Halloween on Spooner Street
Encyclopedia
"Halloween on Spooner Street" is the fourth episode of the ninth season
of the animated
comedy series
Family Guy
. It originally aired on Fox
in the United States on November 7, 2010. The episode follows baby Stewie
and anthropomorphic
dog Brian
as they go trick-or-treating
on Halloween. Stewie is soon confronted by bullies, however, who steal his candy, causing the two to attempt to take the candy back. Meanwhile, neighbors Peter
and Joe decide to play several pranks on their other neighbor, Glenn Quagmire
, causing him to want to seek revenge on his friends. The episode is the only Halloween special of the series.
The episode was written by Andrew Goldberg
and directed by Jerry Langford
. It received critical praise from critics for its storyline and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings
, it was viewed in 7.97 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by James Burkholder, Chris Cox
, Barclay DeVeau, Ralph Garman
, Candace Marie
, Noah Matthews
, Natasha Melnick
, Christina Milian
, Lyndon Smith, Patrick Stewart
, Nana Visitor
and Lisa Wilhoit
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Halloween on Spooner Street" was one of five episodes submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award
in the "Outstanding Comedy Series
" category in 2011.
for this year's Halloween pranks. This includes bombarding Quagmire with eggs, Joe dressing up as a girl and sleeping with him, and infecting him with an unknown disease from Senegal
. Returning home, Peter praises Quagmire for being a good sport and the two decide to go drinking. Deciding to approach Joe, they convince him to allow them to follow him in his police car. Agreeing to do so only if they stay in his car, Peter and Quagmire soon become a nuisance, before ultimately driving to an old airfield where they discover a Mitsubishi Zero, which is a Japanese fighter plane used during the Second World War. Going on to take Peter and Joe on a ride, Quagmire flies the two into the sky, and eventually takes them on a high speed dive into the ocean near Quahog Harbor stopping only inches from crashing stating that it was payback for the pranks they did on him.
Meanwhile, Stewie
discovers trick-or-treaters, and soon wants to partake in the activity. Deciding to dress as a baby duck, he is subsequently bullied by older children who steal his candy. Searching for Brian
, Stewie blames him for causing him to lose his candy and convinces him to steal back the candy from the bullies. Approaching the bullies to get the candy back, Brian is immediately painted pink. Seeking revenge, Stewie suggests to Brian that they kill the bullies. But when his plan to attack them with a bazooka fails (and ends up killing a Godzilla
-like monster instead), Stewie goes to "Plan B" and begins crying for his mother. Lois
then confronts the lead bully Justin's mother and becomes her bully instead, demanding Stewie's candy back, demanding Justin's candy, and $40. But because she did not have any money, Lois says she would be back the next day for $80.
The same night, Meg
decides to go trick-or-treating with her friends and goes to attend a party held at Connie D'Amico's house which is also attended by Bill Clinton
. Excited no one can see through her costume, Meg eventually wins at spin the bottle, and (unknown to her) begins making out
with her brother Chris
(who was dressed as Optimus Prime
) while in a dark closet.
During the credits, Stewie and Brian reminisce of the night while sorting their candy just as Meg and Chris come home. Meg and Chris both make light of the situation by convincing each other that they successfully hooked up with a hot date. Meg states that her date might even call back but Chris immediately says "you may be disappointed".
and directed by series regular Jerry Langford
before the conclusion of the ninth production season
. Series veterans Peter Shin
and James Purdum
, both of whom having previously served as animation directors, served as supervising directors for the episode, with episode writer Andrew Goldberg, along with Alex Carter, Elaine Ko, Spencer Porter and Aaron Blitzstein
serving as staff writers for the episode. Composer Walter Murphy
, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "Halloween on Spooner Street". The episode was the first Halloween special to be produced for the series.
In addition to the regular cast, the episode featured guest performances by actor James Burkholder, voice actor Chris Cox
, voice actor Barclay DeVeau, actor Ralph Garman
, actor Noah Matthews
, performer and actress Christina Milian
, actor Lyndon Smith, actor Patrick Stewart
, actress Nana Visitor
and actress Lisa Wilhoit
. Recurring guest voice actors John G. Brennan
, writer Danny Smith
, writer Alec Sulkin
and writer John Viener made minor appearances.
for Halloween, but Lois insists that he should change his costume because he is wearing blackface
. He reluctantly changes his Halloween costume and dresses up as Optimus Prime. When Quagmire talks about him being half-Japanese, Peter confuses "kamikaze
" with "Karma Chameleon
", the 1983 Culture Club
song. Mayor Adam West passes out candy to a kid dressed as Batman
. The real Adam West
starred in the title role of the classic campy 1960s TV show of the same name
. When Joe, Peter and Quagmire fly off in a Japanese Zero, an Oriental version of the Theme from Top Gun
plays.
, and Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
's spin-off, The Cleveland Show
, and followed by an episode of American Dad!
. It was watched by 7.97 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings
, despite airing simultaneously with Desperate Housewives
on ABC
, The Amazing Race
on CBS
and Sunday Night Football
on NBC
. The episode also acquired a 3.8 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating The Simpsons, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show in addition to significantly edging out American Dad! and The Cleveland Show in total viewership. The episode's ratings increased significantly from the previous episode.
Television critics reacted mostly mixed to "Halloween", calling the storyline "good," but got "dragged down by everything around it." In a simultaneous review of the episodes of The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show that preceded the show, and the broadcast of American Dad! that followed it, The A.V. Club
s Todd VanDerWerff wrote of the episode, "I very much enjoyed nearly everything in the A-story, which involved Brian taking Stewie trick or treating." VanDerWeff went on to state his dislike of the pranks involving Peter, Joe and Quagmire, as well as the final scene involving Meg and Chris, commenting, "I think the show thinks making viewers squeamish with this is funny, but at this point, so little about it is unexpected or shocking that it would have the ability to produce even horrified laughter." He ultimately gave the episode a C+ rating, the second best rating of the night, beating The Cleveland Show episode "It's the Great Pancake, Cleveland Brown" and The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XXI
". In a slightly more positive review of the episode, Jason Hughes of TV Squad praised the episode's portrayal of Halloween, including the commentary regarding Meg's "slutty costume." Hughes went on to comment on the pranks by Peter and Joe on Quagmire, writing, "The story wasn't all that great, but the payoffs of the unnamed virus that downed Quagmire and his kamikaze fake-out made it ultimately worth the time investment."
The episode was among four other episodes submitted by the Family Guy production team for consideration of an Emmy Award
nomination, in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
category. "Halloween on Spooner Street" was submitted, along with "And I'm Joyce Kinney
", "Road to the North Pole
", "New Kidney in Town
" and "Trading Places
". The series was successfully nominated in 2009, but failed to merit an award. Mark Hentemann
, executive producer and showrunner of Family Guy said of the nominating process, "We had internal discussions in the writers' room, and it seemed like we were much more akin to the other primetime comedies than we were to children's shows in animation. We assumed we would not get anywhere, and so it was a great surprise when we got the nomination."
During the April 1, 2011 broadcast of a Major League Baseball
game between the New York Mets
and the Florida Marlins
on the Mets' cable network SportsNet New York
, an audio clip from the episode, in which Stewie expresses frustration at being a Mets fan was played at the conclusion of the game, which the Mets lost. An SNY spokesman said, “It was a very poor decision by an individual employee and the matter is being dealt with internally.”
Family Guy (season 9)
Family Guy ninth season first aired on the Fox network in eighteen episodes from September 26, 2010 to May 22, 2011 before being released as two DVD box sets and in syndication...
of the animated
Animated cartoon
An animated cartoon is a short, hand-drawn film for the cinema, television or computer screen, featuring some kind of story or plot...
comedy series
Television comedy
Television comedy had a presence from the earliest days of broadcasting. Among the earliest BBC television programmes in the 1930s was Starlight, which offered a series of guests from the music hall era — singers and comedians amongst them...
Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
. It originally aired on Fox
Fox Broadcasting Company
Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the...
in the United States on November 7, 2010. The episode follows baby Stewie
Stewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
and anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
dog Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
as they go trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating
Trick-or-treating or "Guising", is a customary practice for children on Halloween in many countries. Children in costumes travel from house to house in order to ask for treats such as candy with the question "Trick or treat?"...
on Halloween. Stewie is soon confronted by bullies, however, who steal his candy, causing the two to attempt to take the candy back. Meanwhile, neighbors Peter
Peter Griffin
Peter Griffin is a fictional character and the protagonist of the animated comedy series Family Guy and the patriarch of the Griffin family. He is voiced by cartoonist Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998....
and Joe decide to play several pranks on their other neighbor, Glenn Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire, often referred to as just Quagmire, is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. Quagmire is a neighbor and friend of the Griffin family. He is best known for his hypersexuality...
, causing him to want to seek revenge on his friends. The episode is the only Halloween special of the series.
The episode was written by Andrew Goldberg
Andrew Goldberg (TV writer)
Andrew Goldberg is currently a writer for Family Guy, where he has written several episodes. He is also the author of Brian Griffin's Guide to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man, a book published by HarperCollins focusing on Brian Griffin's beliefs.- Biography :Andrew Goldberg was born...
and directed by Jerry Langford
Jerry Langford
Jerry Langford is an American animation director. Langford is most notably known for directing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy....
. It received critical praise from critics for its storyline and many cultural references. According to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, it was viewed in 7.97 million homes in its original airing. The episode featured guest performances by James Burkholder, Chris Cox
Chris Cox (actor)
Chris Cox is a filmmaker and voice actor. He is best known, as himself, for the 2001 Small Shots TV series for Spike TV.Cox replaced George Eads in the role of Captain Atom for the popular animated series Justice League Unlimited. Eads was unwilling to reprise his voice role after an appearance in...
, Barclay DeVeau, Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman is an American actor, comedian, and radio host best known as the host of The Joe Schmo Show, for his voice work in Family Guy, and as the entertainment reporter and impressionist for the Kevin and Bean morning show on Los Angeles radio station, KROQ-FM...
, Candace Marie
Candace Marie
Candace Marie Celmer is an American actress and singer–songwriter. She released her debut album Becoming a Real Girl on February 24, 2009 under record label Music da Foz.-Early life:...
, Noah Matthews
Noah Matthews
Noah Matthews is a 15 year old American actor who has appeared in shows such as Malcolm in the Middle, Desperate Housewives, Criminal Minds, and Cold Case Files.-References:...
, Natasha Melnick
Natasha Melnick
Natasha Melnick is an American television and film actress. She may be best known for her portrayal of Cindy Sanders on the short-lived NBC dramedy Freaks and Geeks.-Career:Melnick was born in Los Angeles, California...
, Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
, Lyndon Smith, Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
, Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor , born Nana Tucker, is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Jean Ritter in the television series Wildfire.-Early life:...
and Lisa Wilhoit
Lisa Wilhoit
Lisa Marie Wilhoit is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Danielle Chase on the television show My So-Called Life and for being the voice of Connie D'Amico on the television series Family Guy.-Biography:...
, along with several recurring guest voice actors for the series. "Halloween on Spooner Street" was one of five episodes submitted for consideration for an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
in the "Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an Emmy given to the best television comedy series of the year.-Winners and nominees:...
" category in 2011.
Plot
Peter and Joe target QuagmireGlenn Quagmire
Glenn Quagmire, often referred to as just Quagmire, is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. Quagmire is a neighbor and friend of the Griffin family. He is best known for his hypersexuality...
for this year's Halloween pranks. This includes bombarding Quagmire with eggs, Joe dressing up as a girl and sleeping with him, and infecting him with an unknown disease from Senegal
Senegal
Senegal , officially the Republic of Senegal , is a country in western Africa. It owes its name to the Sénégal River that borders it to the east and north...
. Returning home, Peter praises Quagmire for being a good sport and the two decide to go drinking. Deciding to approach Joe, they convince him to allow them to follow him in his police car. Agreeing to do so only if they stay in his car, Peter and Quagmire soon become a nuisance, before ultimately driving to an old airfield where they discover a Mitsubishi Zero, which is a Japanese fighter plane used during the Second World War. Going on to take Peter and Joe on a ride, Quagmire flies the two into the sky, and eventually takes them on a high speed dive into the ocean near Quahog Harbor stopping only inches from crashing stating that it was payback for the pranks they did on him.
Meanwhile, Stewie
Stewie Griffin
Stewie Griffin is a fictional character from the animated television series Family Guy. Once obsessed with world domination and matricide, Stewie is the youngest child of Peter and Lois Griffin, and the brother of Chris and Meg....
discovers trick-or-treaters, and soon wants to partake in the activity. Deciding to dress as a baby duck, he is subsequently bullied by older children who steal his candy. Searching for Brian
Brian Griffin
Brian Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is voiced by Seth MacFarlane and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family, in a 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Brian was created and designed by MacFarlane himself...
, Stewie blames him for causing him to lose his candy and convinces him to steal back the candy from the bullies. Approaching the bullies to get the candy back, Brian is immediately painted pink. Seeking revenge, Stewie suggests to Brian that they kill the bullies. But when his plan to attack them with a bazooka fails (and ends up killing a Godzilla
Godzilla
is a daikaijū, a Japanese movie monster, first appearing in Ishirō Honda's 1954 film Godzilla. Since then, Godzilla has gone on to become a worldwide pop culture icon starring in 28 films produced by Toho Co., Ltd. The monster has appeared in numerous other media incarnations including video games,...
-like monster instead), Stewie goes to "Plan B" and begins crying for his mother. Lois
Lois Griffin
Lois Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is voiced by writer Alex Borstein and first appeared on television, along with the rest of the family in the 15-minute short on December 20, 1998. Lois was created and designed by series creator Seth MacFarlane...
then confronts the lead bully Justin's mother and becomes her bully instead, demanding Stewie's candy back, demanding Justin's candy, and $40. But because she did not have any money, Lois says she would be back the next day for $80.
The same night, Meg
Meg Griffin
Meg Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. She is the eldest child of Lois and Peter and elder sister of Chris and Stewie. Meg is considered as the black sheep of the series due to the lack of attention she receives....
decides to go trick-or-treating with her friends and goes to attend a party held at Connie D'Amico's house which is also attended by Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. Excited no one can see through her costume, Meg eventually wins at spin the bottle, and (unknown to her) begins making out
Sexual intercourse
Sexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
with her brother Chris
Chris Griffin
Chris Griffin is a character from the animated television series Family Guy. He is the son and middle child of Peter and Lois Griffin, brother of Stewie and Meg Griffin. Chris is voiced by Seth Green.-Personality:...
(who was dressed as Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime
Optimus Prime is a fictional character from the Transformers franchise. Prime is the leader of the autobots, a faction of transforming robots from the planet Cybertron. The autobots are constantly waging war against a rival faction of transforming robots called Decepticons...
) while in a dark closet.
During the credits, Stewie and Brian reminisce of the night while sorting their candy just as Meg and Chris come home. Meg and Chris both make light of the situation by convincing each other that they successfully hooked up with a hot date. Meg states that her date might even call back but Chris immediately says "you may be disappointed".
Production and development
The episode was written by series regular Andrew GoldbergAndrew Goldberg (TV writer)
Andrew Goldberg is currently a writer for Family Guy, where he has written several episodes. He is also the author of Brian Griffin's Guide to Booze, Broads, and the Lost Art of Being a Man, a book published by HarperCollins focusing on Brian Griffin's beliefs.- Biography :Andrew Goldberg was born...
and directed by series regular Jerry Langford
Jerry Langford
Jerry Langford is an American animation director. Langford is most notably known for directing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy....
before the conclusion of the ninth production season
Family Guy (season 9)
Family Guy ninth season first aired on the Fox network in eighteen episodes from September 26, 2010 to May 22, 2011 before being released as two DVD box sets and in syndication...
. Series veterans Peter Shin
Peter Shin
Peter Shin is the:*supervising director of Stewie Griffin: The Untold Story*director of Big Bug Man.*director of Family Guy episodes:**"Death Has a Shadow"**"Emission Impossible"**"North by North Quahog"**"It's a Trap!"...
and James Purdum
James Purdum
James Purdum is an American animation director. Purdum is most notably known for directing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy....
, both of whom having previously served as animation directors, served as supervising directors for the episode, with episode writer Andrew Goldberg, along with Alex Carter, Elaine Ko, Spencer Porter and Aaron Blitzstein
Aaron Blitzstein
Aaron Blitzstein is an American television writer. He has written for shows including Family Guy, Mad, The Late Show with David Letterman, the FX series The Riches, The Andy Milonakis Show, Best Week Ever, Crank Yankers, and Ugly Americans. He was also vice-president of World Championship Wrestling...
serving as staff writers for the episode. Composer Walter Murphy
Walter Murphy
Walter Anthony Murphy, Jr. is an American instrumentalist, songwriter, and arranger. He rose to fame with the hit instrumental "A Fifth of Beethoven", a disco adaptation of passages from the first movement of Ludwig van Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, in 1976, when disco was at the height of its...
, who has worked on the series since its inception, returned to compose the music for "Halloween on Spooner Street". The episode was the first Halloween special to be produced for the series.
In addition to the regular cast, the episode featured guest performances by actor James Burkholder, voice actor Chris Cox
Chris Cox (actor)
Chris Cox is a filmmaker and voice actor. He is best known, as himself, for the 2001 Small Shots TV series for Spike TV.Cox replaced George Eads in the role of Captain Atom for the popular animated series Justice League Unlimited. Eads was unwilling to reprise his voice role after an appearance in...
, voice actor Barclay DeVeau, actor Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman
Ralph Garman is an American actor, comedian, and radio host best known as the host of The Joe Schmo Show, for his voice work in Family Guy, and as the entertainment reporter and impressionist for the Kevin and Bean morning show on Los Angeles radio station, KROQ-FM...
, actor Noah Matthews
Noah Matthews
Noah Matthews is a 15 year old American actor who has appeared in shows such as Malcolm in the Middle, Desperate Housewives, Criminal Minds, and Cold Case Files.-References:...
, performer and actress Christina Milian
Christina Milian
Christine Flores , better known by her stage name Christina Milian , is an American singer-songwriter, actress, dancer, and model....
, actor Lyndon Smith, actor Patrick Stewart
Patrick Stewart
Sir Patrick Hewes Stewart, OBE is an English film, television and stage actor, who has had a distinguished career in theatre and television for around half a century...
, actress Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor
Nana Visitor , born Nana Tucker, is an American actress, best known for playing Kira Nerys in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Jean Ritter in the television series Wildfire.-Early life:...
and actress Lisa Wilhoit
Lisa Wilhoit
Lisa Marie Wilhoit is an American actress. She is perhaps best known for playing Danielle Chase on the television show My So-Called Life and for being the voice of Connie D'Amico on the television series Family Guy.-Biography:...
. Recurring guest voice actors John G. Brennan
John G. Brennan
John G. Brennan , a.k.a. Johnny B., is an American actor, film writer, and voice actor. He is a member of the Jerky Boys prank call duo, with Kamal Ahmed, who formed in 1989 and split up in 2001, but reformed in 2006...
, writer Danny Smith
Danny Smith (writer)
Daniel "Danny" Smith is an executive producer, writer and voice actor on the American animated television series Family Guy. He has been with the show since its inception and throughout the years has contributed many episodes, such as "Holy Crap", "The Father, the Son, and the Holy Fonz", "Chitty...
, writer Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin
Alec Sulkin is an American television writer. Most notable for writing and producing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy, he has also contributed to The Cleveland Show, another series by Family Guy creator Seth MacFarlane....
and writer John Viener made minor appearances.
Cultural references
Chris dresses up as Bill CosbyBill Cosby
William Henry "Bill" Cosby, Jr. is an American comedian, actor, author, television producer, educator, musician and activist. A veteran stand-up performer, he got his start at various clubs, then landed a starring role in the 1960s action show, I Spy. He later starred in his own series, the...
for Halloween, but Lois insists that he should change his costume because he is wearing blackface
Blackface
Blackface is a form of theatrical makeup used in minstrel shows, and later vaudeville, in which performers create a stereotyped caricature of a black person. The practice gained popularity during the 19th century and contributed to the proliferation of stereotypes such as the "happy-go-lucky darky...
. He reluctantly changes his Halloween costume and dresses up as Optimus Prime. When Quagmire talks about him being half-Japanese, Peter confuses "kamikaze
Kamikaze
The were suicide attacks by military aviators from the Empire of Japan against Allied naval vessels in the closing stages of the Pacific campaign of World War II, designed to destroy as many warships as possible....
" with "Karma Chameleon
Karma Chameleon
"Karma Chameleon" is a song by British New Wave band Culture Club, featured on the group's 1983 album Colour by Numbers. The song spent three weeks at #1 on the US Billboard Hot 100 in 1984, becoming the group's biggest hit and only US #1 among their many top ten hits...
", the 1983 Culture Club
Culture Club
Culture Club are a British rock band who were part of the 1980s New Romantic movement. The original band consisted of Boy George , Mikey Craig , Roy Hay and Jon Moss...
song. Mayor Adam West passes out candy to a kid dressed as Batman
Batman
Batman is a fictional character created by the artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger. A comic book superhero, Batman first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and since then has appeared primarily in publications by DC Comics...
. The real Adam West
Adam West
William West Anderson , better known by the stage name Adam West, is an American actor best known for his lead role in the Batman TV series and the film of the same name...
starred in the title role of the classic campy 1960s TV show of the same name
Batman (TV series)
Batman is an American television series, based on the DC comic book character of the same name. It stars Adam West as Batman and Burt Ward as Robin — two crime-fighting heroes who defend Gotham City. It aired on the American Broadcasting Company network for three seasons from January 12, 1966 to...
. When Joe, Peter and Quagmire fly off in a Japanese Zero, an Oriental version of the Theme from Top Gun
Top Gun
Top Gun may refer to:* Top Gun is a 1986 film starring Tom Cruise.**Top Gun , soundtrack to the movie**Top Gun , a number of games based on the movie...
plays.
Reception
"Halloween on Spooner Street" was broadcast on November 7, 2010, as a part of an animated television night on Fox, and was preceded by The SimpsonsThe Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
, and Family Guy creator and executive producer Seth MacFarlane
Seth MacFarlane
Seth Woodbury MacFarlane is an American animator, writer, comedian, producer, actor, singer, voice actor, and director best known for creating the animated sitcoms Family Guy, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show, for which he also voices many of the shows' various characters.A native of Kent,...
's spin-off, The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show
The Cleveland Show is an American animated television series that premiered on September 27, 2009, as a part of the "Animation Domination" lineup on Fox in the United States...
, and followed by an episode of American Dad!
American Dad!
American Dad! is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane and owned by Underdog Productions and Fuzzy Door Productions. It is produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television...
. It was watched by 7.97 million viewers, according to Nielsen ratings
Nielsen Ratings
Nielsen ratings are the audience measurement systems developed by Nielsen Media Research, in an effort to determine the audience size and composition of television programming in the United States...
, despite airing simultaneously with Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives
Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series created by Marc Cherry and produced by ABC Studios and Cherry Productions. Executive producer Cherry serves as Showrunner. Other executive producers since the fourth season include Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W...
on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
, The Amazing Race
The Amazing Race (U.S. TV series)
The Amazing Race is an American reality game show in which teams of two or four race around the world against other teams, with the first-place team winning $1,000,000. As the original version of the Amazing Race franchise, the CBS program has been running since 2001 and is airing its nineteenth...
on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
and Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football
Sunday Night Football is a weekly American football game held throughout most of the season by the National Football League. Sunday night games have been played regularly since 1987 and have thus far aired on three different television outlets:...
on NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
. The episode also acquired a 3.8 rating in the 18–49 demographic, beating The Simpsons, American Dad! and The Cleveland Show in addition to significantly edging out American Dad! and The Cleveland Show in total viewership. The episode's ratings increased significantly from the previous episode.
Television critics reacted mostly mixed to "Halloween", calling the storyline "good," but got "dragged down by everything around it." In a simultaneous review of the episodes of The Simpsons and The Cleveland Show that preceded the show, and the broadcast of American Dad! that followed it, The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club
The A.V. Club is an entertainment newspaper and website published by The Onion. Its features include reviews of new films, music, television, books, games and DVDs, as well as interviews and other regular offerings examining both new and classic media and other elements of pop culture. Unlike its...
s Todd VanDerWerff wrote of the episode, "I very much enjoyed nearly everything in the A-story, which involved Brian taking Stewie trick or treating." VanDerWeff went on to state his dislike of the pranks involving Peter, Joe and Quagmire, as well as the final scene involving Meg and Chris, commenting, "I think the show thinks making viewers squeamish with this is funny, but at this point, so little about it is unexpected or shocking that it would have the ability to produce even horrified laughter." He ultimately gave the episode a C+ rating, the second best rating of the night, beating The Cleveland Show episode "It's the Great Pancake, Cleveland Brown" and The Simpsons episode "Treehouse of Horror XXI
Treehouse of Horror XXI
"Treehouse of Horror XXI" is the fourth episode of The Simpsons twenty-second season. It first aired on the Fox network in the United States on November 7, 2010...
". In a slightly more positive review of the episode, Jason Hughes of TV Squad praised the episode's portrayal of Halloween, including the commentary regarding Meg's "slutty costume." Hughes went on to comment on the pranks by Peter and Joe on Quagmire, writing, "The story wasn't all that great, but the payoffs of the unnamed virus that downed Quagmire and his kamikaze fake-out made it ultimately worth the time investment."
The episode was among four other episodes submitted by the Family Guy production team for consideration of an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination, in the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series
The Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Comedy Series is an Emmy given to the best television comedy series of the year.-Winners and nominees:...
category. "Halloween on Spooner Street" was submitted, along with "And I'm Joyce Kinney
And I'm Joyce Kinney
"And I'm Joyce Kinney" is the ninth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 16, 2011. The episode follows housewife Lois after she becomes close friends with the local news anchor Joyce Kinney. In an attempt to...
", "Road to the North Pole
Road to the North Pole
"Road to the North Pole" is the seventh episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. Directed by Greg Colton and co-written by Chris Sheridan and Danny Smith, the episode originally aired on Fox in the United States on December 12, 2010...
", "New Kidney in Town
New Kidney in Town
"New Kidney in Town" is the eighth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on January 9, 2011. The episode follows Peter, after he drinks kerosene, causing him to suffer from immediate kidney failure...
" and "Trading Places
Trading Places (Family Guy)
"Trading Places" is the thirteenth episode of the ninth season of the animated comedy series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox in the United States on March 20, 2011...
". The series was successfully nominated in 2009, but failed to merit an award. Mark Hentemann
Mark Hentemann
Mark Hentemann is an American animation writer. Hentemann is most notably known for writing several episodes of the animated series Family Guy...
, executive producer and showrunner of Family Guy said of the nominating process, "We had internal discussions in the writers' room, and it seemed like we were much more akin to the other primetime comedies than we were to children's shows in animation. We assumed we would not get anywhere, and so it was a great surprise when we got the nomination."
During the April 1, 2011 broadcast of a Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
game between the New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
and the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
on the Mets' cable network SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York
SportsNet New York is a New York City-based regional sports cable network which airs in the New York metro area and all of New York state, and nationwide via satellite. It is owned jointly by the New York Mets, Time Warner Cable, and NBCUniversal...
, an audio clip from the episode, in which Stewie expresses frustration at being a Mets fan was played at the conclusion of the game, which the Mets lost. An SNY spokesman said, “It was a very poor decision by an individual employee and the matter is being dealt with internally.”