‘Tis the season when you realize Halloween is in two days and you don’t have a costume yet. You’re googling topical costumes that are easy to throw together at the last minute. But before you buy one of those jumpsuits from Squid Game, I’m here to help you out so you don’t show up in the same costume as anyone else at your (hopefully Covid-safe) Halloween gatherings. A party is only big enough for one Roy Kent or one Mare of Easttown after all, so here are some other options so you ensure you catch eyes with your impeccable taste in costumes - and TV.
Allison McRoberts - Kevin Can F*** Himself
For all you Annie Murphy fans who dressed up as Alexis Rose in the past couple years, here’s a new costume from her 2021 starring role that’ll put less pressure on your closet, but higher expectations on your Boston accent. (Or, medium expectations - sorry Annie, but we can tell you’re Canadian).
Ingredients: Cheap sweater, jeans, authentic game-worn Bill Belichick hoodie (or any navy hoodie with the sleeves cut off will do), powder stain from a Dunkin’ jelly donut.
“Human” Nandor - What We Do in the Shadows
On season 3 of FX’s What We Do in the Shadows, Nandor gets tired of being a vampire and decides to join a happy group (not a cult) of vampires who seek to live as humans again – by pulling out their fangs, conducting singalongs, doing ‘80s aerobics routines. A lesser vampire might look ridiculous, but Kayvan Novak pulls off the performance with aplomb.
Ingredients: An awesome beard (self-grown or stick on is fine), no fangs, loud colorful ‘80s shirt, your choice of high waisted jeans or short-shorts and tube socks. Hula hoop optional.
Dani Rojas in Great Discomfort At a Funeral - Ted Lasso
Listen, I know what you’re thinking. Why is this costume so absurdly specific? Well, I’m operating under the assumption that your Halloween party is already going to have someone dressed as Ted Lasso himself, at least three Roy Kents, a couple Jamies, and even a Doc Sharon. You want to show that you’re a true Ted-head, get specific. But also there’s only two days until Halloween so you don’t have time to fabricate Coach Beard’s awesome bell-bottoms from his solo episode, so here’s a gag costume you can pull off with stuff you already have in your closet and some great acting.
Ingredients: Black suit, tie, dress shoes, and the ability to act as a usually effusive man who is in amazing discomfort at wearing formal shoes.
Sexy Chess - The Queen’s Gambit
Yes, this show came out last year, but unfortunately, Scott Frank’s absurd four-minute (!) Emmy acceptance speech was a mere month ago. Then, after we sat through that, we had to hear the producer William Horberg declare lead actor Anya Taylor-Joy’s biggest contribution to the show that she “brought the sexy back to chess”. So here’s an actual sexy chess costume courtesy of Halloweencostumes.com.
Ingredients: Queen chess piece hood, Passion for chess, passion for passion, no shame.
“What Up With That?” - Saturday Night Live
We had a blast watching Jason Sudeikis host SNL last weekend, and what’s even better, it brought back one of our favorite sketches that is perfect for a low effort last minute group costume. There’s so many options to choose from. Throw on a sparkly dress and say you’re one of the back up singers (which is what Kara is doing). Be comfy in a tracksuit and do the running man like Jason Sudeikis. Be Oscar Isaac dressed as a pirate. The possibilities are endless!
Ingredients: a tracksuit and a gold chain, your Sunday best suit and a microphone, a head of curly hair and a saxophone, high energy for when you spontaneously burst into song at random points in conversation.
Podcast News
In honor of Halloween, we discussed the pilot of The Walking Dead on the podcast this week! Give it a listen if you haven’t already.
Our Favorite Halloween TV
If you’re anything like us and scary movies aren’t your cup of tea, here are some TV shows you can watch to get in the spooky spirit:
Teen Wolf - perhaps the spookiest option on this list we’re about to give you
What We Do in the Shadows - it’s spooky, but also it’s a comedy
Parks and Recreation - Season 2, Episode 7: “Greg Pikitis”
Brooklyn Nine-Nine - every Halloween episode
Friends - Season 8, Episode 6: “The One with the Halloween Party”
The Office - Season 2, Episode 5: “Halloween”
That’s all for this week, and have a happy (and safe) Halloween! Remember to subscribe so you can get these emails straight to your inbox every Friday and tell a friend to do the same. In the meantime, you can also follow us on Twitter and Instagram.