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Happy Halloween, 2005!

Happy Halloween, FREAKS. Hope everyone has a good one. If you've got any interesting stories, post 'em in the comments. I've only got a second, because we've gotta fill about three dozen Ziploc bags with all the candy leftover from articles posted and articles never posted, but of course, there's a final entry on the Halloween Countdown, the Great Pumpkin-Related Something Or Another Sendoff Special! Yar yar yar.

I hope you've enjoyed this year's Halloween Countdown. I know I've skipped a bunch of entries here and there, but you seemed to live through it, I seemed to live through it, and I think we're all better people for it. Actually, I just counted -- over thirty entries total, and that ain't so bad. Strangely enough, I think the yogurt one came out best. Wish I had time to do even more than that, but we live and we learn, yar yar yar, and all that said, I've practically got the tinsel down from the attic anyway. We'll save the next holidays for the next entry -- everybody, GO! Go get some last spooky shit in. Go have fun. Thanks for being a part of this!

Posted by Matt on 10/30/2005. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 178 comments

Goodbye, Get SBC Yahoo! DSL countdown…You will be missed.

Chestnuts roasted by Venison @ 10/31/2005 3:44 PM

Thanks for a great countdown, Matt! Happy Halloween everyone!!!

Chestnuts roasted by Antenna Villain @ 10/31/2005 4:13 PM

Yeah, I still love the Great Pumpkin special. I crack up every time Charlie Brown gets nothing but rocks in his bag. How horrible are those parents in his neighborhood. I’m surprised he hasn’t come back as a grown up and killed them all.

Thanks again for the countdown, Matt. It seems that more schools around the country are banning Halloween parties and are now just having generic Fall Festivals (blah). It seems that the kids growing up now may not have found memories of holidays like we do. Thanks for fighting the good fight, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by King Chachi @ 10/31/2005 4:22 PM

Matt,
Thank you for creating yet another wonderfully entertaining Halloween countdown! I can appreciate how difficult it is to work full time and try and keep the website updated on a regular basis. This Halloween has been especially memorable for me since I just got hired after searching for a job these past past few months. Woohoo! Bring on the Christmas countdown!!

Chestnuts roasted by aint_baroque @ 10/31/2005 4:52 PM

I’m off to prepare for tonight! Happy Hallowe’en everyone! Here’s the last part, lame as it is. I’m going to be 36 come the morrow. Later.

The Story of Jack and His Lantern
A Hallowe’en Treat For X-Entertainment
By kingklash

Part Four: Light a Candle, Curse the Glare, Go on a Boat Ride

Now Jack had a way to stay warm, and a nice light to see by at night. The ember could be as immaterial or solid as he could be, so he could always hang on to it. The only thing was its light always illuminated him, at all times, making him faintly visible to others. He needed a way to conceal it, so as not to scare people. While sitting beside a vegetable garden one morning, he pondered on how the ember, while being warm and bright enough, didn’t burn his hands or anything it was in contact with. So, if could find something to put it in, it could be more convenient to use. He had to find something small enough to carry. But, since he couldn’t carry money anymore, it would have to be something easily obtainable and replaceable. Something small, easy to carry, and common enough to be nearly everywhere and practically free. Hearing a noise behind him, Jack turned to see a rabbit making its way among the turnips. He remembered raiding a neighbor’s turnip patch when he was a child, and how he had hid some coins in one he had hollowed out and buried by his house, until his dog dug it up again. Of all the things to remind him of home, thoughts of a turnip that he…. hollowed…. out…. Leaping the fence and turning solid, he scared the rabbit as he pulled the first leaves he got to.
It worked out pretty well. Digging out a cavity in the side of the turnip, he had a pretty sevicible lantern. Soon after, with his new toy, he wandered all over not only Ireland, but England and Scotland as well. Not really paying attention to the local gossip, it was a while before he discovered a unforeseen effect of his turnip light. Not having a need for sleep, he did the bulk of his traveling at night, and using his days to explore the towns and cities he came to. Soon, stories about a ghostly light floating through the moors and woods at night began to spread across the country. Sometimes when carving out a new turnip, he could be seen as a faint image in the ember’s glow, adding to the rumors. And eventually, dried-up turnips were found after some sightings. While outside a tavern one afternoon, he heard some people discussing the latest sighting of some “Jack of the Lantern” seen the night before. It was hearing his name that caught his attention, although he didn’t know at first who they were referring to. When it dawned on him that he was indeed the spirit being talked about, he ducked into an alley to fade out and have a good laugh at himself. Having spent his whole adult life using several false names, he found he liked being “Jack O’Lantern” as he was soon named. The best part was when people began to carve turnips to make their own lights. Some imaginative soul had come up with the idea to carve a face into his, and during the harvest season, many people began to do the same. In the years to come, the Fall festivals of All Saints Day and Samhain began to be associated with Jack O’Lanterns. Jack was happy. Ironically, it was a fame he could live with.
Years passed, and Jack had heard of people over in the “New World” had not only taken the Lanterns over there, but had found a new vegetable to use. After hearing descriptions of these “Pumpkins,” Jack sought out a ship that had a load of turnips bound for the Americas. He found the trip interesting. He stayed in a hidden storage area that was used by the original captain to hide valuables, in case of emergency, and never found by the current crew. And he found that he wasn’t the only non-human stowaway on board. A family of Leprechauns and a group of Faerie were also using the space to go across the ocean. It turned out he was a legend even among them. They not only knew that he was Jack O’Lantern, but also of his dealings with the Devil while he was alive, two things the living hadn’t connected yet. And his story was slowly being spread to all the colonized areas of the New World. When he got to America, he not only liked the new Jack O’Lanterns, but also the chance to see new lands. Although he stuck to turnips himself, he helped encourage the use of pumpkins to this day. In fact, he travels between America and his home of Ireland even now. It has been said that when some poor soul can’t get out of a contract with the Devil, Jack may show up to whisper a way out in his ear. Who do you think clued in Daniel Webster on the true purpose of the trial he conducted at the old Farmer’s home? Or inspired the man to listen carefully when Satan himself bragged that he knew all and could go anywhere, get anything, and if there was one thing the man could name that even the Devil couldn’t do, he would leave and not bother the man ever again. When the man told him to “Get lost!”, guess who Satan blamed! And who stood over my shoulder, and told me his story, so I could pass it along to you? So, when you light your pumpkins this year, think of him. You might even see a glowing turnip going down the street, Jack O’Lantern on his way to help someone give the Devil some Hell. You’d think Satan would have learned by now.

Happy Hallowe’en!
-kingklash-

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/31/2005 5:01 PM

Thank you for an excellent countdown Matt. It’s been enjoyed thoroughly.

Chestnuts roasted by Mikee Teevee @ 10/31/2005 5:45 PM

Excellent article, I can’t believe I freaken missed The Great Pumpkin this year!

Chestnuts roasted by Timmy A @ 10/31/2005 6:51 PM

So tonight’s the night… huh. Thank you Matt, I didn’t feel the Halloween spirit too much this year, but I felt it reading your articles. I also felt it going past the Target posters on my way to school downtown. This year’s were a lot better than last year’s.

Well, I didn’t carve a pumpkin, but I DID dress up which is more than I usually do. I had this urge to dress up like an assassin all day and have people stare at me. So I did. It helped that my costume looked damned awesome this year.

Well, time to go hand out candy to the 4 kids who come around to our house this year. One of these days we’re going to have to splurge and buy big candy. It’d probably be cheaper anyway.

Chestnuts roasted by Sucrose @ 10/31/2005 6:57 PM

Y’know, Matt, it’s a good thing you have the DVD of the special – when ABC broadcasts it, they edit out a few lengthy sequences. Which, quite frankly, doesn’t make sense, because they left the Christmas special intact.
Incidentally, that "may I have an extra piece for my brother" bit – I actually did that back in 2001. The GameCube and Luigi’s Mansion were on the horizon, so I was going as Luigi that year. At one house, I asked, "May I have an extra piece of candy for my big brother who’s trapped in a haunted mansion?" Needless to say, though, my mom made me stop doing that after that stop.
By the way, I’m not sure if you alreay know this, but your stated reason for starting this website, the He-Man & She-Ra Christmas Special, comes out on DVD December 6th! Just an FYI.

Chestnuts roasted by Kacy @ 10/31/2005 6:59 PM

Happy Halloween, Matt.

Chestnuts roasted by Kidd Video @ 10/31/2005 7:50 PM

Matt,

I LIKE YOUR SOCKS!

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 10/31/2005 7:57 PM

(assuming that is *your* foot in the first picture of the article.)

Chestnuts roasted by LuLu @ 10/31/2005 7:58 PM

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

I just finished carving my pumpkin, roasting pumpkin seeds, and handing out candy! Now I can sit in the dark with my pumpkin and watch a scary movie.

The best costume I’ve seen tonight: a 6 year old in a REAL orange convict jumpsuit and REAL handcuffs being paraded through town by their parent who was wearing a REAL sheriff deputy’s outfit. If I gave out extra candy for authenticity they’d get some.

Chestnuts roasted by Carri @ 10/31/2005 7:59 PM

Well, I just got finished with my first real year of giving out candy. The little plastic pumpkins with a toy inside that I thought the kids were going to love (and secretly, to make me feel better, I still think the kids will really like them when they go through their hoard once they get home) were not nearly as popular as the lightsticks, which were my boyfriend’s idea. Those were a huge hit!

My favorite quotes from the night: "wow, you guys are the most generous in the neighborhood", "you’re the best pumpkin carvers in the neighborhood" (heh, I was the one who carved it), and one boy, after getting a lightstick (only about our 4th or 5th customer) walked out in the middle of the yard, and shouted at the top of his lungs "hey, josh, this house is giving out GLOWSTICKS!!!!!"

We didn’t get a huge amount of kids, less than 50 (and we had bought 200 lightsticks), but all in all, I had a wonderful time being on this end of the beggar’s night giving. And, I have a lot of candy left, more probably than I got trick or treating as a kid, and it’s all my favorites :)

Next year, I vow to get in a costume at some point in October, to go along with my pumpkin carving and candy giving.

Matt, even if you found yourself getting a little bored with the holiday (I was too, this last week), you really made it more fun for all of us. Your countdown, as always, rocked!

Chestnuts roasted by Liz @ 10/31/2005 8:02 PM

I’m sad to see it go, but it was an excellent countdown. I’m actually really excited to see what’s coming up next. Happy Halloween everybody! Thank you, Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Rainbowfeet @ 10/31/2005 8:03 PM

I don’t get ut and about my town since I’ve been working so much, but DANG you shoulda seen the displays out there. If a house only had one jack o lantern most kids skipped it, cause next to all the other houses it looked like no one was home. Many, many houses gave bags with 5-10 "treats" in them. My son was so damn giddy. He got a kazoo, bag of popcorn with pumpkin motif, stickers, and a gumby-like pumpkin toy-along with all the candy. Parents were dressed up and alot of houses had spooky music and/or a smoke machine. Since my son is only 4 this is the first year he’s really got out there and done is thing. So I haven’t gone trick or treating in over 10 years. It was definatly fun, and there was no lack of Halloween spirit here.

But I’m still totally putting my tree up next week.

Chestnuts roasted by kb @ 10/31/2005 8:29 PM

that last article leaves me to say only one thing to you, matt:
of all the charlie brown’s in the world, your the charlie browniest

Chestnuts roasted by gerv @ 10/31/2005 8:44 PM

HEY MAN, GREAT COUNTDOWN. I JUST FOUND OUT ABOUT THIS SITE A COUPLE WEEKS AGO AND I BEEN LOOKIN AT IT NONSTOP. IT REALLY GOT ME IN THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT. I TOOK MY NEPHEWS TRICK OR TREATIN TONITE AND IT WAS REALLY AWESOME TO SEE HOW MUCH FUN THEY WERE HAVIN. IM ONLY 24 BUT I MISS BEIN YOUNG. TONITE ME AND MY GIRLFRIEND ARE GONNA WATCH DISNEYS SLEEPY HOLLOW THAT WE GOT OFF LIMEWIRE(THANKS GERV). I LOVE YOUR SITE MAN. THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES

Chestnuts roasted by PDAC @ 10/31/2005 9:06 PM

This year my house got five trick or treaters. It beats the record of three. The funny thing is, is that if you go over a few streets the roads are crowded with kids. I can’t think of something that involves Star Wars to end this article with so this is the end.

Chestnuts roasted by Darth Poop @ 10/31/2005 9:45 PM

First of all, Happy Halloween to Matt and all bloggers. :)

Second, Matt, that was one of the most touching articles you ever wrote. Holidays do mean a lot to you, and it really came through in that story. One of the few disadvantages of relying on DVD and video for your televised entertainment is you miss thoase live, once-a-year events like holiday specials. It’s not a big enough deal for me to want to shell out the money for cable for one, but sometimes, those traditions are missed.

Matt, it might help next year if you start the Halloween Countdown on October 1st or somewhere around there, like you do with Christmas, instead of mid-September. Yeah, I know you get excited and I can’t say I blame you, given that Halloween stuff turns up in mid-August these days, but that also means you get burnt out faster. October is a long month, and you’ll still have plenty of time to get a week’s worth of Countdown fun in…without those holiday blahs.

As for me, I dressed up as Winnie the Pooh for work today. I was one of the only ones at work dressed up, but I did get some compliments on my quick-made costume (complete with red sweater that turned out to be too heavy for the 70 degree day and cardboard bear ears). The grocery store only got a few trick-or-treaters and was (pardon the pun) dead later on, but that meant the remaining employees got to eat the trick-or-treat candy. ;)

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 10/31/2005 9:47 PM

Newport beach does not feel like halloween. Not like suburban Philly where I grew up. It’s almost uncanny how much I can relate to Matt about halloween. and I’m almost ten years his senior! The only old school halloween special I saw this year was Charlie Brown. No Fat Albert Halloween. No Garfield Halloween. No Eight is enough Halloween. No Buck rogers Halloween. No Greatest American Hero Halloween. No Muppets … ahem. My point is that times have changed and x e is our greatest last hope of keeping this lost spirit alive. MATT! SAVE US!!!!

Chestnuts roasted by mike @ 10/31/2005 9:51 PM

Like Jessi said, the commercial with characters like the Jolly Green Giant, Charlie the Tuna, Poppin’ Fresh (the Pillsbury Doughboy), etc. is a MasterCard commercial. You can read the commercial summary at the following address:

http://www.mastercardintl.com/cgi-bin/newsroom.cgi?id=983&category=all

Chestnuts roasted by NES Boy @ 10/31/2005 9:55 PM

Not quite what I was expecting from you, but OK. So there wasn’t so much of a grand finale to it all. Who cares? What I’m really looking forward to is X-E’s coverage of yet another Thanksgiving Day parade and the X-Mas countdown. Of course, it’s very possible that Matt has a few new ideas up his sleeve, which would be awesome.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/31/2005 10:07 PM

I am very much looking forward to the Advent Calendar this year. It’ll be a fusion of the new Playmobil and LEGO Advent Calendars. I have no idea how that’ll work out, but it should be interesting.

For those curious, I’m probably going to skip the 1988 Macy’s Parade because it’s just too much like the ’87 version (which I’ve reviewed), and skip ahead to 1989, which ROCKED. And the tape is loaded with commercials. :)

What’s on deck is also special, though: The 2005 Jones Soda Holiday Pack. Ba dum bahhh.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/31/2005 10:12 PM

Oh, and I should mention, the Advert Calendar returns as well, in a much better prepared state than last year. (No reruns, and all ads will actually have to do with the holidays.) I haven’t even gone through half my stuff and I’ve got enough to cover December. :) We’re gonna have a good one.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/31/2005 10:13 PM

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This entry was posted on Sunday, October 30th, 2005 at 10:47 pm and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.