The Best Sitcom Halloween Specials Of All Time

When the spooky season rolls around, you must pick out the perfect costume, stock up on all the candy, put up some decorations, and get ready to watch horror movies and TV shows' Halloween specials!

It's quite common for series to have episodes dedicated to holidays, and these can sometimes be the best ones of all as they feature beloved characters in a whole new way — all while celebrating a festive time of the year. Halloween episodes, in particular, seem to draw in fans more than usual: We get to see an array of costumes; we may get a fun setting like a haunted house, a themed party, or a pumpkin patch; and we could just get a scare or two, due to the tricks and treats on the screen.

That being said, be sure to add these Halloween specials — the best ones of all time — to your watchlist this year.

First up is the sixth episode of Season 2 of "Community," which is titled "Epidemiology" and has landed on lists like this in other publications, such as those done by Parade, Esquire, and Complex. The plot centers around everyone getting sick with zombie-like symptoms. Plus, it all happens during a college-wide costume party, and we know that seeing characters dressed up like pop culture icons, monsters, and fruit is always fun.

"Community" is a popular comedy series, one that has even been called "the perfect sitcom" by some (via Medium). In particular, fans enjoy regularly watching the diverse, relatable, and hilarious stars. Those feelings only get enhanced when watching this holiday-focused episode. Currently, viewers can stream the show on Amazon Prime, Hulu Plus, and Netflix and can rent or purchase it on Vudu, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, and iTunes, according to TV Guide.

Season 3 Episode 2 of "Bob's Burgers" focuses on the Belcher kids going trick-or-treating while the parents go to a Halloween party. As usual, things don't go as planned for either group.

Tina, Gene, and Louise head to the ritzy King's Head Island in order to get some full-sized candy bars (hence the name of the episode, "Full Bars"), but they run into a problem. Hell Hunt is starting soon, meaning teenagers will come out at night and attack kids. Meanwhile, at Teddy's party, a murder mystery unfolds.

No Halloween celebration is complete without candy and a party, and if Bob's family is involved, one can be sure it will be entertaining. That's why this specific episode of the animated series — which is available to watch on Hulu Plus and for free on FOX (via TV Guide) — was also named one of the best by Town & Country.

"The Office" offered up some amazing Halloween specials over the years. The first one came about in Season 2, featured every woman coming to work dressed as a cat, and was appropriately titled "Halloween." Another memorable one was "Employee Transfer" during Season 5, which showed Creed, Kevin, and Dwight as The Joker from "The Dark Knight."

The top pick has to go to "Costume Contest," though, and TIME agrees. As the sixth episode of the seventh season, it put the following costumes on display: Michael as MacGruber, Ryan as Justin Bieber, Kevin as Michael Moore, Kelly as Snooki (and then a wardrobe change to Katy Perry), Gabe as Lady Gaga, and the Halpert family as Popeye, Olive Oyl, and Swee'Pea, to name a few.

Currently, fans can watch "The Office" on Peacock, and it can be rented or purchased on Vudu, Google Play, Amazon Instant Video, or iTunes, as stated by TV Guide.

"The Simpsons" is known and praised for its Halloween episodes, but there's one, in particular, that seems to stand out above all the rest: Season 6 Episode 6, which is called "Treehouse of Horror V."

Earlier this year, "The Simpsons" aired its 700th episode, as reported by Variety, and through the years, there have been over 30 Halloween-themed specials (via It's A Stampede!). This one is full of iconic portions like "Time and Punishment" about a time-traveling toaster, "Nightmare Cafeteria" about misbehaving children being turned into cafeteria meals, and "The Shinning" about Homer losing it and trying to murder his family, just like Jack Torrance in "The Shining."

We aren't alone in naming this as one of the best ever, as Parade, Complex, and TIME are just a few of the publications that have done the same! Some more good news is that those with Hulu Plus and/or Disney+ can stream this successful show now (via TV Guide).

A list of the best Halloween TV episodes wouldn't be complete without a mention of "Roseanne," whose titular character was the self-proclaimed Queen of Halloween. The Conner family went all out on this holiday, and it was a thrill to watch — and still is, as it's currently available to watch on Vudu (via TV Guide)!

Remember when Becky was a bloody prom queen and Darlene pretended she was having a demon baby in Season 3's seventh episode, "Trick or Treat"? Remember when Roseanne was visited by the ghosts of past, present, and future Halloweens in "Halloween IV," which was the seventh episode of Season 5? Yes, there were some great ones, but the best of the best had to be the first of these holiday specials.

The seventh episode of the second season, with "BOO!" as a title, showed Roseanne trying over and over to scare Dan and showed, right off the bat, how much this time of the year meant to the characters, as they turned their house into the Tunnel of Terror (via TVLine). 

So get cuddled up and flick on the TV, because these sitcom Halloween specials are calling!