When I first heard that William Shatner was developing a new TV show for The History Channel that is to include paranormal subjects, I got my hopes up. Hey, maybe they will cover this stuff with the seriousness and respect it deserves. The description sounded promising, somewhat like Unsovled Mysteries: weird unsolved cases, paranormal phenomena, medical miracles and bizarre natural disasters. Alas, it is not to be, apparently. Shatner says about it: "We're looking at weird circumstances, but we're presenting them in a light-hearted, jaunty way. We're not taking ourselves too seriously." Great. Thanks, Bill. Why do it at all?
What we need, dear cable and network producers, is a well-produced, documentary-style show that covers these esoteric topics in a manner that is not demeaning, dismissive, or debunking for the sake of debunking. And we certainly don't need "light-hearted"; we get enough of that nudge-nudge-wink-wink attitude when the local newscasts cover a UFO or haunting report. And haven't we had enough of the "spooky" camera work and post-production effects that invariably clutter up every ghost and haunting program?
Currently, MonsterQuest does a pretty good job and A Haunting wasn't too bad (although from what I understand they tended to play fast-and-loose with some of the facts and evidence they presented). Celebrity Ghost Stories presents some fascinating stories, but suffers from annoying, repetitive editing and some of those dumb effects. But why can't we get another show like Unsolved Mysteries, Sightings or even In Search Of? As a matter of fact, why can't we even get In Search Of or especially Sightings of on DVD? Come on, Paramount, what are you waiting for?
Obviously, I wasn't able to list all paranormal documentary shows in the list above, so feel free to Comment below with your own favorite. (Documentary-type shows only, not reality shows such as Ghost Hunters or Paranormal State.)
Comments
I remember Dan Aykroyd having a show a couple years ago.
He actually takes the paranormal VERY seriously. I think him as the host of a Sightings or In Search Of show would be a perfect combo.
Sadly i would have to say that Destination Truth should be put in the category with Ghost Hunters and Paranormal State. Josh on Destination Truth consistantly goes to the guys from Ghost Hunters to “Validate” any documentation they gather. Ghost Hunters has been proven over and over to be hoaxed constantly. Therefor (even though i watch Destination Truth) I think it should be removed from Documentary status.
Arthur C Clarke’s mysterious world was the groundbreaking show in the field of paranormal research,giving honest accounts and sensible evaluations.
Sadly, I had heard that MonsterQuest was not renewed so no new shows…..Destination Truth is, IMHO, a joke and every show basically the same: travel to the edge of civilization, find some local who saw something, night hike with requisite, “Omigod! what was that?”Send samples off to “Microscopes R Us,” find nothing, promo next show. Yawn. I loved In Search Of” and yes, please networks, give us someone who may not be a true believer, but at least takes the research seriously. Shatner needs to take a long vacation at one of his Priceline resorts.
Seth – You’re right. “Destination Truth” should not be on this list.
What do you think about Ghost Adventure?
I liked ghosthunters myself for a good while…
I don’t think we will ever get a “good” paranormal documentary show, at least not anymore. With shrinking ad budgets, advertisers want shows that consistently bring in viewers. In the paranormal documentary genre that means investigations with positive results (the general public has become less patient and wants instant gratification and cheap thrills). If a show were to run responsible scientific investigations the results would largely be negative or at best inconclusive. The network would either quickly cancel the show or pressure it (directly or indirectly) into generating more exciting episodes at the expense of credibility (as you can see with many of the current crop of paranormal “documentary” shows currently on air). Unfortunately, we are not the networks customers, the advertisers are, and until the general public wakes up those of us that are truly interested in the paranormal will end up having the same “paranormal” cheap thrill filled crap foisted upon us. Here’s to hoping things get better, but I am not holding my breath.
‘We need a good paranormal documentary TV show’
Amen to that. Nothing but TV reality junik on the tube these days- You know it’s bad when the most popular paranomral show on TV is two plumbers using scientific methodology to tell us what they’re experiencing. Complete garbage. Unsolved mysteries was the best in my opinon, although to be fair I didn’t see some of them. But you left out the grandaddy of all- authur C clark’s Mysterious World/ Mysterious Universe. In Search of was just as early as Authur C Clarke although the show wasn’t very good.
Yes their needs to be a good paranormal show. their needs to be a show where the people on it do not seem like a bunch of teenagers goffing off. The show needs to take an intelligent approach. Where the basic questions are being asked, such as what is a ghost? This as you know is a hard question to answer. What are the main theories of what a ghost is. How do the worlds religions view ghosts. Their is a lot, that would make for great discourse on a show. We just need to dive down into this stuff more. Duke university has people that are professors of para psychology, put them on this show and have them give their theories. Their is a show on now where the guys on the show seem to have no intrest in asking the importent questions about ghosts.
we do need a new show.
‘Duke university has people that are professors of para psychology’
People are dying for a great show based on scientific methods (real methods and not the BS nonsense devices we see on the plumber’s ghost show). I’d like to see someone out to disprove and then coming across events or things that they say they have a hard time explaining. That’s what people want. Why doesn’t the TV stations realize that. I’d rather someone honestly (and I DO mean HONESTLY) investigate a haunted castle or place and say we didn’t really come across too much that couldn’t be explained, but this one event and this one event statistically seemed to be outside the probablity of chance. It would send chills up the back of my neck because I know it’s truth coming out of their mouth and not garbage to generate higher ratings. Aurther C Clarke said he didn’t believe in 95% of the stories he presented (including life after death), but when he agreed that something was possible it sent chills across my body, because I figured he’s a smart guy and wasn’t lying to me. He figured that many of the ghost sightings where people projecting the ghost from their minds, but EVEN THAT freaked me out when I was young because the reainactiments were done with the same people who experienced the paranormal even and they sure as heck beileived what they saw.
Yes there needs to be a solid, well produce paranormal show that goes after the important questions. To be honest, I don’t know why any self respecting ghost would even bother with the likes of the “Ghost Adventurers,” or “Ghost Hunters.” Anything in the afterlife must be more interesting than those guys!
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Can’t beat Ghost Adventures in my opinion. They have caught the best evidence I’ve seen.
Ghost Adventures isn’t listed…
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I believe that PBS would be the only way to go to make a serious documentary that looks at the paranormal. It would have to look at the more serious research done in the past and then bring it up to the present. People seem to take PBS more seriously, and PBS would be more likely to be true to the seriousness of the topics, without special effects — or HBO.
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