Treehouse of Horror

It's something we look forward to each and every year. The Simpsons Treehouse of Horror Halloween Special! Starting with the second season, a special anthology episode of The Simpsons airs around Halloween (Sometimes in November, so the Halloween goodness lasts a little longer!) featuring new takes on movies, books or anything sci-fi/horror ideas that they can get their hands on.

With 22 spooky episodes, it's a nice way to spend a fall day with a mug full of cider and a bag full of candy corn. As with anything that lasts this long unfortunately, there are some lackluster episodes in the bunch (I am not too fond of last year's special). But the appeal of The Simpsons crossed with my love of Halloween keeps me looking hopeful.

There are a lot of great episodes, but here are my favorite ones!

Treehouse of Horror I - The introductory episode is a classic, hands down. I love the individual segments and I love the wraparounds of the family in the treehouse trying to scare each other. It features Bad Dream House, Hungry are the Damned and The Raven. It's probably the best of the Halloween specials and certainly my favorite.

Treehouse of Horror V - I think this is my second favorite of the specials. It features The Shinning, Time and Punishment and Nightmare Cafeteria. There are all hilarious and insanely quotable. And who could forget the musical finale?

Treehouse of Horror VI - This one is fantastic as well, but I more enjoy the first two segments as opposed to the last as I tend to like scary ones as opposed to sci-fi ones. With Attack of the 50-Foot Eyesores, Nightmare on Evergreen Terrance and Homer³, it's certainly one of the stronger episodes.

Treehouse of Horror VII - This episode introduces Bart's "evil" twin, Hugo. It's one of the most clever segments to date and truly hilarious. Along with Kang and Kodos impersonating presidential candidates, there isn't much to dislike about this episode.

Treehouse of Horror VIII - This one is mostly remembered for it's opening of a Fox censor being killed by the rating. The segments included are The HΩmega Man, Fly vs. Fly and Easy-Bake Coven. I really like the first two as they are parodies of famous movies and I always enjoy those.

Treehouse of Horror XII - This is the first episode I remember watching when it aired. It was nice to see Halloween specials being aired almost a week after Halloween was over. The segments Hex and the City, House of Whacks and Wiz Kids are pretty funny and rather memorable. At least for me.

There are still a lot of other well written pieces in various episodes, but I enjoy the overall spookiness of these six episodes the most. Even though King Homer, It's the Grand Pumpkin, Milhouse and Reaper Madness did not make the list, doesn't make them any less hilarious.

Last year was great as in July, we got a tease about what segments would be included in the year's special. I do hope that Fox does that again.

Would certainly be a great kick off to the four months of Halloween. Wait...did I just reveal some news?