Since the paranormal is a hot topic right now it seems that every tv network is jumping on the bandwagon with at least 4 new shows starting within the next 6 months.
Actually there are more, I've seen casting calls for a number of other shows that have yet to receive a greenlight including my favorite in which they are looking for a "paranormal investigator/demonologist" that hunts ghosts with the help of his or her dog.
My question is: What would you do if approached by a TV network wanting to give PPS their own show? What would the conditions have to be in order to accept?
Dave:Ahhh the lure of fame and fortune! Here is the problem with having a televised show of your own; "your own" doesn't apply any longer. You are now an employee. The show may begin with the stars being autonomous, but with success or failure being one rating away, the control and direction become the producers'.
Who wouldn't want money for better equipment, a career doing what you love, and a little notoriety? Anyone who still takes the subject seriously and wants to have their team calling the shots.
Let's face it; most investigations are 80 hours of prep, investigation and cumulative analysis time with about 40 seconds of thrills. That will never bring in the ratings. Next thing you know, we’d be studying a script. "Okay, Jake flushes the toilet upstairs and Rex yells 'what the frig' while I look left, no, right with a startled expression". No thanks.
Now if an organization doing a documentary about paranormal investigations solicits our group to show what an actual investigative process entails; we may be interested. And by actual, I mean: No music / sounds effect overdubbing, no retakes due to botched camera angles, and no staged responses to generate excitement of the viewer. Since that isn't going to happen, you can always watch us every Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern by looking through our living room windows.
Rex: The problem with all of the tv shows out there is that they came to be about money and ratings rather than furthering the paranormal field. The only possible way I would even consider it would be if it was stated in a contract that we are able to do it OUR way. That means we conduct our investigations the way we always do using the team members that we choose and NO SOUND EFFECTS. I would also demand that the people on the production team be team members themselves that way no outsiders could create fake noises or evidence. But since Hollywood won't buy a reality show that is actually real, I guess that will never happen.
- E! is adding a show where cheerleaders are put into a haunted house, filmed with the camera mounted facing them so that their reactions can be seen.
- Cartoon Network is adding a few live action reality show including a paranormal one where a group of teenagers hunt ghost after school with the help of their moms for transportation. This is also filmed in the same style as the show on E!
- Ghost Cops is about a group of Chicago police officers who investigate the paranormal, filmed COPS style, not sure which network.
- Steve and Tango from GhostHunters are getting their own show where they travel around the country to different colleges and "teach" students how to become investigators. I'm thinking Ghosts Gone Wild! here
Actually there are more, I've seen casting calls for a number of other shows that have yet to receive a greenlight including my favorite in which they are looking for a "paranormal investigator/demonologist" that hunts ghosts with the help of his or her dog.
My question is: What would you do if approached by a TV network wanting to give PPS their own show? What would the conditions have to be in order to accept?
Dave:Ahhh the lure of fame and fortune! Here is the problem with having a televised show of your own; "your own" doesn't apply any longer. You are now an employee. The show may begin with the stars being autonomous, but with success or failure being one rating away, the control and direction become the producers'.
Who wouldn't want money for better equipment, a career doing what you love, and a little notoriety? Anyone who still takes the subject seriously and wants to have their team calling the shots.
Let's face it; most investigations are 80 hours of prep, investigation and cumulative analysis time with about 40 seconds of thrills. That will never bring in the ratings. Next thing you know, we’d be studying a script. "Okay, Jake flushes the toilet upstairs and Rex yells 'what the frig' while I look left, no, right with a startled expression". No thanks.
Now if an organization doing a documentary about paranormal investigations solicits our group to show what an actual investigative process entails; we may be interested. And by actual, I mean: No music / sounds effect overdubbing, no retakes due to botched camera angles, and no staged responses to generate excitement of the viewer. Since that isn't going to happen, you can always watch us every Tuesday at 8:00 pm Eastern by looking through our living room windows.
Rex: The problem with all of the tv shows out there is that they came to be about money and ratings rather than furthering the paranormal field. The only possible way I would even consider it would be if it was stated in a contract that we are able to do it OUR way. That means we conduct our investigations the way we always do using the team members that we choose and NO SOUND EFFECTS. I would also demand that the people on the production team be team members themselves that way no outsiders could create fake noises or evidence. But since Hollywood won't buy a reality show that is actually real, I guess that will never happen.
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