Ghost Hunters International Premier Lacks Credibility: Can the Team Scare Up Enough Support?
Die hard TAPS fans found the show to be a bit unorthodox and teetering on the edge of credibility. The introduction of new team members with variant philosophies was little hard to swallow after years of watching Jason and Grant work hard to build credibility and maintain a professional organization.
Barry Fitzgerald brought with him an air of showmanship that is better left to entertainment shows. He definitely has an air of superiority that suggests that his "elementals" are the real thing, as opposed to the ghosts found in the states. But that is not what irritates me. It's the running through the halls, nearly missing walls and steps, in an effort to catch spirits off guard that I find unsettling. Blindly dashing through doorways and clicking the camera shutter does nothing for credibility, or to instill faith in the viewer that any evidence he may produce is legitimate.
I would expect this kind of behavior from Brian Harnois. He has always been overly dramatic and excitable; fully believing he has spotted or heard a ghost at a mere sneeze. He fits well with Barry's dramatic presentation. Barry and Brian rushing through the hallways of some long abandoned castle, huffing and puffing to gain their breath is nothing new. Brian has done it before and even earned some recognition with the catchy phrase "Run Dude Run!" when he belted down a hallway after seeing a black shadow pass before him.
But what is Donna thinking? She has been a credible member of TAPS. She has worked with Jason and Grant. She knows better. Screaming out in fear every time she thinks she sees something paints the image of an amateur who is not prepared to take on the role of an investigator for Ghost Hunters International. It's a little hard to take a spirit by surprise when you punctuate your investigation with screaming and squealing over nothing, let alone careening through dark hallways flashing a camera.
And then, of course, there is Robb Demarest, the leader of Ghost Hunters International. He may be okay, if he could complete a sentence without using the words of Jason and Grant. Somehow, it doesn't quite cut it when he tries to speak with authority while using Jason's words.
And lose the riding off into the sunset scenes in the van. We love it when Jason and Grant chat after a long investigation. Their friendship and concern for TAPS is evident in their late night interlude as they head home. Viewing a newly formed team in the same light just doesn't create the same atmosphere . Instead of a peek into the personal side of the team, it comes off as a scripted conversation designed to mimic Jason and Grant.
Scifi promised us a quality show with Ghost Hunters International, but unless the team members muster up some gusto of their own to convince us that they are reliable and credible, they will quickly fall out of grace with TAPS Ghost Hunter fans.
Published by Nannette Richford - Featured Contributor in Lifestyle
Nannette Richford is an avid gardener, teacher and nature enthusiast with 4 years experience in online writing and a lifetime of personal journals. As an award winning writer for Demand Studios, Richford has... View profile
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11 Comments
Post a CommentThe guy in the upside down and reversed visor thingy looks like a comlpete idiot and frankly bloody annoys me, but not quite as much as the other outspoken buffoon who is a complete "know all". Jointly they distract me from the shows content, ooooooooh yeah and whats wrong with just holding the bloody flashlight in your hand as opposed to strapping it to your wrist????? get over yourselves!!! Otherwise it's its OK!!!
You are right about the guy with the upside down hat, backward look. That's what 12 year olds do when they are trying to get attention and look cool. If I want that I will tune into the Disney Channel. These goofs on the International Ghost Hunters are going to do the show in, that Jason and his partner have worked hard to create. Turn the goofy hat around or take it off if you want anyone to take you seriously.
After watching the GHI from England and NZ last night there were twoOVERriding thought running through my mind:
1. WHERE was David Tango; 2. Don't the producers think that the DWEEB Paril looks a bit STUPID with his little sun
hat turned backwards AND upside down???.......it's kinda hard to take someone serious while they're doing their
impersonation of Vanilla Ice...........at least his pants weren't around his knees.
You obviously don't get it. Barry is an exceptional investigator. He's worked with some of the best teams out there. Elementals are part of the culture and heritage from which he comes. I find it rather arrogant that you would think they are incidental compared to "ghosts found in the states". What you see is editing and nothing more. Remember, we see exactly 22 minutes of an investigation that took over 18 hours to shoot. It makes no difference what happens during the investigation because once the film is in the hands of the editors, they make it look whatever way they want it to. If you really want to critique something about these people, critique their papers, their blogs on the subject, their radio interviews. Of course, once you read and listen - you'll find you're not as well versed on the subject as you thought. GHI is entertainment - what Barry does is real. Sometimes it's hard to find a happy (excuse the pun) medium to convey this.
I love the show, but I couldn't help but wonder when they're running away what they're there for. Why would anyone who would get that scared at the prospect of a ghost investigate ghosts? I'm very interested in the paranormal, and I've written about many of my personal experiences. I'd love to do what they're doing. I hope the new show doesn't completely disappoint. I've been watching Paranormal State, and it's my current favorite - that and A Haunting. I'm getting tired of watching re-runs though. Great article!
I'll pass...thanks for the thorough review!
This is a show for the skeptics out there, I have not gotten the chance to watch very much of it yet, however with the little bit I have seen, I have to agree with the others here, whether its bad acting or no credibility I don't think its going to be on my list of things to watch anytime soon.. This is good review, thanks for the article.
Just from the commercial previews I have no intention of watching the show, and having lived in a house with ghosts (as detailed in my 2007 article "My Life With Ghosts"), I believe in them. It just doesn't look like there's anything credible about this show.
I agree about Barry very well stated I dvr the show 2 times now and have skip over most of his stuff just can't take it unless donna with him love
her.
This was an intriguing review. It sounds like you are very familiar with this series and it is too bad that the international version got off to a dull start, not even credible.