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10/03/2004 Entry: "A Very Growing Pains Halloween."

That mysterious illness I thought I kicked a few days back has resurfaced as something worse, and since I really shouldn't miss any more work days, I'll have to keep this brief and make sure I get enough sleep to destroy the monster growing within. AND SPEAKING OF GROWING! The October 4th entry on the Halloween Countdown is a looong one, all about a semi-famous Halloween-themed episode of Growing Pains. Yup. Got a few more Hallo-sitcom reviews upcoming, so stay tuned.

Okay, time for another dumb survey. Mondays are usually more highly trafficked than days that aren't Monday, so lemme think of something good. Hmm. Hmm. Hmm hmm hmm. I've got nothing. Sorry.

REPLIES: 68 comments

I bet you'll have something about a Roseanne episode and/or Home Improvement. I remember those having "good" Halloween episodes.

Chestnuts roasted by JG! @ 10/03/2004 08:40 PM EST

Roseanne had the best Hallo eps by far. Last year I taped a Roseyween marathon, so yes, may cover that. The ones I have in mind are shows you probably can't catch in reruns these days, tho.

Chestnuts roasted by Matt @ 10/03/2004 08:42 PM EST

Whoa three articles since I was last here. Either I'm getting really busy, or this site is picking up speed. I'm voting for the latter.

I think I've seen every episode of Growing Pains at least 63 times, and some of those shown on Disney Channel more frequently (those with Leonardo Dicaprio) probably more like 70 times. Sad, yes.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/03/2004 08:48 PM EST

My favorite Growing Pains episode is when Ben and Stinky get busted for calling phone sex numbers. The episode used that gimmick of hearing Ben's thoughts so much you thought he was delusional because of how distracted he became, or maybe in fact you, the viewer, became delusional. The phrase most repeated in his thoughts was a very annoying sounding, " I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS WROOOOOOOOONG!!!" it still rings clear as a bell in my head today. In fact it is still used as a dumb inside joke between my brother and I as well as the ever famous "TASTES SO BUTTERY!!!!!"
Anywho I'd have to agree with matt that I never really LIKED Growing Pains but I've seen damn near all the episodes, same with Saved by the Bell (considering at one point it was on like 6 times a day on different stations). Growing Pains is great because Mike's buddy's nickname was Boner. HOw can you go wrong. Shows how good the Seaver boys are at making friends. Stinky and Boner. great stuff

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 10/03/2004 08:50 PM EST

I was flabbergasted when they aired all the Roseanne Halloweenie eps. right smack in a row last year! They definetly had the BEST Halloween shows out of all the 80's sitcoms. I was never a huge fan of Growing Pains, but I do vaguely remember that one. Great article, Matt, and hope ya feel better, yo!

Chestnuts roasted by EtHM @ 10/03/2004 08:55 PM EST

Uhmmm in a contest between Roseanne and Growing Pains I still think Growing Pains would take the prize in the little temple in my heart...I suppose it was the age...sweet age for a sweet show...

ahh, well, whatever!

Chestnuts roasted by melonian @ 10/03/2004 09:21 PM EST

Oddly enough, though I DO remember a "Growing Pains" Halloween episode, it wasn't this one. I think it was from earlier, when Ben was still a kid and Carol was still there for more than five minutes and Maggie wasn't pregnant. It was actually a bit more imaginative than this one (at least for this show). Mike is late for something-or-the-other and we're treated to a very creative lie to his parents where he claims to have run into a ghostly young lady who led him to the place where Elvis and Marilyn Monroe hung out. I recall this because it was on as my sisters and I traded trick-or-treat goodies, and it's one of two "Growing Pains" episodes I do recall in full now. (The other is the one about how Mike decided to become an actor, which I actually regarded as rather touching at the time.)

Chestnuts roasted by starwenn @ 10/03/2004 09:58 PM EST

Fuck off, Matt! MOLLY IS MINE! Just kidding. Since you put out the effort to write a whole two paragraphs about her before I ever bothered to do so, you deserve her more than I do.

I don't remember this particular Halloween episode, but I do remember the two-part episode where they all tell Halloween stories, which were mostly full of cliches from old urban legends. It was an alright episode, though.In fact, it was one of the few episodes of Growing Pains that I've ever seen.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/03/2004 11:05 PM EST

I was randomly and coincidentally reading this and thought it would be of interest to anybody who loved Roseanne's Halloween episodes and/or hated the series ending. Not that we haven't already discussed that plenty here in blogland.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/03/2004 11:05 PM EST

check this shit out...

TRACY GOLD ARRESTED FOR MUG SHOT.

Actress Tracey Gold, who starred in TV's "Growing Pains" and famously went public with her anorexia battle, was arrested in September 2004 for drunk driving after rolling her SUV--carrying her husband and three young boys--down a California freeway embankment. The 35-year-old Gold, was busted by California Highway Patrol officers and charged with a felony count of driving under the influence causing injury. According to a CHP spokesman, Gold was driving a 2001 GMC Yukon on Route 118 at about 11:51 PM on September 3 when she lost control of the vehicle. While Gold's husband and two of hers sons (ages five and four months) were not seriously injured, the actress's oldest child, 7-year-old Sage, suffered a broken clavicle and a head laceration. After CHP officers administered sobriety tests, Gold was arrested on the DUI charge.

damn...

Chestnuts roasted by phunqsauce @ 10/03/2004 11:07 PM EST

squee4242-I hate Roseanne period.

Matt-Say, I know what you could do for a Haloween ep. How about the one from Family Matters where Steve and Laura end up in a bank heist on the night of Halloween? Steve was dressed as Superman. As for Laura, she dressed as Tina Turner, and kept demanding through out the whole damn episode that she be referred to as "Tina Turner" and not "Lois Lane" or "Diana Ross" or even "Laura." Okay, so I might be lying because I think she was okay with being called "Laura." I'm not sure, but still, she was obsessed with being called Tina Turner.

Chestnuts roasted by Nate @ 10/03/2004 11:11 PM EST

I remember seeing a Halloween episode of Growing Pains that had everyone drinking this coffee and becoming yellow-eyed zombies. It was in black and white, I think. And Mike was the only sane one. It was scary as what have you.

Chestnuts roasted by lowmoralfiber @ 10/04/2004 12:00 AM EST

phunqsauce-not to split hairs or anything, but why would she have been arrested for the mug shot? I mean, I've seen it on The Smoking Gun, it's bad, but that's no reason to arrest the poor ex-too-fat girl, is it? Is there no love for Tracy?

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/04/2004 12:00 AM EST

I used to really like Growing Pains. I'm not sure why. It wasn't a great show or anything, but I loved it just the same.

Chestnuts roasted by Ian @ 10/04/2004 12:45 AM EST

Wasn't there a super scarey(to my then younger mind) halloween episode of "The Hogan Family" something about them being zombies.... I dunno.... But it was frightful.

Chestnuts roasted by Scottdg93 @ 10/04/2004 02:25 AM EST

Nice article, albeit an edgy and paedophilic one. I think I would have had a crush on Molly too, though.

The other Growing Pains episode that I've always remembered is one called "This is Your Life." It's the episode when Ben needs to get his tonsils out and he has this really weird hallucination/dream where a red headed kid takes his spot as the youngest child in the family. Ben escapes the hospital and runs away from home using a cab and the cabbey is Alan Hale Jr., the Skipper from Gilligan's Island. Man, that was a good episode.

Chestnuts roasted by Abraxas Zugzwang @ 10/04/2004 03:16 AM EST

Those images looked grainier and more compressed than usual...almost as if Matt had downloaded a video file of this. But he gave us his word it was from a tape of Halloween sitcom episodes...hmm.

I hated Growing Pains...I can think of several really bad episodes of that show off the top of my head right now: how about the one where Mike decided to goof off on his SATs by...filling in the boxes to make pictures? He ended up getting a score of 27 and his parents were informed "Your son is an imbecile."
"Are you sure?"
"Oh yes, 27 means imbecile. I believe 35 is a MORON...." *LAUGH TRACK*

Who would be dumb enough to do this?? It gets even worse when Mike describes the pictures he made to Carol. "This is a tree, and this is a house...and this is a detailed loving rendition of Rhonda's touche." HE COLORED IN HIS SAT SHEET TO LOOK LIKE A WOMAN'S BUTT??? And by the episode's end, with one talk from his sister and his parents, everything is back to normal and the repercussions of a 27 SAT score are never suffered by Mike, ever.

Man, I hate Growing Pains...I hate hate hate it...

Chestnuts roasted by Mars @ 10/04/2004 03:21 AM EST

Can't say I was a fan of Growing Pains, since Kirk just rubbed me the wrong way. Now, he's pushing Jesus on one of the religious stations. Matt, any chance you'll make mention of the Simpsons Treehouse of Horror episodes? And I might be mistaken, but wasn't there a Halloween episode of My Secret Identity?

Chestnuts roasted by Dude McGuy @ 10/04/2004 04:06 AM EST

the roseane and home improvement episodes are always a treat to watch. I'd have to say, tho, would be the "Stark Raving Mad" halloween show. it not only had Monk and Doogie Houser,MD, but a midget, too!
oh yeah, and a boglin. it had a boglin. those are cool.

Chestnuts roasted by clrs. @ 10/04/2004 05:10 AM EST

Oh, so that's where they stole the "I'm not the Spanish Inquisition, I'm not Cam Calloway, and I'm not Strongbad wearing a yellow turtleneck. I'm Carmen Freaking Sandiego!" stuff from.

Chestnuts roasted by Yama the Space Fish @ 10/04/2004 08:12 AM EST

Oh, I remember the actual show, My Secret Identity, w/ Jerry O'Connell, still in between his fat "Vern 'Stand By Me' Tessio" stage and his skinny "Quin 'Sliders' Mallory" stage. He played a super hero! Andrew, the super strong flying guy w/ a lisp! Woohoo!

Ok, so now that I got that out of my system: did Cheers ever have a decent Halloween episode? How about Family Ties? Was the "Tom Hanks is my drunk uncle who drank vanilla extract to get a buzz" ep a Halloween one?

I'm assuming you don't want those packaged Empire Strikes Back cards, Matt? I emailed you awhile ago and never heard back, so I'm just going to get rid of them.

Chestnuts roasted by trajeal @ 10/04/2004 08:26 AM EST

I have to point out that, on the front page, it says "Evil Growing Pains" episode. But really, they are all evil, so we needed more clarity. Which was found by following the link, so thank you.

Thank god it wasn't the one where Kirk Cameron finds God and starts making really dumb Christian morality movies. That one was almost like it really happened.

Chestnuts roasted by Sean @ 10/04/2004 08:46 AM EST

Watching Growing Pains, is a pain. I'm sure someone has already made that remark, but the shows is just lame. And I'm the king of lame TV shows. Guess I'm just more of a Full House guy myself.

Matt you should have a costume contest for X-E readers. We can dress up and send you the pics. That'd be awsome. I sure most of the 20 somethings who read this page still dress up. I know I do~!!!

END COMMUNICATION.

Chestnuts roasted by Don't Touch, Willy. @ 10/04/2004 09:17 AM EST

Matt,

Man, I was SURE this was going to be the episode I've been having nightmares about for the past 11 years. I completely remember one traumatizing episode of Growing Pains where Mike watches a zombie movie, then has a nightmare that his whole family becomes zombies. It scared me shitless for about a week. Does anyone remember this at all?

Chestnuts roasted by Bryan @ 10/04/2004 10:26 AM EST

OK, I'm an idiot, obviously two other people who had previously posted remember that episode.

Thank god I'm not the only one.

Chestnuts roasted by Bryan @ 10/04/2004 10:28 AM EST

I cant beleive no one has mentioned the cocaine episode, when mike, boner and their other friend that doesnt have an offending nickname go to a coke party with a bunch of hot chicks. Plus after the episode Kirk Cameron gives a 3 minute PSA announcement about drugs. If only it was about airplane glue it would've saved me years of regret.

Chestnuts roasted by dr mindbender in a speedo @ 10/04/2004 10:43 AM EST

This doesn't have anything to do with Growing Pains, but was the tape you got the Mcdonald's scary pail commercial from really broken? Or is it my computer. It could easily be my computer, but it looks more like a broken tape...or is that the scary part of it? That the beauty of the commercial is hidden? Maybe I just don't get it...must ponder that.

Chestnuts roasted by Mara @ 10/04/2004 10:54 AM EST

i've got a survey:

who here cares that today is my birthday?

Chestnuts roasted by big jerm @ 10/04/2004 11:33 AM EST

I'm pissed off because I wanted framegrabs of Philo from UHF and my DVD-ROM died. Time to call up DELL.

Anyway, I'm surprised that the Roseanne Halloween episodes haven't turned up here. If they haven't, they should!!!

Chestnuts roasted by AngeFaitore @ 10/04/2004 11:46 AM EST

Never saw this, but I disagree with you, Matt; it seems like a normal episode that just happens to take place at a costume party.

I remember the coffee zombie episode, though. THAT one was funny.

"I came to get some coffee."
"At our house? 25 miles from work?"
"It is good coffee."

Chestnuts roasted by Behonkiss @ 10/04/2004 12:07 PM EST

The only thing I constantly remember about growing Pains, is right at the end of the credits, when you briefly see a caption below a house, and suddenly this guy falls off the roof going "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!" It was funny!

Does anyone else remember that?

Chestnuts roasted by Number 5 @ 10/04/2004 12:07 PM EST

Hell, yes. My brother and I had so many jokes involving him; every time he didn't appear at the end, we'd scream, "THEY SKIPPED FALLING GUY!".

Chestnuts roasted by Behonkiss @ 10/04/2004 12:08 PM EST

John Woo to Direct & Produce He-Man
Nick from CHUD's negative reaction

Chestnuts roasted by ME @ 10/04/2004 12:12 PM EST

I'm cool with most Hallowe'en eps on the telly, but my most avorite one is the King of the Hill one. Ol' Hank hits the nail on the head with his feelings about Oct 31. The Treehouse of Horror ones are (collectivly) a very close second.

Chestnuts roasted by kingklash @ 10/04/2004 12:17 PM EST

The best Halloween episode for a show ever is from My So-Called Life, but this one is nice too.

Chestnuts roasted by Shelby @ 10/04/2004 12:20 PM EST

I thought you were talking about the Halloween episode where Mike meets the ghost girl who brings him to the ghost diner, and she's always cold and forgets her coat because SHE'S A GHOST!
And then at the end of the story Mike puts two yellow dice in his eyes and pretends to be Michael Jackson at the end of Thriller. And then he laughs and says "I never met a ghost girl. I just wanted to scare you chumps."

I don't think Family Ties did Halloween eps. Roseanne was the first sitcom I remember that really went wild on Halloween.

Chestnuts roasted by Gordon @ 10/04/2004 02:08 PM EST

I care it is your birthday, but only because mine is saturday and i want people to care.

Chestnuts roasted by brian @ 10/04/2004 02:57 PM EST

ok, after much searching - i believe i have found the name of the much desired "molly" from the show. she is refered to as "girl" in this episode - named "fool for love" (season 4 episode 1). the actresses name is: Alexaundria Simmons

i can't find any pics of her or anything like that to prove it - but the dates fit for birthday etc etc.

by the way - i'm VERY bored at work. Great site though!!!! gets me through the day

Chestnuts roasted by Mike @ 10/04/2004 03:00 PM EST

Hey Matt, you know what we all are REALLY clamoring for...

A review of MARK SUMMER'S HALLOWEEN SPECIAL!!!

You remember, where all those kids went into the mansion...it was a Halloween fixture on Nickelodeon for years.

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 10/04/2004 05:06 PM EST

That episode of the Hogan Family scarred me for life. Mentally, not physically. But nobody I ever talk to even remembers the show itself.

Chestnuts roasted by Reid @ 10/04/2004 05:33 PM EST

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=751&item=5924912747&rd=1

RARRRRRRRR HIPPO FETT.

Chestnuts roasted by FnagsFrist @ 10/04/2004 06:07 PM EST

Matt-

Would one of the Halloween episodes you are thinking of reviewing be the Silver Spoons episode where they sit around and tell a ghost story, all the while each person takes a turn at narrating the story where the previous person left off?

haha I LOVED that episode!!!

Chestnuts roasted by eyeless @ 10/04/2004 07:32 PM EST

Hey, Jeff Mack, right on! It was called "Marc Summer's Mystery Magical Tour" and it starred the late Jonathan Brandis, may he rest in peace. It'd be a great special to review, but I'd guess it might be a little difficult to make with the funny, since it's such a touchy/tragic situation. If anybody could do it, it'd be Matt.

Chestnuts roasted by squee4242 @ 10/04/2004 08:12 PM EST

I didnt LOVE growing pains as I did Full House, man that was and is MY show, anyone know if it will ever come out on DVD, or did, I need it!!!...I watch Growing Pains almost every day, for lack of anything better on, I also watch the Muppets and Charles in Charge, I love the Chritan network here in Canada! big grin ...Full house is on it too, but Im not off work soon enough sad

Chestnuts roasted by IHAQ @ 10/04/2004 09:48 PM EST

I've never watched Growing pains but I know that Kirk Cameron became a fundy.

Chestnuts roasted by figment @ 10/04/2004 10:15 PM EST

well i was about to say, gotta do Rosanne, but luckily i see others share my views.

Chestnuts roasted by Grant @ 10/04/2004 10:39 PM EST

Haha, thanks squee4242. Do you also remember the contests that Nickelodeon would have around Halloween time? How they'd call you if you won something? Man, I always wished I could have won just once...

Chestnuts roasted by Jeff Mack @ 10/05/2004 12:27 AM EST

NICK OR TREAT! What I win?

Chestnuts roasted by kingkash @ 10/05/2004 11:36 AM EST

I never understood how a working class family like Roseanne Conner's could afford such elaborate costumes and decorations for Halloween. The Wonders of Hollywood, I suppose. Oh: The Cosby Show episode where Vanessa has her boy-girl Halloween party and we meet that Robert guy for the first time. Matt, you HAVE to review that episode, or at least mention it.

Chestnuts roasted by Divaah46 @ 10/05/2004 01:15 PM EST

Working class people always have the best holiday decorations. The working class town across the highway always had the best Christmas lights every year. One guy even decorated his Jeep every year and dressed up as Santa Claus for the neighborhood kids.
Holiday crap isn't that expensive. Working class people may not have as much money as the rich, but they don't have as much hangups about tacky decorations either.

Chestnuts roasted by Gordon @ 10/05/2004 01:21 PM EST

Fair Enough, Gordon. Also, they may budget for it, since it's such a high priority with them.

Chestnuts roasted by Divaah46 @ 10/05/2004 07:29 PM EST

Fair Enough, Gordon. Also, they may budget for it, since it's such a high priority with them.

Chestnuts roasted by Divaah46 @ 10/05/2004 07:29 PM EST

We're not hunting for "Molly", already burnt by the Bitner chase...why do we do it to ourselves, looking for the obscure of the entertainment world...by the way, if the real stars of Growing Pains can't get acting jobs these days, I'm sure Molly has left Hollywood long ago...Well none of the Growing Pains actors except Leo...he's the Aviator!

Chestnuts roasted by whitemale_98/competent soldier @ 10/05/2004 08:28 PM EST

Aww man...I LOVED Nick or Treat as well as Mark Summers's Magical Mystery Tour! That takes me back...

I'll throw my hat into the ring and say my favorite single Halloween episode of any show was Invader Zim's Halloween Spectacular of Spooky Doom.

The Tree House of Horror series comes next, as there were certain segments that...scared the crap outta me. (ex: Terror at 5 1/2 Feet, Nightmare Cafeteria)

Chestnuts roasted by Invader Norbert @ 10/05/2004 09:58 PM EST

Ben was so annoying.

Chestnuts roasted by demonlord6696 @ 10/06/2004 10:49 AM EST

I couldn't STAND Kirk Cameron on the show - his incessant WHINY tone of voice made my skin crawl. It's hard to ignore it once it gets under your skin like that. Rendered the show unwatchable for me. Stupid Mike.

Chestnuts roasted by Gretchen @ 10/06/2004 01:57 PM EST

If you have it archived somewhere, here's another vote for the yellow eye bodysnatchers episode. I never did take up the coffee habit, and I have a strong suspicion that some lingering childhood trauma from that episode is the reason behind it.

Chestnuts roasted by Emerson @ 10/07/2004 02:38 AM EST

Am I the only one that finds Traci Gold strangely hot in that "bunny" picture?

Chestnuts roasted by BigRon @ 10/07/2004 05:25 PM EST

That's because Tracey Gold WAS hot...in the "it's growing and you're about to be in pain from the I-learned-this-on-a-site-that-ended-in-.de" jump her bones NOW kind of way...at least until she stopped eating. Skeletons aren't hot. Not even on Halloween.

Chestnuts roasted by Monster Dog @ 10/07/2004 08:58 PM EST

I liked Mike Seaver. I saw him later in that "Left Behind" movie, he wasn't as good.

He could come back to television, though. Maybe on a show like "Smallville".

Tracey Gold... Monster Dog is right... skeletons aren't sexy!

Chestnuts roasted by Barry J. Deeper @ 10/08/2004 02:58 PM EST

Nick or treat? Oh man, I probably haven't thought about that in 15 years. That's one of those phrases that thrusts you into an immediate flashback that causes you to convulse like the chicken lady remembering "This is where I used to live".

Anyway, the best thing about Growing Pains is the sheer number of people who seem to know the theme song. Bust out with a "Show me that smile again..." in a room full of twenty-somethings and you're in for a full-fledged sing along.

Side note: My first Alan Thicke memory was trying to stay up late to watch Thicke of the Night as a kid because I was just convinced he was THE MAN. Considering how young I was at the time, the fact that I remember that must classify it as traumatic.

Chestnuts roasted by Lori @ 10/08/2004 03:34 PM EST

I remember this Halloween episode of Growing Pains as well as that one with Elvis. I agree Roseanne and Home Improvement had really good Halloween episodes. Pete and Pete also had a good one.

Chestnuts roasted by Corie @ 10/18/2004 01:23 AM EST

I loved Roseanne Halloween eps - even though they were broadcast in April in South Africa. Simpsons likewise. I really enjoyed the Simpsons ep when Lisa is shrunk to fit into the science project wherein she created Life (because her tooth fell in it) and then she becomes the World Ruler, even though what she really wants is to be big again.

But nothing beats the hatchet in Roseanne's husband's head. (apparently, her PMS was scarier than her witch costume. Hahahar) And the way he deflected criticism with his Patented Grin Of Steel. big grin

I'm the Baby, Gotta Love Me!

Chestnuts roasted by Eternal sunshine of the spotless mole @ 10/20/2004 12:02 PM EST

Jonathan Brandis is DEAD????

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