Treehouse of Horror (The Simpsons episode)

"Treehouse of Horror"
The Simpsons episode
Bart and Lisa telling Halloween stories in their treehouse. This is the only episode of the Treehouse of Horror series to take place in the treehouse.
Episode no.	16
Directed by	Wes Archer Rich Moore David Silverman
Written by	John Swartzwelder Jay Kogen & Wallace Wolodarsky Sam Simon & Edgar Allan Poe
Showrunner(s)	James L. Brooks Matt Groening Sam Simon
Production code	7F04
Original air date	October 25, 1990
Commentary	Matt Groening James L. Brooks David Silverman Al Jean Mike Reiss Jay Kogen Wallace Wolodarsky
Guest appearance(s)
James Earl Jones as the mover, Serak the Preparer, and the narrator of "The Raven"
Season 2 episodes October 11, 1990 – July 11, 1991 "Bart Gets an "F"" "Simpson and Delilah" "Treehouse of Horror" "Two Cars in Every Garage and Three Eyes on Every Fish" "Dancin' Homer" "Dead Putting Society" "Bart vs. Thanksgiving" "Bart the Daredevil" "Itchy & Scratchy & Marge" "Bart Gets Hit by a Car" "One Fish, Two Fish, Blowfish, Blue Fish" "The Way We Was" "Homer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment" "Principal Charming" "Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?" "Bart's Dog Gets an "F"" "Old Money" "Brush with Greatness" "Lisa's Substitute" "The War of the Simpsons" "Three Men and a Comic Book" "Blood Feud"
Seasons
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28

James Earl Jones as the mover, Serak the Preparer, and the narrator of "The Raven"

"Treehouse of Horror" is the third episode of The Simpsons' second season. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 25, 1990. The episode was inspired by 1950s horror comics, and begins with a disclaimer that it may be too scary for children. It is the first Treehouse of Horror episode. These episodes do not obey the show's rule of realism and are not treated as canon. The opening disclaimer and a panning shot through a cemetery with humorous tombstones were features that were used sporadically in the Treehouse of Horror series and eventually dropped. This is also the first episode to have the music composed by Alf Clausen, taking over for Danny Elfman who also wrote the show's theme.

The plot revolves around three scary stories told by the Simpson children in the family's treehouse. The first segment involves a haunted house that is based on various theatrical haunted houses, primarily The Amityville Horror and Poltergeist. In the second segment, Kang and Kodos are introduced when the Simpsons are abducted by aliens. In the third, Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" is adapted. James Earl Jones guest starred in all three segments. The episode was received positively, being included on several critics' "best of" lists. Critics singled out The Raven for praise, although Simpsons creator Matt Groening was concerned that it would be seen as pretentious.

On Halloween, Bart, Lisa and Maggie sit in the treehouse and tell scary stories, while Homer eavesdrops on them.