It's a Halloween tradition and it's back again this year. KPDX is running all the "Treehouse of Horror" episodes of "The Simpsons." (or at least the first 12 of them). Two will air every night through Friday and again on Monday at 6 and 7:30 PM.

The show is now in its 17th season and, while many abandoned it years ago, I still say its writers are still capable of coming up with the occasional great episode. This season's "Maggie gets chickenpox" installment was great. Unfortunately, "The Simpsons" really starts to show its age when the annual "Treehouse of Horror" episode rolls around. Every potential horror spoof has been taken. The yellow-toned suburbanites have taken on werewolves, vampires, zombies, ghosts, mutants, and just about every "what if" scenario "The Twilight Zone" ever delved into.

With nothing left to conquer, in recent years Homer and company have fought such lame baddies as dolphins, comic book nerds, leprechauns and a house of the future voiced by Pierce Brosnan.

Fortunately, KPDX will be rolling out all the good oneees. So why go out to one of those overpriced "Screamland" haunted houses (waiting in a long line to be assaulted by teenage volunteers in rubber masks? And I have to pay $20? I'll pass, thanks) when you can sit on the couch, eat an entire bag of Fun-Size Butterfingers and watch Homer fire a shotgun at "Zombie Shakespeare"?

Tonight KPDX aired "Treehouse" # 1 and # 2. It was a fun little trip down nostalgia lane. I still remember seeing the later at my grandparents house one long ago Halloween. When Mr. Burns took Homer's brain out, plopped it on his own head and cheerfully announced "Look at me, Smithers. I'm Davy Crockett," my grandmother quickly switched channels to a "MASH" rerun. I didn't catch the ending of that episode until years later when it aired in syndication.

Awwww, memories.

Also: If you enjoy Halloween specials from yester-year that aren't credited to Matt Groening, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" airs tonight (Tuesday) at 8 PM on KATU
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