October 2, 2008
GH: A Note to the Producers
In the investigations that aired in this week's episode the Ghost Hunters show up again without Kristyn Garland and Joe Chin. I probably wouldn't even bother noting their absence except for the fact that TAPS included them in investigation after investigation all the way up until they actually needed the extra investigators during the Buffalo Central Terminal investigation that aired last week, and then suddenly -poof- they're gone.
I'd like to take a moment here to point something out to the producers, or thin air, or any spirits from beyond that happen to have an internet connection and read this site regularly: Sci-Fi bills this show as a "Docu-Drama", which implies (to my mind) that we're to expect documentary film making with some "reality show" type storylines that are ostensibly true and revolve around the main characters of the show — who happen to be real people and not at all fictional.
That may be too much to assume, but assuming all that and considering that in the past we've had significant portions of episodes dedicated to Brian leaving the show, or bringing Brian back into the fold, or Brian asking for forgiveness (my, there was a lot of Brian in the "Drama" portion, wasn't there?) and we're still regularly subjected to roto-rooter moments where we're supposed to believe that Jay and Grant not only still do plumbing jobs for a living, but that they bring camera crews along with them just in case they get a phone call. All of that is included in the show and yet we know nothing about Joe & Kristyn. Sometimes we don't even know they've been brought along on an investigation until we see one of them walking around with Kris Williams.
Basically, what I'm getting at here is that we viewers have come to expect to know what's going on with the TAPS team at any given moment, but in a show about hunting ghosts Joe & Kristyn are the most ghostly thing around. Either include them or don't, and if you're going to include them and they're not going to come on an investigation then film a stupid reenactment where Kristyn explains that she can't make it because it's her grandmother's 90th birthday party or Joe explains that he can't come because his grandmother's on fire (nothing meant by that Joe, it could have gone either way). The point is, stop having these two appear out of nowhere and then disappear without mention as if they never existed.
GHI recently lost no fewer than three of their investgators in less than a season. That's pretty insane. Shannon and Brian left the show and there wasn't even a mention of their names, and when Donna left they made it seem as if she was just taking a short trip home for her health. Allow me to point something out to you: On the documentary side of things these shows are not great. The science is shoddy and the conclusions often outrageously unsupported. On the drama side of things you've seemingly reduced yourselves to the lowest common denominator: Jay and Grant are Plumbers… Derr! Yeah, we get it. We get it, we don't believe it, but it doesn't matter because we don't really care.
What we do care about, what would have made for excellent television, what will take our minds (to at least some small extent) off the poor quality we're often given on the investigative side of things is seeing the kind of behind the scenes drama we used to see with Brian. Was Joe kicked off the team because he was smoking dope in the basement of the TAPS offices? We want to know. Did Kristyn stay home from Florida because one of her kids is sick? We want to know. Is Jay having marital problems because his wife suspects him of having an affair with Kris Williams? We would absolutely love to know.
Seriously though, and putting the rumor mill aside, you created a show that was successful for two independent reasons: You had a team of investigators that were credible, and you told us their stories in a compelling way. If they're feeling the celebrity sting of the public knowing all the crappy stuff that's going on in their lives, that's understandable but you can't have it both ways: either you're bringing the viewers on board and making us feel like we're part of the TAPS family too, or you're not. Recently it's really starting to feel like we're outside the TAPS family looking in, and that's not doing the show (or its viewers) any good.
Filed under Ghost Hunters, Posts by Logisti
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Comments on GH: A Note to the Producers »
Logisti @ 5:17 pm
Sorry for the non-sequitor post, I started writing a review for the Seven Sisters Inn and I got sidetracked, so I ran with it. You should see the Seven Sisters Inn review up by the end of tomorrow, with the Renaissance Vinoy coming over the weekend
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Yeti33 @ 7:52 am
Well said Logisti. Yeah, it seems as the seasons go on the are more of a "celebrity" than actual invesestigator. I'm sure they have to be getting paid something to do this show. Otherwise how would they be making any money? The whole Roto-Rooter add in in the begining of every show is a little rediculous now. Yes we get that J&G were plumbers. As of now, I'm sure they do not have time to fix running sinks or jammed toilets. They are too busy filming the show, doing their radio show and touring the country on these Ghost Hunts with other "famous" paranormal worms.
It won't be long and their 15 minutes will be up.
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Lar @ 11:47 am
An ironing board falls out of the closet! Let's spend 2 & 1/2 hours debunking, to prove it's not just a coincidence. Therfore it MUST be paranormal. Was the closet door closed or was it unlatched? At first I was amused when they captured it on camera. I was then in disbelief when they stuck Grant(of all people)inside to PROVE the ironing board could not open the closet door.
Talk about coming to an iron clad conclusion….
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CrowTRobot @ 4:50 pm
Well done, Logisti. Most Haunted and Paranormal State are embarrassingly bad. And now Ghost Hunters and Ghost Hunters Intl, with me anyway, are slipping perilously close. And could TAPS be any less professional? I'm not sure what one wears to a ghost hunt, but I'm guessing it ain't flip-flops or halter tops or upside down visors.
Is there just not an audience for a show that takes the paranormal seriously? Even if they never found a thing, I would still enjoy the unexpected sounds, knocks, etc. that GH 'claims' to hear. I remember one GHI episode where Robb asked, "Did you hear that?"……Hell. I could barely hear Robb ask, "Did you hear that?" from all the spooky music/sound effects.
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Harry @ 6:27 pm
Am I the only one who thinks the episodes from prior seasons which air before the episode of the current season—-especially those back when TAPS was in some humble trailer in the woods—-are much more entertaining? Not that they were any more scientific than this season's episodes, but at least everyone seemed to be having fun and there's a light-hearted goofiness that's now missing. From this season's episodes, it often seems Jay, Grant, and company are getting bored with it all and are just going through the motions.
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CrowTRobot @ 9:32 pm
I agree with you, Harry. And I'll even go a step further and say that I find the episodes where TAPS investigated private homes much more interesting and entertaining than when they investigate 'well known haunted' buildings, castles (I'm looking at you, GHI), museums, etc, - or pretty much any place that gives tours.
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rt @ 9:46 pm
It's difficult to enjoy pseudoscience if it is not done in an entertaining manner and the pseudoscientists seem to be taking themselves too seriosly lately.
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Oubliette @ 8:16 pm
FYI-According to one of the people that make of SAPS (Bobby) Jason and Grant are indeed still on the roster of Roto-Rooter. This person wrote their headquarters and found out that they are indeed on active status. This was confirmed both in writing and phone. You can read the company's reply here:
http://www.skepticalanalysis.com/reports/ghosts/roto-rooter.html
My guess is that even if they never do another plumbing job for Roto-Rooter, they would still be kept on the payroll in some capacity for both the benefits and pensions involved with the job. After all, look at the wealth of advertising the company has received. To be fair, they have earned whatever benefits and pension they have, and have evolved into some kind of spokespersons. Not a bad deal on either side.
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blinddog50 @ 9:22 pm
Note to Pilgrim Productions:
Tell the "STARS" of GH and GHI to start acting like they give a sh*t.
Or it's time for both series to "GO DARK".
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Leslie @ 8:18 am
Maybe the "Stars" don't give a sh*t. Maybe they are fed up with Pilgrim and want the series to "Go Dark".The demands that Pilgrim must make on them to find exciting evidence to keep the ratings up might be getting to be too much to handle. If they are truly the dedicated and honest investigators that at least I got the impression of in the beginning, then the constant focus on trying to 'do what you can' to make as much money as possible must be destroying them. (It would me.) And we all know that money is what television is all about!
Let it "Go Dark". I don't like it the way that it is now!!
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Oubliette @ 8:37 am
Leslie, don't hold your breath waiting for the show to be canceled. Apparently the general public still is satisfied with the show as it is, although the consensus here, myself included, is that the show is slipping badly in content and attitude. According to Jason (and other sources):
"Rumors of SciFi channel canceling the hot paranormal series Ghost Hunters simply aren't true according to Jason Hawes co-founder of TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) and star of the Ghost Hunters TV series. Hawes' recent myspace entry updates viewers with the promise of new Ghost Hunters episodes in fall 2008 to complete season 4, and twenty-six new episodes scheduled for season 5 to kick off in spring 2009."
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/946173/taps_jason_hawes_scifi_ghost_hunters.html
That's 26 more for 2009. Plenty of episodes; more then most other series can boost. No chance of it nosediving anytime soon, for better or worse.
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Robbin @ 6:49 pm
Shannon, Brian and Donna all three left? Where the heck have I been? I saw that Donna was going because she was ill, but I assumed this was some type of "Brian" drama and we would see her again. Brian and Shannon left also, WOW! They are all three from GHI. Maybe they left because it is so crappy. I mean seriously they never found anything but a paycheck!
Robb borders on coma inducing, has this man ever been excited in his life? Andy I used to love on GH, he was the debunker man, not so much now. Barry is hell bent on finding demons where ever he goes. That new girl Brandy has the worlds worst voice, where did they find her? Hey did you hear that ummmm yeah it came out of her!
Logisti, thank you so much for putting this post up. I love to watch these shows and am a believer. I also believe that these shows can do much, much, better and I don't care if they debunk everything at least it is something interesting to watch.
The past two seasons have been lacking in quality and caring from the cast. The phrase, "phone it in", may be over used in the lexicon but there is a reason it is out there. Maybe this is why I had no idea that three cast members left.
Robbin
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Hal @ 6:57 pm
For those of you who seem to wonder if J & G are making any income outside of Roto-Rooter, you bet they are! Not only are they LIKELY getting paid by Pilgrim Films, but they also earn money through TAPS as well. Just go to the TAPS website and see for yourself. They may not charge a fee to investigate a client's home or place of business, but they hold investigations of other locales that never appear on TV. And, the public is invited to participate at these locations . . . for a very hefty charge!
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Oubliette @ 11:38 pm
Don't forget the merchandise. I'm sure they get a cut of that too. AND the various appearances at conventions and seminars.
They're not going to be hurting for money any time soon. The rest of the cast, however, is probably not seeing much on their end.
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Dr. Peter Venkman @ 5:06 pm
I suppose it would be too much to ask that the production crew wear shirts with a recognizeable diamond pattern that is IR reflective ?
Or the team wear t-shirts with TAPS and their name spelled out in that same reflective material ?
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Wes @ 7:55 pm
… and that commercial aspect is where the problem lies. They've gone from plumbers to TV personalities making decent money — and I'll assume ghost hunting is a lot more fun than clearing out a clogged toilet drain.
The show is also making money for Pilgrim, Sci-Fi, etc. Now, if they investigate 20 consecutive locations and come up empty, it's back to Rooter-ville. And who wants that?
That reality MAY lead to some fakery — I'm not saying it has, but as shown on this wonderful site, the case can be made. If nothing else, however, those realities have clearly pushed all involved to act, not as totally impartial investigators, but as evidence seekers.
That's why we have the presence of the handy-dandy K-II that lights up randomly and lets us claim we're communicating with the dead; A flashlight rigged to light up with a bit of movement, or vibration? It's really a ghost detector; "Evidence" on demand that keeps everyone happy.
We also have the impact on debunking: The image of a man on the FLIR — nope, nobody said they were down there, must be a ghost. Can't find my flip-flop? Those darned trickster ghosts! A FLIR reflection in a window? Let's try one, quick thing to debunk it and move on — there's cold spots to feel and, most importantly, another episode to shoot.
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J. @ 11:24 pm
It's for the reasons Wes pointed out above that I feel this show is appealing more to the true believers while at the same time being insulting to skeptics.
Just look at the weak evidence they expect us to buy into and the half-hearted, if even existant, debunking jobs.
In fact, what happened to them going into a place to debunk things? Now they are going in to find "evidence" to validate their own beliefs in the paranormal.
Maybe things will get better, but right now, they are going in the opposite direction and getting worse.
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Lora @ 4:09 pm
First of all, didn't Brian start investigating with the International Team? And do we really care why certain people are not on the show anymore. The show is about Ghost Hunting not "Days of Our Lives, Ghosthunter Style". I like the interesting sites the team has investigated this year BUT,… I have trouble with all the action being off camera and we have to rely on "personal experiences" to believe that it is truely a spirit that has made a noise or appeared to someone. The flip-flop scene was ridiculous in Florida and the K-2 meter they use to communicate is unbelievable. They make a joke out of it and if I was a spirit trying to communicate with someone I sure wouldn't like that person laughing at me.
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Oubliette @ 1:27 pm
Hi Lora-as Logisti's opening post here states, the show is a "docu-drama", meaning that yes, it is about ghost hunting but also has some side plots involving the main characters. This is supposed to make the viewers feel closer to the team and see them as individuals.
A straight ghost investigation show would not include in-depth analysis of the team members, other then an introduction as to maybe how they got involved with paranormal investigation and their area of expertise. One show that is more of a true research documentary is "Monsterquest", which hardly delves into people's stories/personalities at all.
If you go on the official TAPS message boards, you will notice how caught up fans are in the team members, almost akin to fan worship of celebrities. Since GH has been very popular for a number of years now, apparently Sci-Fi feels it has found the right balance between the "docu" and the "drama".
Hope this makes sense..Good call on the flip-flop and KII meter, a/k/a Electronic Ouija Board.
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bill kelly @ 3:25 pm
Harry–i just posted that on another Thread. There is one episode where Andy fights with Brian and J&G let him do more debunking. They actually spent 10 whole minutes debunking things that people said were ghosts. To some that is not scary but at least shows Taps is serious about this. Afterall, that first season they always say "we go into an investigation trying to disprove a hunting."
Yes we want to know what happened to members of Taps. Lisa and Paula, who once shared a site called "The Dutchesses of Darkness (something like that) with Donna just up and disappeared. Dustin went away for awhile then when Brian left GHI he came back. I believe Andy also vanished til GHI. We all know they had other jobs (still cant believe Steve was a cop) but is that why they are gone now? The very first season others like Brian Bell (the computer expert who also fought with Brian) and a couple other females who had very small roles also up and vanished without a reason why.
I noticed too that Kris' first meeting with J&G (God, i hope she isnt fooling around with Jay) seems different than when she first came on the show. I know the last time she talked about how she met them was not the same as when she first appeared.
I think I heard too that the next live show is back at the Stanley Hotel. That makes 3 visits. There has to be other haunted locations to do the Halloween show isnt there? I just read on Yahoo that the White House is ranked the most haunted place in the world. Maybe W will let them investigate sometime. Lets just hope they dont ask another wrestler to join them. I liked when Josh Gates hosted the last one. Maybe if they get the White House Bill Clinton can be the host and he can make the ghost of Monica Lewinsky appear again.
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Oubliette @ 8:25 am
bill kelly-you will be happy (I know I am!) to know that GH is headed to Fort Delaware for this year's live show, and that some members that have supposedly left TAPS will be there also. It is an excellent choice. I myself am very interested in the fort, its history and possible paranormal activity.
I agree; they have wrung the Stanley Hotel dry, so to speak.
This info is from the last time I peeked at the TAPS message boards, but it looks like Josh will be back as narrator (yeah!) and Amanda Tapping from Stargate will go along for the investigation.
I truly think if they had another wrestler as guest I wouldn't even bother to watch it. The first one was bad but last year was truly horrible. I apologize to pro wrestling fans but these guys came off as big goofs who were way out of their element. The reason they were on-to try and appeal to fans of SciFi's wrestling show-was a poor excuse to throw them in with the GH team.
Amanda hosted SciFi's now defunct show "Proof Positive" several years ago and she is well known to fans of Stargate. A likeable person as well. And Josh is my main man! Not only is he an excellent host, but he also has a wealth of experience investigating just about anything weird as well as having a great sense of humor.
This year sounds like a breath of fresh air compared to the other live shows.
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Logisti @ 1:34 pm
Oubliette, I hadn't realized Amanda Tapping was going to be the guest investigator! I'm a big fan. She's currently in the brand new Sci-Fi Friday show, Sanctuary.
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Oubliette @ 3:31 pm
Logisti, re: Amanda, check out the promo video on this site:
http://supergoodness.magnify.net/video/Ghost-Hunters-LIVE-Promo
and some more info here:
***************
In more Ghost Hunters news- the team will be joined by three special guests for the annual live Halloween episode that is part of the SCIFI Channel 31 Days of Halloween event. Rob and Donna from Ghost Hunters International will be joining the hunt, the show will be hosted by Josh Gates from Destinations Truth and the special guest this year is not another goofy wrestler but AMANDA FREAKING TAPPING from Sanctuary and best known for playing Samantha Carter on Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. Cannot wait to see how Amanda does on a real live ghost hunt! She is a lot of fun in every interview I have seen her in and she should make a fun addition to the crew as a guest.
http://multipleverses.com/2008/10/07/ghost-hunters-going-to-oak-alleyplus-news-about-the-live-halloween-show-and-estate-of-panic/
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Amanda is very attractive and seems like a very nice lady. I happen to like her with darker hair rather then the blonde, shorter haircut that she wore on Stargate, but being a brunette, you could say I'm a bit partial in that way!
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bullerspoke @ 3:40 pm
Who can be anything but a fan of Amanda Tapping… the only reason I watch and actually make it through an episode of Stargate now and then.
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Carly @ 12:39 am
The show is not the same without Donna. The cases are not as good and are hyped up in the trailers with scenes of Steve screaming which always turns out to be a spider or other creature. I really like Steve, Dustin and Tango, but the GHI team sucks since Donna left with her illness. As the wife of a Crohn's patient, I wish her well and hope she will be back in the future. It would be nice if TAPS would let us know the status of her health!
Oh, My husband also makes flashlights. He says if you put one of that type on a floor that is colder than the ambient air the light will almost always go on from the metal parts of the light reacting to the cold. It has to be those little police-style flashlights that you turn the ring around the lens where it JUST goes off.
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Oubliette @ 9:24 am
Carly, I'm a fan of Donna too. As the show went on, I began to feel she was too nice for what it was becoming. Still don't know if I buy the Crohn's disease announcement. If she does have it, she has my best wishes and hope that she is feeling much better. But in the back of my mind I'm thinking that the producers wanted her off the show for other reasons. There was a rumor going on a while back that she was having a falling out with the head honchos over something in the production, but what it was, was never made clear.
As I stated elsewhere, those contracts can be brutal! She may have had enough, stood up for herself and her leaving was the end result.
I have to vent about Steve. In the beginning, I sort of liked him but after I saw everything he was afraid of–besides spiders, anything creepy-crawly, cobwebs or anything that might smack of running into an insect-and I had to ask myself–what is he doing being a ghost investigator? In a lot of the places they go to, one can expect to have all sorts of spiders and other creatures running about. It comes with the job. It's like trying to be a surgeon who can't stand the sight of blood.
Also, I'm terrified of flying since a very scary experience while we were landing in St. Louis–we had just missed a tornardo by about 15 minutes with the plane taking vertical drops a number of times. But if I were given the chance to investigate in Ireland–hey, knock me out with bomber meds until I wake up once we've landed.
Yeah, about Steve–I just don't get it. And from some tech people on the boards, he's not that great a tech manager either. Guess he's there for female eye candy.
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So Cal Girl @ 12:59 pm
I am new to the show and tuned into it because I find all of these "haunting" shows amusing. Having said that, and I'm curious if anyone else notices it…. Is Kris Williams having an affair with Jay or Grant? It's hard not to pick up on some type of chemistry going on there in the beginning intro. It's distractive and if I was married to one of these guys I would definitely keep one eye on what is going on there.
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Zanna @ 1:08 pm
I've been wondering about Kris and Jason - they have a way of smiling at each other during the episodes. If you look at the website pictures, and especially on Kris' website gallery, she's always looking at him or him at her or she's standing next to Jason and he has his arm around her.
Something is going on.
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bullerspoke @ 3:42 pm
Really, Zanna, that is something we as viewers neither are or should be interested in or have any reason to speculate in. Keep that to yourself or to the water-cooler chit-chat. We are or should be interested in their actions not their persons or personal life. In fact, I think it is downright improper to speculate or imply anything of that kind concerning people you do not know and who have families which ought to be respected enough not to be subject of ill-mannered gossip. Especially when it is irrelevant to the subject of this site or GH/TAPS or skepticism in large. Keep the tabloid stuff where it belongs. In the bin or by the water-cooler.
It is sordid and improper and have no place here.
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bullerspoke @ 4:00 pm
"We are or should be interested in their actions on tv and in their investigations not their persons or personal life", is of course how the sentence should have read above.
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