It’s October, so I’ve already begun my annual rewatch of The Simpsons Halloween specials. My mother and I were there for the first one in 1990, and it’s remained a seasonal tradition ever since. I’m up to Treehouse of Horror III from October 29, 1992. “The frogurt is also cursed” is a line I use often, even when I have to explain to younger people that frogurt was once a thing.
My Halloween subscription sale is still in effect. I’m offering 40 percent off annual subscriptions until Halloween. That means you can help keep this newsletter in frogurt for just $48 a year. Thanks to all who have upgraded to paid subscriber status recently. In lieu of cat photos, I’m sharing photos of my seasonal decor: This is my plastic jack-o-lantern that I picked up exactly 25 years ago somewhere near my first New York apartment.
The jack-o-lantern made its debut at the Halloween party I co-hosted with my friend Mara — Stephen and Sara’s Spooky Soirée. (It was necessary to change Mara’s name for the purposes of alliteration.) I think this was when I first met her soon-to-be husband, whose costume was Colonel Mustard from Clue. (He does bear a resemblance to the late Martin Mull.) My costume was based on the outfit the great Jim Borstelmann wore in the Chicago musical revival. Fortunately, this was the pre-camera phone era, so no photos exist.
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I’m traveling next week so we’ll be on a government shutdown schedule. Essential posts only! I’m actually in DC right now, and I hope I can score a tour with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Enjoy this week’s scary campfire writings:
We also roam through Treehouse episodes in October, but we're willy-nilly about it. No Disney sub this year so we'll have to uh, locate them elsewhere.
Happy Halloween to you & yours! And fuck off pumpkin spice, you're ruining the shot ; )
It would be great if you could even interview AOC!