GHOST WHISPERER

'''Ghost Whisperer''' is an American television drama-fantasy-thriller that premiered on CBS September 23, 2005.^[2] The show was created by John Gray. It currently stars Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Camryn Manheim, formerly Aisha Tyler, and in a recurring role, Jay Mohr. ''Ghost Whisperer'' airs Friday nights at 8/7c.
The show's title is a reference to main character Melinda Gordon (portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt) who lives in the fictional town of Grandview with her husband Jim and has the ability to see and communitate with the dead. The show is also one of several fantasy television programs about young women with gifts for supernatural communication such as the canceled shows ''Joan of Arcadia'' and ''Tru Calling'', and the current NBC show ''Medium''.
Season two of ''Ghost Whisperer'' premiered on September 22, 2006 and ended on May 11, 2007, again airing Friday nights on CBS during the same timeslot.^[4] CBS officially renewed the show for a third season placing it in its regular Friday 8 p.m. timeslot to act as a lead-in for the similarly-themed vampire drama ''Moonlight''. The third season will premiere September 28, 2007.

Contents

Plot Synopsis

Cast and characters

Major Characters

Recurring Characters

Former Characters

Other Characters

Episodes

Ratings

Production notes

Awards and nominations

Won

Nominated

The Other Side

DVD Releases

U.S. Broadcast History

International Broadcasters

References

External links

Plot Synopsis

''Ghost Whisperer'' is a highly episodic series that follows the fictional medium Melinda Gordon and her experiences with the dead as a result of her power. Each episode deals with one or more ghosts seeking Melinda's help in relaying a message or completing a task that will put the spirit to rest, and allow them to "cross over" into The Light, a metaphor presented by the show as its conception of Heaven.
Despite the episodic structure of the show, plot lines that span two or three episodes (normally during season openers and finishers) develop and progress in a slow manner throughout the rest of the season. The first season arc introduced the show's first antagonist, Romano, a negative entity in a black hat, who attempted to do the exact opposite of Melinda and gather earthbound souls and bring them to the Dark Side. The story climaxed in the season finale when a plane crashed in Grandview, and Melinda and Romano both attempted to sway the souls to the Light, and staying on earth, respectively. Andrea was killed in the plane crash and, in a story that would carry over to the second season, was being swayed by Romano to stay earthbound.
In the second season, two new characters (Delia Banks and Professor Rick Payne) are introduced, both of whom, by season's end, come to learn of Melinda's power and become survivors that ghosts want messages passed to through Melinda. The second season arc revolves around the thinning "veil" between the living and the dead, evident in certain situations in second season episodes. By the end of the season, a second Ghost Whisperer was introduced. His arrival in Grandview sets the final events of a disastrous prophecy in motion, and the strengthening of the dark side over the Light.
The beginning of each episode normally revolves around Melinda first encountering the ghost(s) that will be crossed over in the episode. In their normally brief appearances, Melinda collects clues she later researches. After gaining a significant piece of information that drives the episode's plot further, the ghost(s) normally open up to her, and tell her how it is she can help them find peace. Often, the messages the ghosts want Melinda to pass are confusing and as a result, she is normally met with questions and skepticism by those she is trying to give the message to- the families, friends and lovers of the ghosts. By the end of each episode, Melinda is usually able to complete her task and cross the ghost(s) from the respective episode over.

Cast and characters

The following is a list of all major and recurring characters on ''Ghost Whisperer'':

Major Characters

★ 'Melinda Gordon' (Jennifer Love Hewitt), the show's protagonist with the ability to commune with earthbound spirits and owns an antique shop. She is married to Jim Clancy. She helps earthbound spirits and helps them to cross over in the Light. Her grandmother has the same ability, as well as her mother. Her father Tom left when Melinda was only a small child.

★ 'Jim Clancy' (David Conrad), the husband of Melinda who knows about her ability and tries to help her with her paranormal problems while working as a local paramedic. He is a paramedic because his deceased brother Dan was one. Jim knows of Melinda's gift and is worried about what it can it do to her. He helps her with it and supports her.

★ 'Delia Banks' (Camryn Manheim), the widowed skeptic mother introduced in season two that worked as a real estate agent before taking the place of Andrea Marino as co-owner of The Same As It Never Was. In the episode "Delia's First Ghost", she is told of Melinda's gift but does not believe her at first, until Charlie, her deceased husband, comes to visit her.

Recurring Characters

★ 'Professor Rick Payne' (Jay Mohr), a professor at Rockland University specializing in myths, the paranormal, and the occult that helps Melinda in crossing ghosts over. He studies signs of the unknown. He is an intelligent yet arrogant professor. He seems to talk a lot about food in the episode "Love Never Dies". He is expected to become a regular character in season three.
^{[5][6] [7]}

Former Characters

★ 'Andrea Marino' (Aisha Tyler), Melinda's best friend when she moves to Grandview who eventually learns of Melinda's gift (which Melinda told her about because she knows Andrea is not judgmental), and becomes business partners with Melinda in managing the antique store, "Same As It Never Was" before dying in the aforementioned plane crash. She was tempted to go with Romano in the Dark Side but Melinda crosses her over in to the Light.

Other Characters

★ 'Ned Banks' (Tyler Patrick Jones), the son of Delia Banks aware of Melinda's gift before his mother.

★ 'Gabriel Rance' (Ignacio Serricchio), a Ghost Whisperer who conspires with unnamed forces from the dark side to keep earthbound spirits, and orchestrate the destructive events to fufill the disastrous prophecy.

★ 'Romano AKA the Man in the Hat' (John Walcutt), an evil spirit that keeps earthbound spirits, and during his physical lifetime, was an occult leader that was responsible for hundreds of suicides including his own. This character is likely to return in Season 3.

★ 'Homer the Dog', the ghost dog of Jim and Melinda that protects their house from evil spirits, first introduced in the episode ''Lost Boys''.

Episodes

Main articles: List of Ghost Whisperer episodes

Season	Ep #	First Airdate	Last Airdate
	22	September 23, 2005	May 5, 2006
	22	September 22, 2006	May 11, 2007
	22	September 28, 2007	May, 2008

Ratings

'USA TV Ratings'
Seasonal rankings (based on average total viewers per episode) of ''Ghost Whisperer'' on CBS:

Season	Timeslot (EDT)	Season Premiere	Season Finale	TV Season	Rank	Viewers (in millions)
''	Friday 8:00 PM	September 23, 2005	May 5, 2006	2005-2006	'#47'	10.2[8]
''	Friday 8:00 PM	September 22, 2006	May 11, 2007	2006-2007	'#44'	9.9[9]'
''	Friday 8:00 PM	September 28, 2007	May 17, 2008	2007-2008

Production notes

The series is based on the work of Spirit Communicator James Van Praagh,^[10] who is co-executive producer^[11] and constantly updates a blog about the show through CBS.^[12] The stories are also said to be based in part on the work of Spirit Communicator Mary Ann Wintkowski.^[13]. Development of the show dates back to at least two years before its premiere.^[14]
As of March 2007, the show is produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with ABC Television Studio & CBS Paramount Television.
The show is filmed on the Universal Studios back lot in Hollywood.^[15] One area on the lot is Courthouse Square from the ''Back to the Future'' trilogy, though it has been drastically modified to portray Grandview. For example, the clock tower present in ''Back to the Future'' has been completely covered up. Cast and crew members also believe that the set gets visits from real spirits. ^[16]
Sound effects are completed at Smart Post Sound^[17] and special effects at Flash Film Works. ^[18]
After the season one finale, John Gray, the show's creator, signed a two-year contract with CBS, which would all but guarantee a third season.^[19] Season three is also supposed to bring about new executive producer P.K. Simonds.^[20]

Awards and nominations

Won

;Saturn Awards
:Best Actress in a Television Program or Series for Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2007^[21]

Nominated

;Primetime Emmy Awards
:Outstanding Main Title Awards, 2006^[22]
: Outstanding Music Composition For A Series (original Dramatic Score), 2007^[23]
;People's Choice Awards
:Favorite Female TV Star for Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2006^[24] and 2007^[25]
;Teen Choice Awards
:TV- Choice Breakout Show, 2006^[26]
;Kids' Choice Awards
:Favorite Television Actress for Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2006^[27]
;Saturn Awards
:Best Actress on Television for Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2006^[28]
;SyFy Genre Awards
:Best Actress-Television for Jennifer Love Hewitt, 2006^[29]

The Other Side

A series of webisodes entitled ''Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side'' have been released on the ''Ghost Whisperer'' website ^[30]. A total of eight webisodes were produced and extras (such as trailers and behind the scenes) are available for viewing. The story follows Zach (played by Mark Hapka), a young delivery boy who dies while delivering a package. He soon learns how to do things in the spirit world, and gets revenge on Danny, the man he thinks killed him, and his former best friend. Melinda from the television series doesn't appear in the internet series as it takes place entirely in the spirit world. However, ghosts from the television series have appeared in some webisodes.
In the second season finale of ''Ghost Whisperer'', one of the characters from ''The Other Side'', Mark, made an appearance while trying to get help from Melinda before being taken into the Dark Side leaving the internet series in its own cliffhanger.
It is unknown whether or not more webisodes will be produced or when they will air.

DVD Releases

Season	Specifications	Special Features	Release dates
'1'[31][32] ''The dead are talking... and she is listening.''	★ 22 episodes ★ 6 discs ★ Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio ★ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround ★ No subtitles	★ Audio Commentaries ★ Blooper Reel ★ Deleted Scenes ★ Two featurettes ★ Virtual tour: Grandview ★ Ghost Whisperer Mythology ★ Scare Tactics	;Region 1:October 31, 2006;Region 2:May 23, 2007;Region 3:January 2007;Region 4:May 23, 2007
'2'[33] ''The dead are alive.''	★ 22 episodes ★ 6 discs ★ Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio ★ Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround ★ Close captioned	★ Audio Commentaries ★ Behind-the-scenes featurettes ★ Webisodes ★ Tarot Cards	;Region 1:September 18, 2007

U.S. Broadcast History

★ September 23, 2005 - present -- Fridays 8:00pm/7:00pm central

International Broadcasters

Country	Alternate title/Translation	TV Network(s)	Series Premiere	Weekly Schedule
United States		CBS Television	September 23, 2005
Canada		CTV and CBS		Fridays at 8:00 PM
Australia		Seven Network	November 29, 2005	Thursdays at 7:30pm
Austria		ORF 1		Mondays at 0:20 AM
Belgium		PlugTV		Saturdays at 8:00 PM
Bosnia and Herzegovina		OBN		Wednesdays at 8:00 PM
Brazil		Sony Entertainment Television	November 7, 2005	Thursdays at 8:00 PM
Bulgaria	Шепот от отвъдното (Whisper from beyond)	bTV	June 12, 2007	9:00 PM
Chile		Sony Entertainment Television
Croatia	Šaptačica duhovima	HRT 2		Saturdays at 11:20 PM
Denmark		Kanal 4		Wednesdays at 8:55 PM
Finland	Aavekuiskaaja	Nelonen	September 11, 2006	Mondays at 7:00 PM
Fiji		Fiji One
France	Melinda entre deux mondes	TF6 and TF1		Tuesday at 8:55 PM
Germany	Ghost Whisperer - Stimmen aus dem Jenseits	Kabel 1	August 2 2006	Fridays at 8:15 PM
Hong Kong	靈感應	ATV World	June 7, 2007	Thursdays at 10:00 PM
Iceland	Draugahvíslarinn	Stöð 2		Wednesdays at 9:20 PM
India		Star World		Tuesdays at 9:00 PM
Jakarta, Indonesia		Jak-TV - Local TV		Sunday at 8:30 PM
Ireland		RTÉ One
Israel	הלוחשת לרוחות (The Ghost Whisperer)	yes stars 2		Mondays at 9:30 PM
Italy	Ghost Whisperer - Presenze	FOX Life Rai Due	March 1, 2006 June 28, 2007	Tuesdays at 9:00 PM Thursdays at 9:00 PM
Lebanon		Showseries 2 (Showtime Network)
Malaysia		8TV (Malay Language Subtitles)	February 6, 2006	Mondays at 9:30 PM (Season 1), Tuesdays 9.30pm (Season 2)
Mexico	Almas Perdidas: Ghost Whisperer	Azteca 7 and Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America)	July 11, 2006	Tuesdays at 9:30 PM Thursdays at 8:00 PM (Rep: Saturdays at 11:00 AM)
The Netherlands		SBS 6		Thursdays at 8:30 PM
New Zealand		TV 2		Mondays at 9:30 PM
Norway		TVNorge		Sundays at 8:10 PM
Philippines	Ghost Whisperer	Star World and Studio 23	Star World, May 6, 2007	Sundays at 10:00 pm
Peru		Sony Entertainment Television
Poland	Zaklinacz duchów	FOX Life	January 5, 2007
Portugal	Entre Vidas	FOX Life and SIC		Thursdays at 9:00 PM Saturdays at 4:55 PM
Romania	Mesaje De Dincolo	PRO TV		Sundays at 5:15 PM
Saudi Arabia		Showseries 2 (Showtime Network),
Singapore		MediaCorp TV Channel 5		Season 1 CompletedSeason 2 on Fridays, 10pm-11pm
Slovenia		TV3		Saturdays at 8:50 PM
South Korea		OnStyle		Wednesdays and Thursdays at 4:00 PM
Southeast Asia		Star World	May 20, 2007	Sundays 9:00 pm (THAI/WIB Time) 10:00 pm (HK/SIN Time)
			May 20, 2007 (rest of Southeast Asia)
Spain	Entre fantasmas	Cuatro and FOX		Wednesdays at 10:00 PM Fridays at 9:30 PM
Sweden		TV4 and TV400	May 4 2006
Switzerland		TSR		Sundays at 4:50 PM
Thailand		Star World	May 20, 2007	Sundays at 9:00 PM
Turkey		CNBC-e		Fridays at 8:00 PM
United Kingdom		E4 ''(Season 1, first run)'', ABC1 ''(Season 1, re-runs)'' and Living ''(season 2-)''	July 11 2006	Tuesdays at 9:00 PM
Venezuela	Voces del más allá - Ghost Whisperer	Televen and Sony Entertainment Television (Latin America)		Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 PM (TLVN) / Thursdays at 9:00 PM (SET)
Vietnam	Lời thì thầm của những bóng ma - Ghosts' Whisper	VTV3 Star World		Monday-Sunday at 6:30 AM

References

1. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/search/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001140222
2. http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ghost-whisperer/192254
3. http://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/ghost-whisperer/192254
4. http://www.tv.com/ghost-whisperer/show/33483/episode_guide.html?season=2&tag=season_dropdown;dropdown;1
5. http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-mohrcbspilotcasting,0,3202373.story
6. http://community.tvguide.com/blog-entry/TVGuide-Editors-Blog/Todays-News/Fall-2007-Grammerheaton/800012694
7. http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/05/21/DDG0MPU2QM1.DTL
8. 2005-06 primetime wrap
9. Hollywood Reporter: 2006-07 primetime wrap
10. http://www.etonline.com/tv/35533/index.html
11. http://www.vanpraagh.com/Ghost_CBS.cfm
12. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/blog.php
13. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8423881/
14. http://www.cbs.com/primetime/ghost_whisperer/archive_blog.php
15. http://www.universalstudioshollywood.com/vi_news.html
16. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=40876
17. http://mixonline.com/post/features/audio_ghost_whisperer/
18. http://www.flashfilmworks.com/d-ghost.htm
19. http://scifi.about.com/blhail340.htm
20. http://www.scifi.com/scifiwire/index.php?category=1&id=41131
21. http://www.geekmonthly.com/news/2007/05/11/superman-heroes-dominate-saturn-awards/
22. http://www.emmys.org/downloads/images/2006emmys/PrimetimeNoms.php
23. http://www.emmys.org/awards/2007pt/59thnominations.php
24. http://www.etonline.com/celebrities/35689/index.html
25. http://www.sitcomsonline.com/blog/2006/11/33rd-annual-peoples-choice-awards.html
26. http://www.realitytvmagazine.com/blog/2006/06/teen_choice_awa.html
27. http://www.tv.com/drake-and-josh/show/11005/story/3687.html
28. http://www.mania.com/50679.html
29. http://www.syfyportal.com/news422701.html
30. http://www.cbs.com/ghost
31. http://tvshowsondvd.com/releaseinfo.cfm?ReleaseID=5945
32. http://www.sanity.com.au/product/product.asp?sku=2091262
33. http://tvshowsondvd.com/newsitem.cfm?NewsID=7393

External links

★ Official CBS website, including Van Praagh's blog

★ Official Myspace

★ "Ghost Whisperer" at Yahoo! TV

★ Official CTV website

★ Ghost Whisperer Fan Site

★ House of Ghost Whisperer

★ The Melindaverse

★ Ghost Whisperer

★ Ghost Whisperer/Mary J Blige Online Comic

★ Music from Ghost Whisperer

★ Ghost Whisperer @ TV Megasite