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Halloween Countdown Donations?

I can't believe how fast this year flew -- we're just a few weeks away from the fourth annual Halloween Countdown! After some intense personal debate, I'm pretty sure I'm going to take weekends off from entries -- or at least, I'm not going to promise entries on weekends. Reason being, the Countdown entries have essentially become junior articles, and with decreased time to sit at home waxing philosophical about bat-shaped candy, I don't want to dog it. I'll get to spend weekends making sure the following week's wealth of entries are as good as they can be. (And even without official Countdown entries on the weekends, the blog will be updated.)

What I really want to avoid is a tapering off of energies as we get closer and closer to Halloween Proper. I can't remember if I was just drained or lacking in time by the end of October last year, but I do remember having to either skip or skimp a little too often. I guess it's all about prep work, which is good, because I already have fifteen things I'm definitely writing about, and about five more I'm still on the fence about, either because the topics are too big for a Countdown or, at this point, seem "too small."

Anyway, the point: If anyone out there has a Halloween item that's perfect for the Halloween Countdown that they'd be willing to donate, please e-mail me! Some of last year's donations were really tremendous, and they helped me quite a bit. What am I looking for, exactly? Nothing in particular. If you've got an old VHS tape that has Halloween-themed episodes of a forgotten sitcom, or a VHS tape with some old Halloween-themed commercials, those would be boss. Toys, games, decorations, those are cool, too. I can get ya the cash for shipping/packing up anything you're willing to send. Thanks in advance. Again, please e-mail me about this -- I don't want to ruin the potential surprise for fellow visitors.

Previous Halloween Countdowns: 2003 - 2004 - 2005.

PS: This isn't today's August Megaparty entry. Stay tuned for that.

Posted by Matt on 08/21/2006. E-mail me!



Discussion Thread: 61 comments

KingKlash-Thats what it was!!! I’ve been trying to figure out what it was called for years!!! THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO HELPED!!! I appreciate it! I have to find it on Bootleg somewhere. Someone send that to Matt. I would love to watch it again.

Chestnuts roasted by Rixliss @ 08/21/2006 7:18 PM

Unfortunately I never had my parents tape any of them but there were a number of good/cheesy 80s Saturday morning toons that had a Halloweenish theme. Rick Moranis’ Gravedale High and The Ghostbusters (not Venkman and Co. the other ones) are the first that come to mind. I doubt there out on DVD but someone’s gotta have a copy somewhere.

Chestnuts roasted by Angelcake @ 08/21/2006 8:20 PM

I agree. Go easy on yourself this year, Matt. Don’t burn yourself out before the big day; I could tell you did that last year from the slightly weary (if still enjoyable) tone of some of the Countdown articles in mid and late October. You do have a job and a life, and we understand that. Taking the weekends off is a good idea; it worked for the Christmas Countdown. You might want to go easy to start with and save some really good stuff for later, too, no matter how hard it seems to be.

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 08/21/2006 9:12 PM

I have butloads of old Halloween Havocs on tape from WCW. It is amazing how shitty the production values were for PPV’s ten years ago. I mean if anyone has seen UFC I-IV you know what I am talking about.

Chestnuts roasted by Old E @ 08/21/2006 9:14 PM

Old E — I would LOVE to get some of those…e-mail me! :)

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 08/21/2006 9:16 PM

Wow, 2 Megaparty posts in one day? Has the world gone insane?!

Anyways…I got nuthin. I DID however, get a job at a local CVS, along with my KB Toys job, so I can report on the latest Halloween candy!

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 08/21/2006 11:01 PM

I just woke up. With a headache, and I know I’m being whiny. Where’s the Colonel, anyways? Damn school and damn work, we’ve lived and breathed this megaparty from the beginning. And I feel a little sad now. But whatever. Maybe I’ll cook up something to say for the “real” post.

I’m being emo Catsupman Crothers, come and get me!

Chestnuts roasted by Knegative @ 08/22/2006 2:15 AM

Yay! I’m way excited right now!

What about “Disney’s Halloween Treat”? The first version w/ the pumpkin that narrates it. Has this ever been done? I have it on VHS but also had it transferred onto DVD. This used to be a huge thing for my little brother and I during Halloween!

Chestnuts roasted by Jennifer @ 08/22/2006 2:16 AM

Whoo Hoo! The Halloween Countdown is my favorite X-E feature of the year! Can’t wait!

Chestnuts roasted by Itto0gami @ 08/22/2006 8:59 AM

p.s. Jennifer, that version of “Disney’s Halloween Treat” was the best! I haven’t see it since I was little. If my mother hadn’t accidentally recorded over it (probably a decade or two ago) I would still be breaking that thing out every October. I keep hoping Disney will put it out on DVD (and not the lesser version that came later).

Chestnuts roasted by Itto0gami @ 08/22/2006 9:07 AM

Matt, I’m really looking forward to your excellent Halloween features. You get me pumped every year and I send some of your material out to friends. If I find any cool Halloween stuff I’ll send it your way!

Chestnuts roasted by coltyhuxx @ 08/22/2006 12:50 PM

I just really miss madd matt. I would love to see him make a return. The crenshaw melon carving was awesome.

Chestnuts roasted by Shannie @ 08/22/2006 2:55 PM

Does anyone else get that tingly feeling in their chest around this time of year when they start thinking about Halloween? I’m not sure if it’s excitement or an impending heart attack… :)

I agree with everyone above, Matt, do the countdown in a way that you enjoy, and don’t blow your metaphorical load all at once… This’ll be the first year I get to read the countdown from the beginning (I started mid-way through last years), so I’m excited as hell!

Chestnuts roasted by Dr Sketch @ 08/22/2006 3:52 PM

I have some of the old Filmation Ghost Busters. I’m one of the biggest Filamtion fans ever.(and God knows there aren’t that many). I believe that was what Angelcake was reffering to. The production of the show was down…WAY down. I have a suggestion for Matt: A Halloween ripoff entitled “Offerings”. A gruesome piece of crap to be assured. Here’s some other movies: Deadtime Stories, Chillers, The Ice Cream Man, The Paperboy. All craptastic. I have a majority of these movies and some Filmation Ghost Busters if your interested.

Chestnuts roasted by Rixliss @ 08/22/2006 6:49 PM

Rixliss- Yup, that’s what I was referring to. For some reason I always liked that version better than the ‘Real’ Ghostbusters. Maybe the oddness of it with the ape and the elevator and the cooler car than the Ecto 1.

Didn’t Filmation also do She-ra?

If we’re also talking movies- Once Bitten might be more on the 80s cheese end but for some reason I consider it a Halloween-y movie. Teen Witch also. Those were always on WPIX (NYer also :D ) or some other station around Halloween.

Chestnuts roasted by Angelcake @ 08/22/2006 8:40 PM

Itto0gami – If you see this.. e-mail me and I’ll figure out a way to get it to you. jen@jenniferball.com

Chestnuts roasted by Jennifer @ 08/22/2006 9:02 PM

Angelcake-Yeah they did do She-Ra/He-Man. I also enjoyed the silliness of the Filmation Ghost Busters. I actualy have two vhs copies and watch them on occasion. If you ever find a copy, pick it up, its well worth it.

The Ghost Busters in this series enlisted the help of Tracy The Ape! They also had a battlecry “LET’S GO GHOST BUSTERS!!!” The car was cool as well, I don’t think it’s cooler than Ecto 1 (there’s no drink named after it), but it was a pretty funny car. The cartoon was so off the way, zany, and crazy. It was a nice alternative to the “Real” thing. Initially it was based off a 1975 LIVE ACTION show, but after Ghostbuster Mania ran wild, Filmation found it the right time to dust it off and try again. I wish it had catched on better than it did. It had comics, toys, vhs.

Once Bitten was oh so awful. Oh boy. I thought my movies were bad. Wow! They have NOTHING on Bitten Twice.

Chestnuts roasted by Rixliss @ 08/22/2006 9:06 PM

Bitten Twice? Was that a sequel? I’m going to guess it didn’t have any stars in it or future stars or else it probalby would’ve surfaced somewhere.

I’m a total chicken about scary movies so Once Bitten was the extent of my ‘scary’ movies growing up. I have a really low gore tolerance. But I know people who got completely freaked out by it for some strange reason.

Chestnuts roasted by Angelcake @ 08/22/2006 10:09 PM

I just want to make sure I’m thinking the same movies…. Ice Cream Man was with Clint Howard as the killer ice cream man (obviously), correct? Man, I forgot how creepy Clint Howard can be… Not in a good “oooh, so scary” kinda way, in a “stay away from my children” kinda way…

Once Bitten was with Jim Carrey, wasn’t it? The vampire could only feast on virgins (Carrey, yeah right), and at the end he has sex with his girlfriend in a coffin… Wow, I haven’t thought of that in years!

Chestnuts roasted by Dr Sketch @ 08/23/2006 8:32 AM

Dude you havent lived till you’ve seen The Halloween Tree or The Halloween That Almost Wasent. I taped them both of tv many years ago and I still dig them out every year for Halloween.

Chestnuts roasted by Brian @ 08/23/2006 11:12 AM

Angelcake-I had that song in my head as I was typing yesterday. Your right it was “Once Bitten”. I was thinking of the whole song “I was once bitten twice shy, baby”. Thats what I get for being a Country boy who’s into pop cutlture I suppose. LOL. Sorry for the confusion.

Chestnuts roasted by Rixliss @ 08/23/2006 1:47 PM

Dr. Sketch-Yes Ice Cream Man, is the movie your thinking of. I have hard time watching because it’s a steaming pile of crap. But hey! Baseball legend and Cheap Seats joke, Steve Garvey is in it as well! Beginning to end, it’s a pretty bad movie. Not in a Troma “haha” way, but more a sad, crappy movie which might have been a good idea, but didn’t turn out the way it should have.

Chestnuts roasted by Rixliss @ 08/23/2006 2:35 PM

Ahh,if only I had a way to transfer my old VHS. I have the Disney’s Halloween Treat special. As well as some of the oddest stuff ever, taped from my youth. Everything from Witch’s Day Out (which was such a bizarre cartoon it might make your head explode)to Raggedy Anne and Andy’s The Pumpkin That Couldn’t Smile (I was a bit too old to enjoy it when it came out, but it sort of grows on you like a fine mold). Still looking to get Worst Witch on dvd though, since that vhs was never that great. ^_^ One day I’ll find a way. And you’ll find yourself up to your knees in odd unknown halloween kid shows and cartoons Matt!

Chestnuts roasted by Emosewa @ 08/23/2006 2:41 PM

I saw this on Filmwad and figured it’d be right up yer alley Matt, and maybe even serve as early inspiration for the Countdown

Nightmare on Elm Street Back in Theaters

Chestnuts roasted by WonKa @ 08/23/2006 5:48 PM

You can also check it out here:
Big Screen Box Office for theaters n shit. I’ll be at the New Brunswick one most definitely

Chestnuts roasted by WonKa @ 08/23/2006 6:13 PM

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