1. International Reality Television
I’m not in to reality television all that much to know what shows have an international
version. However, my mom is a huge Ghost Hunters viewer and she actually has gone to
meet the cast multiple times. I know from watching a few episodes with her that they
now have Ghost Hunters international. I decided to sit down and watch an episode of
that with my mom so I can compare the two shows along with her help.
Ghost Hunters is an American paranormal reality show that first aired in 2006 on the
Syfy channel. Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson (the main guys) who were both Roto-
Router plumbers created TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) which was a group
they formed to go out to various locations and search for paranormal activity using
different electronic equipment. On their show Ghost Hunters, they go peoples homes,
business, or anywhere people tell them they believe there is paranormal activity and they
try to capture it using cameras, microphones, and other types of technology to examine
whether a place has paranormal activity. A typical episode of Ghost Hunters starts off
with a preview of what is going ot happen on the episode, then a background of the place
they are investigating. They set up a command center and put cameras and microphones
all over the site in question. Then they spend the night walking through the area trying to
communicate with ghosts. After they’ve surveyed the area and had some experiences,
they try to “debunk” what they found to make sure it “wasn’t just the wind”. Then at the
end they have “The Reveal” when they sit down with the owner of the property and show
them what they’ve found.
The show Ghost Hunters International is a show directly based off Ghost Hunters. In
fact, some of the main people on Ghost Hunters International, Brian Harnois, Donna
LaCroix, and Andy Andrews, were originally members of Taps and the original Ghost
Hunters.
When comparing the two shoes, the format is exactly the same for each. They both
introduce the area to the viewer, giving some basic background and history of the place.
They meet the owners and hear their stories of why they think the place has paranormal
activity so the guys know what to look for. Then they set up their equipment and
investigate. The equipment for the most part is the same with a few small differences in
quality and brands. At the end the have a sit down with the owners to show them their
discovers on tape or audio.
Some differences between the show would obviously include the location. The setting
is not in America on Ghost Hunters International. The vans they drive around in do not
say TAPS, they say GHI. Other than that, the format is nearly identical.
I believe both shows are set up the same way because it is targeted towards the
viewers of the original American version. Only now hopefully the want new viewers all
of the globe since they go to all these new international locations.
I really enjoyed this assignment. I actually did it today (mothers day) and being that
it’s my moms favorite show, she really enjoyed that I chose to write on it.
explain
similarities

2. and
differences
in
cast,
host,
production
values,
audience,
etc.
2.)
Provide
a
hypothesis
about
why
you
believe
each
similarity
or
difference
exists.