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09/10/2006: The 2006 X-E Halloween Countdown starts now!

Well, it’s that time of year again…


Welcome to the 2006 X-Entertainment Halloween Countdown — a two month tribute to all things spooky, old and new, stupid and awesome. Barring circumstances beyond my control, like exhaustion or laziness, new articles will be posted every weekday between now and Halloween. That’s almost forty tributes to terror. Kicking off this year’s Countdown is a look back at Flying Funkins, a line of creature bag balloon kits that turned anyone’s front yard into something the kids should beware.

Big thanks to Brian Jacks, who came through for us with yet another fantastic design. This is the best looking Halloween Countdown yet. So pretty.

Of course, not everything I pick up this season will necessarily be worthy of its own Countdown entry, so look for a continuation of the frightful festivities here on the blog. I’ll be using this space to cover a lot of the smaller stuff, like say, bags of candy corn.


Those krauts at Target have figured out a sneaky way to get people to buy Candy Corn and “Autumn Mix,” which is essentially just candy corn in different shapes. This is not a candy that can be trusted to do well on its own, because most people have a five piece limit on eating candy corn. Anything above that brings on the sick, and thus, there’s virtually no reason at all to buy entire bags of the junk, unless you’re one of those traditional types who can’t stand having a coffee table without a full bowl of candy corn on it during the Halloween season, even if nobody touches it.

While most people just skip the shit altogether, Target’s trick will get even the most devout candy corn haters buying bags by the truckload. Hidden in each bag are paper scratch-off could-be gift certificates, giving consumers the chance to maybe possibly potentially win 500.00 Target gift certificates. The thought of it was enough to get me to buy two bags, which is just my way of not admitting that I actually bought six bags.


Ah fer Christ’s sake.


Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

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Discussion Thread: 93 comments

WOOOOT first. however that is a mean little trick

Ghosted by ikey2 @ 09/10/2006 8:18 PM EDT

When I read that the Halloween Countdown was starting, I clasped my hands before me in a gesture of extreme pleasure.
My mom definitely needs to have candy corn in a dish, but since she lives three hours away I don’t have to be afraid of going over casually, thinking “maybe this year” and then gagging.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 09/10/2006 8:25 PM EDT

“Oh, candy corn! Corn… that tastes like candy! … SON OF A BITCH!!”

One of the best “you lose” messages I’ve ever seen on a game piece, by the way.

Ghosted by Kevin M @ 09/10/2006 8:28 PM EDT

Every year I see that stuff and have the urge to buy a bag. I won’t eat half of it but like Marshmellow Peeps and Little Debbie Christmas Tree Cakes it’s one of those seasonal things I have to get. But I can always just buy a little .50 bag of candy corn to appease the need. =P

Ghosted by Realm @ 09/10/2006 8:29 PM EDT

Halloween countdown! YES!! Makes my weekdays worthwhile!

Ghosted by Larry @ 09/10/2006 8:30 PM EDT

I don’t like candy corn but for some reason I like the smell.

Matt – did you see the high end candy corn Target is pushing this year. All kinds of weird combination flavors like green apple.

I’ve just started running a clearance store for a Minnesota drug store chain. It’s like the 5th circle of retail hell, but at least its quiet. I’ve tried to spruce up the place by decorating for Halloween, but so far it seems lacking. Anyone have any ideas for a decorate a store for Halloween on the cheap and in such a way that it doesn’t scare the little old ladies away?

Ghosted by Emperor_Zorak @ 09/10/2006 8:31 PM EDT

Ooooooh! I’m so glad I decided not to go on vacation with my parents! I’d be missing the first week of Halloween!

What on earth will you do with six bags of candy corn?

Ghosted by Katherine @ 09/10/2006 8:32 PM EDT

Throw them away when you scratch off all of the losing cards. :(

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/10/2006 8:33 PM EDT

Also, I’m going for the slow burn this year, meaning there’s still some design tweaks and features yet to come. Stay tuned and enjoy.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/10/2006 8:35 PM EDT

The only person I know who ever had candy corn in the house would be very ashamed of you for throwing that away. (She was one of those “There are starving kids in China!” people.) But candy corn people are like that.

Ghosted by Katherine @ 09/10/2006 8:36 PM EDT

The Halloween countdown always makes me feel like less of a freak for being too into Halloween and annoying my roommates by hogging the TV with a non-stop barrage of horror movies for a month.

I salute you good sir for starting even earlier than I.

Ghosted by Pat @ 09/10/2006 8:36 PM EDT

Yes, the countdown.
Now I can allow myself to buy Halloween candy.

Ghosted by Somethin' Funny @ 09/10/2006 8:37 PM EDT

I happen to like candy corn. I can’t figure out why most people hate it.

Ghosted by Char Aznable @ 09/10/2006 8:38 PM EDT

Countdown! Yay! I really do wish this year turns out extra spooky for all.

Ghosted by captaintrips @ 09/10/2006 8:38 PM EDT

I’ve always preferred the pumpkins myself. I usually treat myself to a bag or two of little candy squashes between mid-September and the week after Halloween when all the Halloween candy’s on massive sales.

I won’t be putting up my actual Halloween stuff until early next month, but I’m hoping to get some random, non-holiday-related fall decorations (like fake squash and Indian corn) for my place. I love the countdowns, but maybe it’s just a bit too early. I know you burn out, Matt.

On the other hand, I’m happy to report that the grocery store where I work and the Wal-Mart nearby finally have their Halloween stuff out. The grocery store actually had some great stuff (including lights and and a light-up pumpkin I may buy) despite their tiny seasonal section, and the Wal-Mart had everything from sticky “gruesome hands” to rats on fake blood-soaked “caps” and tons of candy.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 09/10/2006 8:51 PM EDT

I actually like candy corn as well…

Ghosted by Toxicity- @ 09/10/2006 8:53 PM EDT

“I could’ve lived without the “Here Lies Dem Bones” tombstone, but on the other hand, it gives credence to the argument that the skeleton once belonged to a Jamaican conch smuggler who partied by night.”

Best sentence ever! I’m so psyched about this, the beginning of the Halloween countdown, I’m feeling jazzed.

Did anyone else think of Ackbar and the “trap” when they read “eek it’s a trick!”?

Ghosted by Darth Poop @ 09/10/2006 9:16 PM EDT

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay! Almost 2 months of spooky-themed shit! I am giddy behind all levels.

Ghosted by Roadblock @ 09/10/2006 9:17 PM EDT

I do sort of like candy corn, but I also agree with the five-piece limit beyond which it induces nausea. Also for some reason I like the pumpkins way more than regular candy corn. I realize it’s the same basic material, so there’s no justification for this, but I just cannot resist the candy corn pumpkins.

Also I bought that high-end Target candy corn , the green apple kind. I’m not really sure why. Curiosity, I guess. It doesn’t taste bad, but it really doesn’t taste like candy corn either, which makes me ask myself, “Why am I buying candy corn if it doesn’t taste like candy corn?” But Target seems to have that effect on me, making me buy things I never meant to buy. That’s why I have to restrict the number of times I allow myself to go there.

Ghosted by jazzy @ 09/10/2006 9:19 PM EDT

Well, since I just discovered these thrilling little countdowns last week (and have read every single one of them, thank you very much), I am quite excited to actually be present for this year’s! (And I’ll have you know I can’t walk down the Halloween candy isle at Wal-Mart without thinking, “Ohh! Matt should write one about these!”) haha! Can’t wait!

Ghosted by Broomstickjockey @ 09/10/2006 9:24 PM EDT

Looks like there’s a double post going on up there.

Ghosted by Roadblock @ 09/10/2006 9:25 PM EDT

We used to get the pumpkin bags, never the ones to hang in trees though. Around where I live, Halloween decorations are abundant. There’s usually a little bit at every other house. That seems like alot to me. I put out a scarecrow and pumpkins, I’ll save the scary stuff for the beginning of October.
As for Candy Corn, I prefer the kind with chocolate ends. And i can’t even eat very many of those. Does anyone know what they’re meant to be flavored as?

Ghosted by kb @ 09/10/2006 9:31 PM EDT

::shoves five tons of candy corn and skull pops in mouth:: halloween!! nothing is sweeter than the taste of pure halloween goodness :) now it’s time to buy some neon bendable skeletons!

Ghosted by fuzzy_satyr @ 09/10/2006 9:35 PM EDT

A splooge-tastic surprise of an update tonight, Matt. I’m psyched for this countdown (and, subsequently, for Halloween). Thanks.

Ghosted by Spoodles @ 09/10/2006 9:39 PM EDT

kbm aren’t those generally known as Witches Teeth?

Ghosted by LemonWitch @ 09/10/2006 9:51 PM EDT

Oh my freaking gosh! You’ve managed to get Tim Curry into the countdown layout! I so appalaud you, Matt. Mmm…Curry.

Ghosted by rhps_brad_fan @ 09/10/2006 9:55 PM EDT


CANDY CORN Has a wiki page. And there seems to be no intended flavor.

Ghosted by kb @ 09/10/2006 10:07 PM EDT

Candy corn tastes like crap. I have no idea how you people can eat it.

Ghosted by Rocky @ 09/10/2006 10:09 PM EDT

HALLOWEEN COUNTDOWN 2006. Yesssss, sirrrrr! Looking forward to the new articles, features, and jukebox! Pre-emptive thanks to Matt, Brian, and Tummi.

Taking my gear to school tomorrow to decorate. I wonder how many years I will be able to get away with it???

Darth Poop, I didn’t think that but any excuse to use that line is a-okay with me.

Not to derail from the Halloween festivites but are you STAR WARS peeps going to buy the new/old DVD’s OR wait for the super-duper deluxe versions for the 30th, 32nd, 44th, and 50th anniversary? Seriously, I haven’t decided yet. Your thoughts??

Ghosted by The Manimal @ 09/10/2006 10:16 PM EDT

YES! YES! CELEBRATION!

Ghosted by Bryan @ 09/10/2006 10:21 PM EDT

Every year I fall for the damned candy corn. [And/or indian corn and/or harvest mix. Yummm.] I eat a few pieces here and there and then…well, I’ll just say that a few days ago, I threw away half a bag of candy corn.
Last year’s candy corn.

Ghosted by Jinxie @ 09/10/2006 10:36 PM EDT

Thanks so much for the start of the countdown!!!
I’ve been dying here… LOL

Ghosted by Croww @ 09/10/2006 10:40 PM EDT

Well buy the CANDY CORN and MIX IT with PEANUTS!!! How many times do I have to say it?

Also, YES…It has begun.
HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Ghosted by Fox @ 09/10/2006 10:53 PM EDT

It’s on! Viva the Countdown! I admire your commitment, Matt, two whole months of ‘weenie goodness is more than anybody can ask for.
However: Volsas? My Spanish isn’t so hot, but methinks that’s a typographical. :)
Manimal, if the new DVDs have both the theatrical and special editions, I’m thinking about picking them up and pawning my as-yet-unopened special edition box set (just checked Amazon and it is both versions, so I’m definitely considering it. I’ll wait to hear more reviews though.).
Hit the Hallo store yesterday. Didn’t find anything great besides a cute doggy pirate costume. It was way too much to be worth buying, but I’ll watch for it at markdown time. I had better luck at the grocery, where they’d finally restocked on Pom Tea. Lately all the stores around have been out, with little signs from Pom saying they’d had problems with their harvest and to be patient. Also, I saw bloody worms at Big Lots.
Big thanks to Matt, Brian and Tummi! Here’s to a great spooky season for all!

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 09/10/2006 10:54 PM EDT

I absolutely love you for starting the countdown so early this year! At least, it feels early.. But I’m already so excited for Halloween so it shall all work out well. =) I’m sorry for your bad luck on the scratch tickets, I’ll probably end up buying a bag when I see it. I open the bag right away thinking ‘yum, candy corn!’ eat a few pieces, then forget about it for weeks. =D
Funny, it seems like the Halloween season is in full swing now just because you officially started the countdown. ;)
Can’t wait to see what you have in store!

Ghosted by Christine @ 09/10/2006 10:56 PM EDT

I hate candy corn…but leave it to Tar-J to make me wanna buy some. Excellent start to the countdown, Matt! Lovin’ the Halloween graphics! Can’t wait for an updated jukebox.

Ghosted by EtHM @ 09/10/2006 11:15 PM EDT

First of all…I’m happy to report that Colorforms are back!!! I thought they stopped making them, and maybe they did, but I found a ton of em at my KB.

And yay, the halloween countdown has begun again! and here’s the first instance of this one this year: How can I burn the songs off of the Jukebox???

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/10/2006 11:20 PM EDT

Man, I went to Target today and all they had was literally 3 Isles of empty shelves. They all had this cheap cardboard signs with a pumpkin stamped on em’ that stated “Don’t worry it’s not a trick, Halloween will be here soooooon!” only it was written in spooky lettering and the Sooooooooon had like 40 gajillion O’s in it.

But the candy Isle is INSANE! Four rows wide by 2 rows deep. Assuming the standard for Target’s isles are universal.

BTW does anyone else’s Target have a Starbucks in em’?

Ghosted by Jester @ 09/10/2006 11:24 PM EDT

EtHM: The jukebox will be updated with a few more songs this week. :)

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/10/2006 11:32 PM EDT

They brought back Fashion Plates, too. I was all pissed cuz I’m broke and Toys R Us wanted $25 for a set of Barbie fashion plates. And stupid Wal-Mart only had Dora the Explorer. :P I was offered some freelance work so if it actually pans out (third times a charm, right?) I might have some spending money to order some cool Hello Kitty or Disney Princess ones online instead. Dora sucks.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 09/10/2006 11:36 PM EDT

I already have the special editions. I like Hayden, and therefore I do not cringe about him being inserted into Jedi. I will not be purchasing anything else “original trilogy” related.

Well maybe Lego Star Wars II :)

Ghosted by Knegative @ 09/10/2006 11:58 PM EDT

Sweet, the coutdown has begun!

Ya know, when your half asleep and you see the word Funkins, it really screws you up. It took me a few tries to figure out what that word was. Fuckins, Funkyins, WHAT?

Ghosted by IHAQ @ 09/11/2006 12:04 AM EDT

Candy corn is definitely a favorite of mine. Every September, I hit Target for that first (yes, first) bag of corn and then a box of Frankenberry. Why does it, and Boo Berry, only come out this time of year?! I could eat it everyday, all year round. Bastards.

It’ll usually take me about a month to polish off the bag of candy corn, and I’ll buy another just before Halloween, eat maybe half of it, and eventually toss it out. They’re a gut buster…

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 09/11/2006 12:09 AM EDT

ColonelCatsup: I’ve been munching on Booberry and Frankenberry all year long, courtesy of my local Wal Mart.

Ghosted by Spoodles @ 09/11/2006 12:28 AM EDT

I love Count Chocula, Boo Berry and Frankinberry, but I can’t eat tons of it. And I bought the monster three pack at Sams last year, mixed them (like Matt suggested) and it was really too much for me. But I think that if I was a four year old, I would have had a fit of joy for the awesomeness of it all. And, oddly enough, even though I wasn’t a huge fan of it, the odds of me buying all three and mixing them again this year are very very very good, the idea is just to great to pass up.

I loved Funkins! I didn’t remember them as well until I saw the picture of the package with the kid being way to scared of a plastic bag, then it all came back.

Ghosted by Fox @ 09/11/2006 12:30 AM EDT

Thank you Matt. Like everyone else I have been anxious for Halloween but felt embarrassed slightly for wanting to get into the spirit way too early. This next two months are going to be fun :)

Ghosted by Goob @ 09/11/2006 12:37 AM EDT

Maaan, my local Wal-Mart doesn’t. They’re not capable of something cool like that. All that damned place is good for is the freak show that it is….

….and excellent DVD sales….

Ghosted by ColonelCatsup @ 09/11/2006 12:41 AM EDT

those sneaky bastards at target. i worked there for 6 months and hated every second of it. yet i still find myself mesmerized when i go in there…mainly by their “seasonal” section. that place is amazing.

mine still hasnt finished setting up their halloween display. it’s always half-assed here in charlottesville, va.

Ghosted by brianfax @ 09/11/2006 12:51 AM EDT

Halloween Countdown!!!

I think I just came in my pants. Just a little.

Ghosted by Rev @ 09/11/2006 12:58 AM EDT

Can’t say I’ve ever been afraid of a plastic bag.

Ghosted by jrh @ 09/11/2006 1:02 AM EDT

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