GHOST HUNTERS

:''For other uses of the name, see Ghosthunters (disambiguation).''
'''Ghost Hunters''' is a reality television series featuring two Roto-Rooter plumbers, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson, who investigate homes and other structures that residents believe are 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

Episode format

Success and growth

Criticism

Storylines

Investigators

Credited Crew

List of ''Ghost Hunters'' episodes

Season One

Season Two

Season Three

Specials

DVD

Notes

See also

External links

Interview links

Independant examination links

Episode format

Hawes and 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 feel is capable of detecting paranormal activity. TAPS's 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 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 creates a static background noise and theorized to act as a catalyst for assisting entities in creating 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.
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 EVP, 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 SciFi network 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.

Success and growth

''Ghost Hunters'' has garnered some of the highest ratings of any Sci-Fi Channel network programming.^[2] 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's house. 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.

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.^[3] Of ghost hunting in general, skeptical investigator Joe Nickell says, "...the approach of the typical ghost hunter—a nonscientist using equipment for a purpose for which it was not made and has not been shown to be effective—is sheer pseudoscience".^[4] Others contend that the show's claimed evidence of the paranormal could be easily hoaxed, since third party review of evidence collected by TAPS is not encouraged, and those who have contacted the group asking for full footage from everything recorded at the haunted locations have also gone unanswered. 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.^[5]

Storylines

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

★ 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's catch phrase was created: The phrase was subsequently printed on caps and t-shirts sold by the group’s merchandising arm. Harnois's storyline climaxed when he resigned from TAPS in episode 207. 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:

★ Hawes's character is depicted variously as authoritarian alpha-male (nicknamed "The Ghostfather") and devoted but irascible "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's 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:

Investigators

★ Jason Hawes - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Founder

★ Grant Wilson - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Co-founder

★ Steve Gonsalves - Technical Manager/Evidence Analyst

★ Brian Harnois - Investigator/Evidence Analyst

★ Donna Lacroix - Case Manager

★ Lisa Dowaliby - Investigator/Director

★ Dave Tango - Investigator In Training

★ Dustin Pari - Investigator

Credited Crew

★ Jason Hawes - Producer, Lead Investigator/TAPS Founder

★ Craig Piligian - Executive Producer

★ Tom Thayer - Executive Producer

★ Rob Katz - Co-Executive Producer

List of ''Ghost Hunters'' episodes

Season One

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

Season Two

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

Season Three

'#'	'Original Airdate'	'Location'
301	October 11, 2006	Tombstone, AZ - Bird Cage Theatre
302	October 18,2006	Bisbee, AZ - Copper Queen Hotel, and Tombstone, AZ - O.K. Corral
303	October 25,2006	Chester, VT - private home, and Moundsville, WV - West Virginia State Penitentiary
304	November 1, 2006	Massachusetts - Victorian mansion, and Washington, MA - Bucksteep Manor
305	November 8, 2006	Review of The Stanley Hotel 2006 Halloween special.
306	November 15, 2006	Ireland - Leap Castle
307	June 6, 2007	Ireland - Lisheen Ruins, and London, England - Viaduct Tavern
308	June 13, 2007	Buckinghamshire, England - Hellfire Caves
309	June 20, 2007	Private homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts
310	June 27, 2007	Chesapeake, VA - Keffer Home and Charlestown, RI - General Stanton Inn
311	July 11, 2007	Corpus Christi, TX - USS ''Lexington'' and Warwick, RI - Warwick City Hall
312	July 18, 2007	Hollywood, CA - Manson Murders and Los Angeles, CA - Jim Henson Studios

★ In 2007, SciFi Network delayed the airing of new ''Ghost Hunters'' episodes, creating a gap between new episodes of over six months. According to a network press release, six more episodes premiered in June 2007, and an additional six slated for debut in Fall 2007, with further new episodes promised in 2008.^[6]

Specials

★ '2005 Halloween Special' - 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 live on October 31, 2006 at 11:00 PM 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.^[7]

★ '2007 Halloween Special' - Live on October 31, 2007. TAPS will return to Waverly Hills Sanotorium for a 6-hour investigation.

DVD

★ ''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'' - (released in two parts)

★ ''Ghost Hunters - Season 3 Part 1'' - (10/9/07)

★ ''Ghost Hunters - Stanley Hotel Halloween Special'' - (10/9/07)

Notes

★ The Stanley Hotel episode is notable for reaching #2 in ratings for its time slot that night. Ratings Note
1. "Steve's Gear Guide" Video Blog on SciFi.com
2. SciFi Network Ratings Release
3. Reality Check: ''Ghost Hunters'' and ‘Ghost Detectors’
4. Investigative Files: Ghost Hunters
5.
6.
7. "Ghost Hunters on the job this Halloween", 2006 TAPS interview at projo.com

See also

★ The Atlantic Paranormal Society

★ Ghost

★ Ghost Hunting

★ Ghost tour

★ Haunted house

★ Haunting

★ Paranormal

★ Paranormal Investigation

★ Taps Para Mag

External links

★

★ The Atlantic Paranormal Society (TAPS) Official Website

★ ''Ghost Hunters'' official website at SciFi.com

★ Pilgrim Films Ghost Hunters Website

Interview links

★ Interview with Grant Wilson of ''Ghost Hunters''

★ Interview with Steve Gonsalves of ''Ghost Hunters''

★ ''Jim Reaper'' comic features ''Ghost Hunters'' Brian Harnois

Independant examination links

★ Independent examination of Crescent Hotel ghost image

★ Independent examination of Eastern State Penitentiary footage

★ Independent statistical analysis of Ghost Hunters evidence

★ Alison Smith's article about TAPS vs. SAPS for eSkeptic