Halloween Preview: ‘black-ish’, ‘Scorpion’, ‘Superstore’ and More
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From left: Evans Vestal Ward/NBC; Michael Yarish/NBC; Eric McCandles/ABC
Just about every show that's been on TV has had a least one Halloween episode, giving the cast a chance to dress up and cut loose. Here are six shows that will be going all out to celebrate the occasion.
Eric McCandless/ABC
black-ish
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 9:30/8:30c, ABC
In the Johnsons’ neighborhood, Halloween is celebrated as “Mischief Night,” when for one glorious evening, bad behavior gets a free pass. Cue the pumpkin-smashing! But once Grandma Ruby (Jenifer Lewis) gets in on the action, the hilarity and high jinks spiral out of control.“She thinks it’s a great chance for kids to ‘purge’ themselves of their wicked ways,” says executive producer Jonathan Groff with a laugh. “It’s pretty intense.”
Luckily, the episode will end with superhero-size fun when the family—including Junior (Marcus Scribner), Dre (Anthony Anderson) and Bow (Tracee Ellis Ross)—suits up as The Incredibles. “It’s a cartoon, so I wasn’t expecting to feel quite so sexy in my costume,” says Ellis Ross, “but I did!” —Ingela Ratledge
Michael Yarish/CBS
The Odd Couple
Monday, Oct. 31, 9:30/8:30c, CBS
“We were a midseason show before, so this is the first time we’ve been able to do a Halloween episode—we’re thrilled!” says executive producer Bob Daily. To mark the occasion, Felix (Thomas Lennon) leads a haunted tour through the guys’ NYC apartment complex. “He’s trying to unleash his inner child,” says Daily. “But he inevitably lapses into talk of archaic building codes.”On the flip side, Oscar (Matthew Perry) attempts to prove he’s a responsible grown-up to his girlfriend, Charlotte (Teri Hatcher), by taking her son trick-or-treating. The only wrinkle? Says Daily, “He ends up losing him.” —IR
Michael Yarish/CBS
Scorpion
Monday, Oct. 31, 10/9c, CBS
Team Scorpion is heading underground for All Hallows’ Eve. “They’re trying to help a colony of ailing bats,” says exec producer Nick Santora. “There are severe ramifications if the bats die.”The personal stakes are even higher as the group deals with the fallout from Happy (Jadyn Wong) and Walter's (Elyes Gabel) secret marriage. “The gang is in costume because they're putting on a ruse for the woman who is investigating Walter and Happy's marriage,” hints exec producer Nicholas Wootton. "They're putting on costumes and putting together a backlog of photo albums. Their favorite holidays over the last years they've been married. They're having a party because they know she's coming and they want to continue this ruse and hopefully [secure] Walter's citizenship; it's a timely topic." But will the results be a trick or treat? —Marisa Roffman
Jessica Brooks/ABC
Speechless
Wednesday, Oct. 26, 8:30/7:30c, ABC
May the force be with them! While Ray (Mason Cook) and Dylan (Kyla Kenedy) work on their school’s haunted house, Maya (Minnie Driver) has some tricks in store for Jimmy (John Ross Bowie) involving the DiMeo family’s famous “Dead to Me” list. Things get a whole lot scarier for Kenneth (Cedric Yarbrough), who ends up facing Maya’s fury when JJ (Micah Fowler) gets drunk at a party. —John Russell
Evans Vestal Ward/NBC
Superstore
Thursday, Oct. 27, 8/7c, NBC
The Cloud 9 employees are getting into the Halloween spirit, and though some of the coworkers’ costumes are obvious—Amy (America Ferrera) is Cleopatra, Glenn (Mark McKinney) is a hot dog—Jonah’s (Ben Feldman) costume goes deeper.“I’m just a walking eye roll,” laughs Feldman of his character’s Brexit homage.
And when the employees are put on lockdown following a theft, Dina (Lauren Ash) attempts to lay down the law in a getup that, let’s just say, “causes a bit of a stir,” Ash teases. —Marisa Roffman
Michael Ansell/ABC
The Middle
Tuesday, Oct. 25, 8/7c, ABC
It’s a twist so shocking that even Rod Serling couldn’t have seen it coming: This Halloween, Axl Heck (Charlie McDermott) is becoming the perfect boyfriend.Rather than tossing eggs at houses or watching TV pantsless on the couch, he’s dressing up as Prince Charming and giving out candy to please his new lady love, April (Greer Grammer). And he’s doing it with a smile, which freaks the heck out of his family.
“He’s being so lovey-dovey,” says executive producer Eileen Heisler. “Watching Axl frolic with April in a way that is so uncharacteristically Axl scares everybody!” —Aubry D’Arminio
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