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09/22/2006: Flying Ghosts & Hostess Scary Cakes!

Bet you thought I was skipping today’s Halloween Countdown entry. Joke’s on you. I usually don’t start skipping entries until it’s close enough to Halloween for people to actually be into Halloween articles. Joke’s on me. Joining the club today is the Scary Flying Ghost, from a series of cool ass Halloween decorations that skidaddle along a big wire making loud noises. I hope the article inspires a few purchases, because this thing is worth the money.

In good conscience, I can’t give what’s seen above its own Halloween Countdown entry this year, because they’re the same Hostess Scary Cakes that’ve been out for the past few years, albeit it in a new box. I wrote about ‘em way back in a 2003 entry, and you’ll be happy to learn that the cupcakes — swapping out the usual icing layer format for a color palette more down with the devil — are back to kick some more ass.

I love the Vampire Cupcake mascot pictured on the box, who seems to be doing the classic “vampire cape self-shielding thing,” not to deflect sunlight or garlic or a cross, but because he knows he looks ridiculous.

Really though, they could’ve done more to “Halloweenify” the things. Orange icing and brown sprinkles work well enough to make the snacks seem seasonal, but they could’ve at least arranged the sprinkles to make the cupcake tops look like jack o’ lanterns. I don’t think the extra step would’ve broke the bank, Hostess.

Posted by Matt. E-mail me!

Discussion Thread: 52 comments

Woo hoo! Chocolately fear!

Ghosted by Justin @ 09/22/2006 11:06 PM EDT

It’s always nice to see a new Hostess mascot. He kind of looks more like a Ding Dong than a cupcake, though.

Ghosted by Chris Martin @ 09/22/2006 11:11 PM EDT

I always seem to remember those cupcake things as being very dry. Maybe it was just me? But I’m not going to buy some just to find out now, the idea of them is making me kind of nauseous. Everything in them is so fake, I guess.

That ‘actually flies!’ bit is quite a hyperbole. It really would be something if he could float around without that rope, but it is still pretty cool. I’d consider getting one but I don’t really have two equally high points in my yard to attach the rope to. Those were some hardcore awesome recording skills, however, Matt! I use knives on those tiny screws too. It’s a miracle I haven’t somehow cut a finger off yet.

Ghosted by Christine @ 09/22/2006 11:14 PM EDT

Scary Cakes are properly eaten by dipping your fangs into them and sucking out the cream filling.

Ghosted by Mystie @ 09/22/2006 11:15 PM EDT

Wow- that’s pretty sweet. I don’t know if I’d buy one, though. I’m concerned that it would get stolen. It’d be nice to annoy the neighbors, though.

Ghosted by Rainbowfeet @ 09/22/2006 11:26 PM EDT

Outside holiday decorations has always been a dilemma for my family. We live too far off the road for passersby to see them in our yard. If we put them up at the road, they are inevitably stolen by . . . who the hell steals this stuff anyway? I’m assuming the same nasty brats that bash our mailbox in every couple of months.

In any case, I love Mr. Ghost and want to put him in the yard to scare the deer away from the roses.

Ghosted by Julie @ 09/22/2006 11:40 PM EDT

My fellow X-E bloggers, I come before you tonight seeking your assistance. A friend of mine is throwing a Halloween costume party at the end of next month, and its theme will be “zombies” — meaning that everyone who shows up in costume should show up dressed as some kind of zombie. (Last year’s theme was pirates, the year before that was ninjas, and it was great fun to see the numerous derivations of pirates and ninjas that people were able to come up with.) I’ve been knocking around what kind of zombie I should go as, and I figured that it’d be a gross waste of valuable Halloween-related resources if I didn’t seek the council of the X-E blog. So whaddaya think? Zombie-Pope? Zombie-Roddy Piper? Zombie-Flanders? (”He was a zombie?”) Maybe a famous zombie like Bub from “Day of the Dead”? C’mon, folks. I don’t ask much and I don’t ask often. Let me hear your thoughts. Please. Brains…

Ghosted by The Yeti @ 09/22/2006 11:44 PM EDT

Why not go as a pirate/ninja zombie, and tell everyone you’re a “wink wink nod” to all the old schoolers who went to the two previous parties? But I’m only recommending this if you actually tell people you’re a “wink wink nod.”

If not, Zombie Piper sounds pretty cool. Especially if you get the real t-shirt.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/22/2006 11:47 PM EDT

Wow, that ghost is pretty rockin’, especially when it’s all breezy and he’s moving around, all floaty like. But geeze, at the beginning of the movie, it reminded me of some sort of Blair Witch type thing, with the shakey camera. It added to the spookiness, even in daylight.

I’m in disbelief that you can’t tie a knot, Matt. It’s really really easy. The first part of tying a shoe, before the loops come into play? Just do that twice, and you have a knot.

Ghosted by Ryane @ 09/22/2006 11:47 PM EDT

You could always go as Zombie-Master Shake from Super Birthday Snake.

“yes youuuu did!”
“No I Didn’t!!”
“you so friggin’ did!!!!”

Ghosted by Hotblack Desiato @ 09/22/2006 11:47 PM EDT

What about Zombie Rob Zombie?

Ghosted by Mystie @ 09/22/2006 11:50 PM EDT

Zombie Rob Zombie.

Hehe, reminds me of this gem:

“It’s Dent. Arthur Dent. DO PANIC! Motherf***ers!!!!”
“Resistance is NOT futile, you bitch!”

Ghosted by K- @ 09/22/2006 11:59 PM EDT

Yeti – definitely go for Rowdy Roddy Piper. He’d be the loudest zombie.

I just brushed my teeth but now I really want one of those cupcakes.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 09/23/2006 12:11 AM EDT

Also worth a slight mention; Tastykake also has it’s usual Halloween baked goods out. “Ghostly Goodies” are coconut KandyKakes; “Witchy Treats” are large cakes with brown icing and orange and black sprinkles; there’s also a cupcake variation whose name escapes me now, your basic donut holes in Halloween-themed boxes, and cookies with orange sprinkles in an orange and brown box.

Unfortunatly, I can’t really do any hanging decorations. I have a huge porch, but a very narrow overhang. There’s nothing to tie the cable onto. I’m in the back; no one would see him, and the only thing he’d annoy back here would be squirrels.

Ghosted by starwenn @ 09/23/2006 12:13 AM EDT

Sweet! Love the Halloween treat reviews. Who saw Nightmare on Elm Street Special Edition during its two night run? I caught it last night and was super impressed with the “every death from every Nightmare everrrr” montage after the credits, even though a couple were missing from FvJ.

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 09/23/2006 12:25 AM EDT

I skipped the Elm Street theater thing. Kind of regret it, but had some friends who saw the Wednesday showing, and swore that they were running it off a DVD, that the theater waited 15 mins to turn the lights down, that the crowd wasn’t at all the kind of crowd that’d be worth seeing a movie like this with, and blah blah blah, I skipped Thursday. But I do kind of regret it.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/23/2006 12:28 AM EDT

It may’ve been a DVD and there were only four other people in the theater beside myself, but it was still something I’m glad I did if only for the sweet montage at the end. Plus having a movie stub that says “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is just cool as fuck.

Ghosted by Eddie Lightning Frog @ 09/23/2006 12:38 AM EDT

FUCK good call on the ticket stub. Now I really regret it.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/23/2006 12:41 AM EDT

I think I’m going to be Pudface from the Robocop series for Halloween — then again, maybe not? If I had a lot of money, or was good with arts and crafts, I’d be somebody from The Inhumanoids but I’d probably get jumped within a half-hour. Picking a costume was never this hard!

Ghosted by Review the World @ 09/23/2006 12:57 AM EDT

A word of advice from someone who has owned “Scary Flying Ghost” for a few years: Read the label about not getting him wet.

Oh, he’ll dry out eventually…but when the thing comes at you in the middle of the night, making Silent-Hill like static pops and screeches, slowly approaching you with jerky, random Samara-like movements…*shudder*….

Just trust me.

Oh, and don’t feed him after midnight, either

Ghosted by Zug @ 09/23/2006 1:00 AM EDT

Hey, is anybody watching The Alligator People on AMC RIGHT NOW!!!

Ghosted by Hukfin @ 09/23/2006 1:05 AM EDT

Matt, consider this:

Wouldn’t arranging the sprinkles in ANY shape defeat the purpose of having sprinkles? Sprinkles are supposed to be random; by arranging them in any shape, you’re just misusing sprinkles. A separate yellow icing design or chocolatey shapes would be much better for making a jack o’lantern than sprinkles.

That’s just my opinion.

Ghosted by Ronald MacKinnon @ 09/23/2006 1:14 AM EDT

Scary Cakes are properly eaten by dipping your fangs into them and sucking out the cream filling.

That was the greatest Resse’s ad ever.

And I’m seconding Zombie Piper. What about Zombie Weird Al?

Oh, and on Thursday, my college had Free White Castle Day. They had 200 burgers available, and they all ran out in 15 minutes. I managed to eat 7 in that time span. And someone got more about a 1/2 hour later and I managed to snag 3 more, and got a total of 10 in. Any other White Castle cravers here? and yes, I still feel like crap from all that.

Ghosted by Invader Norbert @ 09/23/2006 1:20 AM EDT

My theater wasn’t showing the Elm Street movie, but for the two nights they are showing the movie “Feast” which was the horror film that was being directed in the last Project Greenlight series.

Yeti: Why not a Marvel Zombie? Or how about what I call the smurf zombie since that’s what they looked like from “I was a Teenage Zombie.”

Was that ghost mooing?

I did see Scarycakes at the store today. But I passed them up because they FINALLY had my favorite Halloween treat of all time. Little Debbie’s Pumpkin Delights. Basically pumpkin cookies shaped like Jack O Lanterns that have some sort of gel for eyes. I immediately bought three boxes of them. To steal a phrase from Pee-Wee, “Yes, I would marry them.”

Ghosted by JLAJRC @ 09/23/2006 1:23 AM EDT

Judging from the sounds, I think the ghost is meant to be a farmer who died while doing unmentionable things to a cow.

And for a zombie costume, you could put dark circles under your eyes, wear a shirt stained with brown liquid, carry a giant mug, and identify yourself as a Caffiene Zombie. You’d be the only partygoer who could jump up on the furniture and shout while still remaining in character.

Ghosted by SJ @ 09/23/2006 1:35 AM EDT

Finally found a boatload of Jones Soda Halloween stuff today. I bought Berried Alive, Monster Mojito, Lemon Drop Dead, Spider Cider, and Candy Corn. I also picked up some of those Gummy Body Parts things.

So far, I’ve tried Monster Mojito and Berried Alive. Berried Alive is pretty good, but the stuff hits you like a bus. I don’t know what to think about the Mojito, except that it’s pretty calm and easy going down.

Ghosted by Matt(#2?) @ 09/23/2006 1:52 AM EDT

Go as Ed from Shaun of the Dead. All you need is a shirt that says “Got Wood” and a lot of bloody gore hanging off your face. Voila! Insta-zomb! Yeah, it’s never that easy.

I’m with you, Matt! Brown sprinkles on orange frosting just isn’t Halloween enough. Why not bat-shaped sprinkles?????

Ghosted by broomstickjockey @ 09/23/2006 2:19 AM EDT

And I SO want one of those ghosts! But my duplex complex doesn’t allow us to attach anything to the outside of our buildings. That is they ghey, for sure.

Ghosted by broomstickjockey @ 09/23/2006 2:21 AM EDT

OHLEGASP.
-cowers in fear-
Scary cupcakes.

Ghosted by Jade @ 09/23/2006 2:57 AM EDT

How ’bout we all pitch in and get Matt a Weedwhacker for X-Mas?

Ghosted by Fungusmungus @ 09/23/2006 4:26 AM EDT

I actully bought that ghost dude in August, and he’s been coasting between two trees in the backyard ever since.

You see, I can’t wait for October to put my Halloween Decorations up.. but its kinda wierd to have Halloween in August.. so I set it up in my backyard instead. Just 8 more days till I can move that stuff over!

Ghosted by Trevler @ 09/23/2006 4:31 AM EDT

Mmm, I would go for a zombie Julius Caesar, he’d have at least 30 wounds. You could wonder around going – “Et tu, Bru-tay?” and demanding that these barbarian plebians worship you as a god. You could have the laurel wreath and the toga on crooked, with bright purple bermuda shorts underneath. (I dunno, it would just be funny…)

As to knots, my brother the lifeguard who climbs mountains for fun (::shudders:: – I got all the fear in my family) taught me how to tie a bowline, but I’ve forgotten how. It’s a superb knot because it never slips, yet you just yank on the rope end to untie it. Go boy scouts!

Ghosted by arete @ 09/23/2006 5:27 AM EDT

I almost lost a Devilgotch (See: almost rare, too expensive tamagotchi) to the tiny screw made of freakishly soft metal and steak knife senario.

As for decorations, I just managed to hit up three Target’s, two Wal*Mart’s, a Walgreens, and two CVS Pharmacies – just to find sodding blinking bat lights.

Did I find them? No. Am I bitter? Yes. Did your abnormally loud video make it better? A little.

Ghosted by Formaldehyde @ 09/23/2006 5:32 AM EDT

I took my 11 year old son to the Nightmare on Elm Street event on Thursday night. Only about 20 people in the house, kind of disappointing. Granted, it’s questionable to take an 11 year old but some dipshit took his 4-5 year old who kept crying during the scary parts. My son was scared shitless a lot of the time…he LOVED it. I do believe that they were using a DVD because I actually saw TV scanlines at times on the screen. They were definitely using some kind of video projector.

That ghost kicks ass! I need to find a place to put it immediately. Maybe my office….

Ghosted by freudguy @ 09/23/2006 8:46 AM EDT

Last night Pittsburgh had its first ever Zombie Walk. The footage looked awesome.

Ghosted by Jessica Marie @ 09/23/2006 9:09 AM EDT

One of the funniest articles in years by the way. I’m glad i wasn’t eating breakfast cause it wouldda been all over my desk. Which by the way wouldn’t be a big deal as i already have my plastic sheeted halloween table covers on it, yes my house is already decorated i’m crazy.

But the flying ghost dude kicks some major ass. I passed something like him in Partycity, don’t think it was the same company, but same concept.

Kinda figured it was too good to be true as it was under $50 and that the piece of shit would just fall down or the motor would break, but i guess not.

I’m thinking a possible connection from the bedroom window to the street light…but that would involve large ladders and possibilities of cabbage night/mischief night vandalism.

I’ll ponder it.

Ghosted by Dan @ 09/23/2006 10:03 AM EDT

I love that “oooohwheeewhoo” spooky sound!
The ninja zombie, coffee zombie and undead Caesar are my favorite suggestions. I suppose you could pull off any historical figure pretty well…zombie Napoleon, zombie Buddy Holly, zombie Che Guevara, Albert Einstein, Ben Franklin. Surely some joker who fancies himself a comedy genius will show up as the Croc Hunter, in which case you can give him a swift kick from me.
Just caught the tail end of a Halloween ep of Madeline. I was initially really confused, because I don’t think they even do trick or treating in France? But apparently they were visiting the States. Isn’t it still a bit early for the rest of the world to be starting in with the spooky though? Wasn’t expecting to see any ‘ween specials for weeks yet.

Ghosted by squee4242 @ 09/23/2006 11:00 AM EDT

“I love the Vampire Cupcake mascot pictured on the box, who seems to be doing the classic “vampire cape self-shielding thing,” not to deflect sunlight or garlic or a cross, but because he knows he looks ridiculous.”

–You are a brilliant man Matt.

Ghosted by Joker @ 09/23/2006 11:57 AM EDT

Posting for the first time on X-E just because my friend is a whoreface and won’t say it herself.

ZOMBIE FREDDIE (Mercury) OR ZOMBIE STEVE (Irwin)

Do eeeeet.

Ghosted by Spiffy @ 09/23/2006 12:12 PM EDT

Hey, what happened to using WMVs? I can’t open these new MOV files!!

Ghosted by Brandon @ 09/23/2006 12:29 PM EDT

^^ Brandon. Get Quicktime.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/download/win.html

Ghosted by Dan @ 09/23/2006 12:51 PM EDT

OK OK I’ll start converting the MOVs into WMVs again from now on.

Ghosted by Matt @ 09/23/2006 1:34 PM EDT

One of the coolest things they had at party city a couple of weeks ago when I went, they had a hanging ghost thing of freddy kruger!! It was pretty neat, way overpriced though. With the shredded up bottom like one of those ghosts too!!

The other cool thing was a decal of jason, it looks like he is peering into your window in the rain. They had a bunch of other cheesy ones like a crystal lake sign, but that one I would love to see on a window. Mind you I am not really into the movies lol the series of halloween movies though are good. I watched halloween H2O and I loved it so I asked my grandma if I could rent another, then I went online and read all about michael myers while I waited for that weekend to watch it and another movie (the facilty i believe) while I bought some carmel apple pops, smarties, and some other great candies. This was the week before halloween and my cousin came over and it was great fun.

Ghosted by Goob @ 09/23/2006 1:51 PM EDT

You can leave it up until Christmas and put reindeer antlers on it.

Ghosted by kingklash @ 09/23/2006 4:01 PM EDT

So we can assume that Matt wears velcro shoes? Maybe the inability to let the past go has something to do with vintage shoe styles?

Ghosted by Wysefool @ 09/23/2006 5:29 PM EDT

Holy crap, you weren’t kidding when you said that thing was loud.

Ghosted by Jeremy Henderson @ 09/24/2006 2:21 AM EDT

I’m getting that ghost,since my room is going to be graveyard themed this year.

Ghosted by ghost host @ 09/24/2006 9:45 PM EDT

Just to be difficult I can’t play wmv’s. I like mov’s.

Ghosted by Travis @ 09/25/2006 2:24 AM EDT

Picked up the flying ghost for my annual Halloween party last year. I huge hit and totally worth the money. I strung him up over my padio from the top of my back porch to my neighbor’s fence. We had a fire pit on the patio in the backyard. Nothing says Halloween like a screaching ghost dancing above the pits of hell.

Ghosted by Brad @ 09/27/2006 10:03 AM EDT

wow pritty cool gotta get them

Ghosted by pee-pee boy @ 09/28/2006 3:29 PM EDT

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