Hey, Ho for Halloween

When I think of Halloween, I think of four things:

1. The episode of The Adventures of Pete and Pete when Little Pete wants to break the record for number of houses tricked or treated in one night but his friend, Nona, played by Michelle Trachtenberg who'd eventually appear on Buffy, won’t go because of The Pumpkin Eaters. They’re a group of hooligans who want to outlaw Halloween. But Big Pete gets sick of this and does his part to stop them.

I remember this episode because it’s one of the best episodes of Pete and Pete, and also because it’s one of the first (if not the first) episode to have Iggy Pop on it, who plays Nona’s father.

2. The cassette tape from the Bethlehem Public Library that my Dad and I would rent right before every All Hallows Eve, and play pretty much non-stop. On it was all the customary Halloween tracks: “The Blob,” “Monster Mash, “Purple People Eaters,” etc. It was a great way to get a child (and his father) ready for the night of ghouls and goblins.

3. The Treehouse of Horror specials on The Simpsons—especially “Time and Punishment” from Treehouse of Horror V. “Time” is the short about Homer going back and forth through time using a toaster.

Homer: Okay, don’t panic, remember the advice your father gave you on your wedding day
[remembers Abe with hair and a tuxedo]
Abe: If you ever travel back in time, don't step on anything because even the tiniest change can alter the future in ways you can’t imagine.
Homer: Fine. As long as I stand perfectly still and don’t touch anything, I won’t destroy the future [a mosquito flies in] Stupid bug! You go squish now!

4. Last year, before going over to a friend’s place for a party (where I was dressed as JJ “Jake” Gittes), I was listening to my iPod on shuffle and Otis Redding came on. The song was “Trick or Treat.” Instead of the "classic" songs of Halloween, I now think of this one.