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7 spooky TV shows to start even after Halloween ends

7 spooky TV shows to start even after Halloween ends

October is scary busy. Whether you're finishing a costume or juggling group chats, these 31 days fly by faster than you can do the Monster Mash. So we get it if you're a bit behind on your terrifying TV.

Thankfully, with the cozy season descending on us, you can carry your captivation with all things creepy into the rest of fall and beyond. We've rounded up some of our favorite ookiest, spookiest series to get your streaming started off right — with a focus on titles a little off the beaten path.

Listed in no particular order, here are 7 hidden gems of horror TV you can enjoy right now.

1. Sleepy Hollow

Washington Irving's 1820 story "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" has spawned numerous adaptations that retell the tale of Ichabod Crane and the Headless Horseman, but Sleepy Hollow puts a modern twist on Irving's original by fast-forwarding to the 21st century. In this show, Ichabod (Tom Mison) pulls a Rip Van Winkle (also an Irving story, go figure) and magically wakes up hundreds of years after his alleged death in the Revolutionary War. He adapts to modern life with the help of Abbie Mills, a cop in present-day Sleepy Hollow whose mysterious destiny is tied to Ichabod's, the Horseman's, and the horrifying history of the town itself. In a town overrun with witches, zombies, and demons, a headless Hessian horseman is the least of their problems. — Alexis Nedd, Senior Entertainment Reporter

How to watch: Sleepy Hollow is streaming on Hulu.

2. Monsterland

Kaitlyn Dever in 'Monsterland'.
Kaitlyn Dever in 'Monsterland'. Credit: hulu

Each episode of Hulu original Monsterland takes place in a different, deeply haunted corner of the United States. Its horrors are both literal and metaphorical, with meat-eating mermaids and jazz vampires creeping around as extrapolations of the darkness hiding within humanity.

Kelly Marie Tran, Mike Colter, Taylor Schilling, and other big stars appear in Monsterland's anthologized episodes, though their stories challenge the audience to ask which characters are the monsters and which are simple human. A.N. *

How to watch: Monsterland is streaming on Hulu.

3. Twin Peaks

For decades, Twin Peaks has served as a critical reference point in elite TV. David Lynch and Mark Frost’s mesmeric world of humor, dreams, and mystery represented such a tectonic shift in the medium's possibilities — the cinematic stylings, the genre-blending narrative, the unique character creation, that score — that few other elite shows have escaped comparisons to it.

So, if you've long wondered who killed Laura Palmer, now is the time to get your "answers." I'm putting answers in quotes because in Twin Peaks those can be few, far between, and alarmingly subjective. Best served with donuts, cherry pie, and a damn fine cup of coffee. Alison Foreman, Entertainment Reporter *

How to watch: Twin Peaks is streaming on Hulu.

4. The Witcher

You will love the battle scenes in 'The Witcher.'
You will love the battle scenes in 'The Witcher.' Credit: netflix

Video game and comics fans delighted when Netflix announced it would be adapting The Witcher into a series. Then, when it came out, those same fans were deeply confused — for five episodes worth of twisty-turny terror that just made no sense. But by the time the three final installments tied those together, we were chomping at the bit for Season 2 (now expected on Dec. 17, 2021).

Henry Cavill stars as Geralt of Rivia, a kick-ass monster-hunter. His high-stakes mission isn't always easy to follow, but the battle scenes and visual styling is so richly exquisitely you'll be too enchanted to care.

How to watch: The Witcher is streaming on Netflix.

5. Bates Motel

Alfred Hitchcock invented the slasher genre with his delightfully gory masterpiece Psycho. For over 60 years, the film's chilling surprise villain, Norman Bates, has been the blueprint for disturbed horror baddies. Bates Motel asks the questions about Norman's backstory that went unanswered in Psycho. Why is a grown man dressing up as his mother and stabbing women in the shower? How did he get both so good and so bad at taxidermy? And would it be possible to clarify the depths of incest we're talking about here? Freddie Highmore plays young Norman alongside Emmy-nominated Vera Farmiga as his (still alive) mother Norma — and all of those questions get their answers. A.N. *

How to watch: Bates Motel is streaming on Peacock.

6. Room 104

Check in to 'Room 104'.
Check in to 'Room 104'. Credit: hbo max

Not every installment in this arthouse anthology from Duplass Brothers Productions is scary. But it's the series' eclectic combination of stories that makes it special — and its horror installments some of the spookiest on the market. Every episode of Room 104 takes place in a mysterious motel room, with a rotating cast of characters arriving to tell stories of various ilks. Buckle up, because you're in for a teen werewolf cartoon, an intimate cannibalism drama, and an actual trip to outer-space, among other things. It's the Twilight Zone of our time, with four seasons worth of episodes ripe for the binging. Just do yourself a favor and go in unspoiled. You'll thank us later. — A.F.

How to watch: Room 104 is streaming on HBO Max.

7. Channel Zero

Creator Nick Antosca delivers some of the best screams in streaming with Channel Zero.

This four-season fright fest turns a quartet of creepypastas into a brutal binge, comprised of six episodes per season. It adapts "Candle Cove" by Kris Straub in Season 1; "The No-End House" by Brian Russell in Season 2; "Search and Rescue" by Kerry Hammond in Season 3; and "Hidden Door" by Charlotte Bywater in Season 4. If you're familiar with the source material, then you know you're in for a hell of a ride. And if you're not? Good luck surviving this one. — A.F.

How to watch: Channel Zero is streaming on Shudder.

Honorable mention: Into the Dark

You're gonna wanna head 'Into the Dark.'
You're gonna wanna head 'Into the Dark.' Credit: hulu

Hulu's Into the Dark struggles to appear on entertainment rankings not because it isn't good, but because its categorization as a movie anthology makes it tough to place between TV and film. That said, we are once again going to recommend this serialized collection of films as an honorable mention. Each title is based on a different holiday (Easter, Christmas, Mother's Day, Pet Appreciation Week etc.), and tackles a new terror, be it slasher villain or invading aliens.

We've even ranked all of Hulu's Into the Dark horrors for your convenience.

How to watch: Into the Dark is streaming on Hulu.

Asterisks (*) indicate this entry previously appeared in another Mashable streaming list.


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Roblox comes back online after three-day outage

Roblox comes back online after three-day outage

Roblox is finally returning to normal after a nearly three-day outage. The gaming platform's developer said it was "incrementally" bringing regions back to service after having pinpointed the cause roughly three hours earlier. The company had a possible candidate on October 30th, but didn't narrow it down until a day later.

The company didn't detail the cause, but had previously ruled out particular "experiences or partnerships." Some had blame the outage on a Chipotle promo that launched half an hour before the failure took place on the evening of October 28th.

Whatever the reason for the outage, it may have had a lasting effect. Roblox has over 40 million daily users, and has been home to major concerts in recent months. That could leave more than a few frustrated kids, not to mention parents and creators wondering about the long-term reliability of the platform.


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Astronomers may have spotted a planet in another galaxy for the first time

Astronomers may have spotted a planet in another galaxy for the first time

The hunt for exoplanets is venturing beyond the Milky Way. Astronomers using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected what might be the first signs of a planet in another galaxy. The team noticed dips in X-ray brightness that hint at a planet transiting in front of a star in the Messier 51 (aka M51) galaxy 28 million light-years away. For context, all the exoplanet candidates in the Milky Way are no more than 3,000 light-years from Earth — this planet would easily set a distance record if confirmed.

The very nature of stars made the feat possible. As the researchers had to focus on X-ray bright binary systems where the region of bright rays is relatively tiny, the transit was considerably easier to spot. Conventional detection of nearby stars requires much more sensitive light detection, as a planet might only block a small amount of light from a given star.

The planet itself is believed to be as large as Saturn, but would orbit its hosts (a star 20 times the mass of the Sun as well as a black hole or neutron star) at twice the distance.

Scientists didn't believe the dimming was due to gas clouds or dust, as those aren't consistent with the event they recorded in M51. A planet, however, would line up with the data.

The challenge, as you might guess, is verifying that data. The planet's large orbit could rule out another transit for roughly 70 years, and it wouldn't be clear exactly when astronomers would have to take a look. The three-hour transit of this planet candidate didn't provide a large window. That's also assuming the 'living' star doesn't explode and bathe the planet in radiation.

If there's ever a confirmation, though, the discovery would be very significant. While there aren't many doubts that planets exist in other galaxies, it would be useful to have evidence of their existence. This could also significantly widen the scope of future planetary searches to include the galactic neighborhood, not just close-by stars.


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How to use Waze and Google Maps to find cheaper gas

How to use Waze and Google Maps to find cheaper gas

You can set your destination to cheaper gas with the help of Waze and Google Maps.

The U.S. national average for a gallon of gas is $3.40 — and in places like Hawaii, California, and Pennsylvania the average is over $3.50, according to AAA.

There are gas tracking apps like GasBuddy, but that requires a separate search on your phone. When you're already using Waze or Google Maps, it's much easier to find the cheapest gas near you. Both navigation apps have gas prices built in.

On Waze you can search for gas stations nearby or along your route. The prices (which have been crowdsourced by other drivers on the Waze app) are listed so you can see which stops will be the cheapest to fill up.

In the Waze app, the gas station option will show up below the search bar.

Click on the gas pump icon and you'll see all the stations. You can filter it by distance, price, or brand. To find the cheapest fill-up, go with price. Click on the gear icon on the top right on the gas stations list.

Once you've found the station you want, click on it and go — your navigation directions will lead you there.

Find the gas icon.
Credit: SCREENSHOT / WAZE
On the hunt for cheap fuel.
Credit: SCREENSHOT / WAZE

On the Google Maps app, when you're in drive mode you can search along your route for gas stations. It'll show the prices at all nearby stations along with how far of a detour you'll need to take.

Click on search and click on the gas stations option and all the nearby stations will pop up along your route.

If you're not on the road, you can see where nearby gas stations are located from the main search bar. But the prices won't show up unless you are in drive mode.

Gas station searching.
Gas station searching. Credit: SCREENSHOT / GOOGLE MAPS

Apple Maps does show gas stations nearby, but it doesn't clearly state the price per gallon like Waze and Google Maps do.

When you click on the search bar it pulls up suggestions of things nearby like COVID-19 vaccines, hotels, restaurants, and gas stations.

Apple Maps doesn't give as much gas info.
Apple Maps doesn't give as much gas info. Credit: screenshot / APPLE MAPS

But for pricing information you'll have to head to the gas station and check out the prices for yourself.


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At long last, 'copypasta' and 'air fryer' have been added to the dictionary

At long last, 'copypasta' and 'air fryer' have been added to the dictionary

As long as humans keep on human-ing, words will keep on words-ing.

This week, Merriam-Webster announced it had added a whopping 455 new entries to the dictionary — including terms across cultural, political, and technical realms. This latest batch of words reflects a rapidly evolving digital landscape, with technical entries like "teraflop" and "bit rot" appearing alongside trendier terms like "deplatform" and "copypasta." A number of pandemic-specific terms, including "long COVID" and "super-spreader" feel especially fitting of the times.

So how are new words picked? Throughout the year, Merriam-Webster editors scour written materials to find words that have emerged online and in print. Per the publisher's guidelines, new words are added depending on how often they are used and whether that usage occurs within the general populace, rather than a highly specialized field.

Some standout additions (and their definitions) from this update include:

air fryer: an airtight, usually small electrical appliance for quick cooking of foods by means of convection currents circulated rapidly by a fan.

amirite: slang used in writing for "am I right" to represent or imitate the use of this phrase as a tag question in informal speech. An example: “English spelling is consistently inconsistent, amirite?”

because: by reason of : because of — often used in a humorous way to convey vagueness about the exact reasons for something. This preposition use of because is versatile; it can be used, for example, to avoid delving into the overly technical (“the process works because science”) or to dismiss explanation altogether (“they left because reasons”).

copypasta: data (such as a block of text) that has been copied and spread widely online. Copypasta can be a lighthearted meme or it can have a more serious intent, with a political or cultural message.

dad bod informal: a physique regarded as typical of an average father; especially : one that is slightly overweight and not extremely muscular.

deplatform: to remove and ban (a registered user) from a mass communication medium (such as a social networking or blogging website) broadly : to prevent from having or providing a platform to communicate.

fluffernutter: a sandwich made with peanut butter and marshmallow crème between two slices of white sandwich bread.

long COVID: a condition that is marked by the presence of symptoms (such as fatigue, cough, shortness of breath, headache, or brain fog) which persist for an extended period of time (such as weeks or months) following a person's initial recovery from COVID-19 infection.

Oobleck: a mixture of corn starch and water that behaves like a liquid when at rest and like a solid when pressure is applied. Oobleck gets its name from the title of a story by Dr. Seuss, Bartholomew and the Oobleck, and is a favorite component in kids’ science experiments.

super-spreader: an event or location at which a significant number of people contract the same communicable disease — often used before another noun (as in a “super-spreader event”). The term super-spreader originally referred to a highly contagious person capable of passing on a disease to many others, and now can also refer to a single place or occasion where many others are infected.

TBH: an abbreviation for "to be honest." TBH is frequently used in social media and text messaging.

vaccine passport: a physical or digital document providing proof of vaccination against one or more infectious diseases (such as COVID-19).

whataboutism: the act or practice of responding to an accusation of wrongdoing by claiming that an offense committed by another is similar or worse also : the response itself. The synonymous term whataboutery is more common in British English.

Here's hoping "dad bod" comes up at the next Scripps National Spelling Bee. You can see more of the 455 new words on Merriam-Webster's website.


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Binge 'Saturday Night Live' Halloween sketches with this spooky supercut

Binge 'Saturday Night Live' Halloween sketches with this spooky supercut

Saturday Night Live is off this Halloweekend — returning next Saturday Nov. 6 with Succession's Kiernan Culkin as host and Ed Sheeran as the musical guest. But, never fear: You can still enjoy some spooky laughs from the funniest people at 30 Rock right now.

To wish you a Happy Halloween, SNL has put together a four-part supercut of some of their best seasonal sketches.

First up, there's the 2016 masterpiece "A Girl's Halloween," which sees Vanessa Bayer, Aidy Bryant, and Cecily Strong in the midst of one messy night out. Then, there's "Shana at a Halloween Party," offering another not-so-sexy sexed-up outing with Kristen Wiig's recurring character. Stefon, played by Bill Hader, gives us 2012's "Hottest Halloween Tips" on Weekend Update after that. And we close out the evening with the GOAT: "Haunted Elevator" featuring Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins. Enjoy!


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Why do dogs tilt their heads? New research makes an intriguing discovery.

Why do dogs tilt their heads? New research makes an intriguing discovery.

Dogs are weird, wonderful, goofy creatures who are adorable on the outside and mostly a mystery on the inside. As much as we’d like to understand everything our furry friends are thinking, the closest we can get to fully interpreting their behavior is the dedicated work of animal scientists who try to answer some of life’s most burning dog-related questions, like: Why do some doggies tilt their widdle heads when we talk to them?

A recent study published in Animal Cognition, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, explored dog head tilting by observing when and in which direction dogs tilt their heads while performing a cognitively taxing task. The task in question was retrieving a specific toy from another room after being prompted with the toy's name, which required the dogs to not only recognize the toy's name as a command, but also to recall it in their memory and fetch it.

The authors observed 40 dogs and found that pooches who were particularly good at toy recall tilted their heads when hearing the command more often than dogs who were not. It's possible the head tilters may be showing signs of paying attention or even matching a name to a visual image in their heads when they hear the name of their favorite toy, the researchers suggest.

Why dogs tilt their heads in certain directions deserves further study, the researchers said. Whether a dog tilts their head right or left could just be personal preference. Previous research on 12 dogs used brain scans to determine that the right side of dogs' brains tends to be more active in processing positive or praise words. But the connection that observation may have on head tilting needs further research. Where a human was standing when asking a dog to get a toy didn't impact the head tilting.

File this study under dog habits that are intriguing to know about but still in the early stages of scientific research. And even if your dog doesn't tilt their head or actually know how to get a particular toy, they're still very good pups.


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Lenovo's rumored 17-inch ThinkBook Plus has a second screen for drawing

Lenovo's rumored 17-inch ThinkBook Plus has a second screen for drawing

Lenovo's next ThinkBook Plus might be more practical, at least if you'e a budding artist. Well-known leak purveyor Evan Blass has shared what he said is an image of a 17-inch ThinkBook Plus model. Unlike the current 13.3-inch system, though, you wouldn't have to flip your machine around to use an e-paper display on the back. Instead, you'd have a pen-capable color display next to the keyboard you could use to draw or take handwritten notes.

Blass didn't share other details, but the 17-inch ThinkBook Plus would seemingly have an extra-wide main display and fit in a full keyboard along with a large trackpad. We'd expect reasonably speedy internals to help drive the second display, much like the vaguely comparable ASUS ZenBook Duo.

It's not certain when this extra-large ThinkBook Plus would ship. Lenovo has historically reserved some of its largest laptop introductions for CES in January, but that doesn't preclude the company from a last-minute launch for the holidays. Either way, the image suggests Lenovo hasn't given up on the Plus concept — if anything, it's exploring new concepts that might prove appealing for creatives and others who shied away in the past.


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G20 deal raises the minimum tax rate for big tech companies

G20 deal raises the minimum tax rate for big tech companies

Large tech companies may soon have to pay significant taxes no matter what tax loopholes they had before. BBC Newsreports G20 leaders have reached an agreement that would set a global minimum tax rate of 15 percent for large companies. The long-in-the-making deal should be official as of today (October 31st) and would be enforced starting in 2023.

The US originally pitched the concept to prevent companies from using creative accounting (such as the "Double Irish arrangement") to avoid paying most of their taxes in the country. Other countries embraced the idea, though, and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) toldCBC News the move could rake in about $150 billion from corporations around the world.

The deal could discourage tech giants like Amazon, Apple, Google, Meta and Netflix from relying on loopholes to maximize their profits. If the deal collects the promised money, governments could better fund public services and help tackle problems like climate change. 

There are numerous criticisms, however, and not just from those who generally oppose higher taxes. Oxfam, for instance, blasted "generous carve outs" that protected sone income and take 10 years to phase out. The pro-equality group also claimed the deal was "extremely limited" and would affect fewer than 100 companies while generating little money for poorer countries. The arrangement might beat the status quo for G20 nations, but it won't necessarily address some outstanding concerns.


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Marching band goes hard on flawless 'Sesame Street' tribute

Marching band goes hard on flawless 'Sesame Street' tribute

Marching band is one of those activities that looks hard and is actually even harder, which makes this performance by Ohio State's marching band insanely impressive.

The band performed "Can You Tell Me How To Get...," a medley of Sesame Street songs and accompanied each track with a flawless formation. Ernie's rubber duckies make an appearance, as does the Count, Elmo, and an Oscar the Grouch surprise that doubles as an excellent dig at the University of Michigan, Ohio's rival team.


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Every single spooky-yet-sweet 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episode, ranked

Every single spooky-yet-sweet 'Bob's Burgers' Halloween episode, ranked

Halloween 2021 has been a spooky season of uncertainty, with COVID-19 keeping celebrations small and manufacturing shortages making costumes hard to come by. So thank the Belchers for delivering the ghoulish goods with a brand new holiday-themed episode you're sure to love.

This year, Linda and Gayle take on a pumpkin-smasher whodunnit. But there's no reason you shouldn't revisit all the Bob's Burgers Halloween episodes before diving in. You know, just so you have the appropriate context needed for the investigation. Wink.

We've combed through every Bob's Burgers Halloween special, ranked them for least to most memorable, and flagged what costumes everyone wore in case you need some last-minute DIY inspiration. Happy haunting, Bob-ists! Bob-ites?

9. Season 11, Episode 4: "Heartbreak Hotel-oween"

Via Giphy

Why it's great: When the kids deliver a burger to a hotel on Halloween night, their planned evening of candy collecting turns into a terrifying chance to sit in on a seance. Meanwhile, Bob faces his fear of phlebotomy at a vampire-themed blood donation van. It's a surprisingly sweet combination of stories that doesn't quite rise to the bar set by other Bob's Halloween episodes, but is still worth checking out — especially considering fan-favorite Gus shows up with some killer one-liners.

Who wore which costume: For the main story, the kids team up to be a giant snail — and, as Louise points out, "they snailed it." In a series of flashbacks, you can also catch Gene dressed as "Lady Goo Goo Ga-Ga" (an aged-down Mother Monster) and "Cat Stevens" (literally just a cat wearing a name tag that reads "Stevens"); Louise as "Beetle Juice" (an orange juice carton with a big ol' beetle on the side) and "Blade Bunner" (Gene's burger costume with knives all over it?!); and Tina as a "ToastBuster" (your basic Ghostbusters costume, but she's fighting crispy bread) and "Sixteen Handles" (a home hardware sendup of the John Hughes film Sixteen Candles).

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Heartbreak Hotel-oween" is now streaming on Hulu.

8. Season 8, Episode 3: "The Wolf of Wharf Street"

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Why it's great: When news of a wolf prowling around Wonder Wharf reaches the Belchers, Linda decides to join the Tina, Gene, and Louise out trick-or-treating. The result is a breakneck adventure in trying to be cool in front of your kids, totally failing, and still having a pretty good time as a family anyway. This is one of the least memorable of the Bob’s Halloween episodes, but the main storyline is sweet and the subplot with Bob and Teddy is fun enough.

Who wore which costume: Linda leads the gang as a “Cher-iff” (y’know, Cher if she was a member of local law enforcement). In tow is Gene as some “Handsome Grapes,” Louise as Javier Bardem’s character from No Country for Old Men, and Tina as a mom zombie (aka “Mombie”).

Oh, and Teddy is a sexy nurse. He meant to order a “scary nurse” costume, but the universe had different plans for him!

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "The Wolf of Wharf Street" is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Season 10, Episode 4: "Pig Trouble in Little Tina"

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Why it's great: Just in time for Halloween, it’s fetal pig dissection day in Tina’s science class. But when Tina makes fun of her fetal pig’s appearance to impress her classmates, the guilt that haunts her is far worse than any ghost. This is probably the “scariest” Bob’s episode ever created, but the fetal pig is still pretty cute and Tina's heart of gold shines brighter than ever.

Who wore which costume: This episode is a little low on costumes, but sufficiently high on puns! Louise goes as “The Bjorn Identity” (the protagonist from Bourne Identity but wearing a BabyBjörn) and Gene goes as Fiona Applesauce (the eight-time Grammy winner reimagined as snack food).

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Pig Trouble in Little Tina" is now streaming on Hulu.

7. Season 9, Episode 5: "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street"

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Why it's great: It’s a high-stakes Halloween when Teddy goes head-to-head with rival handyman Glenn in a decorations contest, and the kids hunt down a masked thief stealing candy from trick-or-treaters. The spectacle of seeing all of Ocean Avenue out for All Hallow’s Eve is super fun; the addition of haunted house “Mutilation Mansion” to the spectacular weirdness that is Wonder Wharf couldn’t be more festive; and Bob and Teddy hanging actual running chainsaws from a gigantic spider on the front of the restaurant is the cherry on top of one great Bob's Halloween.

Who wore which costume: In this Season 9 episode, everybody gets a costume! Gene is “André 3000 the Giant” (a combination of the rapper and the late wrestler-turned-actor), Louise is a “Dragon with a Girl Tattoo” (a send-up of Stieg Larsson’s popular novel), and Tina is “Nun of Your Business” (basically a devout woman carrying a briefcase). Darryl dresses up as PeeWee Herman, Rudy goes as Paul Rudd’s character from I Love You, Man, Andy and Ollie are peanut butter and jelly, and Bob is Bruce Springsteen — definitely not just wearing a bandana and jeans.

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" is now streaming on Hulu.

6. Season 12, Episode 3: "The Pumpkinening"

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Why it's great: In this Bob's whodunnit, mysterious letters delivered to the Belchers and Aunt Gayle bring up a dark chapter in Linda's past. Together, Linda and Gayle try to solve who sent them. It's a heart-warming, sisterly romp that gives us another peak at Linda's pre-marriage past, full of zany characters and adorable reunions. At the same time, the kids try to teach Bob about good candy. This is a good one if you love Linda. And c'mon, who doesn't love Linda?

Who wore which costume: The kids deliver yet another epic batch of costumes here, with Gene as "The Grad-iator" (a gladiator who just got his "Petmasters), Tina as "The Sherlock-ness Monster" (a mystery who solves mysteries), and Louise as "Peter Pan's Labyrinth" (so a child who wouldn't age with a Guillermo del Toro twist).

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "The Pumpkinening" is now streaming on Hulu.

5. Season 7, Episode 3: "Teen-a Witch"

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Why it's great: Tina is feeling optimistic about this year’s school costume contest, but when Tammy steals Tina’s idea for her costume, the ambitious kneesock wearer must turn to the dark side. At the suggestion of the always hilarious Mr. Ambrose, Tina attempts to cheat at the contest by using witchcraft. The result is a messy, drama-laden affair that’s equal parts spooky and sassy.

Who wore which costume: In an episode all about costumes, there aren’t that many great ones at the Wagstaff costume contest. Still, ranked in order from worst to best: Tammy’s “Hot Mess,” Tina’s “Sand-Witch,” Peter Pescadero’s Mona Lisa, Rudy’s Marcel Marceau, and Jocelyn’s sexy Judge Judy — which is, let’s be real, the best costume ever.

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Nightmare on Ocean Avenue Street" is now streaming on Hulu.

4. Season 4, Episode 2: "Fort Night"

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Why it's great: Halloween doesn’t go as planned when the kids’ fort — which is really just an old dumpster — in the back alley of the restaurant gets blocked in by a truck. With the kids still inside, the gang has no choice but to seek help from a passerby, Louise’s creepy classmate Millie. This is a great chapter in the bizarre dynamic of Millie and Louise, made even more memorable by the dire circumstances. (Seriously, do not play in dumpsters. This is so dangerous.)

Who wore which costume: Darryl wins the evening as a member of the iconic band Devo, specifically as seen in the 1980 music video “Whip It.” Meanwhile, Millie goes as the bunny half of a dust bunny — with hopes of Louise going as the dust half. But instead, Louise joins in a five-person Chinese dragon costume with Tina, Gene, Andy, and Ollie, which ultimately gets worn by Bob and Linda since the kids got trapped in the aforementioned dumpster.

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Fort Night" is now streaming on Hulu.

3. Season 5, Episode 2: "Tina and the Real Ghost"

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Why it's great: After paranormal investigators claim the restaurant has become home to an otherworldly presence, Linda and the kids hold a seance in the basement. Enter Jeff, a 13-year-old ghost boy freshly trapped in a shoebox who Tina is now dating. This episode is a huge victory for Tina's confidence and Louise's con-artistry.

Who wore which costume: It’s another low-costume affair in Season 5, but Louise and Gene keep up the festivities with Louise going as Ryan Gosling’s silk jacket-wearing character from Drive and Gene going as both Turner and Hooch from the 1989 classic: “He’s half dog, half Hanks, all cop!”

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Tina and the Real Ghost" is now streaming on Hulu.

2. Season 3, Episode 2: "Full Bars"

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Why it's great: Bob's Burgers' first Halloween episode ever not only included a murder mystery centered on Teddy, Bob, Linda, and a really unlucky guinea pig, it also gave Tina, Gene, Louise, and viewers their first glimpse at the affluent world of King's Head Island. The kids' pursuit of the best candy in town introduces them to neighborhood friends (and foes) we'd see for years to come. (Plus, Louise trying to throw that cellphone into that moving car is always hilarious.)

Who wore which costume: For trick-or-treating, Louise goes as Edward Scissorhands, Tina becomes as an ancient Egyptian corpse with an infant (aka “Mummy Mommy"), and Gene appears as "rapper and actress Queen Latifah from her U.N.I.T.Y. phase."

At Teddy’s Halloween party, Linda rocks an understated yet elegant mermaid costume, while Teddy and his guinea pig Francis go as tigers. Bob also gets forced into sumo suit.

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "Full Bars" is now streaming on Hulu.

1. Season 6, Episode 3: "The Hauntening"

Via Giphy

Why it's great: Louise gets the scare of a lifetime when the Belchers pull off the best prank Bob's has ever seen. Using Mort's mom's house as their stage, Bob and Linda put on a homemade haunted house that's really underwhelming...so they can get Louise with the far more elaborate nightmare they have planned with Gene and Tina. Full of twists, turns, and that classic Belcher above-and-beyondness, this Halloween may be the best they've ever had. Not to mention, it's got the Boyz 4 Now single "I Love You So Much (It's Scary)" — and that's just a plain ol' bop.

Who wore which costume: The kids don't get costumes in this one, but Bob and Linda go as a mad scientist, bride of Frankenstein, and briefly conjoined twins in their DIY haunted house. Plus, Teddy, Mort, Mort's Mom, and Mort's Mom's boyfriend Arthur pretend to be occultists.

How to watch: Bob's Burgers' "The Hauntening" is now streaming on Hulu.

Bonus episodes

Via Giphy

Want to keep the spooky Bob's Burgers merriment going? Then checkout these episodes, which aren't Halloween themed but certainly fall on the spookier side.

You've got Season 8's "The Silence of the Louise," (a Millie-centric episode with a Silence of the Lambs twist); Season 6's "Lice Things Are Lice" (a truly terrifying tale featuring Jackie the school nurse); Season 5's "Housetrap" (a murder mystery with a love triangle subplot); Season 3's "The Deepening" (a parody of Steven Spielberg's Jaws); and Season 1's "Human Flesh" (oh yeah, that time the Belchers were accused of cannibalism by the health department??).

How to watch: Bob's Burgers is now streaming on Hulu.

This post has been updated and republished since its original publish date of Oct. 20, 2020.


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How to watch the most-googled Halloween movies

How to watch the most-googled Halloween movies

This year, Google trends made putting together a perfect spooky movie marathon easy by revealing the top five most searched movies in the week leading up to Halloween. The tastes of the masses this year ranged from classic horror movies to Disney Channel originals, so there's bound to be something for everyone in this streamable five-movie run.

However, if you're more of a horror, neat type, we've also got you covered with 31 essential, history-making horror movies to stream this spooky season.

1. Halloween

The Big Three when it comes to iconic horror movie villains are Michael, Freddie, and Jason. All three appear on the top five most searched list, but only Michael came up as number one. To be fair, the advantage of searching for a movie called Halloween around Halloween is a given, but that doesn't mean that Michael Myers and Laurie Strode's decades-long battle for Laurie's life began with anything but a bang. Halloween is as classically scary and heart-pounding as a movie can get, so it's perfect to set the mood as movie number one in a spooky marathon.

How to Watch: Halloween is streaming on Shudder.

2. Friday the 13th

Telling scary stories around a campfire at summer camp is all innocent spooky fun until one of those stories turns out to be true. In Friday the 13th, the legend of Jason Vorhees, his hockey mask, and his unslakable thirst for the blood of anyone stupid enough to keep camping on Crystal Lake, is one of those not-so-innocent legends. Friday the 13th also sparked a notoriously loopy franchise, with sequels that vary from Jason coming back for revenge and Jason being cryogenically stored until he thaws out thousands of years into the future and kills everyone on a spaceship.

How to Watch: Friday the 13th is streaming on Peacock.

3. Hocus Pocus

Hocus Pocus put a spell on everyone back in 1993 and people are still returning for their yearly visit with the witchy Sanderson sisters. This movie would probably be on the most searched list every October, but the news that the reboot/sequel Hocus Pocus 2 is coming next year may have bumped this family-friendly Halloween staple a little farther up the list.

How to Watch: Hocus Pocus is streaming on Disney Plus.

4. A Nightmare on Elm Street

One, two, Freddie's coming for you...on HBO Max and on Peacock, apparently. Wes Craven's horror classic A Nightmare on Elm Street is a must-have for any Halloween marathon, so it makes perfect sense that everyone would be searching for it right around this spooky season. It is, however, hard to go to sleep after watching a movie about a terrifying monster who literally haunts people's dreams. So maybe watch this one with the lights on. And with an energy drink or five.

How to Watch: A Nightmare on Elm Street is streaming on HBO Max. A Nightmare on Elm Street is also streaming on Peacock.

5. Halloweentown

There's a Disney Channel original movie for pretty much any topic, but Halloweentown is undoubtedly one of the top DCOMs of all time. It's no surprise that this movie, which premiered on the channel in 1998, has become a staple rewatch for everyone who grew up wanting to recreate the magic of a mid-00s Halloween night. In Halloweentown, Marnie visits her witchy grandmother in a town populated with goblins, werewolves, vampires, and more while discovering her own magic powers and defeating a great evil that threatens the town.

How to Watch: Halloweentown is streaming on Disney Plus.


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So that's what the 'Ghostbusters' theme sounds like played by toothbrushes

So that's what the 'Ghostbusters' theme sounds like played by toothbrushes

When there's something strange in your neighborhood, who ya gonna call? Card readers, calculators, toothbrushes, a clothes iron, and a bunch of other fun junk turned into an orchestra to play the Ghostbusters theme.

The Device Orchestra YouTube channel is filled with impressive setups that transform household items into instruments that perform all kinds of tunes, but the Ghostbusters song is particularly impressive because it really sounds like these machines are not only playing music, but saying "ghostbusters." Like they actually have mouths or something. Do you think some of them might be possessed?


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Want to buy Apple's polishing cloth as a Christmas gift? Too bad.

Want to buy Apple's polishing cloth as a Christmas gift? Too bad.

If you had your sights set on buying Apple's so-called "polishing cloth" as a Christmas gift for the Apple fan who has everything, go back to the drawing board.

The much-mocked — and popular given early sales — piece of fabric is backordered until mid-January, according to Apple's website. The $19 item is also not available in store. That means you'll have to wait until 2022 to snag the fuzzy wipe.

Yes, folks were so hungry for the branded textile that its availability kept getting pushed back. Just a day after its October celebration of innovation, which arguably wasn't that innovative, the polishing cloth was backordered to November. Now it's been pushed back two more months.

Mind you, there are plenty of products out there that can be used to wipe away dust and greasy finger smudges from most iPhone, iPad, and MacBook screens that don't cost $19. Alas, there's only one with an Apple logo, and you can't snag it even if you wanted to. Take comfort, however, if you were planning to purchase it for someone with older devices. The polishing cloth may not be compatible with their older Apple wares, anyhow.

As a joke that can be read as a larger commentary on excess, iFixit, which rightfully goes after Apple for making products that are difficult to repair, recently gave the two-ply cloth a zero out of 10 for repairability.

Can't wait for the Polishing Cloth 2.


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Apple's mixed reality headset might play 'high-quality' VR games

Apple's mixed reality headset might play 'high-quality' VR games

Apple's rumored mixed reality headset may be a boon for VR gaming. In his most recent newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claimed Apple is aiming for a headset that can handle "high-quality" VR games with both fast chips and high-res displays. While it's not certain just what chips would be involved, a previous leak mentioned a possible 8K resolution per eye — Apple might not expect games to run at that resolution, but it would hint at serious processing power.

The headset is still poised to arrive "as early as" 2022, Gurman said. He also suggested Apple would eventually follow up the mixed headset with an augmented-reality-only model, but that was "years down the road."

However accurate the claim might be, it's doubtful the mixed reality headset would be meant primarily for gaming The price (rumored to be as high as $3,000) might relegate it to developers and other pros. It wouldn't be a rival to the $299 Quest 2, then. Instead, the report suggests Apple might use this initial headset to pave the way for more affordable wearables where gaming is more realistic.

It's safe to presume Apple is committed to a headset, no matter the end result. Apple has acquired companies and reportedly shuffled executives with mixed reality in mind. This wouldn't just be a side project for the company, even if the mixed reality tech could take years to reach the mainstream. Gaming might play a pivotal role if Apple intends to reach a wider audience.


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What the staff bought in October 2021

What the staff bought in October 2021

If you follow Mashable Shopping's coverage, you know that we live to bring you the best product recommendations we can find based on countless hours of online research. But what about the stuff that we buy for ourselves? The stuff that made it into our shopping carts? Well, we're here to tell you about those things, and we'll be back every month to do so again.

Here's what the staff bought in October 2021.


The perfect fall sweatshirt

"I'm a hard-core Swiftie, so it's no surprise I'm counting down the days until Red (Taylor's Version) drops. Naturally, I already pre-ordered the album on vinyl, and this time around, I knew I also was going to need some clothing merch for all my Sad Girl Fall™ needs. A cozy sweatshirt complete with the gorgeous new and improved album artwork looks like it'll do nicely for singing in the car and getting lost upstate." —Erin Strecker, Entertainment Editor

Taylor Swift sweatshirt
Credit: Taylor Swift
Taylor Swift crewneck
$60 at Taylor Swift Store

An IG-famous facial cleanser

"I’ve been on the hunt for a new facial cleanser for a while now. My last one did the job fine, but left my skin a bit tight. I’ve always loved the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser precisely because it did the opposite, but I went with a different influencer-friendly option this time: the Cocokind Oil to Milk Cleanser. I’ve seen Instagram ads for months, with the cleanser oozing out of the tube in a hypnotic spiral, and couldn’t resist it anymore. It is truly oil-to-milk as is the name: The texture out of the tube is jelly-like, but when wet it dissolves into a milk-like consistency right away. While the smell isn’t my favorite (though not horrible either), I love how it feels on my skin — and it leaves my face supple, just like I wanted." —Anna Iovine, Culture Reporter

Cocokind Oil to Milk cleanser product photo
Credit: Cocokind

A toothbrush upgrade

"I've had a Quip electric toothbrush for a couple of years now, but I recently bought the smart motor to upgrade my brush. It uses Bluetooth to pair with an app on my phone where I can see stats on how I brush and keep track of my brushing streak. The app shows data like how long I brush, how long I spend brushing my top teeth vs. my bottom teeth, strokes per minute, and the intensity of the brush. After the first couple of uses, I learned I wasn't giving my top teeth enough love, and I've since corrected it." —Miller Kern, Assistant Reviews Editor 

Quip smart motor product photo
Credit: Quip

Some winter Crocs

"I became a Crocs person during the early days of the pandemic, and now I own three pairs. I wear my classic clogs around the house pretty much 24/7, so I decided to get some winter Crocs for the colder months. I opted for the lavender pair of the lined clogs, which are basically like slippers. I also got a little rollerblade Jibbitz charm to put in my Croc holes. Crocs, please sponsor me." —Miller Kern, Assistant Reviews Editor

Lined Clogs product photo
Credit: Crocs

The trendiest hiking boots

"It seems like every cool outdoorsy person I know has a pair of Blundstone boots, and after years of feeling left out, I finally bought myself a pair. I got the rustic brown color (obviously) so now I can pair them with my Patagonia fleece to signal that I am absolutely down for camping or hiking at any time." —Jae Thomas, Shopping Reporter

Person climbing in Blundstone Chelsea boots
Credit: Blundstone
Blundstone Chelsea boots
$199.95 at Blundstone

Some extremely cute dryer balls

"After ditching dryer sheets, I bought these precious dryer balls to further green-ify my laundry process. (Not-great chemicals apparently seep off of dryer sheets and are single-use, of course.) I’ve definitely noticed that the movement of the dryer balls keeps me from having to turn the dryer on a million times to dry towels, and clothes still feel fluffy (they just don’t smell like Bounce). I chose sloths, but penguins, sheep, and more little creatures are available from Free the Ocean." —Leah Stodart, Shopping Reporter

Sloth Squad dryer balls product photo
Credit: Free the Ocean
Sloth Squad dryer balls
$28 at Free the Ocean

Some shampoo for a bathtime-hating pup

"My dog is very well-behaved, but when it comes to bathtime, she becomes a bit difficult. She's afraid of water, and I personally hate having to make her uncomfortable just to get her clean. I saw this dry shampoo in a TikTok and thought it might be the perfect thing for my dog, seeing as you don't need to get them wet to use it. She seems to love it, and now she can smell great without having to get soaked." —Dylan Haas, Shopping Reporter

Foaming pet dry shampoo product photo
Credit: Dr. Cuddles

Some really nice gym headphones

"I go to the gym almost every day, but I've neglected to get myself a good pair of headphones to accompany me during my workouts. (Pro tip: AirPods and sweat do not work well together.) Though they're pricey, I've always wanted a pair of Powerbeats Pro for their overall quality and secure ear hooks. I spotted them on sale, and decided that it was now or never. Honestly, they're one of the best things I've picked up all year." —Dylan Haas, Shopping Reporter

Person using Powerbeats Pro charging case
Credit: Apple
Powerbeats Pro
$249.95 at Amazon

A new gaming headset

"The plug of my cheapo Turtle Beach Recon 70 decided to randomly break into three pieces (???) so I upgraded to the well-reviewed SteelSeries Arctis 3 when it went on sale at Best Buy. I actually bought the slightly fancier Arctis 5 first, but then had to return it because the only one left at my local store was missing the Xbox adapter. There really doesn’t seem to be much of a difference between them (aside from the 5’s RGB lighting), so no complaints." —Haley Henschel, Freelance Deals Writer

SteelSeries Arctis 3 product photo
Credit: SteelSeries

A sunscreen with a little something extra

I'm a sucker for cute packaging, but I'm definitely not a sucker for making impulse purchases, so I don't know why seeing a few TikToks of this Tower28 foundation compelled me to open my Sephora app at 10:46 p.m. on a Wednesday. I don't even usually wear foundation. With that said, this product gives that perfect just-there glow, feels super lightweight, and doesn't break me out, so I'm glad I gave in to the algorithm." —Bethany Allard, Shopping Reporter

SunnyDays tinted sunscreen foundation product photo
Credit: Tower 28

The new MacBook Pro

"I bought a 14-inch MacBook Pro. I've been waiting for this laptop for six years; I got my last personal MacBook in 2015, and since then have been decrying Apple's lousy keyboards, lousy port selections, and general lousy design choices through a long, dark night of the laptops. Deliverance is at hand! The new MacBook Pro is everything I've been waiting for, and even the base model is probably more power than I need. Hopefully this will last at least another five years." —Sascha Segan, Lead Mobile Analyst for PCMag

2021 MacBook Pro product photo
Credit: Apple
2021 MacBook Pro
$1,999 at Apple

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