Ghost Hunters

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Ghost Hunters
Image:GHlogo.jpg
Format Documentary
Reality television
Developed by Pilgrim Films and Television Inc.
Starring See Investigators below
Narrated by Mike Rowe
Country of origin Flag of the United States United States
No. of episodes 62 (as of Apr 30, 2008)
Production
Executive
producer(s)		 Craig Piligian
Tom Thayer
Running time 60 minutes (including commercials)
Broadcast
Original channel Sci Fi Channel
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
Original run October 6, 2004 – present
External links
Official website
IMDb profile
TV.com summary
For other uses of the name, see Ghosthunters (disambiguation).

Ghost Hunters is a reality television series featuring Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, who work a day job as Roto-Rooter plumbers and investigate places that are reported to be haunted.

The show debuted in October 2004 on the American Sci-Fi Channel. It should not be confused with the original 1996 Inca Productions show Ghosthunters produced for the Discovery Channel. The format was sold to the US to become Ghost Hunters. The only remaining link between the two shows is presenter Ian Cashmore who anchored the UK/Europe show. Cashmore piloted the U.S. show, but chose not to remain part of the US venture after he filmed the promos.

Contents

[edit] Episode format

Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, along with other team members who belong to the group they founded, The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS), investigate locations of interest by using electronic equipment which they believe is capable of detecting paranormal activity. TAPS' equipment includes digital thermometers, EMF (electromagnetic field) scanners, infrared and night vision cameras, handheld digital video cameras, digital audio recorders, and laptop computers.

Other gear not typically shown on screen are an Ion Generator — a device that charges the air with electricity and theorized to help spirits manifest, and the White Noise Generator — an audio device that makes a static background noise and theorized to act as a catalyst for assisting entities in making EVPs.[1]

The team has also experimented, in at least one episode, with a geiger counter during their investigation to see if it would register any anomalous readings. In more recent episodes, the team has used the K-II EMF detector[2] which uses a series of LEDs to meter the strength of an energy field instead of a numerical LCD. During the Manson Murders investigation in particular, the team used a K-II meter in an attempt to get "yes" and "no" responses to verbal questions posed to a supposed entity in a room.

When investigating a location, TAPS team members first survey the property with its owners, who describe their experiences at the site. Next, the team sets up electronic equipment in the apparent paranormal "hot spots." The TAPS team then spends several hours taking EMF and temperature readings, recording audio for EVPs, and filming with digital video cameras. Many times, they will even try to verbally coax the "ghosts" into responding, while recording. Afterwards, the team spends several hours analyzing all of the data for signs of possible paranormal activity.

A few days after reviewing the information, Hawes and Wilson discuss their findings with the location site owners, offer suggestions for dealing with any apparent activity, and answer any questions the owners may have.

Since the show began airing, TAPS has recorded thousands of hours of audio and video data. Most investigations, according to TAPS, turn up cold with very little, if any, paranormal activity occurring. The ghost hunters claim to have several good recordings of strange mists, odd lights, moving objects, and shadowy figures that manifest before the camera and disappear quickly - all highlighted at the end of the show.

TAPS does not believe every piece of evidence gathered is proof of the paranormal. To lend credibility to their investigations, the team tries to debunk what they find and look for reasonable explanations for things such as "cold spots" (that may be drafty windows), "moving objects" (that may have been accidentally bumped or tugged), "phantom lights" (that may be reflections of light from a passing vehicle), and "strange noises" (that may be a thumping branch or vermin in the walls).

In addition to the investigative aspect, the show highlights personal conflicts and relationships among members of the TAPS team, which may be why the Sci-Fi Channel categorizes the show as a docu-soap. In earlier episodes, part of the hour showed Jason and Grant during their plumbing job or personal lives but that has diminished since then.

[edit] Success and growth

Ghost Hunters has garnered some of the highest ratings of any Sci-Fi Channel network programming.[3] From the start, the show has found an audience for its mix of paranormal investigation and interpersonal drama.

In the early shows, TAPS was headquartered in a trailer located behind Jason Hawes' house, and they drove one white van to investigations. Within one season, they had moved the entire operation to a storefront in downtown Warwick, RI, and acquired several new TAPS vehicles equipped with surveillance instrumentation.

In addition to their successful television venture, TAPS operates a website where they share their stories, photographs, and ghost hunting videos with an ever-growing membership list. Because of the popularity of the show, TAPS cast members have signed contracts with at least two talent agencies, Escape Artistry and GP Entertainment, to manage their appearances at lectures, conferences and public events.

In addition to the success of the television show, TAPS have ventured into the venue of radio broadcast hosting a 3 hour weekly show called "Beyond Reality". New episodes are broadcast every Saturday from 7 - 10pm EST, though sometimes may skip a week with possibilities of the hosts being busy with other ventures. The radio show goes into topics in a vast array of areas such as cryptozoology, spiritualism, UFO's, and ghosts. The show is hosted by Grant Wilson & Jason Hawes and includes guest appearances from other TAPS members and special guests like John Zaffis, Rosemary Ellen Guiley, Chris Fleming and others which specialize in certain fields.

[edit] Criticism

Ghost Hunters has attracted various critics and skeptics. Some question the scientific validity of the investigations conducted by the TAPS team, its methodology, and particularly its use of instrumentation, as there is no scientifically-proven link between the existence of ghosts and (for example) cold spots or electromagnetic fields (which Hawes and Wilson say are not necessarily paranormal).[4] Of ghost hunting in general, skeptical investigator Joe Nickell says, "...the approach of the typical ghost hunter—a non-scientist using equipment for a purpose for which it was not made and has not been shown to be effective—is sheer pseudoscience".[5] Others contend that the show's claimed evidence of the paranormal could be easily hoaxed. With each new season, critics of Ghost Hunters continue to publish skeptical analyses and theories on the Internet, often employing frame-by-frame analysis of episode footage which they believe debunks the show's findings. [6]

[edit] Storylines

Like many reality shows, Ghost Hunters has developed some storylines which carry over from episode to episode.

  • Former investigator Brian Harnois is portrayed as an unreliable misfit who exasperates the other TAPS team members. He is often used as comic relief. After being spooked in episode 105 during an investigation of Eastern State Penitentiary, Harnois' catch phrase was made:
“ Dude, run! ”

The phrase was subsequently printed on caps and t-shirts sold by the group’s merchandising arm. Harnois' storyline climaxed when he resigned from TAPS in episode 206. In the 2005 Halloween Special episode, he rejoined the group after asking leader Jason Hawes for a second chance.

  • Technical Manager Steve Gonsalves is portrayed as reliable and unflappable, despite several phobias including fear of heights, spiders, and air travel.
  • The relationship between group leaders Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson is characterized as personal as well as professional. The two are also portrayed as parental figures of the TAPS "family." In episode 101, they are seen discussing how to handle a team member's tardiness:
“ Wilson: "Why don't you try to show you have a sensitive side?"
Hawes: "Why don't you show you have a rugged side?"		 ”
  • Hawes' character is depicted variously as authoritarian alpha-male (nicknamed "The Ghostfather") and devoted but irritable "parent." Wilson's character is shown as the milder of the two, more apt to avoid conflict with team members and to express support for Hawes' decisions.
  • Other personalities on the TAPS team like newcomers Dustin Pari and Dave Tango are shown to contribute enthusiasm and occasional horseplay. In episode 213, Tango was apparently duped into wearing a rhinestone tiara during an investigation, while Pari is portrayed as technically knowledgable and eager to display his worth to the group. However, substantial storylines concerning these cast members have not been developed.
  • Hawes and Wilson often repeat their best advice to viewers who are unsure if they are experiencing paranormal activity:
“ When in doubt, get the hell out ”

[edit] Spinoff series

[edit] Ghost Hunters International

See main article: Ghost Hunters International

A new spin off series Ghost Hunters International premiered Wednesday, January 9, 2008 and features Robb Demarest, newcomer Shannon Sylvia, Barry Fitzgerald (who appeared in the Summer 2007 Ireland episodes of Ghost Hunters) and former TAPS members Andy Andrews, Brian Harnois, and Donna La Croix.[7] The format is similar to Ghost Hunters but features investigations at locations mostly around Europe.

[edit] UFO Hunters

See main article: UFO Hunters (Sci Fi Channel)

Ghost Hunters producers Craig Pilligan and Tom Thayer released another paranormal investigation series titled UFO Hunters which first aired on January 30, 2008, however the show only aired one episode and the series appears to have been shelved for the time being. The show followed New York Strange Phenomena Investigators (NY-SPI) co-founders Oliver Kemenczky and Ted Davis, along with paranormal researcher Dennis Anderson, as they investigate claims of alien encounters and UFO sightings. The format was similar to Ghost Hunters with most of the program dedicated to the investigation and wrapped up with a review of findings and evidence that was gathered.[8] This series should not be confused with the History Channel series with the same name.

[edit] Investigators

See also: The Atlantic Paranormal Society#Known members (past & present)
  • Jason Hawes - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Founder
  • Grant Wilson - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Co-founder
  • Steve Gonsalves - Technical Manager/Evidence Analyst
  • Dave Tango - Investigator/Evidence Analyst
  • Kris Williams - Investigator In-training/Evidence Analyst/Historical Researcher/Case Manager
  • Heather Drolet - Investigator/Case Manager
  • Dustin Pari - Investigator/Evidence Analyst/Tech Specialist
  • Mike Dion - Investigator/Director
  • Kristyn Gartland - Investigator/Case Manager
  • Jen Rossi - Investigator

[edit] Credited Crew

  • Jason Hawes - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Founder
  • Grant Wilson - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Co-founder
  • Craig Piligian - Executive Producer
  • Tom Thayer - Executive Producer
  • Rob Katz - Co-Executive Producer

[edit] List of Ghost Hunters episodes

[edit] Season One

# Original Airdate Episode Title Investigation
101 October 6, 2004 Altoona Tantrum Altoona, PA - private home
102 October 13, 2004 Mishler Theatre Altoona, PA - Mishler Theatre and Railroad Museum
103 October 20, 2004 The Lighthouse Inn Connecticut - Lighthouse Inn and Ashland, MA - John Stone Tavern
104 October 27, 2004 Race Rock Lighthouse New London, CT - Race Rock Lighthouse
105 November 3, 2004 Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, PA - Eastern State Penitentiary
106 November 10, 2004 The Converted Church Upstate New York - converted church/private home
107 November 17, 2004 The Armory New Bedford, MA - armory
108 December 1, 2004 Fortuna & Topton Philadelphia, PA - Fortuna Apartment and Topton, PA - Topton Tavern
109 December 8, 2004 New Boston Inn Sandisfield, MA - New Boston Inn
110 December 15, 2004 The Negative Entity Albany, NY - two private homes

[edit] Season Two

# Original Airdate Episode Title Investigation
201 July 27, 2005 Myrtles Plantation St. Francisville, LA - Myrtles Plantation
202 August 3, 2005 Cranston & Grafton Cranston, RI and Grafton, MA - private homes
203 August 10, 2005 The Red Room New Orleans, LA - Brennan's Restaurant and a private home
204 August 17, 2005 Mordecai House Wilmington, NC - USS North Carolina Museum and Raleigh, NC - Mordecai House
205 August 24, 2005 The Playhouse & The Firehouse Putnam, CT - Bradley Playhouse and Firehouse
206 August 31, 2005 The Ledge Lighthouse New London, CT - Ledge Light and New York City - Merchants House Museum
207 September 7, 2005 Two Houses Springfield, MA - Tanguay home and Sutcliffe House
208 September 14, 2005 Beechwood Mansion & Garden State Rhode Island - Astor Mansion and a private home in New Jersey
209 September 21, 2005 Dave Tango & Rolling Hills Bethany, NY - Rolling Hills Asylum and Worthington home in New Hampshire
210 September 28, 2005 Return to Eastern State Philadelphia, PA - Eastern State Penitentiary (revisited), and vacation house
211 October 5, 2005 R.M.S. Queen Mary San José, CA, Winchester House and Long Beach, CA, RMS Queen Mary
212 October 12, 2005 The Lizzie Borden House Fall River, MA, Lizzie Borden's Home and Mansfield. OH, Mansfield Reformatory
213 October 19, 2005 The Crescent Hotel & Dr. Ellis Eureka Springs, AR - Crescent Hotel
214 March 29, 2006 Waverly Hills Louisville, KY - Waverly Hills Sanatorium
215 April 5, 2006 Ghostly Grace & The Palladium Holliston, MA - private home, and Palladium Theatre investigation
216 April 12, 2006 Red George & Valentown Museum Canandaigua, NY - TAPS investigates two cases in Jason's home town
217 April 19, 2006 Two Brothers & Willard Library Evansville, IN - Willard Library's "Grey Lady" ghost and a private home in Massachusetts
218 April 26, 2006 Hartford Conservatory New Jersey - private home, and Hartford, CT - Hartford Conservatory music school
219 May 3, 2006 St. Augustine Lighthouse St. Augustine, FL - St. Augustine Light
220 May 10, 2006 Domani's & The County Jail New Jersey - Domani's Restaurant, and St. Augustine, FL - old jail
221 May 17, 2006 The Stone Lion Guthrie, OK - Stone Lion Inn, and Massachusetts - private home
222 May 24, 2006 The Best of Ghost Hunters The Best of... (recap of the 20 best Season One and Two investigations)
223 May 31, 2006 The Stanley Hotel Estes Park, CO - The Stanley Hotel (which inspired Stephen King's novel "The Shining")

[edit] Season Three

# Original Airdate Episode Title Investigation
301 October 11, 2006 Tombstone Tombstone, AZ - Bird Cage Theatre
302 October 18, 2006 OK Corral Bisbee, AZ - Copper Queen Hotel, and Tombstone, AZ - O.K. Corral
303 October 25, 2006 Shadow People Chester, VT - private home, and Moundsville, WV - West Virginia State Penitentiary
304 November 1, 2006 Whispers & Voices Gardner, MA - Victorian mansion and Washington, MA - Bucksteep Manor
305 November 8, 2006 Best of the Stanley Hotel Review of The Stanley Hotel 2006 Halloween Special
306 November 15, 2006 Attack of the Irish Elemental Ireland - Leap Castle
307 June 6, 2007 Irish Ruins Ireland - Lisheen Ruins, and London, England - Viaduct Tavern
308 June 13, 2007 Hellfire Caves Buckinghamshire, England - Hellfire Caves
309 June 20, 2007 Nightmare Noises Private homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts
310 June 27, 2007 Toys of Terror Chesapeake, VA - Keffer Home and Charlestown, RI - General Stanton Inn
311 July 11, 2007 U.S.S. Lexington Corpus Christi, TX - USS Lexington and Warwick, RI - Warwick City Hall
312 July 18, 2007 Manson Murders Hollywood, CA - Manson Murders and Los Angeles, CA - Jim Henson Studios
313 September 26, 2007 Lost Souls Sedro-Woolley, WA - Northern State Hospital and Seattle, WA - Seattle Underground Tunnels
314 October 3, 2007 Spirits of San Francisco San Francisco, CA - The Presidio and Lullaby Lane Baby Store
315 October 10, 2007 Ghostly Houseguest Sammamish, WA - Gibbons House and Seattle WA, The Moore Theatre
316 October 17, 2007 Houses of the Holy Prosser, WA - St. Matthew's Church and Cranston, RI - Sprague Mansion
317 October 24, 2007 Salem Witch Salem, MA - Lyceum Restaurant and Hawthorne Hotel
318 November 7, 2007 Sanatorium Live Results Review of the Waverly Hills Sanatorium 2007 Halloween Special and Athol, MA - private home
319 November 14, 2007 Revelations Special TAPS Q&A Session with host Joshua Gates

[edit] Season Four

# Original Airdate Episode Title Investigation
401 March 5, 2008 Fort Mifflin Philadelphia, PA - Fort Mifflin
402 March 12, 2008 Two to Tango Mount Holly, NJ - Burlington County Jail and Norwich, CT - private home
403 March 19, 2008 Words From Beyond Belchertown, MA - Clapp Memorial Library and North Attleborough, MA - private home
404 March 26, 2008 The Fear Cage Cashtown, PA - The Cashtown Inn
405 April 2, 2008 Ghostly Bounty Hunter Norton, MA - private home and Trinway, OH - Prospect Place
406 April 9, 2008 Wright-Patterson Air Force Base Dayton, OH - Arnold House and Building #70 at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
407 April 16, 2008 Ghostly Conversation North Providence, RI - Ruffstone Tavern and Bretton Woods, NH - Mount Washington Hotel
408 April 23, 2008 Spirits of the Old West Goldfield, NV - The Goldfield Hotel and Virginia City, NV - Old Washoe Club
409 April 30, 2008 Haunted Asylum Weston, WV - Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
410 May 28, 2008 House of Spirits New Haven, CT - private home and Manchester, NH - Palace Theater
411 June 4, 2008 Widow's Watch Cape Cod, MA - Colonial House Inn and Moss Beach, CA - Moss Beach Distillery.

Jason Hawes announced on Beyond Reality Radio on May 24, 2008 that there will be a total of 27 episodes in season four.

[edit] Specials

  • 2005 Halloween Special - aired October 31, 2005, TAPS went to Savannah, GA to investigate the Moon River Brewery and The Sorrel Weed House, a historic museum that conducts Savannah tours.
  • 2006 Halloween Special - Ghost Hunters Live - aired October 31, 2006 at 11PM EST. It was a 6 hour broadcast originating from The Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado. ECW Superstar CM Punk joined the Ghost Hunters throughout the investigation. The viewing audience was able to interact with the team via PDA/cellphone text messages.[9]
  • 2007 Halloween Special - Ghost Hunters Live - aired October 31, 2007 at 9PM EST. It was a 6 hour broadcast originating from the Waverly Hills Sanatorium near Louisville, KY. Joining the team was guest ECW Superstar Elijah Burke[10]. The episode was hosted by paranormal investigator Joshua Gates from the show Destination Truth who was stationed in an on-site "interactive center" which posted real time photos to SciFi.com. Also employed was a "Panic Button" message feature where viewers could alert the investigators of any strange happenings as they occurred. Simultaneously, SciFi.com ran an online poll for viewers to pick the new TAPS member chosen among three finalists, Patrick Clark, Mark Fusetti, and Deanna Hoffman. Mark Fusetti was revealed as the new TAPS member during the review of the Halloween Special on November 7th.
  • Return to St. Augustine Light - aired January 9, 2008. TAPS conducted a special follow up investigation at St. Augustine Light in Florida. It aired before the premiere episode of Ghost Hunters International.

[edit] DVD releases

  • Best of Ghost Hunters Vol. 1
  • Best of Ghost Hunters Vol. 2
  • Ghost Hunters - The Complete First Season - (3 DVD set)
  • Ghost Hunters - Season 2 Part 1 - (4 DVD set)
  • Ghost Hunters - Season 2 Part 2 - (4 DVD set)
  • Ghost Hunters - Season 3 Part 1 - (3 DVD set)
  • Ghost Hunters - Season 3 Part 2 - (3 DVD set)
  • Ghost Hunters - Stanley Hotel 2006 Halloween Special
  • Ghost Hunters - Waverly Hills Sanatorium 2007 Halloween Special (release date: Oct. 2008)

[edit] Notes

  • The Stanley Hotel episode is notable for reaching #2 in ratings for its time slot that night. Ratings Note
  • The building featured at the end of the show's opening sequence and throughout the end credits along with a number of advertisements and other related materials is the Race Rock Lighthouse, which was investigated in the first season, viewed from the dock.
  • The 2007 case in episode 'Shadow people' was also featured in an episode of the Discovery Channel's A Haunting.

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Steve's Gear Guide" Video Blog on SciFi.com
  2. ^ K-II meter modification demo
  3. ^ SciFi Network Ratings Release
  4. ^ Radford, Benjamin (2004-11-12). Reality Check: Ghost Hunters and ‘Ghost Detectors’. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
  5. ^ Nickell, Joe (2004-11-12). Investigative Files: Ghost Hunters. Committee for Skeptical Inquiry. Retrieved on 2007-03-22.
  6. ^ Smith, Alison. "TAPS vs. SAPS: The Atlantic Paranormal Society meets the Skeptical Analysis of the Paranormal Society", eSkeptic, The Skeptics Society, 2006-08-10. ISSN 1556-5696. Retrieved on 2007-03-22. 
  7. ^ Current list of TAPS members
  8. ^ "UFO Hunters" on scifi.com
  9. ^ "Ghost Hunters on the job this Halloween", 2006 TAPS interview at projo.com
  10. ^ "Elijah Burke goes Ghost Hunting"

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

[edit] Interview links

[edit] Independent examination links

Languages