This is the 16th year that ABC Family is celebrating Halloween with their “13 Nights of Halloween” programming. I haven’t always been happy with their choices (not all of them are truly “family” oriented), but this year looks pretty good. And I LOVE Halloween, which makes it that much better.
The main titles that don’t fit as well with the rest are “Poltergeist” (though, weirdly, it’s rated PG – this was back in 1982), “The Hunger Games” (PG-13) and perhaps “Dark Shadows” (PG-13). I thought “ParaNorman” was somewhat scary for kids, but it’s rated PG. And let’s face it, the final two installments of “Harry Potter” were pretty intense, too!
I’m also a little bummed that there’s no “Halloweentown” movies in the mix. We love those crazy movies in this house, especially Debbie Reynolds as Aggie Cromwell. And they’re distributed by Disney, so I was hoping they’d be included.
The programming starts Sunday, Oct. 19 and ends on Friday, Oct. 31, and features brand new Halloween-themed episodes of “Melissa & Joey” and “Baby Daddy,” an all-new “Pretty Little Liars” fan appreciation special, plus the scary prank special “Freak Out.” Also featured are the network television premieres of “Dark Shadows” and “ParaNorman.”
Let’s take a closer look at the chill-tastic programming during ABC Family’s “13 Nights of Halloween.”
NIGHT ONE: Sunday, Oct. 19
The 16th annual 13 NIGHTS OF HALLOWEEN launches an all-day scarefest, starting with the friendliest ghost, “Casper” (7:00 – 9:00 AM ET/PT). Then it’s a double dose of the kookiest, ookiest family on the block in “The Addams Family” (9:00 – 11:00 AM ET/PT) and “Addams Family Values” (11:00 AM – 1:00 PM ET/PT). Next, Harry prepares for his final epic battle with “He Who Must Not Be Named” in the two-part finale of the blockbuster series “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 1” (1:00 – 4:30 PM ET/PT) and “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows: Part 2” (4:30 – 7:30 PM ET/PT).
Buzz, Woody and all your favorite toys must work together to track down their missing friend in “Disney∙Pixar’s Toy Story OF TERROR!” (7:30 – 8:00 PM ET/PT; encore at 10:00 PM ET/PT). Then meet us down on the Scare Floor for “Disney∙Pixar’s Monsters, Inc.” (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT). We wrap up our night with Jack Skellington and Halloweentown in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (10:30 PM – 12:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT TWO: Monday, Oct. 20
Christmas is the most haunting holiday of all in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (6:30 – 8:00 PM ET/PT). Then the world will be watching “The Hunger Games” (8:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT). Finally, stop by “The Haunted Mansion” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT) where the spirited residents are “dying” to meet you.
NIGHT THREE: Tuesday, Oct. 21
It’s Halloween, and “A” is up to her (or his) usual tricks, as ABC Family presents the “Pretty Little Liars” fan-appreciation special, “We Love You to DeAth” (8:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT; encore at 12:00 AM ET/PT). Then stay tuned for “Freak Out” (9:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT; encore at 1:00 AM ET/PT), the scary new hidden-camera prank special. Each special will feature an unsuspecting mark whose fears come to life before their eyes with elaborate hoaxes deviously tailored with help from the victim’s friends and family.
NIGHT FOUR: Wednesday, Oct. 22
A night of ‘sclaughing’ (screaming and laughing) starts with Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, “Beetlejuice” (6:00 – 8:00 PM ET/PT), followed by an all-new Halloween episode of “Melissa & Joey” titled “Witch Came First” (8:00 – 8:30 PM ET/PT; encore at 12:00 AM ET/PT). Mel is visited by her doctor (guest star Beth Broderick), who tells Mel she’s actually a witch and must help break a curse.
Then it’s an all-new Halloween-themed “Baby Daddy” titled“Strip or Treat”(8:30 – 9:00 PM ET/PT; encore at 12:30 AM ET/PT) where Riley decides to pull a prank on everyone after all the jokes they’ve played on her over the years. Finally, scare up some laughs with an all-new ”Freak Out” special (9:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT; encore at 1:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT FIVE: Thursday, Oct. 23
It’s a second chance to scare yourself silly, as we kick off the night with encore presentations of ”Freak Out” (5:30 – 6:30 PM ET/PT), “Melissa & Joey” (6:30 – 7:00 PM ET/PT) and “Baby Daddy” (7:00 – 7:30 PM ET/PT). Then meet the creepiest bride of them all in “Corpse Bride” (7:30 – 9:30 PM ET/PT), followed by “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (9:30 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) and Michael J. Fox’s hairy high school hijinks in “Teen Wolf” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT SIX: Friday, Oct. 24
It’s a Tim Burton movie marathon, starting with “Corpse Bride” (5:00 – 7:00 PM ET/PT), followed by the creepiest Christmas ever in “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (7:00 – 8:30 PM ET/PT) and then the network television premiere of Johnny Depp as “Barnabas Collins” in “Dark Shadows” (8:30 – 11:00 PM ET/PT). The evening wraps with an additional airing of “Beetlejuice” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT SEVEN: Saturday, Oct. 25
Saturday is a full day of frightful fun! First, it’s Mel, the Adult Witch, in an encore presentation of “Melissa & Joey” (7:00 – 7:30 AM ET/PT). Then it’s a Tim Burton mini movie marathon. Gotham City is under attack by The Joker in “Batman” (7:30 – 10:30 AM ET/PT), then “Batman Returns” (10:30 AM – 1:30 PM ET/PT) to thwart The Penguin’s evil plans.
It’s followed by “Beetlejuice” (1:30 – 3:30 PM ET/PT) and “Dark Shadows” (3:30 – 6:00 PM ET/PT) and then a double dose of “The Addams Family” (6:00 – 8:00 PM ET/PT) with “Addams Family Values” (8:00 – 10:00 PM ET/PT). Whatever you do, don’t drink the witches’ brew in “Hocus Pocus” (10:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET/PT). And cap off the night with “Corpse Bride” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT EIGHT: Sunday, Oct. 26
Start with an encore presentation of Freak Out” (7:00 – 8:00 AM ET/PT), followed by “Coraline” (8:00 – 10:00 AM ET/PT), about a little girl who discovers the life she dreamed of is more sinister than she thought. Then grab the Scooby snacks for “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” (10:00 AM – 12:00 PM ET/PT). We dare you to take a tour through ”The Haunted Mansion” (12:00 – 2:00 PM ET/PT), followed by “Corpse Bride” (2:00 – 4:00 PM ET/PT).
“The Addams Family” (4:00 – 6:00 PM ET/PT) invites you to spend the evening with them and learn some “Addams Family Values” (6:00 – 8:00 PM ET/PT). Something wicked this way comes as the Sanderson sisters work their magic in “Hocus Pocus” (8:00 PM – 10:00 PM ET/PT). And finally, the network television premiere of “ParaNorman” (10:00 PM – 12:00 AM ET/PT), about a young boy who can talk to the supernatural.
NIGHT NINE: Monday, Oct. 27
Double your fun with back-to-back encores of “Freak Out” (5:00 – 7:00 PM ET/PT). Then it’s movie marathon madness with “ParaNorman” (7:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT), “Casper” (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) and “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT TEN: Tuesday, Oct. 28
Shaggy, Scooby and the gang face spooky specters in “Scooby Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed” (5:00 – 7:00 PM ET/PT), followed by “Casper” (7:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT) and a double helping of “Freak Out” encores (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT). Then enter “The Haunted Mansion” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT) if you dare.
NIGHT ELEVEN: Wednesday, Oct. 29
Check your pulse at the door of “The Haunted Mansion” (5:00 – 7:00 PM ET/PT). Then spend some time with everyone’s favorite frightening family, “The Addams Family” (7:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT), followed by “Addams Family Values” (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT). Finally, meet “ParaNorman” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT), a boy with a gift for talking to ghouls.
NIGHT TWELVE: Thursday, Oct. 30
Join Morticia, Gomez and the rest of “The Addams Family” (4:30 – 6:30 PM ET/PT) in “Addams Family Values” (6:30 – 8:30 PM ET/PT). It’s followed by a Tim Burton double creature feature with “Dark Shadows” (8:30 – 11:00 PM ET/PT) and Beetlejuice” (12:00 – 2:00 AM ET/PT).
NIGHT THIRTEEN: Friday, Oct., 31
A day of truly spine-tingling frights starts with encore presentations of “Melissa & Joey” (11:00 – 11:30 AM ET/PT), “Baby Daddy” (11:30 AM – 12:00 PM ET/PT) and “Freak Out” (12:00 – 2:00 PM ET/PT; encores at 12:00 AM ET/PT). Then…they’re heeeerrrreee! Back to back airings of otherworldly battles between some truly wicked spirits in “Poltergeist” (2:00 – 4:30 PM ET/PT), “Dark Shadows” (4:30 – 7:00 PM ET/PT), Beetlejuice” (7:00 – 9:00 PM ET/PT) and “Casper” (9:00 – 11:00 PM ET/PT).
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