Ghost Hunters: The Complete First Season
In 2004 the [easyazon_link asin=”B001KEGTX2″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Ghost Hunters: The Complete First Season[/easyazon_link] show premiered that would change the way I, as a viewer, looked at paranormal research. The TAPS crew featured on Ghost Hunters and led by investigators Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson sought to disprove haunting. Jay and Grant were average guys.
The lead investigators are plumbers by day and paranormal investigators by night. Their mission was to help people whether it was those crossing over or those who were simply fearful. Grant was fond of reminding homeowners that ghosts were once people like themselves who worked and paid bills and raised families. Jay once invited the ghost of a child haunting a lonely mill to follow him home saying that the ghost would mix in easily with the noise of his home. They were not the crew that went into a location, heard a noise and knew automatically it was dead Aunt Lou or the ghost of some famous local historical figure. Jay and Grant headed to a location with the idea that unless they got some solid proof they could say a house was not haunted.
The much acclaimed, “orbs” of photographic evidence was not enough for them. They needed that voice or image that could be broadcast to the world. Smack a person in the face proof. Accompanied by a colorful cast of paranormal investigators each bringing their own brand of humor including the super phobic Steve Gonsalves and his frequent foil for pranks, Dave Tango. The team received criticism early on for manufactured drama with former cast-mate, Brian Harnois, but over the years their style has focused more on the history and the overnight evidence gathering. Evidence includes EVP and in infrequently eerie episodes, full body apparitions presented to the “client” at the end of each episode.
Grant left the show in 2012 due to a demanding schedule and Steve slid into his role relatively close to easily. Steve held his hand up for driving away from his first investigation in co-lead for the fist bump that Grant and Jay always shared at the end of each investigation. Jay did not fist bump Steve leaving him awkwardly hanging in a way that struck me as Jay sending a message that Grant was home but not forgotten. Grant recently returned to join the team for the 500th episode. There is a humor and gentleness to the TAPS team while taking every “client” and investigation on with seriousness and professionalism. In 2008, the show spun off into an international version which I found, frankly, unwatchable unlike the original show, every sound was something heinous, dark and paranormal.
You can buy Ghost Hunters: The Complete First Season on Amazon; don’t forget to check regional codes:
Amazon U.S. • Amazon U.K. • Amazon Canada
Ghost Adventures: Season One
In the contrast to Ghost Hunters, [easyazon_link asin=”B0029Z8K60″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Ghost Adventures: Season 1[/easyazon_link] on the Travel Channel (premiered in 2008) features a three-man team that will break all of the rules to get evidence of the afterlife. Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin ask clients to lock them into the locales they investigate. This Vegas based team are showmen as much as paranormal investigators. Bagans, the lead investigator sports painted-on shirts and enough hair gel to style the entire spirit world. Bagans narrates the show and while his delivery smacks you in the face with his script the investigation style and Nick and Aaron’s more subdued personalities will keep viewers entranced. Evidence is edited into the show and delivered in the moment.
Like Ghost Hunters, these investigators aren’t calling every little noise Aunt Lou; their style of investigation, special equipment and in a spirit’s face, personalities seem to attract activity. Also in the spirit of the earlier show, Zak gives viewers a nice overview of areas and cultural differences when they apply. The team is very adaptable and they seem quite susceptible to possessions and sensing the paranormal. In an investigation of the Winchester House, Zak notices his heart rate rising during the tour and wonders if he’s standing near a portal to the afterlife. He starts to feel anxious and sick and has to move away from the area. A picture is taken of Nick showing a mist in front of him. In an investigation of the Stanley Hotel, Zak converses with a young sensitive who sees spirits telling her gently to never let anyone tell her that she’s strange and to always know she’s special. As serious as they can be, there’s a lot of humor on Ghost Adventures. Ghost Adventures is delightfully cheesy with depth.
There are countless ghost hunting shows out there for the viewing pleasure of the public especially at this time of year. [easyazon_link asin=”B001KEGTX2″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Ghost Hunters: The Complete First Season[/easyazon_link] and [easyazon_link asin=”B0029Z8K60″ locale=”US” new_window=”default” nofollow=”default” tag=”rabidreaders-20″]Ghost Adventures: Season 1[/easyazon_link] are two of the best I’ve found. There’s no formula possessions or clear house settling noises attributed to some long dead mass murderer.
These are adequately chilling, mildly educational and more importantly darn entertaining. If you’re planning a ghost show binge for Halloween you cannot go wrong with either of these programs. Beware. An early episode of Ghost Hunters investigating a home near the Manson Murders found the spirit of the dead attracted to their homes because of their interest in the paranormal. Will you have a new roommate before morning?
Buy Ghost Adventures: Season 1 (check region codes) on: