Ghost Hunters Season 6 – “Haunted Hotel”
I’ve really lost a lot of respect for “Ghost Hunters” and TAPS these past few seasons, for a variety of reasons. The focus has gone from residential cases to famous locations and businesses. Their evidence has gone from intriguing to lame and questionable. Evidence that would have been thrown out (sometimes angrily) by Jason in the first season is now being presented to clients as “proof” of a haunting. They spend a lot of time goofing off. They use unscientific techniques like the “magic flashlight.” SyFy makes them have celebrity guests, from pro wrestlers, Meatloaf, and actors from other bad SyFy series. Jason seems apathetic and impatient on almost every case he goes on. Maybe he knows they’ve sold out.
Realizing that I’d become jaded, I was determined to watch last night’s season premier with an open mind. I didn’t want to go in angry before the show even started. So what did I think?
The show started off, as it tends to these days, with Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson pretending to still be working for Roto Rooter. This used to anger me, but I’ve come to terms with this. It’s part of the illusion of the show, two working guys who ghost hunt at night. Even though we all know neither one will ever have to work again, from residuals, speaking engagements, the hotel they own, book deals, merchandising rights, etc. But I guess being a working class hero sells better. Anyways, their case for tonight is, unsurprisingly, a hotel, the Otesaga Hotel in Cooperstown, NY. Not a residential case. As Grant often says, “We’re here to help!” But I guess the second part, “…you bring in more business!” usually ends up on the cutting room floor. Sorry, not being too good with keeping the jaded feelings away, am I?
They take the typical tour, only with Britt this time, as Steve and Tango are probably off filming “Ghost Hunters Academy.” Also with them is the mysterious and impressionable K.J., who is apparently a friend of Jason’s. It makes me pine for the days when people actually had to apply for membership in TAPS and prove themselves. But I guess that’s out now. They have a separate TV show for that now.
Jason and Grant start the investigation, and actually try to do some debunking, so props to them for that. They hear some mysterious sounds and run off looking for the source, but don’t find anything.
Kris and Amy are the second team to investigate, and immediately start going for the “magic flashlights,” which is just a flashlight with the cover loosened just enough so as to make it very easy for the flashlight to turn on and off. This is not even close to scientific, as if you do that, even the slightest vibration, paranormal or otherwise, will give the intended results. But Kris and Amy make it even less scientific by not even specifying which light they’d like the entities to turn on. By just saying “turn on one of the lights,” they are leaving it open, and no matter which light turns on, they can now claim they are “communicating” with a spirit. I call shenanigans.
Britt and K.J. are up next, and see all sorts of shadows down dark hallways, and hear more noises. At one point they see a shadow as they enter a room, and never once consider that maybe it was their own shadows, from light coming in through the hallway and the opening door. Bad investigating, guys. “When in doubt, throw it out.” Remember?
They end the night, and Kris and Amy actually sleep in one of the supposedly haunted rooms, with a camera going. I’m a guy…two girls sleeping together in a room with a camera going…you can make your own jokes here. But I digress…
The evidence review didn’t catch much. There was one decent EVP, but I feel like the team got what it said all wrong. They all said it sounded like it was saying “Amy,” but I heard more of a “Help me” or something similar. It was not an “A” sound that you would hear with “Amy.” Plus, Britt & K.J. are the ones who caught it, so it doesn’t quite fit in the scheme of the EVP session.
Overall, I think I’m done with “Ghost Hunters.” I truly tried to give it a chance (despite my now jaded review!), and tried to give credit where credit was due, but I didn’t see much worth giving credit to. K.J. is way too impressionable, and he seems to be like the new Brian Harnois. The flashlight experiments could be interesting, if not entirely scientific, if they actually applied more standards to the experiments. (Our friends over at Para-Blog of the Paranormal Research Association of Boston discuss this and why it’s unscientific). I feel like the noises on the roof and in the attic should have been thrown out, because it could possibly have been animals. And with the one EVP they did catch, they told the client what it was before asking the client what they heard. Once that’s done, the client really can’t hear anything else.
I think we all appreciate what TAPS and “Ghost Hunters” has done for the field. Lost of groups have popped up, using more scientific techniques than had been used before. But to me, the show is now so mired in being entertaining, getting ratings, and cross-promoting other SyFy shows that I can’t take it seriously anymore. It’s become like all other reality shows, in that very little of it actually represents reality.
I totally agree with you Jay. I can’t make it through half an episode due to their unprofessional behavior – especially Jason, who seems to wear his embarassment and shame on his face. But, everyone known that when that much money is involved most people toss out integrity. I suppose selling out isn’t such a big deal when the Benjamins start flying around.
Remember which groups started all of this I’ve talked to Jason and Grant and have been to their talks at the colleges- they are and always will be for the people- no money changes hands and when there are kids involved their right there/ They have really opened up this field for anyone who has an interest in the paranormal- there are a lot of other shows out there that really stretch and make fun of this field- if it doesn’t interest you don’t watch it- there are plenty of us who do enjoy it!
Sharon, thanks for sharing your opinion. The whole point of my post was that I will not be watching it anymore
And I’m not alone, there are lots of people out there who are getting fed up with the show, and the more of us who tune out, the more likely the show is to be canceled. And actions speak louder than words. Jason & Grant get lots of money to talk at colleges, to tell people they are there to help people, especially with children, yet they aren’t doing that. They are too busy speaking at colleges, going to paranormal conventions, and investigating hotels and restaurants and other businesses that have nothing to do with families or children. I do give them credit in my post for opening this field up, but they are now puppets of SyFy. I have no problem with people enjoying it as entertainment. My problem is that a lot of people believe in what happens on the show and accept it as fact, when time and time again, it has been proven to be questionable at best and downright fraud at worst.
@Jason Stroming
Sounds like you are jealous of their success. I’m sure if you were the one that was hired by SyFy and was making all this money, you would be doing exactly what they are doing. Another thing; I seriously doubt the show would be canceled just because other ghost hunters don’t like their methods and won’t watch anymore. Did you forget about the general viewing public? Most people enjoy these shows, which is why there are so many on the air.
The “jealousy” accusation is one that is almost always flung at anyone criticizing TAPS or “Ghost Hunters” these days. The fact of the matter is that it’s not true. Before they became a “business” and started worrying more about ratings and entertainment than they do about helping people, I was a big fan of the show, and their success. I would (and often do) criticize any group that worries more about making money, going to book signings, etc., than helping their clients, regardless of their having a TV show. And I know that actual paranormal investigators tuning out is not enough to get the show canceled. For that, we would need the millions of naive and gullible viewers to realize that they are being duped and to tune out. It’s fine to enjoy these shows, but people who believe that this is actual “ghost hunting” are just fooling themselves.
Though I continue to watch “Ghost Hunters” weekly, it’s seems Jason and Grant are just going through the motions. However I have to say, I believe the show is better when Steve and Tango are gone to run the academy. Steve continues his diva ways, getting bent out of shape at any perceived slight. He also dismisses evidence out of hand, such as in tonights show at the Olson House in Savannah, Ga. The so called “thread or fiber” bears more investigation but Steve waves his hand and it’s rejected. The “Ghost Adventurers” use outside groups to confirm their evidence. Even if they had G.H.I review their tapes at least they’d have a second opinion, which is what they need to do. Another new segment is needed to break up the same boring weekly routine. That or go back to the obligatory butt shots of Kris Williams climbing steps or rolling up wires.
I have to agree with Jason Stroming on a lot of this – SyFy has pretty much ruined the show as I absolutely cannot stand celebrity ghost hunters! I also feel that Jason and Grant appear bored and are just there to be there – especially Jason. I also stopped watching the show as I couldn’t get past the fake collar tug on Grant’s coat. I don’t however, have a problem with the speaking engagements, book signings, etc. as I feel the interest is there and people truly want to see more of Jason and Grant – maybe, also that is part of their contract with SyFy. Pretty sad – it was a good show once upon a time.
@Kathleen Foley My feelings exactly. I stopped watching one year when they were doing that place where The Shining was filmed. Amanda Tapping was the guest. She and Steve started walking down a hallway. They got almost all the way down the hall and Steve looked up and asked if they had started filming. For some reason, he didn’t think they had. He and Amanda walked all the way back up the hall. Then they proceeded down the hall doing the exact same thing and saying the same things as before. It was all so staged and rigged. I stopped watching at that point and haven’t watched since. I was a huge fan when they first made the show. I felt it really had merit. I believe they sold out years ago.
That seems to be the breaking point for a lot of fans. I believe this Halloween special also featured the infamous “Grant coat tug” where he claimed his coat was tugged by some unseen force. They are TV stars now, not paranormal investigators. It’s sad, as you said, they once had merit.