Once upon a time, themed episodes were inescapable on television. Sitcoms in the 1990s took advantage of this in humorous ways, featuring spooky houses, possessed friends, and evil dolls out for revenge.
Halloween season was a huge hit in sitcoms such as Moesha, Martin, The Wayans Bros., and more. Each of these shows put its own funny twist on the holiday and never failed to give viewers a spooky laugh. If you want a dose of hilarious nostalgia this spooky season, here are a few ’90s sitcom episodes to stream or watch on DVD.
Martin: “Boo’s in the House” (S5,E5)
After years of saving for a house, Martin and Gina thought they had hit the jackpot. Martin put a down payment on a home before taking a tour or consulting with his wife. When the tour finally happens, the couple and their crew (Tommy, Pam, and Cole) are in for a “scam” scare.
Once Martin signs the lease, the scammer, who had sold the house to them under false pretenses, starts pulling out all the funny, spooky tricks to scare them away and profit from the money.
The Wayans Bros.: “Scared Straight” (S2,E7)
Who knew a cup of coffee and a donut were to die for?
Marlon and Shawn set out to prove to Pops that ghosts aren’t real. Every Halloween, their father puts a cup of coffee and a chocolate donut on a table in the diner for Cassandra Malloy, a ghost he says visits the diner annually on the anniversary of her death.
Determined to show their father that his idea is ridiculous, Shawn and Marlon eat the coffee and donut but soon realize that they are about to get some tricks with their treat.
Moesha: “I Know What You Did in the Third Grade” (S4,E6)
Although it’s not an official Halloween episode, this one has all the twists and turns that make it feel like one.
After receiving a message from a man named Davon Stamps, Moesha, Hakeem, and Kim think their elementary school bully is back for revenge. They blamed him for a prank that injured their third-grade teacher and ultimately messed up his life.
Throughout the episode, the trio, along with Niecy, began watching their surroundings cautiously to ensure Davon didn’t show up. After a few days of being hilariously on edge, the friends are finally able to let their guard down, but it might’ve been a little bit too soon.
Family Matters: “Stevil” (S8,E7)
Steve Urkel’s newest creation is something of a nightmare for the Winslow family: a doll that looks exactly like him. Steve shows his neighbors the doll to practice being a good ventriloquist, but things take a turn for the worse when the unexpected happens. Spooked when his ventriloquist dummy comes to life, Steve Urkel must find a way to stop the doll from terrorizing him and the Winslow family.
