episode was my favorite to shoot thus far for the sheer fact that I was scaling down a wall in a Spider-Man costume. I will never in my life be cast in a movie where I am able to wear a super-hero costume and perform my own stunts. It was like I got to live a dream for a day."

The “Modern Family” characters may love crazy Halloween costumes, but some celebs would rather dress up like a “Modern Family” star. Last year, Ellen DeGeneres donned a sparkly green Zuhair Murad gown exactly like the one Sofia Vergara wore to the 2012 Emmy Awards and paired it with a long, brunette wig. The comic told her talk show audience: "Muchas Gracias everybody, Muchas Gracias, Hola! My name is Sofia Vergara. I am easy breezy beautiful Cover Girl from Colombia. Happy Halloween. As you can see, I put my pumpkins out.”

Photo Credits: ABC Television Network

Classic Scary Movies That Don't Have a Lot of Blood and Gore (Just Good Old Fashioned Creepiness)

If you don't like to watch movies that have a lot of blood and gore, you may tend to avoid popular Halloween classics like Friday the 13th and Nightmare on Elm Street. Still, no Halloween is complete without a scary movie or two, so here are some old school scary movies that don't involve a lot of blood and gore. Just good old fashioned creepiness.

The Bad Seed (1956) 

Young actress Patty McCormack was phenomenal in this disturbing movie. McCormack plays Rhoda Penmark, a blonde pigtailed seemingly perfect child. The building handyman Leroy (Henry Jones) is on to Rhoda's perfect child act, however., and he lets her know it. When a child at Rhoda's school drowns during a school picnic, Rhoda shows no emotion over the incident, and it is then that her mother begins to delve deeper into the strange behaviors of her unusual daughter.

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962) 

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford starred in this movie about two aging starlet sisters. When Crawford's character, Blanche Hudson, is crippled after a car accident, her career as an actress is cut short. Her jealous sister Baby Jane (Davis) keeps her in their dilapidated mansion, all the while terrorizing her. Bette Davis is terrifying in this movie.

The Collector (1965) 

Terrence Stamp plays a strange and awkward clerk and butterfly collector, Frederick Clegg, who wins a lottery. He uses his winnings to kidnap and trap an attractive art student, Miranda Grey (Samantha Eggar) who he has been eyeing. He tries to "keep" her much the same way that he keeps the butterflies that he collects. While his motives aren't sexual, he wants her to fall in love with him. Although Miranda attempts to escape from Clegg several times, he always catches her. In the end, Clegg has an eerie a revelation.

Bad Ronald (1974) 

This made for TV movie reigns as one of the all time creepiest movies ever to hit the small screen. Scott Jacoby stars as Ronald Wilby, a teenager who accidentally kills a young girl. He tells his mother about the accident and she hides him in a secret room in their house. But when his mom dies and the house is sold to a new family, Ronald is still hidden away in the secret room. It is there that he envisions a bizarre fantasy life with the new family's beautiful daughters. Totally creepy movie and worth scanning the late night TV listings for or renting on DVD.

Creepshow (1982) 

Totally campy movie based on a couple of Stephen King's short stories. The movie is split into 5 vignettes, the creepiest being "Something to Tide you Over.” Leslie Nielsen plays a wealthy businessman who suspects that his wife is having an affair. He concocts a sick plot to make his wife and her lover pay, by burying them both in the sand up to their necks on his private beach. Some of the stories in this film, including this one, were written expressly by Stephen King for this film. The film pays tribute to horror comic books, as you will see as each story begins.

X Files: Home (1996) 

OK, so this is not a movie but is probably one of the most disturbing and scary things you’ll ever see on television. This episode of Fox's The X-Files originally aired in October 1996, to great controversy. It was given a Mature Audience TV rating at the time and Fox received a lot of flack after the episode aired. Agents Mulder and Scully (David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson) investigate a family of inbred mutants, The Peacocks, after the corpse of a newborn baby is found buried on small town field. The baby has an enormous number of birth defects, which prompts an investigation on to who gave birth to the child. Fox only reran this episode one other time, on Halloween of 1999, before locking it in the vault for good. This episode can be viewed on The X-Files Season 4 DVD. Warning: it is not for the queasy.

The Best Halloween Themed Classic TV Episodes of All Time

It wouldn’t be Halloween without TV traditions like "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown,” but there are plenty of great Halloween-themed episodes of classic television shows as well. Check out these Halloween-inspired retro TV episodes.

Bewitched - "Trick or Treat" (1965)

This classic series about a typical suburban witch boasted a Halloween episode almost every year during its eight season run. The 1965 episode “Trick or Treat,” kicked things off when ad man Darrin Stephens (Dick York) ordered his witchy wife Samantha (Elizabeth Montgomery) to skip her annual witches Halloween ceremony. His furious mother-in- law Endora (Agnes Moorehead) zapped a spell on him, which gradually turned him into a werewolf. Child actress Maureen McCormick (Marcia on The Brady Bunch) made a cameo as a young Endora. But this witchy show cooked up several more Halloween episodes, including the classic 1967 episode "A Safe and Sane Halloween.”

The Brady Bunch - "Fright Night" (1972)

 This episode originally aired in October 1972 and although Halloween wasn't mentioned in the theme, it was definitely a spooky episode. The Brady kids take to playing scary pranks on each other, but when their parents (Robert Reed and Florence Henderson) tell them to stop it, they decide to team up and scare the heck out of Alice (Ann B. Davis), the family housekeeper. The prank backfires and a disaster occurs, at least by Brady standards.

Happy Days - "Haunted" (1974)

This '70s show about the '50s featured several Halloween episodes, but this episode from the second season reigns as a classic. Richie Cunningham (Ron Howard) is nervous about going to his buddy Ralph's Halloween party, which is being held at the old Simpson house, allegedly home of the headless ghost old lady Simpson.

Little House on the Prairie - "The Monster of Walnut Grove" (1976)

When Laura and Mary Ingalls (Melissa Gilbert and Melissa Sue Anderson) go out to pull Halloween prank at the local mercantile, Laura "thinks" she sees mercantile owner Mr. Olsen behead his wife. But was her mind playing tricks on her?

M*A*S*H - "Trick or Treatment" (1982)

The members of the 4077^th are going to a Halloween party at Rosie's, but are interrupted when casualties are brought in. They then take turns telling ghost stories. Comedian Andrew Dice Clay makes a brief cameo in this episode.

Roseanne -"Boo!" (1989) 

This sitcom series was known for its annual Halloween episodes and there are several good ones to choose from. In "Boo,” the Conner family gets ready for their favorite holiday of the year, complete with costumes, pranks and a scary "tunnel of terror." 

Simpsons - "Treehouse of Horror V" (1994)

Like Roseanne, the animated FOX series The Simpsons is known for their annual Halloween episodes, dubbed "Treehouse of Horror.”  Since 1990, The Simpsons "Treehouse of Horror" series has developed a major cult following. Each Halloween episode features several different segments, some of them spoofing old horror flicks. 1994's selections were the best, featuring shorts called "The Shinning", "Time and Punishment" and "Nightmare Cafeteria.” Nineteen different "Treehouse of Horror" episodes have aired since 1990.

My So Called Life - "Halloween" (1994)

On this underrated ABC series (which later developed a cult following on MTV),  the students of Liberty High are spooked by the 1963 death of a former student. Angela Chase (Clare Danes) finds herself transported back into the 1960s.

Witchy Women: Five Rock Songs About Witches

Double, double toil and trouble! With Halloween looming, it’s time to take a look back at some of the witchiest songs in rock and roll history. Check out these five rock songs about witches—and pay attention, or one of these girls might put a spell on you!

"Rhiannon"-  Fleetwood Mac

In live performances of this 1974 song, singer Stevie Nicks often starts off by saying, “This is a song about a Welsh witch.” And indeed, Nicks has said that she wrote the classic song in 10 minutes after reading a book (“Triad” by Mary Leader) about a mystical woman with two personalities. Over the years Nicks seemed to take on the character of Rhiannon in her performances, even donning flowing, black gowns. But she dissed the notion that she’s at all witchlike. In a 2001 interview with Rolling Stone, Nicks explained, “I just like Halloween, and I thought that blondes look skinnier in black. That was my whole idea for that whole thing-- a long, cool woman in a black dress, right?”

"The Witch Queen of New Orleans"-  Redbone

 This 1971 song by Native American rock band Redbone was penned as attribute to New Orleans voodoo priestess, Marie Laveau. In the song the band sings “Marie, Marie, da voodoo veau, she'll put a spell on you ….She's the witch queen  of New Orleans.” The song also sings of Laveau stirring her “witches brew” and ends with an account on her death: “Though she'll never return, all the Cajuns knew, a Witch Queen never dies.” According to the New Orleans Historic Museum, when Laveau died in 1881 newspapers printed competing obituaries, with some saying she was a witch while others said she was a saint. Marie Laveau has been immortalized in songs by Redbone, Dr. Hook & the Medicine Show and Canned Heat.

"Swamp Witch"-  Jim Stafford

 He don’t like spiders and snakes and apparently he had an aversion to swamp witches too. In 1973 singer-songwriter Jim Stafford sang of the Black Bayou-dwelling Hattie. Stafford’s haunting lyrics warned:  “Where the swamp is alive with a thousand eyes, and all of them watching you, stay off the track to Hattie's Shack in the back of the Black Bayou.” But don’t feel bad for Witch Hattie—she had plenty of company down by the swamp, what with the “strange green reptiles” and snakes that hung from the cypress trees and all.

"Eye of the Witch"/ "The Trial" -  King Diamond

The super spooky “Eye of the Witch” and “The Trial” are the opening tracks on the 1990 heavy metal concept album, “The Eye” by Danish rocker King Diamond. The concept behind the stories on the “The Eye” center around Jeanne Dibasson, a supposed real life witch who was burned at the stake.

"Witches' Rave”-  Jeff Buckley

The lyrics to this song are certainly bewitching (“Your witchcraft’s all around me in your ragged pagan scene”), but unfortunately 30-year singer-songwriter Jeff Buckley died in an accidental drowning  in the Memphis harbor before the song was ever released. The album he had been working on—“Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk”)-- was released a year later and included “Witches’ Rave.” Sadly, this haunting lyric from the song proved all too prophetic for Buckley: “I’ll never make it out alive to join the witches’ rave.”

TV Characters Who Had the Best Halloween Costumes Ever

Trick, treat, or TV?  Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays on the small screen, and over the years some of our favorite classic television characters have donned some contest-worthy costumes.  With Halloween on the horizon, it’s time to take a stroll down memory lane to check out some of the best Halloween costumes worn by classic TV characters.

"Roseanne"-- Dan Conner's three “Three Stooges” heads

On the TV sitcom “Roseanne,” Dan Conner proved he was the biggest stooge of all.  In the 1990 episode “Trick or Treat,” Roseanne’s TV hubby couldn’t decide if he wanted to be Larry, Moe or Curly for Halloween—so he was all three!

"Full House"-- Danny, Jessie and Joey's 'Three Stooges" Costume

The boys on the sitcom “Full House” teamed up to be the Stooges as well, but they weren’t joined at the hip. In the 1988 episode “It’s Not My Job,”  Danny dressed up as Larry, Joey was Curly and dreamy Jesse (John Stamos) was Moe -- with a combo bowl cut and mullet!  Nyuk nyuk nyuk!

"Bewitched"-- Tabitha Stephens' Tiger Costume

This one wins for cutest kids’ costume! It wasn’t a “Safe and Sane Halloween” on the classic 1960s sitcom, “Bewitched,” when pint-sized witch Tabitha decided to zap some spooky story book characters to life on Halloween Eve. Still, Tab’s super cute tiger costume made her the most stylish toddler on Morning Glory Circle.

"The Simpsons"-- Bart Simpson's Alex  DeLarge  Costume

The long-running animated series is known for its annual “Treehouse of Horrors” episodes. And while most young boys dress up like superheroes or sports players, in the series’ third Halloween installment back in 1992, the incessantly 10-year old Bart dressed as Alex DeLarge from the cult film, “A Clockwork Orange.” Where does this kid come up with this stuff?

"Roseanne"-- Roseanne Conner's Prince Costume

They loved them some Halloween on “Roseanne”—so much so that in later years the show’s Halloween episodes were compiled on a special “Halloween Edition” DVD.   Roseanne dressed up as everything from a lumberjack to a gypsy queen, but her personal best may have been when she glammed up as pop icon Prince in the episode “Skeleton In the Closet.” Rosie was ready to party like it was 1999— back in 1994!

"Friends"-- Ross's Spud-nik Costume

On the Emmy winning sitcom “Friends,” Ross may have made the "holiday armadillo" a household name (well, sort of), but his “Spud-nik” Halloween costume was no small potatoes either. Of course, he had to explain his unusual costume to his “Friends," (Joey thought he waz dressed as "doody"), explaining, “You remember the Russian satellite, Sputnik? Well I am a potato, or a spud, and these are my antennae. So Sputnik becomes Spudnik!” OK, so it may not be the best costume on this list, but you have to give “Friends’” resident geek an A for originality!

"Modern Family"-- Phil and Claire Dunphy's Corpse Bride and Groom Costume

And this one may not be a classic yet, but it’s definitely on its way! The 2010 Pritchett-Dunphy-Delgado-Tucker  Halloween festivities featured all of the show’s characters decked out for Halloween-- and the costumes ranged from a dorky Spider Man (Mitchell) to a geriatric gargoryle (Jay). But aren’t couples’ costumes always the best? The top prize here  goes to Claire and Phil’s whiter-shade-of pale corpse bride and groom costume. Now go get some sun, kids!

Photo credits:ABC

The Simpson's Photo Credit: FOX

TV Characters who dressed up like TV characters for Halloween

Over the years, television characters have had a long love affair with Halloween—and sometimes with each others' personas! Check out this rundown of TV characters who’ve dressed up as their favorite TV characters for Halloween.

"Modern Family"

On  ABC’s hit sitcom "Modern Family," Cam (Eric Stonestreet) and his daughter Lily (Aubrey Anderson-Emmons) took on the 1970’s series “Fantasy Island” when they dressed up as Mr. Roarke and his sidekick, Tattoo, for a Halloween costume party. While Cam didn’t originally plan to channel the proprietor of TV’s most mysterious island (the matador costume he ordered to show off his 32.4-pound weight loss arrived as a bull costume instead!), and getting Lily to trade in her princess tiara for Tattoo’s white suit was no easy task either, in the end, this father-daughter duo queued up the cuteness. De plane! De plane!

“Suburgatory”

The “Suburgatory” cast went retro in 2012, when Tessa (Jane Levy) and her friends dressed up as the “Scooby Doo” gang for Halloween. While red-haired Tessa was a natural to dress up as Daphne, and Lisa (Allie Grant) made a groovy Velma, the guys got it all wrong: Malik (Maestro Harrell) and Ryan (Parker Young)  both dressed up as Fred. So where’s Shaggy? In a deleted scene, apparently.

“The Office”

In 2010, the long-running NBC comedy, “The Office,” channeled the TV cartoon “Popeye,” with Jim (John Krasinski) dressing as the spinach-loving sailor and Pam (Jenna Fischer) dressing as Olive Oyl.  (Baby Cece even turned up as Swee’Pea.) But perhaps even more memorable was when Mindy Kaling’s  character, Kelly, dressed up as "Sex and the City"  character Carrie Bradshaw in the series’ 2008 Halloween episode. Let’s just say Kelly needed a little more practice walking in Manolos! You can check out a clip here.

“Freaks and Geeks”

If I were The Bionic Woman, what would I wear?” the character of Bill (Martin Starr) asked himself as he gazed in the mirror on the short-lived sitcom “Freaks and Geeks.” What followed was a hilarious montage detailing his transformation into Lindsay Wagner’s 1970’s TV character, OSI agent Jaime Sommers, as he talked to an imaginary Steve Austin and Oscar Goldman and feigned a bionic ear. The finished costume wasn’t particularly bionic, but you can’t find a character more determined to get into character than this one. Check out Bill’s transformation:

“The New Normal”

Last year on NBC’s “The New Normal,” Bryan (Andrew Rannells) geared up for a "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" Halloween. According to  TV Guide, show creator Ryan Murphy teased that the character Shania (Bebe Wood) “loves that show so they decide to go en masse as that family.” And there was  more TV character costuming to come. Jane (Ellen Barkin) doubled up on the blue eye shadow and zapped herself into “Bewitched” character Endora (check out a  pic here). In fact, there were 15 costume changes in the Halloween-themed episode.

The Top Television Witches of All Time

With Halloween quickly approaching, it's time for a run down the top television witches of all time. Some are spooky, some are cooky, but all have made their mark in television history! Check out this list of the Top 10 TV witches of all time.

Samantha Stephens- Bewitched (1964-1972). On the 1960s sitcom Bewitched, Elizabeth Montgomery played Samantha Stephens, a pretty witch who married a mortal, much to the chagrin of her overbearing mother While she attempted to live a normal mortal existence in suburban Connecticut, Samantha often used witchcraft to get her family out of jams. But her hubby Darrin (Dick York, Dick Sargent) didn’t want her to use witchcraft at all.

Endora- Bewitched (1964-1972). Endora (no last name needed) was the conniving, witchy mother of Samantha Stephens. Played by the legendary Agnes Moorehead, Endora was one wicked witch. (With a sometimes-soft heart,) Although she loved her daughter, she despised her son in law Darrin,  and she devoted her time to making him miserable by casting wacky spells on him, like turning him into a werewolf or making his ears grow every time he told a lie. Oh, and she called him Derwood and turned one of his clients into a monkey.

Witch Hazel- "Broom Stick Bunny" (1956). This cartoon witch can be found on several classic Looney Tunes/Merrie Melodies cartoons, most notably the 1956 short, "Broom Stick Bunny.” Originally voiced by Bea Benaderet (“Petticoat Junction”), Witch Hazel was later played by the legendary voice actress June Foray (who also did the voices of Rocky the Flying Squirrel , Cindy Lou Who, and the eerie "Talky Tina" doll from a classic “Twilight Zone” episode). Witch Hazel, who longed to be the ugliest witch of them all, was out to get Bugs Bunny in several Looney Toons cartoona, but that wascally wabbit always seemed to outsmart her.

Sabrina- The New Archie and the Sabrina Hour /Superwitch (1977-1978). Based on the Archie comic book series, this Saturday morning cartoon featured the first and original teenage witch, a blonde-bobbed witch named Sabrina. Sabrina joined Archie and the gang on their adventures at Riverdale High, and even jammed with them in their rock band.

Sabrina Spellman- Sabrina the Teenage Witch (1996-2000). Perky Melissa Joan Hart reprised the role of the Sabrina character in the live action series in the 1990s. The twist in this series was Sabrina didn’t find out she was a witch until her 16th birthday. That's a lot of power for a young girl to suddenly have! Luckily, she had two aunts who were old hat at witchcraft, so they hung around to give her some guidance.

Tabitha Lennox- Passions (1999-2008).  Juliet Mills played he magical nanny Phoebe Figalilly on the 1970s series Nanny and the Professor, but year later she moved on to soap opera stardom on the campy soap, Passions. Mills played the immortal and extremely evil witch, Tabitha Lennox, who haunted the town of Harmony for over 300 years, thus locking in her spot on this list.

Tabitha Stephens- Bewitched (1962-1972) and Tabitha (1977-1978). There's nothing like watching a witch grow up from infancy. Bewitched fans were delighted when the series introduced the littlest witch ever on television, played by twin sisters Erin and Diane Murphy. Baby Tabitha seemed like a regular baby at first sight -- until her toddler years,  when mom Samantha noticed some crazy things were happening. Tabitha operated on "wish craft" meaning things she wished to happen would happen, because she was too young to control her witchy urges. Tab grew up to be a lovely young witch and even returned to TV in a spinoff of her own in the late ‘70s, with Tabitha starring Lisa Hartman.

Willow Rosenberg- Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997-2003). A student at Sunnydale High, Willow Rosenberg (played by Alyson Hannigan) befriended Buffy and became a founding member of the town's Scooby Gang, in which they took on evil forces. Willow, who was a lesbian witch, was one of the most popular characters on the series and eventually turned up on a few episodes of the Buffy spinoff, Angel.

Wilhemina W. Witchiepoo- H.R. Pufnstuf (1969-1971). This wacky witch from the old Sid and Marty Krofft Saturday morning lineup hung out with life-size puppets on an island where everything was alive (the trees even danced!) in this fantasy children's series. The cackling Witchiepoo (played by Billie Hayes) was often foiled by 11-year-old Jimmy (Jack Wild) and his talking flute, Freddy. Yes, this show was pretty psychedelic.

Prue Halliwell -Charmed (1998-2001). While the series Charmed featured a family of beautiful witch sisters, Prue was regarded as the most powerful of the 4 Halliwell sisters. And the character was played by Shannen Doherty, one of the all time witchiest actresses of all time. (Just ask her former Beverly Hills 90210 cast mates!)