So many Halloween episodes of so many TV shows. Ever notice how characters on a TV show never fail to come up with a great Halloween costume that is both creative and put together beyond the ability of anyone in the real life situation of that character? When it comes to Halloween, most characters do it right. But every once in a while a TV character gets it way wrong. And so, in honor of those very rare moments when TV actually does reflect reality completely, here are some of the worst Halloween costumes ever worn by a TV character.
Charlie Brown: Ghost
He got a rock. And then another rock. And then another rock. And why not? What would you give to a kid who showed up at Halloween trick-or-treating in a sheet full of holes. When it comes to bad Halloween costumes on TV characters, Charlie Brown may finally be the big winner. That sheet full of holes has absolutely got to be the worst ghost costume ever.
Sheldon Cooper: The Doppler Effect
I’m not arguing that Sheldon Cooper’s Halloween costume that attempts to represent the Doppler Effect with clothing is not the ultimate in nerd cool. Science is very often fun when broken down to the level of pop culture. And I certainly am not knocking a Halloween costume that everybody doesn’t get. What I am knocking is a Halloween costume that nobody gets. Except scientists. And, quite frankly, I’m skeptical than even all scientists would get Sheldon’s Doppler Effect Halloween costume. I have a cousin who once went out on Halloween as Ion Man. His own superhero creation. Great idea, except that nobody knew who was supposed to be. And isn’t dressing up in costume on Halloween supposed to be about nothing more than recognizability?
Pierce Hawthorne: Beastmaster
Just how out of the loop is Pierce Hawthorne on “Community” anyway? Well, for one thing, he thinks that students at a community college in the 21st century would know who the Beastmaster is. Not only that, he thinks that kids at a community college in the 21st century would be impressed by the Beastmaster. A truly bad Halloween costume is one that it is so out of its time that it hasn’t even reached the state of retro yet. A horrifying awful Halloween costume is one that is so out of its time that it will never even reach the status of retro cool. The Beastmaster was never, at any time, for any person, a cool Halloween costume.
Lisa Simpson: Totem Pole
I have nothing against using a Halloween costume to make a political statement. In fact, I think more people should take advantage of the visibility that Halloween gives them to create a costume that actually says something about the state of the world. What makes Lisa Simpsons’ choice of a tall totem pole a really bad costume for Halloween has nothing to do with her choice to use it as a salute to the Native Americans of the Pacific Northwest. When making a political statement with your Halloween costume interferes with the ability to haul in candy while trick-or-treating, however, it must be considered a bad choice. Bart is right on this one: Lisa’s lack of mobility in dressing up as a full-sized totem pole makes this choice a bad costume.
