WHRO Public Media is sad to announce the passing of Jerry Harrell, best known to fans as Doctor Madblood. Harrell’s annual Halloween program has been a favorite of local residents.
What began as a one-off experiment in October 1975 quickly became a beloved local tradition. Doctor Madblood’s Movie, the campy late-night horror comedy show, captured audiences in the late 1970s with its quirky host, offbeat humor, and ragtag ensemble of misfits.
Week after week, fans tuned in to WAVY TV-10 to catch the antics of Doctor Madblood and his crew. In 1980, the show left WAVY and found new life through cable distribution throughout the early ’80s. At the heart of it all has always been Harrell—the man behind the Madblood persona—who infused the show with local charm and a genuine love of storytelling.
“When we started out, we were just having a blast,” Harrell said last year when interviewed about his upcoming program. “It was a group of friends, cutting up and playing make-believe. It might have looked like we just turned the camera on while we were goofing off, but in truth, a lot of work went into each show. It was hard work, but always rewarding. We were lucky—we premiered just two weeks after Saturday Night Live started, so people would turn on SNL and stay for us.”
In 2008, after years of airing on various stations and outlets, Doctor Madblood returned to WHRO, where he celebrated every Halloween since. In 2025, Doctor Madblood marked his 50th anniversary with a presentation of the 1951 sci-fi classic The Day The Earth Stood Still.
Fans can find all of the Doctor Madblood specials from the years they aired on WHRO TV 15. Stream them now on WHRO Plus.
See behind-the-scenes photos from past productions of Doctor Madblood's Halloween Special. Photos by Katie Culver.
