High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! "Treehouse of Horror" (originally known as "The Simpsons Halloween Special") 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 of a series of Halloween themed episodes. These episodes do not obey the shows` 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.