Networks plan fun, scary shows

Disney does it gently. Others do it fiercely.

Either way, the trend keeps growing: Networks — especially on cable and satellite — obsess about Halloween.

This is a busy time for the Disney-owned ABC Family. Its ninth annual "13 Nights of Halloween" begins Friday.

Still, that's modest by current standards. Several channels started a week earlier.

Miniseries

• "The Gathering" is a dead-serious tale, complete with witches and ravens and an evil real-estate mogul. Peter Gallagher, Jamie-Lynn Sigler and Peter Fonda star. (Lifetime; 1 p.m. Oct. 21.)

New movies

• "Twitches Too." This sequel has the twins (Tia and Tamera Mowry) bouncing between the modern world and an alternate kingdom where they have magic powers and an evil enemy. (Disney Channel; 9 p.m. Oct. 22)

• "Nature of the Beast." Preparing for their wedding, the bride (Autumn Reeser) learns the groom (Eddie Kaye Thomas) is a werewolf. Still, she's ready to proceed. (ABC Family; 9 p.m. Oct. 21. Reruns at 9 p.m. Oct. 24)

• "Roxy Hunter and the Mystery of the Moody Ghost" has a 9-year-old girl discover a world of unsolved mysteries. (Nickelodeon; 7 p.m. Oct. 27)

New, scripted series

• "Wizards of Waverly Place" catches the light side of magic. Selena Gomez plays a teen who (with her brothers) is learning from her dad. She manages to get it wrong in big, sight-gag ways. (Disney; 9:30 p.m. Fridays)

More scripted series

• "Blood Ties" is a Canadian series about a private eye who specializes in the weird, often working with her former boyfriend or with a handsome vampire. (Lifetime, 9 p.m. Fridays)

• "Ghost Whisperer" and "Moonlight" continue. (CBS, 7 and 8 p.m. Fridays)

• More supernatural shows: "Heroes" (8 p.m. Mondays, NBC), "Reaper" (8 p.m. Tuesdays, CW) and the sweet-spirited "Pushing Daisies" (7 p.m. Wednesdays, ABC).

Reality shows