DAILY DIRT: This time of the year, there’s nothing better than to be scared to death in the comfort of your own living room

Zombies, maniacs, werewolves, vampires — yep, it’s that time of the year … Welcome to today’s three thoughts that make up Vol. 435 of The Daily Dirt.

1. When it comes to viewing pleasure, this is one of my favorite times of the year. 

Halloween always triggers the season of scary movies, and really, what better way is there to spend a dark, fall night than being half scared to death in the comfort of your own living room?

Like most, I have my favorites in this particular genre. I like some Halloween/horror films for their campiness, some for their imaginative storylines and some simply because I enjoy sweaty palms, goosebumps and worrying about a werewolf appearing minute behind my cozy recliner.

Here are my top five movies I enjoy most when the calendar reaches late October:

1. “Dawn of the Dead” (1978): This is the film that started our attraction/addiction to zombies, who theoretically like to use us normal humans as snacks. I first saw “Dawn” in a theater when I was 25 and I don’t think I slept for a week. Without this movie (forget about 1968’s “Night of the Living Dead,” which is highly overrated), we would never have had the past 12 years of “The Walking Dead.” George A. Romero, the man behind the flesh-ripping chaos, I salute you!

2. “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (1974): There have been several reincarnations, but this is the original, and for me, the scariest. Don’t expect Oscar-level acting, but do expect some really gruesome imagery. After all, we’re talking a family of maniacs, one with a chainsaw.

3. “Saw” (2004-2021): There have now been nine chapters of this bloody narrative, a series of films that has grossed more than $1 billion. Most of the films are rather slow and plodding, but all “Saw” fans realize the end result will be well worth the wait.

4. “The Lost Boys” (1987): Motorcycles and vampires, come on! Plus plenty of comedic relief.

5. “An American Werewolf in London” (1981) : Plenty of flesh-shredding and a good soundtrack, too.

Honorable mention: “The Howling” (1981). More werewolves. Dee Wallace should have won an Oscar.

2. No changes this week in the Great Plate license plate debate.

The current medal winners are:

Gold medal: IMDUMB. Second straight week in the catbird seat. 

Gold medal:OHYO ST8. Big game with Penn State this week. (And yes, I moved the Buckeyes up a notch.)

Silver medal:

1 KWIKI. Sorry, 1 KWIKI, but who said life is fair?

Best of the rest this week:

• BE STIL 3
• NUM 10
• LUCKYT
• PRRR 7
• PMPKN 89

3. More from the world of the Daily Dirt’s NFL editor, Geoff Eighinger:

Some TV thoughts: The NBC Sunday Night Football broadcast has become absolutely abysmal. 

1. Mike Tirico is the least likable play-by-play man in the history of football. Hopefully, Jac Collinsworth takes his place and announces with father Cris in the near future (PUBLISHER’S NOTE: That Collinsworth kid can barely talk. Nepotism rules! JRG).

2. Rodney Harrison should be back in the studio breaking down plays with Tony Dungy, not being thrown around the broadcast to a new position each year. 

3. Maria Taylor was not meant to be a studio host. NBC should try to lure Chris Rose away from Jomboy Media to fulfill this role.

Here’s my top five heading into Week 8. The careers of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan are as good as dead. On the opposite side of the coin, we hopefully have a decade or more of Joe Burrow, Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes.

5. New York Giants (6-1): New York (and, uh, New Jersey) is the new epicenter of winning football, but the Football Giants have the edge right now. Who knew Daniel Jones could run?

4. Minnesota Vikings (5-1): With the Packers imploding, it may be be a cakewalk to the NFC North title.

3. Kansas City Chiefs (5-2): A bounce-back win against San Francisco on Sunday proved that Patty and the Chiefs are still for real.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (6-0): With a hellaciously easy schedule ahead, they may give the ’72 Dolphins a scare. If they trip up once, though, the Giants and Cowboys will be more than happy to take the NFC East.

1. Buffalo Bills (5-1): The third team on the list to have a BYE this past weekend. Josh 3:16 says, “Beat me if you can. Survive if I let you.” OK, actually that is stolen from ECW legend Taz.

Steve Thought O’ The Day — You know, it’s been quite awhile since we’ve had a good Frankenstein movie. Or any Frankenstein movie.

Steve Eighinger writes daily for Muddy River News. Is his kid on his payroll?