Horror and science fiction have long been a part of the television landscape, and efforts have been made to provide iconic entertainment over the years. Some have faded into obscurity, while others have become household names. With “TV Terrors,” we examine the numerous genre efforts from the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, looking at some series that become cult classics and others that faded into obscurity.
This month, we experience R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” from the 1990s. FOX Kids and YTV aired the show from 1995 to 1998. Beware, you’re in for a scare! R.L. Stine made reading virtually a requirement for kids in the 1990’s.
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“Goosebumps” was always a popular book in school book fairs and bookstores, and the book series gained so much traction in the 1990s that it was turned into a TV show. “Goosebumps” was created by Protocol Entertainment and Scholastic Entertainment and launched on primetime television on October 27, 1995.
The live-action series adapted 43 of the original 62 “Goosebumps” books for syndication, airing on Saturday mornings and weekday afternoons. “The Haunted Mask,” a Halloween-themed storey about little Carly Beth Caldwell stealing a Halloween mask from a new store in an attempt to scare her two school bullies, was the series’ first episode.
Stine excelled at speaking directly to his target audience, delving deep into what children of that age faced in school and at home. Morality, bullying, vanity, the price of greed, stealing, the power of our imagination, peer pressure, and other themes recurred frequently in Stine’s books which carried over into the television series. The show had a few standout episodes, many of which are still remembered fondly by fans.
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The show is also noted for featuring a number of future Hollywood stars, such as a young Ryan Gosling and Scott Speedman, as well as Katharine Isabelle. “Goosebumps” aired for four seasons and a total of seventy-four episodes.
The TV show is available on DVD and VHS, with most episodes being available to view on Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Google Play Movies, and Vudu.