On Halloween, several popular daytime talk shows embraced festive spirit by dressing up as iconic characters from film and pop culture. Michael Keaton’s beloved character Beetlejuice was a recurring theme across NBC’s Today, Live with Kelly and Mark, and The Kelly Clarkson Show.
During the Thursday morning episode of Today, Al Roker embodied Beetlejuice while Dylan Dreyer took on the role of Lydia Deetz, originally portrayed by Winona Ryder in the classic film. Later in the day, Kelly Ripa transformed into Lydia Deetz with her husband Mark Consuelos as Beetlejuice for Live with Kelly and Mark. Meanwhile, Kelly Clarkson added to the fun, performing a spooky rendition of “Banana Boat (Day-O)” in her Beetlejuice costume.
Both Kelly and Mark showcased an array of costumes in their “Only Halloween in the Building” special episode, inspired by the series Only Murders in the Building. This particular celebration was notable as it marked the last Halloween in the current studio before the show relocates to a new space in Soho next spring.
Today featured a nostalgic “VHS Rewind” segment, with the hosts donning costumes of beloved characters from films. Alongside the Beetlejuice duo, Savannah Guthrie played Elle Woods from Legally Blonde, while Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager dressed as Jack and Rose from Titanic. Craig Melvin took on the role of Alex Foley from Beverly Hills Cop, and other hosts embraced characters from various franchises like Austin Powers and Mrs. Doubtfire.
Live with Kelly and Mark opened their Halloween special with a comedic cold open inspired by Only Murders in the Building, followed by Ripa and Consuelos donning costumes of Mabel and Charles-Haden Savage. As they navigated through their themed scenes, they humorously sidestepped signs of a fictional murder mystery.
The hosts frequently changed costumes using an onstage elevator, engaging the audience with various pop culture references, including Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce, and diving deep into playful, pre-taped spoof trailers that parodied current societal trends.
In contrast, ABC’s Good Morning America chose not to participate in Halloween festivities this year, sticking to their previous trend of forgoing costume celebrations. The View also opted out, citing the upcoming election as a reason for the absence of their Halloween celebration, but still included a dream sequence reflecting on political themes.
This lively Halloween crossover among television hosts brings back a sense of nostalgia and entertainment, creating a joyful atmosphere that viewers likely appreciated. It demonstrates how pop culture can unify and inspire creativity in unexpected ways, reminding audiences of the magic of Halloween and the fun that can be had through costumes and themes.