Saturday, September 4, 2010
Ghost stories aren't just for Halloween; some people enjoy getting the living crap scared out of them year round. For those who fit into that category, there are a few spooky television shows out there -- if you know where to find them.
From professional ghost hunters to people thrown into scary situations, read on to see our seven favorite freaky shows on TV right now.
1. 'Ghost Adventures'
Network: Travel Channel
Why It's Spooky: The trio of ghost hunters, comprised of Zak, Nick, and Aaron, investigates some of the most notorious and haunted places in the world. The detailed eyewitness accounts of these paranormal experiences make viewers feel as if they're actually on location with the ghost-hunting team. The interviews with local residents and historical experts add to the chilling nature of the show, explaining the history of the haunted places and some of the horrible deaths that occurred there.
2. 'Paranormal State'
Network: A&E (Arts & Entertainment Channel)
Why It's Spooky: This show features research conducted by university students from Penn State . It's particularly spooky because they take a more scientific approach when trying to provide evidence of an actual haunting or to solve some unexplained phenomenon. They film the entire process of their research, including the gathering of background information. They always explain the nature of any equipment used to measure and record paranormal activity, and later show the recorded footage. They also conduct interviews with the owners of the allegedly haunted homes before, during and after their findings.
3. 'Ghost Hunters'
Network: Syfy Channel
Why It's Spooky: Jason and Grant may be plumbers by day, but at night they take to haunted locations with their ghost-hunting team to collect evidence of paranormal activity. After founding The Atlanta Paranormal Society (TAPS), they resolved to help people understand the paranormal and to investigate any events that may be unexplained, no matter the location. This is the original 'Ghost Hunters' series. Spin-offs include 'Ghost Hunters Academy' and 'Ghost Hunters International.'
4. 'A Haunting'
Network: Discovery Channel
Why It's Spooky: This is one of the scariest shows chronicling eerie events that have occurred around America. The show is a dramatization of real-life events, but the way the stories are told are chilling, often involving suicides or murders that left a psychic impression on the location. Several people are interviewed throughout the show, discussing the energy they felt in the place and the legends and haunted history. After the hour is up, you're left with the complete story and a sense of amazement at how the dead can still have such an impression on the living.
5. 'Most Haunted USA'
Network: Travel Channel
Why It's Spooky: This show was originally adapted from the British television series of the same name. Paranormal investigators stay overnight at haunted locations to investigate unusual activity. They feature mediums and parapsychologists to sense whether there is a disturbing presence in a particular house or if there is something that needs to be communicated from the other realm. A historian is also there to provide facts about the location in question in case it reveals additional information about the unexplained events.
6. 'Ghost Hunters Academy'
Network: Syfy Channel
Why It's Spooky: It's a spin-off of the original 'Ghost Hunters' with two other members from TAPS heading the show. This time, however, they recruit people who wish to become ghost hunters and train them in the paranormal. It has a more amateurish element to it, but I believe that makes it scarier because the team is less experienced and more susceptible to being spooked by paranormal events. This show gauges whether some of these individuals have what it takes to be ghost hunters. Some will make the cut and continue on other 'Ghost Hunters' series, others will not.
7. 'Fear'
Network: MTV
Why It's Spooky: MTV's attempt to cash in on ghost-hunting reality shows reminded me of watching 'The Blair Witch Project.' You can see people were really freaking out at times, since they' weren't professional ghost hunters, but contestants who stayed overnight in a haunted house or other location where paranormal activity had been rumored to occur: penitentiaries, mental institutions and abandoned factories and hotels. While the show did sometimes feature psychics and stories of urban legends surrounding allegedly haunted locations, there was really no evidence to verify that supernatural activity actually occurred.
From professional ghost hunters to people thrown into scary situations, read on to see our seven favorite freaky shows on TV right now.
1. 'Ghost Adventures'
Network: Travel Channel
Why It's Spooky: The trio of ghost hunters, comprised of Zak, Nick, and Aaron, investigates some of the most notorious and haunted places in the world. The detailed eyewitness accounts of these paranormal experiences make viewers feel as if they're actually on location with the ghost-hunting team. The interviews with local residents and historical experts add to the chilling nature of the show, explaining the history of the haunted places and some of the horrible deaths that occurred there.
2. 'Paranormal State'
Network: A&E (Arts & Entertainment Channel)
Why It's Spooky: This show features research conducted by university students from Penn State . It's particularly spooky because they take a more scientific approach when trying to provide evidence of an actual haunting or to solve some unexplained phenomenon. They film the entire process of their research, including the gathering of background information. They always explain the nature of any equipment used to measure and record paranormal activity, and later show the recorded footage. They also conduct interviews with the owners of the allegedly haunted homes before, during and after their findings.
3. 'Ghost Hunters'
Network: Syfy Channel
Why It's Spooky: Jason and Grant may be plumbers by day, but at night they take to haunted locations with their ghost-hunting team to collect evidence of paranormal activity. After founding The Atlanta Paranormal Society (TAPS), they resolved to help people understand the paranormal and to investigate any events that may be unexplained, no matter the location. This is the original 'Ghost Hunters' series. Spin-offs include 'Ghost Hunters Academy' and 'Ghost Hunters International.'
4. 'A Haunting'
Network: Discovery Channel
Why It's Spooky: This is one of the scariest shows chronicling eerie events that have occurred around America. The show is a dramatization of real-life events, but the way the stories are told are chilling, often involving suicides or murders that left a psychic impression on the location. Several people are interviewed throughout the show, discussing the energy they felt in the place and the legends and haunted history. After the hour is up, you're left with the complete story and a sense of amazement at how the dead can still have such an impression on the living.
5. 'Most Haunted USA'
Network: Travel Channel
Why It's Spooky: This show was originally adapted from the British television series of the same name. Paranormal investigators stay overnight at haunted locations to investigate unusual activity. They feature mediums and parapsychologists to sense whether there is a disturbing presence in a particular house or if there is something that needs to be communicated from the other realm. A historian is also there to provide facts about the location in question in case it reveals additional information about the unexplained events.
6. 'Ghost Hunters Academy'
Network: Syfy Channel
Why It's Spooky: It's a spin-off of the original 'Ghost Hunters' with two other members from TAPS heading the show. This time, however, they recruit people who wish to become ghost hunters and train them in the paranormal. It has a more amateurish element to it, but I believe that makes it scarier because the team is less experienced and more susceptible to being spooked by paranormal events. This show gauges whether some of these individuals have what it takes to be ghost hunters. Some will make the cut and continue on other 'Ghost Hunters' series, others will not.
7. 'Fear'
Network: MTV
Why It's Spooky: MTV's attempt to cash in on ghost-hunting reality shows reminded me of watching 'The Blair Witch Project.' You can see people were really freaking out at times, since they' weren't professional ghost hunters, but contestants who stayed overnight in a haunted house or other location where paranormal activity had been rumored to occur: penitentiaries, mental institutions and abandoned factories and hotels. While the show did sometimes feature psychics and stories of urban legends surrounding allegedly haunted locations, there was really no evidence to verify that supernatural activity actually occurred.
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