Halloween ‘toons bring annual laugh

By JON FASSNACHT
Collegian Staff Writer

Some of the best Halloween treats aren't fattening.

Halloween television cartoons bring much enjoyment into people's lives every year, and, unlike candy, they don't cause guilt.

Although college students might not be the typical audience for Halloween cartoons, many of them still look forward to watching the specials.

"I still watch ‘It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown' every year," Rory Stine (sophomore-chemical engineering) said. "I even have it on tape."

Although a few shows, like "The Simpsons' Annual Treehouse of Horror," "South Park" and "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" are relatively new, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" is reaching middle-age, first airing in 1966. Because two generations have grown up with it, the show conjures up memories in children both young and old.

Not only is it nostalgic, it also contains some life-long lessons. For example, it teaches us, "Never jump in a pile of leaves with a wet sucker," and "There are three things never to discuss with people: religion, politics and the Great Pumpkin."

While the Charlie Brown and Garfield specials remain the same every year, the creators of "South Park" and "The Simpsons" opt to make new episodes. Although this limits the potential for nostalgia, it gives the viewer something new to look forward to. "The Simpsons" have been extremely successful in this venture, with this year's Halloween marking the ninth annual airing of a brand-new episode.

The "South Park" specials also have gone over well with audiences.

"It was hilarious," Kendra Ciesla (senior-advertising and public relations) said referring to last year's show. While she won't be able to watch this year's episode live, she added, "I've got my VCR timer set to record it."

Although "The Simpsons" Halloween episode was aired last weekend, you can still catch "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" and "Garfield's Halloween Adventure" at 8 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., respectively, tonight on CBS and this year's Halloween episode of "South Park" at 10 p.m. tomorrow on Comedy Central.