Tag: TV shows

(Note: The following represents my opinions as of 2021. They  may change in the future.)

First, a brief history of ghost hunting tv shows

In the early 2000s, ghost hunting TV shows introduced ghost hunting to a wide audience.

Ghost hunting looked like fun. Or maybe a “good scare.” Lots of people wanted to try it, too.

So, this field expanded – practically exploded – almost overnight.  Everyone wanted to visit a haunted place and find ghosts.

But… many viewers were disappointed.

Ghost hunting wasn’t nearly as much fun as it had seemed on TV.

I’ve talked about this in the past, and – I’ll admit – ranted more than a little.

Here are my current thoughts about ghost hunting TV shows.

Recently, a news report confirmed what I’ve been saying… and more concisely (and perhaps with more authority) than I have.

The article is “5 Myths about Reality Television,” and it was in the Washington Post newspaper.

Here’s part of what the article said, with emphasis added:

With very few notable exceptions (like “Big Brother”…), most reality television is shot first over a period of days or weeks, then edited. A month in the field could be whittled down to 44 or 22 minutes of action. That way, the audience sees reality stars only in essential moments… Almost nothing airs exactly as it fell into the lens, but the final product is usually more or less what happened.

That’s true about many (not all) ghost hunting TV shows.

A typical one-hour episode might require three to five days of daily filming at the site… so you see about 10% (or less) of what really happened.

After filming, there’s editing. That makes the show compelling to watch.

Also, ghost hunting TV shows schedule cliffhangers immediately before each commercial break, even (or especially?) when what follows is a big letdown.

What viewers see are the highlights of an investigation.

When you watch a ghost hunting TV show, you don’t see time spent waiting while nothing happens.

“Nothing” can be most of what goes on, at many (perhaps most) ghost investigations.

1. We sit for an hour, and then something odd happens.
2. We investigate it and debunk it. Big letdown.
3. So, we sit or walk around for another hour.
4. And then – finally! – something creepy happens, and it’s memorable.

When we can’t debunk it, that’s what makes the wait worthwhile.

Ghost hunting starts with a good location.

Two things you should know:

1. The stars of ghost hunting TV shows don’t decide where to investigate or where to film. When it comes to locations,  producers usually make that decision

2. Most ghosts don’t perform on command. So, wherever a show is filmed, the location should be very, very haunted. The odds should weigh heavily in favor of at least something weird to happen during a full day of filming.

That’s the job of a location scout:

The producers rely on location scouts. That’s something I do: When a producer hires me, I’ll spend days (or more) looking for genuinely haunted places in a location that interests the producer.

The producer might ask for “haunted places around Tilton, New Hampshire,” if the producer also wanted to film at the famous, haunted Tilton Inn.

With that kind of request, I’d look for known haunts in the area, plot some ley lines to identify “hot spots” for ghosts, and — if I’m in the New Hampshire area — start visiting likely locations.

(But if a producer asked about that specific location, I’d tell them to read Rue Cote’s book, Ghost Hunting in Tilton, New Hampshire. I’m not likely to find any additional locations.)

Or, it might be a request like, “Find me some haunted hotels near Avebury, England,” and I’d dig into historical records if I’m not in the U.K. when the producer called. Then, I’d use maps and insights from British friends, and then start sending emails to prospective sites.

Location scouts know that many (or most?) ghost stories are more fiction than fact.

(If you’ve gone ghost hunting, I’m sure you’ve visited many places where absolutely nothing happened. It can be discouraging.)

As I said, the stars of ghost hunting TV shows rarely have much input. They go where they’re sent, and hope they find something ghostly. Or at least eerie enough to hype into a good, startling scene.

Nobody wants to have to rely on editing to make a scene look scary.

That means finding great, very haunted locations that are willing to let a film crew in, usually for three to five days.

Finding a site that meets those requirements can take time. Perhaps weeks. And some shows have rushed schedules. So, they film at “good enough” locations… and hope for the best.

Don’t blame the show’s stars when their investigation looks hyped. Or downright fake.

An encouraging trend among ghost hunting TV shows…

From my experience, most sites featured on TV shows are actually haunted places, even if the ghosts weren’t fully active during the filming.

Also, what viewers see is usually what happened… more or less.

Are ghost hunting shows getting more real?

Shortly before Covid, I saw a shift – towards almost radical authenticity – in some ghost hunting TV shows.

After an awkward controversy, Most Haunted regrouped and emerged among the leaders in this trend.

In fact, it’s looked like Most Haunted’s producers were eager to test show ideas (and investigation techniques) and go far out on a limb with fresh ideas.

For example, Most Haunted producers suggested they may air shows featuring outtakes. That’s a fun idea. (See @OnlyMostHaunted at Twitter.)

While more authentic ghost hunting TV shows – like Most Haunted – aren’t the adrenaline fuel of their fast-paced, highly edited counterparts, I like this trend.

I hope it continues.

2021 update: Okay. Some TV shows have reverted to absurd, extreme, and campy pretenses. Ick. That’s not real ghost hunting. We aren’t that gullible.

Others have returned to formulaic “ghost hunting.” Knowing many of the stars as well as I do – I’m raising an eyebrow. Their facial expressions suggest at least some of what they’re doing is just for the cameras. Learn more from Jason Gowin, former star of “Extreme Paranormal.”

Another problem: shows’ time limits

Ghost hunting shows are short— really short — compared with real-life ghost investigations.  What you’re seeing on the show probably isn’t a “real-time” investigation.

In the U.S., a one-hour TV episode is typically 37 to 42 minutes long, including the “reveal” (or summary) at the end, if you don’t count commercial breaks.  If it’s a 30-minute show, what you see is around 22 minutes.

The only sites I’ve investigated that rapidly are those that seemed too dangerous for research.

Usually, that had nothing to do with ghosts; instead it was about creepy people in the area, or imminent lightning strikes. (Vale End cemetery was an exception.)

My average, first-time visit to a verified, haunted site is probably 2 – 3 hours. Maybe a little more.

Later, I may revisit that location multiple times, and each additional visit can last several hours.

Or, if I’m familiar with a site and just checking to see what’s new, I might investigate for 45 minutes (the content of a one-hour TV show).

That brief ghost investigation is probably a follow-up visit, to debunk (or confirm) anomalies we previously encountered.  I’m revisiting a creepy room in the building, or a particular area at a battlefield, or a limited number of graves in a cemetery.

So, though the time problem isn’t exactly new news, I’m glad to see mainstream media mention the reality behind many “reality” TV shows. (Okay, they’re now calling them “unscripted,” since producers can tell the cast to say or do certain things, but there’s no actual script.)

Your paranormal investigations will be different

If you’re new to ghost hunting, don’t expect something startling every five or ten minutes.

Instead, arrive at events and investigations with low expectations. Lots of waiting may be required.

That’s a good opportunity for you to do a thorough (and sometimes repeated) “baseline yourself” check, so you’re always aware when weird things start happening at a haunted site.

What you see on TV rarely represents everything that happened at the site. I’d describe it as “ghost hunting without the boring bits.” (That’s a nod to Horrible Histories and Ghosts. I love their humor.)

However, TV shows can reveal the wide range of phenomena you might encounter at an extraordinarily haunted site.

Shows that emphasize real ghost hunting experiences… they’re well worth your viewing time.

You can learn a lot from them.

And, with their insights, you might be better prepared when you encounter something chilling.

Related podcast

Related articles

• Update: Are Ghost Hunting TV Shows Real? (2023 update)
• Baseline Yourself for Ghost Hunting – article and podcast. (The free worksheet will return, soon.)
• Are Ghost TV Shows Real? (Earlier, 2009 article)

Want to be ON a ghost hunting TV show…?

Also, search related keywords at sites like AuditionsFree.com, and – for the UK – Starnow.co.nz, TheStage.co.uk, and similar sites. (There are many.)

And, since so many TV shows feature creepy or gruesome “haunted mirrors,” here’s a short, honest video about seeing ghosts in mirrors, and where you might see one, yourself:

Learn more about ghosts and haunted places at my YouTube channel, Ghost Hunting with Fiona Broome.

In ghost hunting and the paranormal field, in general,  there are two very different approaches… and a broad overlap between them.

Entertainers appear in the media, and they’re paid guests at events and at “investigations.”

They are there to entertain you. They may be speaking from memorized scripts. If what they’re saying (or portraying on TV) is true, that’s nice… but not necessary, as they see it.

If you enjoy their performances, they’ve succeeded and their careers grow.  If they don’t, they fade away, reinvent themselves, or shift to another line of work.

They create an illusion so the audience suspends disbelief long enough to enjoy the performance.  That’s measured in TV ratings and tickets sold at events.

David Blaine is one of many entertainers who appear to be working mystical feats. He correctly describes himself as an illusionist.

Researchers look for breakthroughs in paranormal studies.  Their standard is integrity.

Most don’t care if they entertain anyone.

What they discover – and the tools and techniques that they develop – may become far more famous than the developers’ names.

Bill Chappell is the inventor of many brilliant research tools (often featured on Ghost Adventures). More people recognize the name of his inventions (such as the Ovilus) than his own name.

Me…? I’m a researcher, not an entertainer.  I say, “Fiona Broome” and people may look confused.  I mention HollowHill.com, and they suddenly recognize me.  (It’s nice when people recognize my name, but I’d rather have them remember my discoveries.)

Few are both researchers and entertainers.

Some researchers have been cast in paranormal “reality shows.” Some actors in those shows – with no prior research experience – became brilliant investigators.

But, in general, how someone seems on TV may be very different from how they appear in person… and how much ghost-hunting expertise they actually have.

I could list several “ghost hunting experts” from TV shows who, in real life, had little understanding of paranormal research.

I’ve also known several genuine experts who had more experience and integrity than viewers saw on related TV shows.

A few genuine researchers who’ve starred on TV shows

Both Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes began their TV careers as experience paranormal researchers. I’ve known them for decades, and have no doubt that they’re genuinely intrigued by ghostly phenomena. (See my article, Ghost Hunters TV Show… Fake?)

John Zaffis is a good example of someone who’s worked in both research and entertainment (The Haunted Collector).  He was a respected researcher and demonologist for many years before ghost hunting became popular. His joking manner can be entertaining… but he’s speaking from decades of genuine research.

Barry Fitzgerald has also bridged the gap between academic and scientific study, and the entertainment field (Ghost Hunters International).

Zak Bagans is another researcher who – at least partly due to the direction his research has taken – can be seen as an entertainer as well. I don’t agree with the risks he takes, but I respect his courage in researching sites I’d never visit for any reason.

They’re just a few of the many researchers/entertainers I’ve admired for their integrity and expertise in real life. (I mention them because I wasn’t thrilled with how they were edited for their respected TV shows. They deserve more recognition as innovative investigators.)

Have low expectations and you won’t be disappointed.

Before attending an event or public “investigation,” it’s important to adjust your expectations.  For the past 15+ years, I’ve said in my Guidelines for ghost hunters, “…if someone is charging you money as if they’re providing a show… perhaps they are.”

Keep in mind that there’s a difference between a con artist and an entertainer.  In most cases, the entertainer separates his (or her) role, on stage, from what’s true in his personal life.  The lines may blur, but there’s no fraud involved.

Sure, an entertainer may disappoint you with a poor performance, but that’s different from being a fraud.

Likewise, a researcher’s results may be disproved by later studies.  That’s not a con, it’s a normal part of trial-and-error research… there will be errors!

The vast majority of entertainers and researchers are good, honest people. They have every reason to be proud of their work.

The biggest confusion is when a TV show or movie presents an entertainer as an expert when he (or she) isn’t one in real life.

Or when people attend an event or public ghost hunt and expect every expert to be chatty and entertaining.

“Reality shows” can blur the lines. When you meet stars or researchers in real life, keep your expectations in check so you’re not disappointed.

Do you have a question or opinion on this subject? Please let me know in the comments form below.

Integrity is a researcher’s most valued asset. In paranormal research, it’s especially important.  However, since entertainment has become part of the paranormal scene, the lines have blurred between reality and showmanship.

“Fake!”

I hear that accusation far too often, and usually about the wrong people.

It’s true that there are fakes, frauds, and con men (and women) working in ghost-related professions.

More are sincere researchers, looking for answers to questions that have been around for centuries.

It’s important to know the difference.

Or, depending on your goals and interests, maybe it doesn’t matter.

What are your goals?

Entertainment

Many people enjoy ghost-related TV shows, ghost tours, dinner and stage presentations, and ghost-themed events.

If you’re looking for entertainment, keep your focus on the fun. Don’t worry how much of it is real or just a clever presentation.

In real life, ghost hunting is tedious.  The one-hour show you see on TV may have taken two to five days to film.  You’re seeing only the interesting moments.

If you’re at an event and just one or two people keep you entertained for an entire evening, as if it’s a show… maybe it is.

But, if you’re only there for the fun and an occasional “good scare,” does it really matter how much of it is real?

Disney’s Haunted Mansion attraction isn’t “real.”  However, many ghost enthusiasts – including me – wait in line for an hour or longer to enter that attraction, because it’s great entertainment.

If you’re at an event or watching a show to be entertained, judge it by the fun, period.

You Have a Question

Many people have questions about ghosts.

• You may want to know if there really is something after death.
• You may have had a ghostly encounter, and want to know if it was real.
• You may suspect that you’re psychic, but you’re not sure.
• Or, a movie or TV show scared you, and you want to know if that kind of phenomena is real.

If that’s what draws you to paranormal research, get involved with a good research group, or start one yourself.

Some TV shows*, stage presentations, and events lean towards “entertainment.”   In other words, they may be faking some or all of what you see.

Unfortunately, people who want to believe in an afterlife can be among the most gullible.

If you’re looking for answers to spiritual questions, keep these two points in mind:

1. You may never find absolute proof of an afterlife or ghosts.  “Clear evidence” for one person may seem ridiculous to someone else.  Only you can decide if you’ve found answers you seek.

2. Many seekers are vulnerable.  Become a skeptic.  Don’t confuse performers with genuine researchers.  Learn to tell them apart.

After you find an answer to your questions – or decide that there is no answer – you may lose interest in paranormal studies.

It’s okay to walk away from ghost hunting if (and when) it stops being interesting.  Don’t keep watching TV shows, paying for events, or going on investigations if they’re disappointing you.

If asked, say, “I found the answer that I was looking for.  It’s personal.”

And then, change the subject.

Or, once you feel as if you found what you’re looking for, you may be more interested in paranormal research.

You’re with a Friend and…

Sometimes, people  join a friend (or friends) at a ghost tour or a ghost investigation.  Soon, they’re involved in paranormal research, too.

Or, they go to an entertainment-style event, find it intriguing, and become a fan.

Remember why you’re there, and – before taking anything seriously – use your critical thinking skills.  Get educated.  Listen to believers and skeptics alike.   Both provide important advice.

Power, Fame, and Money

When any subject is featured on several TV shows, some people get involved for fame and fortune.

There’s nothing wrong with that, as long as everyone’s reasonably honest about it.

Most theatrical ghost tours and Halloween “haunted houses” are clearly fake.

As long as you remember it’s just a show, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying it.

Now and then, an entertainer will mix reality and performance.  More than one genuine psychic has been tripped up that way, feeling obliged to put on a show when nothing was actually going on.

Would you be happier spending $150 for a ghost hunt in which nothing happened all evening… or if a few people exaggerated their experiences, to give attendees a chill?

My advice for fans:  Treat ghost hunting like any other form of entertainment.  Some shows will be more authentic and more fun than others. Decide your goals – and your spending limit – ahead of time.

Entertainer or Researcher… or Both?

Among ghost hunters, psychics, and paranormal “experts,” some people are entertainers.  They can be tremendous fun, on- and off-stage.

Some tell wonderful stories.  They may also be moderately psychic… or good at convincing you that they are.

Enjoy that for what it is:  Great fun.

Others are serious researchers.  I’m one of them.

Frankly, we can be geeky, boring people.

However, if you can keep from nodding off when we talk about our latest projects, you may glean some useful insights for your own research.

People like me were paranormal researchers long before TV shows made ghost hunting popular**.  We’ll be here long after the fad is eclipsed by the next popular trend, too.

If you’re attending an event, listening to the radio or watching TV, ask yourself:

• Is this person an entertaining speaker presenting  reliable information?
• Is this improving your understanding of ghosts and ghost hunting?
• Or, is he (or she) putting on a show?  If so, is it entertaining?

Houdini wasn’t a “fake.” He was a performer.

The same can be said for modern-day stage magicians.  The fun (and the challenge) is figuring out how he or she makes it seem real.

The excruciatingly boring speaker at a conference probably isn’t “fake.” He or she is sharing research results.  If you thrill to news about scientific breakthroughs, the fun is examining the evidence to see if it’s helpful.  The learning curve… maybe not so much fun.

In general, if you know what your goals are, use them to judge the merits of the TV show, event, investigation or personality.

Fake?  That’s an issue if you’re looking for answers and a genuine encounter with the paranormal world.

A better question is whether you’re disappointed, and if the show, event or person is worth your time.

If you’re concerned that someone is a fraud, see my article, Scams and Con Artists.

*For many years, I defended Jason Hawes’ and Grant Wilson’s work on the Ghost Hunters TV show.

Today… I don’t know if they were set up, if they knew, and how much their contracts prevented them from admitting to it.

Editing can dramatically change how something looks.

** This website – first as Yankee Haunts and then Hollow Hill – has been online since the mid-1990s.

In other words, I can prove how long I’ve been professional in this field. My integrity – and legacy – are important to me. My articles are completely honest, though I try to be tactful, especially when talking about friends in this field.

But frankly, I’m terrible at lying.

Many of my readers are eager to be on TV, either in a ghost hunting TV series, or a more general paranormal TV show.

Here’s my advice from June 2012. Much of it still applies.

Here’s the LEAST you need to know.

Additional info

It can help to get general media exposure, first.

One of the main resources is Help a Reporter Out, aka “HARO.”

Remember, those listings are not screened or verified. You could be talking to some creepy guy with no media connections at all.

Never give out personal contact information unless you have confirmed the person’s professional references.  Call the network, production company, or publisher to verify the contact information for that person.

Got a job offer? Get everything in writing.

Make sure it’s very specific about what you’re expected to do, for how much money, and exactly when you’ll be paid.

Know the risks.

Another producer offered me a part on a new TV show.  She said it was going to be a serious, academic show.

The production company bought my plane ticket, said they’d reserved an upscale hotel room for me, and promised I’d have a full-time chauffeur during the filming.

Everything seemed ideal.

Then, right before I got on the plane, someone on the production crew blundered.  She told me the show’s real name. It was far from academic.

I cancelled.

So, make sure your contract says exactly which show you’re being filmed for.  Don’t give the production company (or the network) free rein to use your interview or appearance in any show they like.

Listen to the producers’ questions. 

• Are they too eager to believe your story?  Suspect false sincerity.
• Are they fishing for drama where they wasn’t any?  It’s one thing to build a good story that engages viewers.  It’s another to turn your experience into something far more extreme (and ridiculous) than it was.
• Are they digging for something to discredit you, or portray you as someone unstable?  Of course, producers want to avoid guests that could be a liability.

Jason Gowin (from Extreme Paranormal) said this after his confidentiality agreement had expired:

Realize that nothing you do on television will be safe from manipulation… Rest assured, you are there to make money for them, not be a beacon of integrity. [Link]

Pay attention to your gut feeling.

If something doesn’t seem right, maybe it isn’t.

Don’t expect fame for yourself or your paranormal investigating team.

Most TV shows avoid guests who might profit from a TV appearance. Producers may edit out anything that might help your career.  Expect that.

A paycheck is not guaranteed.

The producers’ (and the networks’) explanation is: A paid appearance could be misunderstood as a performance.

Many TV shows will get around this by offering to pay for your travel expenses and give you a “per diem” to cover additional out-of-pocket costs.

The per diem could barely cover meals from McD’s dollar menu.  Or, the per diem might pay for a nice big TV, to watch yourself later, when you’re on the show.

Generally, producers won’t tell you how much the per diem will be, unless you insist on it in the contract. Expect a tiny per diem, and hope to be pleasantly surprised.

If you’re going to be a cast member on a series, make sure you earn enough to cover your monthly bills.

I have a firm policy of not asking friends how much they earn from their shows.  I don’t want to know.  I already feel sorry for how much privacy they’ve given up, and how much they’re away from their families.

• According to rumors, many stars earned a low four-figures, per episode, sometimes working seven days a week and 10- to 12-hour days.
• I’ve heard that supporting cast members (not the two or three stars) earned about $500/episode. I hope I’m wrong about that.

You can be on TV if you really want to be.

If you’ve read this far, you probably think fame is worth the risks.

The first thing to consider is your strategy. Sometimes it’s easy to get on ghost-related TV shows. Sometimes, it’s easier to get on another kind of TV show, and use that as a credential to get on the show you want.  That’s why you’ll look at opportunities far beyond paranormal shows.

Start with the following resources.

Resources

I recommend HARO lists (linked above) and sites like RealityWanted.com (Sites like that appear and disappear rapidly. If you’re not dealing directly with the network, always be sure you’re talking with a reputable company.)

Also check network-specific webpages, such as casting calls for SyFy, MTV, ABC, VH1, TLC, HGTV, BBC (UK).

(You never know when a network will take an interest in paranormal programming.  I recall an episode of a food-related TV show where people competed by preparing ghost-themed cakes… and a real paranormal investigator was among the judges.)

You may find even more casting calls at production companies’ websites, such as Pilgrim (Ghost Hunters, etc.).

References

Get advice from experts.  Don’t leap into this field unprepared!  You may have just one chance to be on (or pitch) the show of your dreams.  Get it right the first time.

• The 2006 book, Get on TV, is still one of the most popular books on this subject.  It’s not specifically about reality shows. It teaches you how to build a career by being on a wide range of TV shows.  If being a TV star has been your life-long goal, this book is worth reading.
• If you’re interested in reality TV and you’d like to be a guest, a star, a producer or a writer, you’ll want to read Reality TV: An Insider Guide to TV’s Hottest Market.  This 2011 book gives you a good overview plus specific advice, and earns rave reviews from people in the industry.
• This next book is by the winner of Big Brother 10 (U.S.), Dan Gheesling:  How to Get On Reality TV.  And, since it’s a Kindle book, you can download and read it immediately.

There are other books about this subject, but those look most useful.