Paranormal State Undermines Own Concept
A&E’s Paranormal State features a gang of attractive Penn State college students, who also happen to be ghost hunters, out hunting for, well, ghosts.
To promote the show A&E unveiled a billboard in SoHo with an unusually techie twist: speakers that blast sound in a concentrated area. When a passerby walks in the cone of sound they hear a voice as though it were inside their head, while someone standing right next to them would hear nothing. The idea is to present the illusion of having a voice inside your head. The thing is, the billboard presents something of a Scooby Doo moment…
The kids of Paranormal State, looking scary, yet attractive. Perfect for TV! (A&E)
In the Scooby Doo cartoons, for those who don’t recall or were too busy eating Scooby snacks to remember, the gang would travel in their psychedelic van to assorted “haunted” houses. Locals would swear that they were haunted, citing voices, apparitions, etc… Ultimately of course there were no ghosts, just creepy old guys in masks using special effects to trick people into thinking they were ghosts. And if it wasn’t for those meddling kids they would have gotten away with it too.
Having watched the first few episodes of Paranormal State, I am willing to say they are just as ridiculous as Scooby Doo was, and not nearly as entertaining. Some noises here and there, a cold spot or warm spot, some people swearing they totally saw something. Hell, they even busted out some “mediums” who not surprisingly found lots of spirits (have they ever not found spirits? If someone gave me a check I would tell them I felt a presence too).
This is why the billboard is so ironic: the ghostly effect created by the billboard is much more convincing than anything actually seen in the silly show… and no one is saying the billboard is haunted.
TV has been bombarded with assorted paranormal shows and all of them seem to lack that je ne sais quoi. The “ghost hunters” all of them amateurish (plumbers on Sci Fi’s Ghost Hunters, college kids on Paranormal State), at best seem to find drafty old houses. The most compelling footage seems to come more from the editing room than beyond the grave.
I bet if I put that sound emitting speaker in a house and said it was haunted, the ghost hunters would buy it hook line and sinker. Maybe we could even get We’s John Edward or Lifetime’s Lisa Williams to “speak” to the not-really-dead. So how about it A&E? That would be good television.
the man commented:
you people are all emo tards
parafan1775 commented:
As a fan of paranormal shows, dating all the way back to Sightings for those of you who remember(I was only a kid), I am extremely disappointed in this show. I cant stomach an entire episode, the last one I tried to watch was the "six" episode, and my oh my, if it that was real then pigs should be flying cause that was the biggest load of bs I have ever wasted my time on
lynn commented:
i watched the show until I seen the "six" show. it was so fake. she watched emily rose movie that said i am six.
jake commented:
i am like you in a way i have seen demins and i can tell war they are and war theyv been if you want to get a hold of me my number is 740-525-0099 and my aderes is 73 berry lane i live in maretta ohio
jake commented:
people think that there is so such thing but they are rong i have seen things you should only see in night mars i have seen fases i have seen figers i have ben thron on walsa i have been pusht i have ben tript
MARCIE P. commented:
Yeah, but it's good to watch when bored...
person3000 commented:
you guys are all tools. all of you. and dealt soul learn to spell you douchey idiot
Ryan Sucks commented:
Why don't you watch a real show, ghost adventures on travel channel. What is this dudes malfunction? Dead time what is that about 20 minutes? How come they never catch anything on film, they always hear something or see something but they never get it on video. I guess all you need for a ghost show on A&E is a digital recorder and someone to film you while you talk to yourself in the recorder. I hope they cancel this gay ass show
Wren commented:
At least they aren't making up cheesy, fake stuff like Most Haunted did.
we need help commented:
we have many orbs in this house unexpectedly.we are lookin for someone or people to look into this.we have many unexplained pictures.please e mail me at ewings27@yahoo.com and ill send you some proof of this.I will only send some pictures to professionals.please respond if you know what we can do.
Jeremy Dean commented:
Worst. Show. Ever. I've always had an interest in the paranormal... However, as I've grown older I've come to realize that "hauntings" are simply figments of one's imagination and always have a rational explanation. It's superstition. I understand that the show means to entertain, but c'mon - I can find more "evidence" of the boogie-man in my three-year-old nephew's closet. The only thing that frightens me about this show is that it's still on the air. It's like "The Real World" meets "The Blair Witch Project." Whatever gets the ratings I guess... Not for me.
xtina23 commented:
who cares if they cut clips and paste them together, and of course they're gonna tweek the show a bit to catch more peoples attention - but the stuff in the show does actually happen for the most part, and it's still entertaining as hell. weither you want to believe it's real or not, nobody really cares. you're allowed to have your own opinion of the show, but there's no need to attack the people that are a part of it. it's not necessary and i'll bet anything that if you had been givin the chance to do the show you wouldn't have turned it down. i myself have had experience in the past as well as lately that couldn't have been explained. not by a docter, and apparently i don't need a shrink. and i'm not trying to put anyone down by writing this, so maybe you shouldn't write stuff like that.
BleeO commented:
PRS is a young team working in a field that is primitave in available knowledge. In the coming years, they will mature into effective investigators. I'm a fan of the show, but HATE cheesy cliffhangers to cut to commercial and the other time waster.
GhoulGirl commented:
I can understand why you may not trust the crew from PRS. I do enjoy watching the show, but they never show anything that they state they have found or try to disprove any of the claims made by the people they are interviewing. However, do not drag "
Interesting commented:
Anyone else notice that half the time when they are supposed to be filming at night, they are actually filming during the day with their night-vision cameras?
It's very easy to tell the difference. Watch a little more closely next time.
Jena Tailya commented:
Paranormal State is a scam, their forum is full of whack jobs and it's looking more like a true cult as time goes by. Not to mention that Chip Coffey is a fake and a fraud! And he threatens to sue anyone that says so. LOL! I wish that he would! He'd never do it though. Know why? He's a FRAUD!
youngandgifted commented:
THEIR AGE HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THEIR EXPERTISE.YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY USUALLY MORE SENSITIVE TO PARANORMAL ENERGIES THAN "
Jacqueline Rush commented:
I believe in ghosts and paranormal activities, but PRS is just FOS. The recent episode was filmed right down the road from where I live, and little to say, I was told to shut up because I said I had heard the family was unhappy with them, I never said the family told me so. So they were all upset because someone said they didn't do their job...it pissed them off and they banned me from the posting of my own opinions on the forums.
Anyone know any ways to get them to either fix their act or get them off the air because they are a load of it lemme know
darjmc8589@yahoo.com
GhostMan commented:
Paranormal State.. worst crap ever.
cjb commented:
Great review! I've watched some of the shows, and while it seemed to me like it was a bit candy coated, it was an easy hour kill on Monday night. I stopped watching when the whole Belial thing started. Granted, I wouldn't call myself an "expert" but I can't see how a group of college kids with camera equipment are. Maybe if I bought a bunch of fancy equipment and got a group of "experts" together I could make a show too? Anyway, considering what reading and research I've done on my own, I think Belial has better things to do than follow this guy around.
Lauren commented:
The reason I do enjoy watching this show is because the group does do research about the houses and their previous owners. They do look up property records and research old newspaper articles. They also contact people who can give them insight on the houses histories, including interviewing family members, friends and long time neighbors. They also question the menatal stability of those claiming to be haunted, and occassionally do fail to find evidence of true hauntings.
historian commented:
I attempted to watch two episodes of this show---it contains plenty of of pseudo science, but very little actual investigation and research. They take eyewitness claims for granted, do not look up property records and descriptions, newspapers accounts, the origin of the stories that they are looking into. No polygraphs (which are themselves disputed), no imagination tests (to determine if people could be misinterpreting ordinary noises, sights, etc.) no looking into natural explanations for 'hauntings', such as the peltier effect, building structure and noise levels, water sources, electrical sources. There are interesting paranormal cases, but there's little credible analysis on this show.
PARANORMAL STATE SUCKS commented:
I'm laughing in hysterics about all the comments of "not understanding the dead..." This show does NOTHING to help me or anyone else understand the dead or the paranormal. It's a hacky show designed to score dollars for A & E and its producers. I doubt the children they call "experts" on this show (they frequently flash their field of expertise under their faces because you don't actually see them doing anything expert in the show - ever) even make enough money to make rent much less toothpaste.
AND IT'S DUMB! I love the paranormal field but am outraged that TV still treats it like a sleepover ghost story. GROW UP. And make sure your experts are GROWN UP, too!
Teacher commented:
The name of the show on MTV was titled "MTV''''s Fear". It lasted for a season and a half due to the unexplained phenomena castmembers endured AFTER their initial encounters on the show. A reunion show was aired between the end of the first season and the beginning of the second season where the former students were given an opportunity to speak about their experiences. Many of them admitted to being possessed by spirits or having a personal experience that led them to have more respect for the paranormal. It is my opinion that the general population fall into several categories regarding the supernatural: You have those who whole-heartedly believe, those whole-heartedly oppose, those who base their beliefs on that which can be proven, and the latter who could simply care less one way or the other. This is an age-old debate that will continue as long as humans continue to be the dominant species. It comes down to what you pesonally WANT to believe. Is their really life after death, or do we cease to exist completely after death?
what? ever commented:
CHUCK1: "IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEAD HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE LIVING"
That is the stupidest thing I've ever heard, ever... if that were true then we would all be pretty screwed would we? How do people like you make it out of high school, I mean really.
Rhys Hovey commented:
The billboard that is in use in NY for this series, is a simplified version of an ultrasound weapon that is used by organized crime to try to force people to kill themselves or very extended periods of time, pointed at their homes, and the FBI is not helping victims. This can be shown, please help spread awareness of this weapon. Give your children a choice. Learn about this crime from: www.youtube.com/rhyspaulhovey
maga7 commented:
You never know.
dealt soul commented:
Suckie review. How u gonna post a review on something you really dont have any idea what in true and not. Ever thought that some reviews like this will strike someone the wrong way, you know a bit discrimating on some religins.
arogers commented:
great review! but i dont think fred had a demon chasing him, so hes not as cool as ryan. of course you can say the name of the demon, but can flash it across national tv. It seems like a cheap way to strike the fear of god into people. sorry, but my bible makes a good door stop. not that im a non-believer, but give me objective proof. I would love to go with any ghost hunter group. I am willing to die, no joke, in the name of science to prove ghosts exist. currently the annual deaths per year for ghosts are ..hmm...0...sky diving on the other hand are 13 per year... ill take my chances with Belail. Please dont say the name, i dont want bad things to come to you. good entertaining show at moments, but scooby doo always has cooler plots and fewer crazies. the one thing i disagree with is you lack of mentioning the decently hot college chicks, who i believe are assistants in the background. new title for the show "hot chicks in haunted places". at least someone will watch then!
CHUCK1 commented:
IT'S FUNNY HOW COME YOU DON'T GO OUT THERE WITH THEM, NOW NOT EVERYONE REMEMBER'S BUT MTV (GIVE ME A MIN) HAD A SHOW LIKE THIS REMEMBER THE KIDS WOULD GO OUT AND SEE THE HAUNTED HOUSES WELL THEY PULLED THE SHOW BEACUSE THE KIDS BROUGHT BACK THINGS WITH THEM BAD THINGS REMEMBER IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND THE DEAD HOW CAN YOU UNDERSTAND THE LIVING I SAY YOU GO WITH THIS CREW JUST FOR ONE NIGHT AND MAYBE YOU WILL BE WRITING SUM THANG DIFFERENT... FACE YOUR OWN FEARS
mikem commented:
well said, weprin
Podblack.wordpress.com commented:
You're brilliant! Thanks for the best review yet, I've just blogged it. :)