Ghost Adventures

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Ghost Adventures

Series title card
Genre Paranormal
Format Live-action
Created by Zak Bagans
Nick Groff
Written by Zak Bagans
Starring Zak Bagans
Nick Groff
Aaron Goodwin
No. of seasons 9
No. of episodes 99 (plus the 26 special ones not included in list) (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Daniel A. Schwartz
Joe Townley
Michael Yudin
Nick Groff
Zak Bagans
Producer(s) Zak Bagans and Nick Groff
Editor(s) Zak Bagans
Nick Groff
Location(s) United States
United Kingdom
(6 episodes)
Italy
(1 episode)
Canada
(1 episode)
Jamaica
(1 episode)
Romania
(1 episode)
Cinematography Zak Bagans
Nick Groff
Aaron Goodwin
Camera setup Multiple
Running time 42 minutes
(excluding commercials)
Production company(s) MY Tupelo Entertainment
Broadcast
Original channel Travel Channel
Picture format 480i (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
1080i (HDTV)
Original run October 17, 2008 (2008-10-17) – present
Chronology
Related shows Paranormal Challenge
Ghost Adventures Live (2009)
External links
Website

Ghost Adventures is an American television series about the paranormal that premiered on October 17, 2008, on the Travel Channel. Produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment, (a merger of MY Entertainment and Tupelo-Honey Productions),[1] the program follows ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin as they investigate locations that are reported to be haunted. The show is introduced and narrated by Zak Bagans.

Origin

Ghost Adventures began as an independent film, produced in a documentary style. It was filmed in 2004 and produced by 4Reel Productions in 2006. The Syfy Channel premiered 4Reel's Ghost Adventures on July 25, 2007. The documentary centered on the trio's investigation of alleged paranormal activity in and around Virginia City, Nevada. The crew returned there during the series' fifth season.[2] The film also featured the Goldfield Hotel in Goldfield, Nevada, where the crew later returned to during the series' fourth and seventh seasons and caught more substantial evidence.

Summary

Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin investigate reportedly haunted locations, hoping to collect visual or auditory evidence of paranormal activity. Each episode begins with the trio touring the investigation site with its owners or caretakers. These introductions typically include Zak's voice-overs of the site's history as well as interviews with people who claim to have witnessed paranormal phenomena there. On the basis of these interviews, the crew place X's with black or gray tape at the sites of some serious alleged paranormal activity. They later return to these spots in order to set up static night-vision cameras to try and film it happening.

After completing the walk-through they discuss their strategy, then lock themselves in the location overnight, which they believe will prevent "audio contamination". They use a variety of equipment, including digital thermometers, electromagnetic field (EMF) meters, handheld digital video cameras, audio recorders, the Ovilus device, point of view cameras, and infrared night-vision cameras in an effort to capture evidence of ghosts. The members sometimes place objects and shout verbal taunts they believe ghosts might move or respond to.

At the end of the episode, they analyze their audio, photographs, and video footage, often with the assistance of alleged paranormal experts, and present anything they feel is "unexplained phenomena" to the audience.

During the series, the crew claims to have captured and experienced various Fortean phenomena, which they say include simultaneous equipment malfunctions such as battery drain, voltage spikes, fluctuations in electromagnetic fields, sudden changes in temperature (such as cold spots), unexplained noises, electronic voice phenomena (EVP), and apparitions.

The crew also claim to have recorded spirit possessions on video. Bagans believes that he was possessed at the Preston School of Industry and at Poveglia Island in Italy. Groff claims that he was overtaken by a "dark energy" at the Moon River Brewing Company. Goodwin claims he was "under the influence of a dark spirit" at Bobby Mackey's Music World and Winchester Mystery House.[citation needed]

Cast and crew

The permanent[3] members of the cast and crew are Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin.

Zak Bagans

Zachary Alexander Bagans is an American executive producer, director, writer, musician and lead investigator/co-founder of the Ghost Adventures Crew (G.A.C.) organization. Bagans was born on April 5, 1977 in Washington D.C and states he grew up in Las Vegas.[4] He graduated Glenbard West High School in Glen Ellyn, Illinois in 1995.[5][6] Bagans attended the Motion Picture Institute in Michigan.[7] Following graduation from MPI, he moved to Las Vegas, aspiring to film documentaries. After arriving in Las Vegas, he found work as a wedding disc jockey.[8] A former skeptic, Bagans says that his passion for investigating the paranormal resulted from what he describes as "a face-to-face encounter with the spirit of a suicidal woman", which he says haunted his former apartment building in Trenton, Michigan.

Bagans has been criticized by some paranormal enthusiasts for the aggressive and confrontational methods he uses during investigations. In a June 2009 interview with Paranormal Underground magazine, he responded, "I don't want the public perceiving us as the taunting, provocative ghost hunters. We do that only to the bad spirits who we know are attacking the living."[9]

In 2011, Bagans hosted Paranormal Challenge, a concurrent spin-off program also on the Travel Channel, which also starred radio personality Dave Schrader. In 2011, Zak Bagans narrated and hosted a Travel Channel special called "Ultimate Travel: Legends of the Park." The show was about America's National Parks and how they are haunted.[4][10]

Bagans wrote a book with author Kelly Crigger titled Dark World: Into the Shadows with the Lead Investigator of the Ghost Adventures Crew (Victory Belt, 2011). On September 23, the book debuted on the New York Times Best Seller list at number 18.[11]

In 2012, Bagans appeared in two music collaborations with Lords of Acid on the song "Paranormal Energy" and on an album called "Necrofusion" with Praga Khan.[12] Bagans produced Paranormal Paparazzi, a reality show that premiered on September 28 but starred entertainment pundit Aaron Sagers.[13]

Nick Groff

Nicholas Groff (born April 19, 1980) is a co-investigator and executive producer of Ghost Adventures, as well as an editor and cameraman for the show. Groff was executive producer for a show on the Travel Channel called Vegas Stripped, a behind-the-scenes look at the operations of the South Point Hotel, Casino & Spa in Las Vegas, NV.

Born in San Jose, California, Groff grew up in New England. He graduated from Pelham High School in New Hampshire and later studied film at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he met Aaron Goodwin. At the age of eight he fell out of a tree in the yard of his family's home in Salem, New Hampshire, which Groff described as "a near-death experience". Two years later, while at home alone, he says he saw a ghostly black figure. In a 2012 interview, Groff questioned, "Was it my imagination? Or was it something from my accident that made me more open to that world?"[14]

Groff befriended Bagans during Groff's wedding in Las Vegas.[15][16] Groff claims he was possessed by an entity at the Moon River Brewing Company in Savannah, Georgia and says it was one of his "most life-changing experiences".[17] According to Groff, an encounter with a female spirit at the Linda Vista Community Hospital in East Los Angeles, California gave him insights into life after death. Groff was allegedly possessed in Natchez, Mississippi during the investigation of King's Tavern.

Groff released an album entitled The Other Side. The lyrics recall Groff's spiritual journey.[18] He also has a clothing line named "Phantom Collection".[19] As of 2012, he and his wife Veronique reside in New Hampshire and Massachusetts with their daughter, Annabelle.[18]

Aaron Goodwin

Aaron Goodwin (born April 1, 1976) is an equipment technician, camera operator, and co-investigator of Ghost Adventures. Originally from Portland, Oregon, as of 2012 he resides in Las Vegas.

Before joining Bagans and Groff, Goodwin had worked as a camera operator for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and several behind-the-scenes film premieres in Las Vegas.[20] Goodwin says that prior to his experiences in Virginia City, Nevada,[15] he "never really thought twice about ghosts." Goodwin is often left alone in the alleged "hotspots" during lockdowns to act as bait for supposed paranormal "entities".[21][22]

Goodwin sells a line of clothing bearing the label "Big Steppin".[23]

Recurring

The following people have regularly appeared in the show as part of the GAC:

  • Jay Wasley - Audio technician for the GAC: Recurring
  • Billy Tolley – Audio/Video analyst for the GAC and a founding member of the Paranormal Investigations of Mysterious Phenomena Squad: recurring
  • Mark and Debby Constantino – EVP experts and analysts: recurring

Notable guests

Ghost Adventures has involved celebrities who have participated in the investigations or appeared in the episodes as eyewitnesses:

  • The Real Hollywood Ghost Hunters – Paranormal Investigating Group: "Pico House" episode, including Kane Hodder, R.A. Mihailoff, and Rick McCallum
  • Brendan Schaub – UFC Fighter: "Peabody-Whitehead Mansion" episode.
  • Chad Lindberg – Actor: "Return to Linda Vista Hospital" episode. Chad allegedly received three scratch marks on his back similar to Zak at Bobby Mackey's and Aaron at Preston Castle
  • Vince Neil – Front man of Mötley Crüe: "The Riviera Hotel" episode.
  • Jamie Gold – Professional Poker player: "The Riviera Hotel" episode.
  • Bruce Westcott – Frank Sinatra's former pianist: "The Riviera Hotel" episode.
  • Loretta Lynn – Country singer-songwriter: "Loretta Lynn's Plantation House" episode.
  • Brit Morgan - Actress: "Glen Tavern Inn" episode
  • Mimi Page - Musician: "Glen Tavern Inn" episode

Series overview

Season Episodes Originally aired DVD and Blu-ray release date
Season premiere Season finale Region 1 Region 2 Region 4
1 8 October 17, 2008 (2008-10-17) December 5, 2008 (2008-12-05) August 18, 2009 (2009-08-18) N/A N/A
2 8 June 5, 2009 (2009-06-05) July 24, 2009 (2009-07-24) September 14, 2010 (2010-09-14) N/A N/A
3 10 November 6, 2009 (2009-11-06) January 8, 2010 (2010-01-08) September 6, 2011 (2011-09-06) N/A N/A
4 27 September 17, 2010 (2010-09-17) June 10, 2011 (2011-06-10) September 4, 2012 (2012-09-04) N/A N/A
5 10 September 23, 2011 (2011-09-23) December 16, 2011 (2011-12-16) February 25, 2014 (2014-02-25) N/A N/A
6 7 March 9, 2012 (2012-03-09) April 27, 2012 (2012-04-27) TBA N/A N/A
7 18 September 14, 2012 (2012-09-14) April 19, 2013 (2013-04-19) TBA N/A N/A
8 11 August 16, 2013 (2013-08-16) November 15, 2013 (2013-11-15) TBA N/A N/A
9 TBA February 15, 2014 (2014-02-15) TBA TBA N/A N/A

Episodes

Main article: List of Ghost Adventures episodes

Reception

The 2004 documentary film Ghost Adventures received several awards, including the 2006 Grand Jury Prize for Best Documentary at the New York International Independent Film and Video Festival (NYIIFVF).[24] Seasons 1 and 2 were released on DVD on August 18, 2009.

Occasionally conducting public investigations with fans and paranormal enthusiasts, the trio has appeared on Maury, Fox 19 News, NBC's Today, and TV Guide Network's Hollywood 411.[25]

In 2009, the series won three International Paranormal Acknowledgement (IPA) Awards.[26]

In 2010, the program won two Spooktalkular Parawards.[27]

Controversy

In the October 30, 2009 Halloween special Ghost Adventures Live at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, controversy arose when Robert Bess, inventor of the so-called Parabot Containment Chamber (said to attract and empower spirits using energy, giving them form), claims to have had an EMF meter knocked violently out of his hand. However, upon investigation of the video, it was found that he had actually thrown it.[28] On the November 6, 2009 follow-up Ghost Adventures Live: Post Mortem, hosts Bagans and Groff reviewed the video and concluded they couldn't claim any paranormal explanation for the incident.[28]

Broadcast

Ghost Adventures is broadcast in Australia on A&E Australia. The program airs on Travel + Escape in Canada. In the UK it is shown on Sky Living and Really (TV Channel).

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Weisman, Jon (March 24, 2010). "MY-Tupelo scores orders". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. 
  2. ↑ "Old Washoe Club & Chollar Mine". Ghost Adventures. Season 3. Episode 6. December 4, 2009 (2009-12-04). Travel Channel.
  3. ↑ White, Bryan (June 13, 2008). "Interview with Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans!". Cinema Suicide Entertainment. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Bagans, Zak. ["http://zakbagans.com/ "Zak Bagans Official Website"]. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  5. ↑ Bagans on classfinders.com
  6. ↑ "Excalibur Nightclub" Season 7 Episode 2–21 September 2012 Travel Channel
  7. ↑ "Ghost Adventurers Zak Bagans Salutes MPI for Igniting His Career". Motion Picture Institute. June 2012. Retrieved 2012-09-01. 
  8. ↑ Bagans, Zak. "Zak Bagans Official Website". Retrieved 3 April 2012. 
  9. ↑ Mannen, Scott. "Fear No Evil". 
  10. ↑ Twitter.com/Zak_Bagans
  11. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/best-sellers-books/2011-10-02/hardcover-nonfiction/list.html
  12. ↑ "host of "Ghost Adventures" and "Paranormal Challenge" on the Travel Channel. Author of Dark World". Zak Bagans. Retrieved 2012-12-24. 
  13. ↑ "Zak Bagans (@Zak_Bagans) op Twitter". Twitter.com. Retrieved 2012-12-24. 
  14. ↑ Copley, Rich (September 27, 2012). "Scarefest 2012: 'Ghost Adventures' host fell into his career". Lexington Herald-Leader (The McClatchy Company). 
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lawrence, Christopher (October 10, 2010). "Life on the Couch: Paranormal encounters spook 'Ghost Adventures' trio". Las Vegas Review-Journal (Stephens Media). 
  16. ↑ Meighan, Patrick (October 17, 2010). "Former Nashuan has successful TV series hunting ghosts". Nashua Telegraph (Nashua, New Hampshire: Telegraph Publishing Company). Retrieved 17 October 2010. 
  17. ↑ "Ghostly encounters from Moon River". Travel Channel. Retrieved 2010-05-01. 
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 BG (2012). "Nick Groff". Bryan's World – My Life and the GAC. Bryan's World – My Life and the GAC. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 
  19. ↑ phantomcollectionclothing.com
  20. ↑ Olsen, Eric (January 8, 2010). "Interview with Ghost Adventures' Zak Bagans". Blogcritics Video. Eric Olsen. Retrieved 9 February 2010. 
  21. ↑ Moye, David (July 26, 2010). "Haunted Hotel Spooks 'Ghost Adventures' Stars". AOL News (AOL). 
  22. ↑ Harris, Franklin (January 28, 2010). "Be a paranormal investigator". TimesDaily and the Decatur Daily (Alabama: Tennessee Valley Printing Co.). Retrieved 16 February 2010. 
  23. ↑ http://agoodwincollections.com/2011/07/big-steppin/
  24. ↑ "Los Angeles 2006 Awards: Grand Jury Prize". New York International Independent Film and Video Festival. September 2006. 
  25. ↑ "Ghost Adventures Crew: GAC in the Media". Ghost Adventures Crew. 
  26. ↑ "Winners for the IPAA Awards 2009". International Paranormal Acknowledgment Awards 2009. December 28, 2009. 
  27. ↑ "Parawards". Spooktalkular. March 5, 2010. 
  28. ↑ 28.0 28.1 WarriorLeonardo (6 November 2009). "Ghost Adventures- Cowboy Bob debunked". YouTube. Google. Retrieved 7 June 2012. 

References

External links

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