It’s Halfway to Halloween, and we are thrilled to be joined by our special guest, multi-hyphenate creative Natasha Ofili (director, actor, writer, advocate) for a spirited conversation that blends Halloween nostalgia with the joys of creating art.

Joined by her ASL interpreter Gabriel Gomez, Natasha shares her deep-rooted love of Halloween, from bold costume choices (including a scary clown at a church party) to the way the holiday gives people space to express their most fearless, authentic selves. She also comes to the defense of the most divisive Halloween candy of all—yes, candy corn.

As part of our Half-O-Ween celebration, Natasha selects Halloween H20 (1998) as the featured film, sparking a conversation about late-’90s slashers, Laurie Strode’s evolution, and the comfort of horror nostalgia.

But the episode isn’t all sugar and scares. Natasha opens up about her groundbreaking work as the first deaf Black playable character in the Spider-Man video game series, her upcoming feature based on her acclaimed short The Multi, and her visionary partnership with Coldplay, where she helped create globally accessible live performances through ASL storytelling. It’s a game-changing collaboration that’s shifting how major artists think about inclusion on the world stage.

As we count down to October, this episode is a heartfelt celebration of Halloween not just as a holiday, but as a powerful space for identity, creativity, and connection.

00:57:16 – Intro and Halloween Questionaire

14:24:29 – Discussion on Natasha’s Career

32:14:08 – Halloween H20

It’s Halloween in Danville, and things are getting weird — even by Phineas and Ferb standards. This week on The Hallo-Rewind, we’re reanimating one of the most beloved and bizarre episodes in the series: Night of the Living Pharmacists! And we’re not doing it alone…

Joining us for this frightfully fun recap are two of the brilliant minds behind the madness — writers Joshua Pruett and Scott Peterson. Get ready for a deep dive into this spooky, satirical, and zombie-infested episode, as Joshua and Scott take us behind the scenes of how this love letter to classic horror (and zombie lore) came to life. They break down the inspiration behind the episode’s concept, how the team leaned into the tropes of horror, and the wild process of juggling heart, humor, and a horde of pharmacists.

We also talk about the legendary George A. Romero and Shaun of the Dead cameos — how they came to be, what they meant to the writers, and why they were essential to honoring the zombie genre. Joshua and Scott share some of their favorite cinematic Easter eggs and horror homages, from Night of the Living Dead to Rocky Horror, and give us a peek into the creative madness of the writer’s room.

So dodge a few Doof-zombies and tune your podcast-inator in to this episode of The Hallo-Rewind!

00:57:07 – Intro and Halloween Questionaire

00:23:51:21 – “Night of the Living Pharmacists” discussion

All hail Cornholio! The boys cover the Beavis And Butt-Head Halloween special “Butt-O-Ween”, featuring the titular duo going on a candy fueled rampage during All Hallow’s Eve. Filmmaker, editor, and Mike Judge enthusiast Jared Skolnick joins us as we attempt our best impressions and break down this seasonal favorite. Along the way, Jared shares his own Halloween traditions and recounts an unexpectedly creepy story from his hometown.

Plus, we dig into some delightfully useless trivia—like which Beavis and Butt-Head cast member met their fate at the hands of Michael Myers, why this particular episode marked the end of an era for the show, and more.

And could Hank Hill actually be in witness protection? We explore the theory and other wild revelations on the latest episode of The Hallo-Rewind!

Find Jared and his work at: https://www.skolnickfilms.com/ and https://www.youtube.com/@JaredSkolnick

00:00:00 – Episode Intro
00:01:00 – Discussion of Jared’s work and the Halloween Questionare
00:16:20 – Butt-o-ween

Grab your hazmat suits and crank up the ABBA — we’re diving headfirst into Community’s iconic Halloween episode, “Epidemiology.” This week, we’re joined by Fangoria’s own Gory Cory McCullough to sink our teeth into everything that makes this cult classic tick. We’ll break down the episode’s clever nods to zombie tropes, William Shatner jokes, and yes, even the ever-mysterious Marmaduke. Plus, the steady march of time makes a special appearance as Jacob and Ryan come to terms with the fact that the show they adored in college has officially crossed into nostalgia territory. But that’s not all — Cory gives us the inside scoop on the new college horror anthology film, Welcome Week — a terrifyingly fun trip to the dark side of campus. So grab a questionable box of “taco meat,” turn down the thermostat, and join us for a spooky trip to Greendale.

Find Welcome Week at https://screenagerfilms.com/welcome-week and catch up with Cory at https://www.gorycory.net/

00:00:00 – Episode Intro

00:01:53 – Discussion of Welcome Week and the Halloween Questionare

00:18:31 – Epidemiology

“Now gather round while I elucidate on what happens outside when it gets late…” On this episode of The Hallo-Rewind, hosts Jacob and Ryan are joined by special guest Devon Devereaux — a talented tiki horror artist and Halloween costume designer — for a nostalgic dive into Disney’s Halloween Treat. They’ll reminisce about the charming animated special, discussing its memorable moments, vintage Disney villains, and the unique blend of spooky fun that made it a seasonal staple. Devon will also discuss how his love for Halloween and tiki culture intertwines, his experience designing costumes for iconic franchises like Jurassic World and Chucky, and the magic of blending retro horror with island-inspired art. It’s a wickedly fun ride through the worlds of classic animation, tiki aesthetics, and Halloween nostalgia. Just beware of the Horseman.

Find Devon’s work at https://www.devondevereaux.com/ 

00:00:00 – Intro, Hallo-Rewind Questionnaire 

00:08:51 – The Horror Tiki Art of Devon Devereaux

00:20:34 – Disney’s Halloween Treat

00:51:43 – Wrap-up

This week, Jacob and Ryan are joined by the incredibly talented filmmaking duo Michael Epstein and Sophia Cacciola as we take a trip back to the ‘90s to revisit a true Halloween oddity: the Dinosaurs episode “Little Boy Boo”, featuring the terrifying tale of a Werecaveman! Expect deep cuts, behind-the-scenes insights, and an amazing tie-in song from The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library.

But that’s not all—Michael and Sophia are also here to talk about their latest projects, The Once and Future Smash and End Zone 2. We’ll dive into their unique approach to horror, their love for cult cinema, and the process of creating a lost slasher legend.

Happy Valloween from The Hallo-Rewind!

00:00:00 – Intro and discussion of romance in horror
00:03:52 – Michael Epstein and Sophia Cacciola talk The Once and Future Smash
00:10:05 – Dinosaurs “Little Boy Boo” Halloween Special
00:39:47 – Behind the scenes of The Once and Future Smash
01:09:32 – Not the Mama!

“Not the Mama” by The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library
Rachel Leah Blumenthal-vocals
Susannah Plaster – viola
Jane Allard – melodica
Catherine Capozzi – electric guitar
Lisa Battiston – bass
Sophia Cacciola – drums
Michael J. Epstein – acoustic guitar

It’s the Great Pumpkin, Adam Green! It was only a matter of time before we discussed this Charlie Brown classic on our show, and who better to join us for this family favorite than the director of the ever wholesome Hatchet?

We’ll discuss this seasonal tradition, as well as New England haunted houses, Victor Crowley, and the joy of full-sized candy bars. Join this group of true believers as we welcome The Great Pumpkin a little early this year!

Show notes:

It’s been called “the reason thousands of ’80s kids were scared to death.” Also: “A nightmare,” “Trippy,” and “Lynchian.” Join us as we take a deep dive into the infamous Punky Brewster episode, The Perils of Punky. Filmmaker Jamie Gagnon joins the discussion as we unravel the connection between neon spiders, cave faces, and a certain dismembered character known as Mr. Pieces. It’s no wonder this episode traumatized a generation.

Donation links to help those effected by LA Wildfires:

https://www.gofundme.com/c/act/wildfire-relief/california

https://supportlafd.org

Hey Vern! Ya ever seen Psycho Goreman? How ’bout The Void? Well we’ve got the creator of those movies, Steven Kostanski, here to talk about the 1991 slapstick classic, Ernest Scared Stupid! Join hosts/hunky boys Jacob Davison and Ryan Cultrera as we dive into the film, as well as Steven’s career, his Halloween favorites, and his love of practical effects. So grab some Bulgarian miak, awaken the ancient trolls, and join us.

And make sure to check out Steven’s wild new movie, Frankie Freako, now available for streaming!

Introductions/Halloween Talk – 01:00:53:03

Ernest Scared Stupid – 01:24:25:16

Special Effects Talk – 01:51:32:15

This week, Jacob and Ryan interview writer and voice actor Spencer Rothbell about his career and some fun Halloween and spooky episodes he worked on from the animated series Clarence! Learn how the show snuck in surprising references to The Shining, Over the Garden Wall, Eyes Wide Shut, David Lynch, The Zodiac Killer and more! On this episode, we will be covering:

S1 Ep 26: “Rough Riders Elementary”

S1 Ep 41: “Li’l Buddy”

S1 Ep 50: Balance

S1 Ep 51: “Spooky Boo”

You can find Spencer at https:// www.srothbell.com

Introduction and chat with Spencer – 00:00:50

Discussing the episodes of Clarence – 00:07:29

Additional Thoughts – 01:07:16