View source for Tales from the Crypt (TV series)


{{Distinguish|Tales from the Crypt (film)|Tales from the Darkside}}

{{Infobox television
| image                = Tales from the Crypt (TV series) logo.svg
| genre                = {{plainlist|
* [[Black comedy]]
* [[Dark fantasy]]
* [[Horror fiction|Horror]]
* [[Anthology series|Anthology]]
}}
| runtime              = 22–39 minutes
| creator              = {{plainlist|
* [[William Gaines]]
* Steven Dodd
}}
| based_on             = {{Based on|''[[Tales from the Crypt (comics)|Tales from the Crypt]]''|William Gaines|[[Al Feldstein]]}}
| executive_producer   = {{plainlist|
* [[Richard Donner]]
* [[David Giler]]
* [[Walter Hill (director)|Walter Hill]]
* [[Joel Silver]]
* [[Robert Zemeckis]]
}}
| voices               = [[John Kassir]]
| theme_music_composer = [[Danny Elfman]]
| composer             = {{plainlist|
* [[Steve Bartek]]
* Frank Becker
* [[Bruce Broughton]]
* [[Michel Colombier]]
* [[Bill Conti]]
* [[Ry Cooder]]
* [[Cliff Eidelman]]
* [[Christopher Franke]]
* [[Jay Ferguson (American musician)|Jay Ferguson]]
* [[Jan Hammer]]
* [[James Horner]]
* [[Vladimir Horunzhy]]
* [[Michael Kamen]]
* [[David Mansfield]]
* [[David Newman (composer)|David Newman]]
* [[Nicholas Pike]]
* [[J. Peter Robinson]]
* [[Michel Rubini]]
* [[Alan Silvestri]]
* [[Jimmy Webb]]
* [[Walter Werzowa]]
}}
| country              = United States
| language             = {{plainlist|
* English
* French
* Spanish
}}
| company              = {{plainlist|
* Tales from the Crypt Holdings
* [[The Geffen Film Company|Geffen Television]]
}}
| network              = [[HBO]]<ref>{{cite news|title= 'Crypt' Tales Subtle as a Sledgehammer|work= [[The Los Angeles Times]]|date=June 10, 1989|url= https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-06-10-ca-1204-story.html|access-date=2010-12-12|first=Chris|last=Willman}}</ref>
| first_aired          = {{start date|1989|6|10}}
| last_aired           = {{end date|1996|7|19}}
| num_seasons          = 7
| num_episodes         = 93
| list_episodes        = List of Tales from the Crypt episodes
| related              = {{plainlist|
* ''[[Tales from the Cryptkeeper]]''
* ''[[Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House]]''
}}
}}

'''''Tales from the Crypt''''', sometimes titled '''''HBO's Tales from the Crypt''''', is an American [[horror film|horror]] [[anthology series|anthology]] television series created by [[William Gaines]] and Steven Dodd that ran for seven seasons on the premium cable channel [[HBO]], from June 10, 1989, to July 19, 1996, with a total of 93 episodes. The show's title is based on the 1950s [[EC Comics]] series [[Tales from the Crypt (comics)|of the same name]], published by [[William Gaines]] and edited by [[Al Feldstein]]. Despite the show's title, episodes were not only adapted from stories from  ''Tales from the Crypt'', but also other EC Comic series including ''[[The Haunt of Fear]]'', ''[[The Vault of Horror (comics)|The Vault of Horror]]'', ''[[Crime SuspenStories]]'', ''[[Shock SuspenStories]]'', and ''[[Two-Fisted Tales]]''.

The series is hosted by [[the Cryptkeeper]], a wisecracking corpse performed by several [[puppeteer]]s and voiced by [[John Kassir]]. Filmmakers [[Richard Donner]], [[David Giler]], [[Walter Hill (director)|Walter Hill]], [[Joel Silver]], and [[Robert Zemeckis]] formed the show's team of executive producers.

Because it was aired on HBO, a premium cable television channel, ''Tales from the Crypt'' did not have to be censored by the [[standards and practices]] of most networks. As a result, HBO allowed the series to include content that had not appeared in most television series up to that time, such as [[graphic violence]], [[profanity|strong language]] and explicit [[sexual activity|sex]]/[[nudity]]. Reruns of the series were edited for basic cable, [[broadcast syndication]], and when the broadcast networks [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] and [[CBS]] re-aired episodes in the late 1990s. While the series began production in the United States, the final season was primarily filmed in the United Kingdom, resulting in episodes revolving around British characters.

==Format==
{{main|List of Tales from the Crypt episodes}}
Each episode begins with a tracking shot leading to the front door of the decrepit mansion of [[the Cryptkeeper]], the show's host. Once inside, the camera tilts down from the foyer to the hallways and stairways, finally descending into the basement. The Cryptkeeper then comes out from his coffin, cackling wildly. Green slime pours down over the screen as the main title appears. The Cryptkeeper is depicted as an animated corpse, as opposed to the original comics in which he was a living human being.

The wisecracking Cryptkeeper, performed by a team of [[puppeteer]]s such as [[Van Snowden]],<ref name=thr>{{cite news|first=Mike |last=Barnes |title=Hollywood puppeteer Van Snowden dies |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i513cc43382b2c2e337c88e6014f4a2a2 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=2010-09-28 |access-date=2010-10-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100929163410/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i513cc43382b2c2e337c88e6014f4a2a2 |archive-date=September 29, 2010 }}</ref> Mike Elizalde, Frank Charles Lutkus, [[Patty Maloney]], David Arthur Nelson, Anton Rupprecht, Shaun Smith, David Stinnent, Mike Trcic, and [[Brock Winkless]], and voiced by [[John Kassir]], then introduced the episode with intentionally stereotyped jokes and mostly puns, ''e.g.'', his frequent greeting to viewers: "Hello, Boils and Ghouls" or "Hello, Kiddies". Each episode was self-contained, and was bookended by an outro sequence, again involving the Cryptkeeper. Comic book cover art was created by [[Mike Vosburg]] and [[Shawn McManus]].

==Spin-offs==
The success of the series led [[Universal Pictures]] to make a three picture deal with the Crypt Partners to produce three Crypt-branded feature films.

===Films===
The first Crypt-branded feature was ''[[Demon Knight|Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight]]'' (1995). Directed by [[Ernest Dickerson]] from a screenplay by Ethan Reiff, Cyrus Vorhis and Mark Bishop, it became a commercial success. Three weeks before starting prep on ''Demon Knight'' intended follow up –a psychological thriller called ''Dead Easy''–, Universal changed its mind, canceled ''Dead Easy'' and had the creative team make ''[[Bordello of Blood|Tales from the Crypt Presents: Bordello of Blood]]'' instead.

The film ''[[Ritual (2002 film)|Ritual]]'' (2002) was not produced as a ''Tales from the Crypt'' film, but is considered to be a third entry in the ''Tales'' series.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://thedigitalbits.com/item/tales-from-the-crypt-bordello-of-blood-bd |title=Bordello of Blood |date=13 October 2015 |publisher=The Digital Bits }}</ref>

===''Tales from the Cryptkeeper''===
{{Main|Tales from the Cryptkeeper}}
In 1993, a Saturday morning cartoon called ''[[Tales from the Cryptkeeper]]'' was spun off from the HBO series. Produced by the Canada-based [[Nelvana]] for [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] in the United States and [[YTV (Canadian TV channel)|YTV]] in Canada, the violence of the prime-time series was substantially toned down and the gore was omitted. Nelvana employed a child psychologist to review the scripts to ensure the episodes would be suitable for young viewers.<ref name=Archive>{{cite book |last = Diehl | first = Digby | title = Tales from the Crypt: The Official Archives |publisher = St. Martin's Press | year =  1996 }}</ref> The Cryptkeeper puppet was considered as the host for the series,<ref name=Archive/> but it was ultimately decided that it might frighten youngsters, so instead an animated version was created. [[John Kassir]] reprised his role.

Kassir later stated "Nelvana created a kinder, gentler personality for the children's Cryptkeeper, and it feels a little uncharacteristic at times".<ref name=Archive/> In addition to the Cryptkeeper, EC Comics' mascots The Vaultkeeper and The Old Witch made frequent appearances, often fighting with the Cryptkeeper for control of the show's hosting duties. The series lasted three seasons on ABC with 39 episodes. The third season was on [[CBS]] in 1999, with 13 episodes, under the title ''New Tales from the Cryptkeeper''.

===''Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House''===
{{Main|Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House}}
A kids' game show called ''[[Secrets of the Cryptkeeper's Haunted House]]'' was featured on [[CBS]] from 1996 to 1997. The Cryptkeeper, again voiced by [[John Kassir]], was the announcer of the show. He would often break into the action with wisecracks, and contestants competed in physical challenges on a variety of elaborate haunted house sets at [[Universal Studios Florida]]. In addition to The Cryptkeeper, the series showed off an original character named Digger the Skeleton, voiced by Danny Mann.

===Radio series===
{{Main|Tales from the Crypt (radio series)}}
In 2000, several ''[[Tales from the Crypt (radio series)|Tales from the Crypt]]'' "radio shows" were recorded for Seeing Ear Theatre, an online subsidiary of [[Syfy|The Sci-Fi Channel]], and were offered free as streaming [[RealAudio]] files on their website,<ref name=SeeingEar1>{{cite web|url=https://www.sffaudio.com/seeing-ear-theatre/|title=Seeing Ear Theatre: SSF Audio|date=May 13, 2010 |access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> as well as for sale on [[Audible.com]]. Although 13 episodes were planned, with forthcoming episodes listed as "TBA", only eight stories were recorded.<ref name=SeeingEar2>{{cite web|url=https://www.sffaudio.com/tales-from-the-crypt-audio-drama-performed-by-t/|title=Review of Tales from the Crypt: SSFaudio|date=October 8, 2004 |access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> Seven of the eight shows were released on [[Compact Disc|CD]] in 2002 by [[Workman Publishing Company|Highbridge Audio]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://highbridgeaudio.com/talesfromcrypt.html|title=HighBridge Audio - Tales from the Crypt - Dramatization|access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> "This Trick'll Kill You" was omitted from the CD set.<ref name=SeeingEar2/>

===''Two-Fisted Tales''===
In 1991, the [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] television network aired a pilot for ''Two-Fisted Tales'', a spin-off based on the 1950s EC action comics. When Fox passed on the pilot, Cryptkeeper segments were put down onto the three stories, "Yellow", "Showdown", and "King of the Road", and HBO ran them as ''Tales from the Crypt'' episodes.

===''Perversions of Science''===
{{Main|Perversions of Science}}
After the original series ended, a spin-off called ''[[Perversions of Science]]'' premiered in June 1997 on HBO, this time being based more on sci-fi instead of horror. The series was unsuccessful and lasted for a short run, ending only a month after it had begun airing. This iteration of the franchise featured a stylized female robot host in place of The Cryptkeeper.

==Notable guest stars==
A variety of notable guests have starred in episodes of ''Tales from the Crypt.'' These include [[Academy Awards]]-winning actors, [[A-list]] celebrities and highly recognizable [[character actor]]s.

Some of the most famous people to have starred in episodes are listed below:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
* [[Adam West]]
* [[Alan Rachins]]
* [[Alan Ruck]]
* [[Amanda Plummer]]
* [[Andrew McCarthy]]
* [[Anna Friel]]
* [[Anthony Andrews]]
* [[Anthony Michael Hall]]
* [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]]
* [[Austin Pendleton]]
* [[Beau Bridges]]
* [[Ben Stein]]
* [[Benicio del Toro]]
* [[Bess Armstrong]]
* [[Beverly D'Angelo]]
* [[Bill Paxton]]
* [[Billy Zane]]
* [[Blythe Danner]]
* [[Bob Hoskins]]
* [[Bobcat Goldthwait]]
* [[Brad Dourif]]
* [[Brad Garrett]]
* [[Brad Pitt]]
* [[Brian Kerwin]]
* [[Brion James]]
* [[Brooke Shields]]
* [[Bruce Boxleitner]]
* [[Bruce Davison]]
* [[Bruce McGill]]
* [[Bruce Payne]]
* [[Bruno Kirby]]
* [[Burt Young]]
* [[Carol Kane]]
* [[Catherine O'Hara]]
* [[Cathy Moriarty]]
* [[Charles Martin Smith]]
* [[Cheech Marin]]
* [[Chelsea Field]]
* [[Christopher Reeve]]
* [[Ciaran Hinds]]
* [[Clancy Brown]]
* [[Clarence Williams III]]
* [[Cleavon Little]]
* [[Colin Salmon]]
* [[Colleen Camp]]
* [[Corey Feldman]]
* [[Costas Mandylor]]
* [[Cynthia Gibb]]
* [[D. B. Sweeney]]
* [[Dan Aykroyd]]
* [[Daniel Craig]]
* [[David Hemmings]]
* [[David Morse]]
* [[David Paymer]]
* [[David Warner (actor)|David Warner]]
* [[Demi Moore]]
* [[Dennis Farina]]
* [[Don Rickles]]
* [[Donald O'Connor]]
* [[Dylan McDermott]]
* [[Ed Begley Jr.]]
* [[Eddie Izzard]]
* [[Elizabeth McGovern]]
* [[Ernie Hudson]]
* [[Esai Morales]]
* [[Ewan McGregor]]
* [[Frances Bay]]
* [[Frances Sternhagen]]
* [[Francesca Annis]]
* [[George Wendt]]
* [[Grace Zabriskie]]
* [[Hank Azaria]]
* [[Harry Anderson]]
* [[Hector Elizondo]]
* [[Iggy Pop]]
* [[Imelda Staunton]]
* [[Isaac Hayes]]
* [[Isabella Rossellini]]
* [[Jada Pinkett Smith]]
* [[Jake Busey]]
* [[James Remar]]
* [[James Tolkan]]
* [[Jane Horrocks]]
* [[Janet Hubert]]
* [[Jason London]]
* [[Jason Marsden]]
* [[Jeffrey Jones]]
* [[Jeffrey Tambor]]
* [[Jennifer Rubin (actress)|Jennifer Rubin]]
* [[Jessica Harper]]
* [[Joan Chen]]
* [[Joan Severance]]
* [[Joe Pantoliano]]
* [[Joe Pesci]]
* [[John Astin]]
* [[John Glover (actor)|John Glover]]
* [[John Lithgow]]
* [[John Rhys-Davies]]
* [[John Savage (actor)|John Savage]]
* [[John Shea]]
* [[John Stamos]]
* [[Jon Lovitz]]
* [[Jonathan Banks]]
* [[Judd Nelson]]
* [[Katey Sagal]]
* [[Kathleen Freeman]]
* [[Kathy Ireland]]
* [[Ke Huy Quan]]
* [[Kelly Preston]]
* [[Kevin Dillon]]
* [[Kevin McCarthy (actor)|Kevin McCarthy]]
* [[Kim Delaney]]
* [[Kimberly Williams-Paisley]]
* [[Kirk Douglas]]
* [[Kyle MacLachlan]]
* [[Kyle Secor]]
* [[Lainie Kazan]]
* [[Lance Henriksen]]
* [[Larry Drake]]
* [[Lea Thompson]]
* [[Lewis Arquette]]
* [[Lou Diamond Phillips]]
* [[Louise Fletcher]]
* [[Lysette Anthony]]
* [[M. Emmet Walsh]]
* [[Madge Sinclair]]
* [[Malcolm McDowell]]
* [[Marg Helgenberger]]
* [[Margot Kidder]]
* [[Mariel Hemingway]]
* [[Mark Dacascos]]
* [[Martin Kove]]
* [[Martin Sheen]]
* [[Mary Ellen Trainor]]
* [[Maryam d'Abo]]
* [[Meat Loaf]]
* [[Meredith Salenger]]
* [[Michael Ironside]]
* [[Michael J. Fox]]
* [[Michael J. Pollard]]
* [[Michael Lerner (actor)|Michael Lerner]]
* [[Miguel Ferrer]]
* [[Mimi Rogers]]
* [[Moses Gunn]]
* [[Natasha Richardson]]
* [[Patricia Arquette]]
* [[Patricia Clarkson]]
* [[Patsy Kensit]]
* [[Paul Dooley]]
* [[Perry King]]
* [[Peter MacNicol]]
* [[Priscilla Presley]]
* [[R. Lee Ermey]]
* [[Rance Howard]]
* [[Raymond J. Barry]]
* [[Reginald VelJohnson]]
* [[Richard Lewis (comedian)|Richard Lewis]]
* [[Richard Schiff]]
* [[Richard Thomas (actor)|Richard Thomas]]
* [[Rick Rossovich]]
* [[Rita Rudner]]
* [[Rita Wilson]]
* [[Robert Patrick]]
* [[Robert Picardo]]
* [[Robert Wuhl]]
* [[Roger Daltrey]]
* [[Sam Kinison]]
* [[Sam Waterston]]
* [[Sherilyn Fenn]]
* [[Simon Baker]]
* [[Slash (musician)|Slash]]
* [[Sônia Braga]]
* [[Steve Buscemi]]
* [[Steve Coogan]]
* [[Steven Weber]]
* [[Sugar Ray Leonard]]
* [[Susan Tyrrell]]
* [[Tate Donovan]]
* [[Ted Danson]]
* [[Teri Garr]]
* [[Teri Hatcher]]
* [[Teri Polo]]
* [[Terry O'Quinn]]
* [[Tia Carrere]]
* [[Tim Curry]]
* [[Tim Roth]]
* [[Timothy Dalton]]
* [[Timothy Stack]]
* [[Tom Hanks]]
* [[Tony Goldwyn]]
* [[Traci Lords]]
* [[Travis Tritt]]
* [[Treat Williams]]
* [[Vanity (singer)|Vanity]]
* [[Vincent Schiavelli]]
* [[Vincent Spano]]
* [[Wayne Newton]]
* [[Wendie Malick]]
* [[Whoopi Goldberg]]
* [[Wil Wheaton]]
* [[William Atherton]]
* [[William Hickey (actor)|William Hickey]]
* [[William Sadler (actor)|William Sadler]]
* [[Yvonne De Carlo]]
* [[Zach Galligan]]
* [[Zelda Rubinstein]]
}}

==Albums==
===Soundtrack===
In 1991, Big Screen Records released a soundtrack album featuring assorted music from the series.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.soundtrack.net/album/tales-from-the-crypt/|title=Tales From The Crypt Soundtrack (1989)|website=www.soundtrack.net|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> The album includes the theme music, suites from 11 episodes and an original song titled "Crypt Jam" performed by The Cryptkeeper, [[John Kassir]]. A music video for "Crypt Jam" was filmed and is available as an extra on the [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]] Season 3 DVD.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Tales-Crypt/5053|title=Tales from the Crypt DVD News: Extras for 3rd Season Revealed in Press Release|access-date=January 27, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017170122/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Tales-Crypt/5053|archive-date=October 17, 2012}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Track
! Title
! Composer
! Length
|-
|01
|Tales from the Crypt (Main Title)
|[[Danny Elfman]]
|2:27
|-
|02
|Three's a Crowd
|[[Jan Hammer]]
|3:50
|-
|03
|Cutting Cards
|[[James Horner]]
|3:45
|-
|04
|Loved to Death
|[[Jimmy Webb]]
|3:19
|-
|05
|Dead Wait
|[[David Mansfield]]
|4:04
|-
|06
|Undertaking Palor
|[[Nicholas Pike]]
|3:10
|-
|07
|Carrion Death
|[[Bruce Broughton]]
|3:32
|-
|08
|Ventriloquist's Dummy
|[[Miles Goodman]]
|3:32
|-
|09
|The Thing from the Grave
|[[David Newman (composer)|David Newman]]
|2:53
|-
|10
|The Man Who Was Death
|[[Ry Cooder]]
|4:22
|-
|11
|Reluctant Vampire
|[[Cliff Eidelman]]
|3:50
|-
|12
|Deadline
|[[Steve Bartek]]
|3:32
|-
|13
|The Crypt Jam
|[[Chuckii Booker]]
|4:30
|}

===Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas===
In 1994, a Christmas album, ''Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas'', was released by The Right Stuff, a subsidiary of [[Capitol Records]]. Most of the songs are spoofs of holiday standards performed by The Cryptkeeper, such as "Juggle Bills" (''[[Jingle Bells]]''), "We Wish You'd Bury the Missus" (''[[We Wish You a Merry Christmas]]'') and "Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie" (''[[Deck the Halls]]''), with narration and a few original songs mixed in. The CD booklet includes a black and white reprint of the comic "And All Through the House".

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Track
! Title
! Length
|-
|01
|Intro to Album
|0:51
|-
|02
|Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie
|1:55
|-
|03
|Juggle Bills
|3:17
|-
|04
|We Wish You'd Bury the Missus
|2:20
|-
|05
|Moe Teitlebaum
|2:32
|-
|06
|A Christmas Card for the Cryptkeeper
|0:51
|-
|07
|Christmas Rap
|3:22
|-
|08
|Intro to Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas
|0:32
|-
|09
|Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas
|2:03
|-
|10
|'Twas the Fright Before Christmas
|3:55
|-
|11
|Twelve Days of Cryptmas
|3:42
|-
|12
|Intro to Revenge of the Cryptkeeper
|0:24
|-
|13
|Revenge of the Cryptkeeper
|2:18
|-
|14
|Have Yourself a Scary Little Christmas
|2:21
|-
|15
|Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot
|3:38
|}

===Monsters of Metal===
In 2000, Capitol Records released another album titled ''Tales from the Crypt: Monsters of Metal''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/tales-from-the-crypt-monsters-of-metal-r499044|title=AllMusic - Tales from the Crypt: Monsters of Metal|website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=January 27, 2011}}</ref> This album is a compilation of horror-themed songs from popular [[Heavy metal music|heavy metal]] bands with wraparound narration by the Cryptkeeper ([[John Kassir]]).

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Track
! Title
! Artist
! Length
|-
|01
|The Cryptkeeper Intro #1
|[[John Kassir]]
|0:30
|-
|02
|[[Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath song)|Heaven and Hell]]
|[[Black Sabbath]]
|6:54
|-
|03
|Creepy Feelings
|[[Armored Saint]]
|5:21
|-
|04
|Five Magics
|[[Megadeth]]
|5:41
|-
|05
|The Cryptkeeper Intro #2
|John Kassir
|0:14
|-
|06
|Cemetery Gates (Demon Knight)
|[[Pantera]]
|5:47
|-
|07
|Eyes of a Stranger
|[[Queensrÿche]]
|4:40
|-
|08
|Hallucinating
|[[Apartment 26]]
|3:40
|-
|09
|The Cryptkeeper Intro #3
|John Kassir
|0:35
|-
|10
|Dead Inside
|[[Arch Enemy]]
|4:11
|-
|11
|Beyond the Realms of Death
|[[Judas Priest]]
|6:53
|-
|12
|Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck
|[[Prong (band)|Prong]]
|4:12
|-
|13
|The Cryptkeeper Intro #4
|John Kassir
|0:16
|-
|14
|Don't Talk to Strangers
|[[Dio (band)|Dio]]
|4:52
|-
|15
|Bordello of Blood
|[[Anthrax (American band)|Anthrax]]
|4:12
|-
|16
|The Bell Witch
|[[Mercyful Fate]]
|4:34
|-
|17
|The Cryptkeeper Intro #5
|John Kassir
|0:21
|-
|18
|Wolverine Blues
|[[Entombed (band)|Entombed]]
|2:10
|-
|19
|Hollow Ground
|[[The Haunted (Swedish band)|The Haunted]]
|4:10
|-
|20
|Beyond the Black
|[[Metal Church]]
|6:22
|-
|21
|The Cryptkeeper Ending
|John Kassir
|0:46
|}

==Home media==
[[Warner Home Video]] has released all seven seasons on DVD [[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]. The DVDs for the first three seasons feature all-new Cryptkeeper introductions and segments. No new segments were filmed for seasons 4–7. In June 2017, all seven seasons were reissued in a box set entitled ''Tales from the Crypt: The Complete Series''. A [[DVD region code#2|Region 2]] version of the whole series was released by '84 Entertainment in June 2010.

Until mid-2020, the series was available through the streaming platform [[Vudu]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://forum.worldofmovies.net/wbb2/thread.php?threadid=32909&threadview=0&hilight=&hilightuser=0&page=1|title=WorldofMovies.net: Announcement for German Region 2 DVD of Season 1 (German)|website=worldofmovies.net|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
! colspan=2|Season || Episodes || Discs || Release date || Extras
|-
! style="background:#04a6bb"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 1 (1989)|1]]
| 6 || 2 || July 12, 2005 ||
* All New Introduction by the Cryptkeeper
* Tales from the Crypt: From Comic Books to Television
* Cryptkeeper's History of Season One
|-
! style="background:#561d73"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 2 (1990)|2]]
| 18 || 3 || October 25, 2005 ||
* Behind-the-Screams Shockumentary Feature
* Fright and Sound: Bringing the Crypt Experience to Radio
|-
! style="background:#9c2241"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 3 (1991)|3]]
| 14 || 3 || March 21, 2006 ||
* A Tall Tales Panel
* A Tales from the Crypt Reunion: A Panel Discussion
* Crypt Jam Music Video
|-
! style="background:#0d1669"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 4 (1992)|4]]
| 14 || 3 || July 25, 2006 ||
* Commentary on 'What's Cookin
* Stars of Season 4 Montage Hosted by the Cryptkeeper
|-
! style="background:#ff6054"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 5 (1993)|5]]
| 13 || 3 || October 31, 2006 || Death of Some Salesmen: Virtual Comic Book
|-
! style="background:#435c31"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 6 (1994–95)|6]]
| 15 || 3 || July 24, 2007 || Whirlpool: Virtual Comic Book
|-
! style="background:#ff6229"| || [[List of Tales from the Crypt episodes#Season 7 (1996)|7]]
| 13 || 3 || October 23, 2007 || Fatal Caper: Virtual Comic Book
|-
! colspan=2|Complete series box set
| 93 || 20 || June 6, 2017 || 
|}

==Reruns==
Reruns aired on [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] from 1994 to 1995 under the name ''Primetime Tales from the Crypt''; episodes also aired in 1994 in a late-night time slot. It aired late night on [[CBS]] in 1997–1998. It also aired on other channels, such as [[Syfy]], [[Chiller (TV network)|Chiller]], and [[Fearnet]].

In the [[United Kingdom]], the series aired Fridays on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. Sky1 Satellite and cable channel [[Horror Channel]], then Zone Horror, aired the series in both late night and daytime slots. The daytime versions were billed as "cut". However, they remained uncut.

As of July 2025, ''Tales from the Crypt'' is not available on [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]'s streaming service [[HBO Max]] reportedly due to licensing issues. It was also unavailable on [[HBO Go]] and [[HBO Now]] for the same reason.<ref>[https://www.avclub.com/it-s-not-tv-and-it-s-not-available-on-hbo-go-27-plus-h-1798238242 It's not TV—and it's not available on HBO Go: 27-plus HBO originals unavailable from the streaming service]. The AV Club. 15 May 2013.</ref>

==Awards==
''Tales from the Crypt'' won the following awards:
* 1991 Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – Television Half-Hour – ADR
* 1992 Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – Television Episodic – Effects and Foley
* 1993 Motion Picture Sound Editors' Golden Reel Award for Best Sound Editing – Television Episodic – Effects and Foley
* 1993 [[CableACE Award]] for Best Actress in a Dramatic Series ([[Cathy Moriarty]] in the episode "Séance")
* 1994 American Cinema Editors' Eddie Award for Best Edited Half Hour Series for Television (for the episode "People Who Live in Brass Hearses")

===Nominations===
* 1990 [[Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series ([[William Hickey (actor)|William Hickey]] in the episode "The Switch")
* 1991 Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Cable Special (Mike Simmrin in the episode "The Secret")
* 1992 Casting Society of America's Artios Award for Best Casting for TV, Dramatic Episodic
* 1994 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series and Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series ([[Kirk Douglas]])
* 1994 Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series ([[Tim Curry]] in the episode "Death Of Some Salesman"), Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series and Outstanding Individual Achievement in Makeup for a Series
* 1994 Young Artist Award for Best Youth Actor Guest Starring in a Television Show (Raushan Hammond in the episode "People Who Live in Brass Hearses")
* 1995 Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Achievement in Costume Design for a Series
* 1996 American Society of Cinematographers Award for Outstanding Achievement in Cinematography in Regular Series (for the episode "You Murderer")

==Revival attempts==

In July 2011, it was announced that [[Gilbert Adler]], who produced the original series, was working with Andrew Cosby to develop a new ''Tales from the Crypt'' series. It was said to be a continuous story, rather than an anthology, and would omit The Cryptkeeper. The series was unsuccessfully shopped to several major networks.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/tales-from-crypt-new-tv-show/|title=New 'Tales From the Crypt' Series in the Works|website=[[Screen Rant]] |date=July 28, 2011}}</ref>

In January 2016, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' reported that [[M. Night Shyamalan]] would helm a series reboot as part of [[TNT (American TV network)|TNT]]'s new two-hour horror block.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Hibberd |first=James |date=January 7, 2016 |title=Tales From the Crypt returning: Series reboot with M. Night Shyamalan |url=https://ew.com/article/2016/01/07/tales-crypt-shyamalan/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160108080604/https://ew.com/article/2016/01/07/tales-crypt-shyamalan/ |archive-date=January 8, 2016 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref> The network ordered a 10-episode season that was slated for fall 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2016/04/tales-from-the-crypt-series-time-of-death-pilot-m-night-shyamalan-tnt-horror-block-1201737850/|title='Tales from the Crypt' Series, IM Global's 'Time Of Death' Pilot Greenlighted For M. Night Shyamalan's TNT Horror Block|publisher=Deadline|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> The series was to keep the episodic [[anthology]] format, but without The Cryptkeeper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/tales-from-the-crypt-reboot-crypt-keeper/|title=Shyamalan Talks Tales from the Crypt Reboot Crypt Keeper|date=28 March 2016|website=slashfilm.com|access-date=24 March 2018}}</ref> In June 2017, it was announced that TNT would not move forward with the series due to legal issues concerning the rights for the characters from Tales from the Crypt Holdings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gizmodo.com/tnt-has-killed-the-tales-from-the-crypt-reboot-1795741141|title=TNT Has Killed the Tales From the Crypt Reboot|last=Lussier|first=Germain|date=2017-06-01|language=en-US|access-date=2017-06-01}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==

* {{IMDb title|0096708|Tales from the Crypt}}

{{Tales from the Crypt}}
{{HBONetwork Shows}}

[[Category:1980s American black comedy television series]]
[[Category:1989 American television series debuts]]
[[Category:1996 American television series endings]]
[[Category:1980s American anthology television series]]
[[Category:1990s American anthology television series]]
[[Category:1990s American black comedy television series]]
[[Category:1980s American comedy horror television series]]
[[Category:1990s American comedy horror television series]]
[[Category:American television shows featuring puppetry]]
[[Category:American English-language television shows]]
[[Category:Fox Broadcasting Company late-night programming]]
[[Category:HBO original programming]]
[[Category:American television series with live action and animation]]
[[Category:Television series by Warner Bros. Television Studios]]
[[Category:Tales from the Crypt]]
[[Category:Television shows based on American comics]]
[[Category:Television shows filmed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Television shows scored by Danny Elfman]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Tales from the Crypt (TV series)|access_date=2026-03-06}}