Trick r Treat...Countdown to Halloween 2020
- Thread starter prancer
- Start date
- Watchers 13
**13 Days**
Here we go. 13 days now, under two weeks, and in many ways, I feel like this is the "Final Countdown" for Halloween. It sort of dawned on me last night that TODAY would be the final Sunday of 2020 where we do not have the "Big" Christmas Tree in the great room. It comes out of storage NEXT Sunday, and is set up in anticipation of being turned on along with everything else when November 1st arrives!
I'll share a secret with you guys, being a person who LOVES the Holidays at the end of the year, you would think that I would get beyond excited when we are on the threshold like this, where the next Holiday is almost coming into view, but the truth is, it actually makes me sad. I wish the last 4 months of the year could go on all the time. I love how everything is, truth be told, in my world, everything the last 4 months of the year is just PERFECT. The cooler temperatures, the gorgeous fall colors and decorations, and even the smells of leaves, chimneys, etc.. I think that is why I am so looking forward to our "new" Holidays in 2021, Jack O Lantern Day, and Tom Turkey Day. So I can capture those "feels" just for a little bit on the day they come around.
I haven't had serious PCB's since beginning my monthly Christmas / Rudolph Day celebration several years back, so it is my hope that with our "new" Holidays, I don't have to miss the fall so much. It really hurt at times this year, with everything going on. Anyway, rant over!
Tonight is "Dark Arts Sunday" on Syfy, with two more Harry Potters on TV, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and then Harry Potter and the half blood prince. I'll be glued to the couch!
Here we go. 13 days now, under two weeks, and in many ways, I feel like this is the "Final Countdown" for Halloween. It sort of dawned on me last night that TODAY would be the final Sunday of 2020 where we do not have the "Big" Christmas Tree in the great room. It comes out of storage NEXT Sunday, and is set up in anticipation of being turned on along with everything else when November 1st arrives!
I'll share a secret with you guys, being a person who LOVES the Holidays at the end of the year, you would think that I would get beyond excited when we are on the threshold like this, where the next Holiday is almost coming into view, but the truth is, it actually makes me sad. I wish the last 4 months of the year could go on all the time. I love how everything is, truth be told, in my world, everything the last 4 months of the year is just PERFECT. The cooler temperatures, the gorgeous fall colors and decorations, and even the smells of leaves, chimneys, etc.. I think that is why I am so looking forward to our "new" Holidays in 2021, Jack O Lantern Day, and Tom Turkey Day. So I can capture those "feels" just for a little bit on the day they come around.
I haven't had serious PCB's since beginning my monthly Christmas / Rudolph Day celebration several years back, so it is my hope that with our "new" Holidays, I don't have to miss the fall so much. It really hurt at times this year, with everything going on. Anyway, rant over!
Tonight is "Dark Arts Sunday" on Syfy, with two more Harry Potters on TV, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and then Harry Potter and the half blood prince. I'll be glued to the couch!
OK, things are getting serious now...
12 days to go, and ABC still hasn't announced any plans to air "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this year.
Probably not a big deal for some, considering that the special is available for purchase almost everywhere, both in physical and digital format, but considering that it has aired on network TV every year since the late 60s, it would mean the end of an era.
For me personally, I'd be more than a little bummed if they didn't air it this year. Many people have horror movies for Halloween, but Peanuts is my "thing." Anyone who's seen me post here regularly knows that I've got a bit of an obsession with Peanuts, from the music to the animation to the wholesomeness of it...it's something I could count on to watch every year with my family, and we even incorporated it into our family's Christmas routine, as it marks the beginning of the holiday season for us, and we celebrate by taking the Christmas decorations down out of our attic once it is over.
Now, it looks like we'll just get more episodes of crappy ABC reality shows, like The Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, and Shark Tank - although I'll admit to watching Shark Tank before, but it's overstayed its welcome.
Anyway...rant over. Just had to get that off my chest this morning. Hopefully I'm wrong and ABC announces the air date right after I post this or surprises me while I'm at work today. *grumble grumble*
12 days to go, and ABC still hasn't announced any plans to air "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" this year.
Probably not a big deal for some, considering that the special is available for purchase almost everywhere, both in physical and digital format, but considering that it has aired on network TV every year since the late 60s, it would mean the end of an era.
For me personally, I'd be more than a little bummed if they didn't air it this year. Many people have horror movies for Halloween, but Peanuts is my "thing." Anyone who's seen me post here regularly knows that I've got a bit of an obsession with Peanuts, from the music to the animation to the wholesomeness of it...it's something I could count on to watch every year with my family, and we even incorporated it into our family's Christmas routine, as it marks the beginning of the holiday season for us, and we celebrate by taking the Christmas decorations down out of our attic once it is over.
Now, it looks like we'll just get more episodes of crappy ABC reality shows, like The Bachelorette, Dancing with the Stars, and Shark Tank - although I'll admit to watching Shark Tank before, but it's overstayed its welcome.
Anyway...rant over. Just had to get that off my chest this morning. Hopefully I'm wrong and ABC announces the air date right after I post this or surprises me while I'm at work today. *grumble grumble*
I read somewhere that ABC's contract for the Peanuts specials runs out in 2020. May have already ran out. Who knows? But knowing Disney, they may keep it off the air this year so that there is less competition for the shows they own. It's all about Disney and money, money, money.
I hope someone picks it up for next year. I have the DVD's. But there is something more special about watching it on live TV like we did as kids.
Yesterday's Dark Arts Sunday did not disappoint on SYFY. Between the cool weather, getting dark early, there is just something about seeing the Harry Potter movies when it is Holiday Season, I go on and on about it here, but i think Syfy's promotion of it is excellent, I know how i feel each year when i see the first commercial that has the Frog Choir's "Something Wicked This Way Comes", that is made into the little promo. I think the first time I saw it this year was around the 3rd week of September, and I remember distinctly feeling that excitement / yearning that the "Good Stuff" was almost here.
Halloween Resurrection, and Halloween H:20 is on AMC tonight. They have been playing frequently over the past few days, and I imagine that we will see them even more next week. Generally, in past years the last day or so of October has been nothing but a 24/7 Michael Myers marathon. It is for this reason that I have mentioned so many times that Michael almost serves as the ambassador to Christmas season.
SYFY has on tonight "Exorcist: The Beginning", which is an excellent prequel, and followed up with "Sinister". So 4 good movies across the two channels tonight. Another great night to relax on the couch and take in the atmosphere!
Halloween Resurrection, and Halloween H:20 is on AMC tonight. They have been playing frequently over the past few days, and I imagine that we will see them even more next week. Generally, in past years the last day or so of October has been nothing but a 24/7 Michael Myers marathon. It is for this reason that I have mentioned so many times that Michael almost serves as the ambassador to Christmas season.
SYFY has on tonight "Exorcist: The Beginning", which is an excellent prequel, and followed up with "Sinister". So 4 good movies across the two channels tonight. Another great night to relax on the couch and take in the atmosphere!
Well Rich, you are right. I started looking into the ABC licensing on my lunch break, and as it turns out, Apple made quite a big announcement today...
New and classic Charlie Brown & Snoopy series to exclusively stream on Apple TV+
Everything from brand-new animated "Peanuts" specials to the famous "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will stream exclusively on Apple TV+.
appleinsider.com
Apparently, it sounds like ABC couldn't/didn't renegotiate their contract with the Peanuts rights-holders, and therefore Apple TV+ will be the only place to watch the special this year, unless you already own it in some capacity. I have checked Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu, and the digital versions of all of the Peanuts specials are no longer available for sale.
This saddens me to no end. Yes, Apple will let you stream the specials for free from Oct. 30 thru Nov. 1st, so you don't technically need to pay for Apple TV+ to be able to watch them, but you still do need an Apple TV (or you need to have the Apple TV app on a Roku or Fire TV). I hate that they won't be on network TV anymore, where I have watched them since I was a kid.
A sad end to an era.Well Rich, you are right. I started looking into the ABC licensing on my lunch break, and as it turns out, Apple made quite a big announcement today...
New and classic Charlie Brown & Snoopy series to exclusively stream on Apple TV+
Everything from brand-new animated "Peanuts" specials to the famous "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will stream exclusively on Apple TV+.appleinsider.com
Apparently, it sounds like ABC couldn't/didn't renegotiate their contract with the Peanuts rights-holders, and therefore Apple TV+ will be the only place to watch the special this year, unless you already own it in some capacity. I have checked Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu, and the digital versions of all of the Peanuts specials are no longer available for sale.
This saddens me to no end. Yes, Apple will let you stream the specials for free from Oct. 30 thru Nov. 1st, so you don't technically need to pay for Apple TV+ to be able to watch them, but you still do need an Apple TV (or you need to have the Apple TV app on a Roku or Fire TV). I hate that they won't be on network TV anymore, where I have watched them since I was a kid.
And it's not even Covid related.
Hey @The_Escalation, if you bought a DVD / Blu Ray of The Great Pumpkin, you would probably get it in plenty of time for Halloween. Now, it's none of my business and in general I don't advocate for people to have to spend money when it isn't essential, but I know how much that show means to you and It is part of your family tradition. If it were me, I would get the DVD so that I could still play it as part of my tradition. The heck with the network TV.
In fact I'm keeping a "play list" now of some of the movies that are playing on TV so that when it comes time to start planning for 2021 and our Jack O Lantern days, I am all prepared. I don't NEED the networks to be able to do my movie marathons. And neither should you. Even when it comes to Holiday stuff, YouTube is your friend there with commercials and things you can throw in to spice things up and make it feel more authentic. Just my 2 cents.
In fact I'm keeping a "play list" now of some of the movies that are playing on TV so that when it comes time to start planning for 2021 and our Jack O Lantern days, I am all prepared. I don't NEED the networks to be able to do my movie marathons. And neither should you. Even when it comes to Holiday stuff, YouTube is your friend there with commercials and things you can throw in to spice things up and make it feel more authentic. Just my 2 cents.
I wholeheartedly agree with you. After spending most of yesterday in mourning upon hearing the news (OK, not REALLY...but Peanuts is a big deal in our household), this has caused me to re-evaluate a lot of my media purchases and how I'm currently doing things. (Warning: extremely long diatribe to follow.)
Years ago we made the decision to go all-digital with our media purchases, because over the years I had amassed a huge collection of CDs, books, games, and DVDs that were largely collecting dust. I didn't want to have unnecessary clutter lying around, especially when I'd only crack open a particular book or DVD case once every couple of years (or less). Since then we started buying all of our books on Kindle and our movies and TV shows on Google Play/YouTube. Even more recently we just kinda stopped buying them altogether and turned to streaming services, because they typically always had something available that we wanted to watch. Even a lot of the movies in our digital library haven't been watched in years.
Now, I'm not saying we will up end all of that, but yesterday's "crisis" has brought to light the importance of keeping things that - like Marie Kondo would say - "spark joy." When streaming services like Apple TV start capturing exclusive content that you can't get anywhere else (as evidenced yesterday when they immediately pulled "It's the Great Pumpkin" from all digital storefronts other than their own), it's important to have that content AVAILABLE and IN-HAND so that I don't need to worry about having to fork over $4.99 a month to Apple to keep watching the things I like to watch.
All this is to say, yes, it's time to invest in the physical discs, and something to play them on, for all of my favorite holiday specials and movies. Thanks for reading.
AMC is playing "Halloween" right now (The original), and Syfy is going to play Insidious: The last Key, and It Follows, later tonight. A pretty good evening lineup!
**10 Days**
Syfy is playing the "Back to the Futures" tonight. A puzzling choice for "31 Days of Halloween".
But AMC tonight has Friday the 13th part 1 and 2, both classics! That's must-see TV for me!
How is everybody else getting along? I have to admit, i am just the tiniest bit sad knowing now that we have 10 days remaining. Of Course, on November 1st its Christmas Time everywhere, and I am fortunate that I will not have to contend with any post Holiday Blues until well into January 2021!
And as crazy as it sounds, I look forward to missing this time again, when the time comes, because that's how we know it is special! I think last year I started missing Fall / Halloween around March / April. When it is still cold outside, even after the Holidays have passed, i think the cold temperatures, leaves on the ground still, and relatively bare trees still help to hold "some" of that Fall / Winter magic. But once the heat starts again, i find myself longing for these crisp, cool nights!
Syfy is playing the "Back to the Futures" tonight. A puzzling choice for "31 Days of Halloween".
But AMC tonight has Friday the 13th part 1 and 2, both classics! That's must-see TV for me!
How is everybody else getting along? I have to admit, i am just the tiniest bit sad knowing now that we have 10 days remaining. Of Course, on November 1st its Christmas Time everywhere, and I am fortunate that I will not have to contend with any post Holiday Blues until well into January 2021!
And as crazy as it sounds, I look forward to missing this time again, when the time comes, because that's how we know it is special! I think last year I started missing Fall / Halloween around March / April. When it is still cold outside, even after the Holidays have passed, i think the cold temperatures, leaves on the ground still, and relatively bare trees still help to hold "some" of that Fall / Winter magic. But once the heat starts again, i find myself longing for these crisp, cool nights!
I'm like you, Snake...just a bit sadder that Halloween is so close. There was A LOT more that I wanted to do this year for Halloween, but COVID kind of put a damper on many of our usual plans. We do have a couple of plans lined up before then: We will go see a neighborhood light show this weekend, and we will watch "Great Pumpkin" on Halloween Eve, but for all intents and purposes, I'm a little disappointed that I didn't/couldn't do more this year.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that is when you start the 2021 Countdown to Halloween thread, and we have an entire year to look forward to counting down and getting excited about next year's Halloween, which I'm hoping is very much a triumphant return to "normal" and therefore even better than this Halloween.
However, there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and that is when you start the 2021 Countdown to Halloween thread, and we have an entire year to look forward to counting down and getting excited about next year's Halloween, which I'm hoping is very much a triumphant return to "normal" and therefore even better than this Halloween.
Fear not, there is a new 2021 Thread drafted and saved on my home PC, that is just raring to go when the clock strikes midnight on November 1st.
I think almost everyone can agree that the 2021 festivities will be back to "normal" or as close to normal as possible. I do think that there will be permanent changes regarding human behavior, etc., following the "end" of the pandemic, but what we see next year should resemble a whole lot more of what we are used to and have came to expect.
**9 Days**
AMC is playing Friday the 13th (2009), and A Nightmare on Elm Street
SyFy is playing Dawn of the Dead (2004), and Zombieland!
Another excellent set of movies for another excellent October evening!
AMC is where the money is at this weekend, and I can't wait. Saturday is a Stephen King movie marathon, and Sunday is their Halloween 24 hour marathon. I'm glad it's calling for rain this weekend because i am going to be a couch potato for sure!
I think almost everyone can agree that the 2021 festivities will be back to "normal" or as close to normal as possible. I do think that there will be permanent changes regarding human behavior, etc., following the "end" of the pandemic, but what we see next year should resemble a whole lot more of what we are used to and have came to expect.
**9 Days**
AMC is playing Friday the 13th (2009), and A Nightmare on Elm Street
SyFy is playing Dawn of the Dead (2004), and Zombieland!
Another excellent set of movies for another excellent October evening!
AMC is where the money is at this weekend, and I can't wait. Saturday is a Stephen King movie marathon, and Sunday is their Halloween 24 hour marathon. I'm glad it's calling for rain this weekend because i am going to be a couch potato for sure!
So sad.Well Rich, you are right. I started looking into the ABC licensing on my lunch break, and as it turns out, Apple made quite a big announcement today...
New and classic Charlie Brown & Snoopy series to exclusively stream on Apple TV+
Everything from brand-new animated "Peanuts" specials to the famous "A Charlie Brown Christmas" will stream exclusively on Apple TV+.appleinsider.com
Apparently, it sounds like ABC couldn't/didn't renegotiate their contract with the Peanuts rights-holders, and therefore Apple TV+ will be the only place to watch the special this year, unless you already own it in some capacity. I have checked Amazon, Google Play, and Vudu, and the digital versions of all of the Peanuts specials are no longer available for sale.
This saddens me to no end. Yes, Apple will let you stream the specials for free from Oct. 30 thru Nov. 1st, so you don't technically need to pay for Apple TV+ to be able to watch them, but you still do need an Apple TV (or you need to have the Apple TV app on a Roku or Fire TV). I hate that they won't be on network TV anymore, where I have watched them since I was a kid.
** 8 Days **
Folks, with Christmas season rapidly approaching, I am wondering if SyFY has phoned it in for the remainder of their "31 Days of Hallowen". The past couple of nights have been LAME. Tonight we are treated to "GI Joe: Rise of Cobra", and "Avengers: Age of Ultron". That really gets you in the Halloween spirit, huh? I even looked ahead to Sunday, and even "Dark Arts Sunday" seems to be trimmed down with Harry Potter playing only twice that day, instead of their usual all day / all afternoon block. It is frustrating, especially as after Sunday we essentially begin winding down Halloween Season.
AMC is airing some "Child's Play" movies tonight, i'm not a huge fan of them, but they are firmly in the Halloween / Horror avenue, so that is what I will be watching this evening.
That is why I am so happy that Jack O Lantern day is officially a thing. We have the opportunity to make up for some of those "Dud Days". And we will.
Have a wonderful October Friday!
Folks, with Christmas season rapidly approaching, I am wondering if SyFY has phoned it in for the remainder of their "31 Days of Hallowen". The past couple of nights have been LAME. Tonight we are treated to "GI Joe: Rise of Cobra", and "Avengers: Age of Ultron". That really gets you in the Halloween spirit, huh? I even looked ahead to Sunday, and even "Dark Arts Sunday" seems to be trimmed down with Harry Potter playing only twice that day, instead of their usual all day / all afternoon block. It is frustrating, especially as after Sunday we essentially begin winding down Halloween Season.
AMC is airing some "Child's Play" movies tonight, i'm not a huge fan of them, but they are firmly in the Halloween / Horror avenue, so that is what I will be watching this evening.
That is why I am so happy that Jack O Lantern day is officially a thing. We have the opportunity to make up for some of those "Dud Days". And we will.
Have a wonderful October Friday!
**7 Days**
You didn't think I would forget to post did you, especially now as we enter down into the final stretch towards Halloween??
I have been thoroughly enjoying the Stephen King marathon on AMC, now that I have been back inside since finishing up yard work earlier today. "The Shining" is on right now, followed next by "Carrie", and then later on tonight, "Pet Sematary" from 1989. All three must watches, IMO.
Tomorrow is another great day to veg on the couch, because AMC is doing a 24 hour "Halloween" marathon. I will settle in tomorrow night to watch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" on SyFy. It looks like their lineup for today has been Marvel / Superhero movies. Very puzzling choices as we close into the final days.
I have already noticed work today that will need to be done for 2021 Halloween season. My mother years ago, when my wife and I had only been in our house a few years, bought me six plastic Jack O Lantern candy pails, that we had the idea to put out in the mulch beds as outdoor decorations. They have held up well, and kept their colors, but the sun has made them brittle. As I was moving one today that the wind had blown, it began to crack under the lightest of pressure.
So when I put the outdoor decorations away next Sunday and switch over to Christmas stuff, I will have to throw these away. I have 10 months to find replacements for them, and I plan on making that my first order of business for the 2021 countdown season, after I put up the new 2021 Countdown thread! Have a wonderful Sunday, friends, and talk to you soon
You didn't think I would forget to post did you, especially now as we enter down into the final stretch towards Halloween??
I have been thoroughly enjoying the Stephen King marathon on AMC, now that I have been back inside since finishing up yard work earlier today. "The Shining" is on right now, followed next by "Carrie", and then later on tonight, "Pet Sematary" from 1989. All three must watches, IMO.
Tomorrow is another great day to veg on the couch, because AMC is doing a 24 hour "Halloween" marathon. I will settle in tomorrow night to watch "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1" on SyFy. It looks like their lineup for today has been Marvel / Superhero movies. Very puzzling choices as we close into the final days.
I have already noticed work today that will need to be done for 2021 Halloween season. My mother years ago, when my wife and I had only been in our house a few years, bought me six plastic Jack O Lantern candy pails, that we had the idea to put out in the mulch beds as outdoor decorations. They have held up well, and kept their colors, but the sun has made them brittle. As I was moving one today that the wind had blown, it began to crack under the lightest of pressure
.So when I put the outdoor decorations away next Sunday and switch over to Christmas stuff, I will have to throw these away. I have 10 months to find replacements for them, and I plan on making that my first order of business for the 2021 countdown season, after I put up the new 2021 Countdown thread! Have a wonderful Sunday, friends, and talk to you soon
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