Horror TV is now more popular than ever, and I for one could not be more thrilled to see the genre get so much love from basic cable networks. The huge success of AMC’s The Walking Dead set off a chain reaction and one after another, we began to see more horror syndicated television such as Hannibal (still hoping for this show to get picked up somewhere), Z Nation and Fear The Walking Dead which is premiering this weekend! However, once upon a time it was an even bigger monster than it is today. The eighties and early nineties sparked a huge surge in horror TV and our eyes beheld the glory of terror on television. As far as I’m concerned for us horror fans, that truly was the golden age of TV and well, I want it back. As with all trends, things must go away and it’s a shame that these gems did as well. The fact that we’re getting Twin Peaks, The X-Files and (hopefully) a GOOD TV series of Friday The 13th is a grand start. Regardless, I’m here to scream that these national treasures should; NO, NEED to make a triumphant return to the silver screen! Join me as I hash though some of the best of must see horror TV and maybe, if the right person is reading this, “Cough cough HBO and John Kassir“, my pathetic attempt may strike a chord in your hearts to give us a Cryptkeeper cackle one last time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tales From The Darkside

 

 

The horror anthology series that ran from 1983 to 1988 was a force to be reckoned with. Dealing with everything from the supernatural to the downright creepy. I always thought of Tales From The Darkside to be almost like a sister show to the Twilight Zone as it deals with similar tales and opens up with a narrator in the opening credits of each program. There were plans to reboot the program on the CW, but shit happens and plans fell through. The creators are hoping the series gets picked up by another station and MAYBE we can hear this beautiful monologue once more: The darkside is always there, waiting for us to enter – waiting to enter us. Until next time, try to enjoy the daylight.

 

[youtube id=”1Po8PRJ7lsg” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

 

Are You Afraid Of The Dark?

 

Ahh. Sweet, sweet childhood nostalgia. That first magic dust throw into the campfire of The Midnight Society had me hooked. Syndication started on Nickelodeon in 1991 until 1996 and a failed reboot later in 1999. The weekly tales had the right amount of spook and surprise endings to keep me coming back wanting more. I often think a reunion of the original Midnight Society and at least ONE season of this, would give me some satisfaction. Oh, and another episode with Zeebo. Love that creepy bastard clown.

 

[youtube id=”I73PwQ7w6Y0″ align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

 

Freddy’s Nightmares

 

 

Ok, so maybe it wasn’t the greatest of all these listed. But hey, it had its moments. Grant it, they were mostly WTF moments, but great nonetheless. Of course, we had the ever so nightmarish Robert Englund hosting in the full Freddy get up so that’s an added bonus. The very first episode is actually quite brilliant and a great little precursor to the original Nightmare On Elm Street giving Freddy’s back story and his time in court.  Yeah ok, so we ALL KNOW how Englund has said he can’t be Freddy again due to his age, however, if he’s just standing around hosting a TV show; I don’t see an issue here! With some talented writers on board and Robert donning the makeup, this could be a massive hit. Hell, I’d watch.

 

[youtube id=”cJJh9AhwJb0&list=PLTGy-XVVaoPWFVZ0QsyMEoKwmNbjbq9Rn” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

 

 

Masters Of Horror

 

 

In case you aren’t familiar, Masters Of Horror is an anthology series that ran for 2 seasons on the Showtime network in 2005- Currently streaming on Hulu for anyone interested.  Each episode had a different badass director, hence the name Masters Of Horror, with legendary names such as John Carpenter, Tom Holland, and Tobe Hooper. This series ended way too quickly for my liking and I would love to see this get another shot for a network run.

 

 

[youtube id=”BnEGDV2GK_s” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

 

The Outer Limits

 

 

The Outer Limits started way back in 1963 and was then revived successfully in 1995. So why not again?! The hour-long sci-fi program dealt with the paranormal, time travel, and murder for just a few examples. It explores just how far people will go when put in unusual circumstances. The show showcases some serious brains with storytelling paired with history lessons and it is phenomenally well done. If they can come back around a third time, one can only imagine with what they would put on the table for us again!

 

[youtube id=”Whhi0gotjs4″ align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

The Twilight Zone

 

 

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man’s fears and the summit of his knowledge. This is the dimension of imagination. It is an area which we call the Twilight Zone.

What can I possibly say that hasn’t already been said about the epic nature of The Twilight Zone? It’s already been revived twice from the original series that started in 1959 and I say we need more! This anthology can go on forever as far as I’m concerned and I don’t think anyone could tire from it. Just about every entry from this show is pure gold with its exploration of the human condition and how people react to the unknown. Let’s get one more reboot and let it run for eternity please.

 

[youtube id=”fFbWJJj9uFU” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

 

Tales From The Crypt

 

 

The glory days of the Cryptkeeper seem so far behind us. From the kid friendly Saturday morning cartoon to the late night HBO viewings, Tales From The Crypt was an era of pure delight in pushing the boundaries with sex and violence in just under 30 minutes. Some of the best episodes have stuck with me still to this day for a list of what I think 10 of the best click here– and find myself running marathons quite frequently. Though I don’t tire of them, I would love to see that maniacal puppet make a triumphant return to the silver screen once more and give us another dose of the cheesiest horror puns we’ll ever hear.

 

[youtube id=”1AGH5gIx-UE” align=”center” mode=”normal” autoplay=”no”]

 

 

Maybe I’m reaching a little too far here, but I would earnestly love to see some of these shows make a return once more. In the meantime, Netflix, Hulu and good ol’ DVD/ Blu-Ray will have to suffice.

 

 

 

Create Your Badge