Paranormal television
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Paranormal television is a genre of reality television that purports to document factual investigations of the paranormal rather than fictional representations seen in traditional narrative films and TV. Over the years, the genre has grown to be a staple of television and even changed the programming focus of networks like the History Channel and the Travel Channel. By highlighting beliefs in topics ranging from Bigfoot to aliens, paranormal television continues to elevate popular interest in the paranormal.
History
Early precursors (1950s–1999)
Accounts of supernatural occurrences have always been common in the print media. The 1705 pamphlet "A True Relation of the Apparition of One Mrs Veal" by
It was followed 15 years later by
Unsolved Mysteries, which began airing in 1987 and ended in 2002, would feature paranormal cases from time to time, and further popularised the documentary aspect of paranormal television. Ghostwatch, a fictional news broadcast about a haunted house in the UK that aired in 1992, created controversy when a majority of viewers believed the televised show was real. Discovery Channel started to explore the genre with some success from 1996. The Fox Broadcasting Company aired a news-style oriented show Sightings which lasted for six years.
Reality Television (2000–present)
In 2000,
in 2003. To-date, the genre has grown into a staple of television.Syfy abandoned their focus on paranormal programming by 2015, and Ghost Hunters itself left the network in 2016 after 11 seasons. Around that time, Travel Channel moved completely into airing exclusively paranormal television series (the network initially centering programming around Ghost Adventures) frequently featuring ghost hunting, including series related to Ghost Adventures, as well as later productions featuring former Ghost Hunters members such as
Reactions/critics
Noting the recent trend in reality shows that take the paranormal at face value,
Los Angeles Times staff writer Ed Stockly wrote that "the paranormal/supernatural-investigation subgenre that has cropped up on cable television over the last few years, which includes Ghost Hunters, Destination Truth, Ghost Adventures, Ghost Hunters International and a few others" promises to "take a skeptical approach in its investigations and to rely on science to confirm or disprove paranormal claims. So far not one has been able to consistently keep that promise."[8]
Writer Diane Dorby proposes that paranormal reality TV shows provide "plausibility structures" that people use for "interpreting the meaning and experience of death".[9]
According to science writer Sharon A. Hill, "Paranormal reality TV shows are designed as entertainment for the curious, not science documentaries to discover truths. If the tempo is too slow it will be sped up by giving "reality" a boost".[10]
Programs
| Program | Original Run Years (Premiere–Finale) | Category | Format | Original Channel/Network | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6ixth Sense | 2002–2003 | Psychics | Living TV (UK) | ||||
| 10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty | 2014 | Cryptozoology | Reality | Spike | |||
| 13: Fear Is Real | 2009 | Paranormal | Reality | CW | |||
| A Haunting | 2002, 2005–2007, 2012-2019 | Ghosts | Anthology | Discovery Channel | |||
| Alien Encounters | 2013 | UFOs–aliens | Science Channel | ||||
| Alien Mysteries | 2013 | UFOs–aliens | Documentary | Discovery Channel (Canada)
| |||
| America's Psychic Challenge | 2007 | Psychics | Competitive reality | Lifetime | |||
| America Unearthed | 2012–2015, 2019 | Conspiracy | History
| ||||
| Ancient Aliens | 2009–present | UFOs–aliens | Documentary | History
| |||
| Ancient Mysteries | 1994–1998 | Paranormal | A&E | ||||
| Ancient Secrets | 2012 | National Geographic Channel
| |||||
| Ancient X-Files | 2010 | Paranormal | National Geographic Channel
| ||||
| Animal X | 2014 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | Discovery Channel | |||
| The Antiques Ghost Show | 2003 | Ghosts | Reality | Living TV (UK) | |||
| Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe | 1995 | Paranormal | ITV (UK)
| ||||
| Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World | 1980 | Paranormal | ITV (UK)
| ||||
| Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers | 1985 | Paranormal | ITV (UK)
| ||||
| Beast Hunter | 2011 | Cryptozoology | National Geographic Channel
| ||||
Beyond |
2005-2007 | Paranormal | Documentary | Canada | |||
| Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction | 1997–2002 | Paranormal | Anthology | Fox
| |||
| Beyond Reason | 1977–1980 | Paranormal | Quiz show | CBC Television (CAN) | |||
| Brad Meltzer's Decoded | 2010–2012 | Conspiracy | Investigation | History
| |||
| Celebrity Ghost Stories | 2009–2014 | Ghosts | Reality | Biography Channel
| |||
| Celebrity Paranormal Project | 2006–2007 | Ghosts | Reality | VH1 | |||
| Chills | 2012 | Investigation | (UK) | ||||
| Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura | 2009–2011 | Conspiracy | TruTV | ||||
| Creepy Canada | 2002–2006 | Paranormal | OLN (CAN) | ||||
Critical Eye |
2002 | Paranormal | Science Channel | ||||
| Crossing Over with John Edward | 1999–2004 | Psychic | SyFy
| ||||
Cuarto Milenio |
2005 | Cuatro (TV channel) (SPA) | |||||
| The Curse of Oak Island | 2014 – present | Pseudo–archaeology | Reality | History (Canadian TV network)
| |||
| Dark Matters: Twisted But True | 2011–2012 | Paranormal | Science
| ||||
| Dead Famous | 2004–2006 | Ghosts | Reality | Living TV (UK) | |||
| The Dead Files | 2011–present | Psychics | Travel Channel | ||||
| Deadly Possessions | 2016– | Paranormal | Travel Channel | ||||
| Decoding the Past | 2005–2008 | Paranormal | History
| ||||
| Deep South Paranormal | 2010–2013 | Paranormal | Syfy | ||||
| Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns | 2005–2006 | Ghosts | Reality | Living TV (UK) | |||
| Destination Fear | 2012 | Paranormal | Travel Channel | ||||
| Destination Truth | 2007–2012 | Paranormal | Reality | Syfy | |||
| Encounters: The Hidden Truth | 1994–1996 | Paranormal | news/documentary | Fox
| |||
| Enigma | 2005 | Paranormal | documentary | Vision TV (Canada)
| |||
| The Extraordinary | 1993–1996 | Paranormal | Documentary | Seven Network (AUS) | |||
| Extreme Ghost Stories | 2006–2007 | Ghosts | Documentary | ITV1 (UK) | |||
| Extreme Paranormal | 2009 | Ghosts | Documentary | A&E | |||
| Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files | 2010–2012 | Paranormal | Investigation | Syfy | |||
| MTV's Fear | 2000–2001 | Paranormal | MTV | ||||
| Finding Bigfoot | 2011–2018 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | Animal Planet | |||
| Fortean TV | 1997–1998 | Paranormal | Documentary | Channel 4 (UK) | |||
| Ghost Adventures | 2008–present | Ghosts | Travel Channel | ||||
| Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks | 2014 | Ghosts | Documentary | Travel Channel | |||
| Ghost Asylum | 2014–2016 | Paranormal | Reality | Destination America | |||
| Ghost Brothers | 2016 | Paranormal | Reality | Destination America | |||
| Ghost Hunt | 2005–2006 | Ghost | Reality | TV2 (New Zealand) (NZ)
| |||
| Ghost Hunters | 2004–2016, 2019–present | Ghosts | Reality | Sci Fi Channel
| |||
| Ghost Hunters Academy | 2009–2010 | Ghost | Reality | Syfy | |||
| Ghost Hunters International | 2008–2012 | Ghost | Reality | Syfy | |||
| Ghost Lab | 2009–2011 | Ghosts | Discovery Channel | ||||
| Ghost Mine | 2013 | Ghost | Reality | Syfy | |||
| Ghost Nation | 2019–present | Ghosts | Reality | Travel Channel | |||
| Ghost Stalkers | 2014 | Paranormal | Reality | Destination America | |||
| Ghost Stories | 2009–2010 | Ghosts | Travel Channel | ||||
| Ghost Trackers | 2005–2008 | Ghosts | Reality | YTV (CAN)
| |||
| Ghosthunters | 1996–1997 | Ghosts | Documentary | Discovery Channel Europe (UK) | |||
| Ghosthunting With... | 2006–2011 | Ghosts | ITV2 (UK) | ||||
| Ghostly Encounters | 2005–2011 | Ghosts | Documentary | Viva/W Network (Canada) | |||
| Ghosts | 2019 | Ghosts | BBC One | ||||
| The Girly Ghosthunters | 2005 | Ghosts | Space (CAN)
| ||||
| Great British Ghosts | 2011–2012 | Ghosts | Yesterday (UK) | ||||
| Hangar 1: The UFO Files | 2014–2015 | UFOs–aliens | Documentary | H2
| |||
| The Haunted | 2009–2011 | Ghosts | Anthology | Animal Planet | |||
| Haunted Collector | 2011–2013 | Ghosts | Documentary | Syfy | |||
| Haunted Encounters | 2012 | Paranormal | Reality | Biography Channel
| |||
| Haunted Highway | 2012–2013 | Paranormal | Investigation | Syfy | |||
Haunted History |
1998–2001 | Ghosts | Documentary | Biography Channel
| |||
| Haunted History | 2013 | Paranormal | Documentary | H2
| |||
| Haunted Homes | 2004–2010 | Ghosts | Reality | ITV (UK)
| |||
| Haunted Hotels | 2001–2005 | Ghosts | Reality | Travel Channel | |||
| Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories | 1991–1995 | Ghosts | Anthology | CBS, UPN | |||
| Haunted Towns | 2017–present | Paranormal | Reality | Destination America | |||
| Haunted USA | 2017 | Paranormal | Reality | Travel Channel | |||
| The Haunting of... | 2012–2016 | Ghosts | Documentary | LMN
| |||
| Haunting: Australia | 2014 | Paranormal | Reality | Syfy | |||
| Haunting Evidence | 2005–2008 | Paranormal | Documentary | Court tv
| |||
| The Haunting of... | 2012–2016 | Paranormal | Documentary | Biography Channel
| |||
| History's Mysteries | 1998–2006 | Paranormal | Documentary | History
| |||
| Hunting Hitler | 2015 – 2018, 2020 | Conspiracy | Investigation | History
| |||
| I Was Possessed | 2015 | Paranormal | Reality | LMN
| |||
| I'm Famous and Frightened! | 2004–2005 | Ghosts | Reality | Living TV (UK) | |||
| In Search of... | 1976–1982 | Paranormal | Documentary | Syndication
| |||
| In Search of Aliens | 2014 | UFOs–aliens | H2
| ||||
| Is It Real? | 2005–2007 | Paranormal | National Geographic Channel
| ||||
| It's a Miracle | 1998–2004 | Miracles | Ion Television | ||||
| Joe Rogan Questions Everything | 2013 | Paranormal | Syfy | ||||
| John Edward Cross Country | 2006–2008 | Psychic | WE tv
| ||||
| Khon Uad Phee | 2010–present | Ghosts | Variety talk show | Channel 7 Channel 5 (THA) | |||
| Killer Contact | 2013 | Paranormal | SyFy
| ||||
| Kindred Spirits | 2016–present | Paranormal | Reality | TLC | |||
| Knock Knock Ghost | 2016–present | Paranormal | Reality | OutTV (Canada)
| |||
| Lawrence Leung's Unbelievable | 2011 | Paranormal | Comedy | ABC1 (AUS)
| |||
| Legend Quest | 2011 | Paranormal | Live action | SyFy
| |||
| Leap in the Dark | 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980 | Paranormal | Anthology / Documentary | BBC Two (UK) | |||
| Living with the Dead | 2008–2009 | Ghosts | Living (UK) | ||||
| Long Island Medium | 2011–2019 | Psychic | Reality | TLC (TV network) | |||
| Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives | 2013 | pseudo–documentary | Animal Planet | ||||
| Mermaids: The Body Found | 2011 | pseudo–documentary | Animal Planet | ||||
| Monica the Medium | 2015 | Psychic | Reality | ABC Family
| |||
| MonsterQuest | 2007–2010 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | History
| |||
| Monsters and Mysteries in America | 2013–2015 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | Destination America | |||
| Most Haunted | 2002–2010, 2014–2019 | Ghosts | Reality | (UK) | |||
| Most Haunted Live! | 2002–2010 | Ghosts | Reality | Paranormal Channel (UK) (US)
Travel Channel | |||
| Most Terrifying Places in America | 2009–2010 | Paranormal | Documentary | Travel Channel | |||
| Mountain Monsters | 2013 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | Destination America | |||
| Mostly True Stories?: Urban Legends Revealed | 2002-2004 | Urban legends | Documentary | TLC | |||
| MTV's Fear | 2000–2002 | Ghosts | Reality | MTV | |||
| My Ghost Story | 2010–2013 | Ghosts | LMN
| ||||
| Mysteries at the Museum | 2010–present | Paranormal | Travel Channel | ||||
| Mysteries at the National Parks | 2015 | Paranormal | Reality | Travel Channel | |||
| Mysterious Journeys | 2002–2007 | Paranormal | Travel Channel | ||||
| Mystery Hunters | 2002–2009 | Skeptical, Paranormal | Documentary | YTV
| |||
| Mystery Hunters India | 2012–2014 | Paranormal | Documentary | Discovery Kids (Asia) (India) | |||
| MysteryQuest | 2009 | Paranormal | History
| ||||
| The Next Step Beyond | 1978–1979 | Paranormal | Syndication
| ||||
| Northern Mysteries | 2005 | Paranormal | Docudrama | Global Television Network | |||
| Nostradamus Effect | 2009 | Psychics | History
| ||||
| The One | 2008–2011 | Psychics | Competitive reality | Seven Network (AU) | |||
One Step Beyond |
1959–1961 | Paranormal | Anthology | ABC | |||
| The Othersiders | 2009 | Ghosts | Reality | Cartoon Network | |||
| Paranormal? | 2005 | Paranormal | Documentary | National Geographic Channel
| |||
| Paranormal Challenge | 2011 | Paranormal | Competitive reality | Travel Channel | |||
| Paranormal Lockdown | 2016–2019 | Paranormal | Reality | Destination America | |||
| Paranormal Paparazzi | 2012 | Paranormal | Reality | Travel Channel | |||
| Paranormal State | 2007–2011 | Paranormal | Reality | A&E | |||
| Paranormal Witness | 2011–2013, 2015-2016 | Paranormal | Documentary | Syfy | |||
| The Past Hunters | 2015 | Paranormal | YourTV (UK) | ||||
| Patrick Macnee's Ghost Stories | 1997 | ||||||
| Penn & Teller: Bullshit! | 2003–2010 | Paranormal | Documentary | Showtime | |||
| The Pet Psychic | 2002–2003 | Psychics | Animal Planet | ||||
Phenomenon |
2007 | Competition | NBC | ||||
| Proof Positive: Evidence of the Paranormal | 2004 | Paranormal | Reality | Sci Fi Channel
| |||
| Psychic Detectives | 2004–2008 | Psychics | Court tv
| ||||
| Psychic Kids | 2008–2010 | Psychic | A&E | ||||
| Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters | 2010 | Paranormal | Reality | VH1 | |||
| Rescue Mediums | 2006–2011 | Psychic | Reality | W Network (CAN) | |||
Ripley's Believe It or Not! |
1949–1950 | Paranormal | NBC | ||||
| River Monsters | 2009–2017 | Skeptical, Cryptozoology | Wildlife documentary | Animal Planet | |||
| Scare Tactics | 2000–2006 | horror/hidden camera | [Syfy] | ||||
| Scared! | 2002–2009 | Ghosts | Staten Island Community Television | ||||
| Scariest Places on Earth | 2000–2006 | Paranormal | Reality | ABC Family Channel
| |||
| School Spirits | 2012 | Ghosts | Documentary | Syfy | |||
| Sci Fi Investigates | 2006 | Paranormal | Reality | Sci Fi Channel
| |||
| Scream Team | 2002 | Paranormal | Reality | Living TV (UK) | |||
| Secrets & Mysteries | 1988–1989 | Paranormal | Syndication
| ||||
| Sensing Murder | 2006–2008, 2010, 2017-2018 | Paranormal | Reality | Biography Channel
| |||
| Sightings | 1992–1997 | Paranormal | News | Fox
| |||
| Spøgelsesjægerne | 2013 | Ghosts | Reality | Kanal 5 (Denmark)
| |||
| Stranded | 2013 | Paranormal | Investigation | Syfy | |||
| Strange but True? | 1993–1997 | Paranormal | Documentary | ITV (UK) | |||
| Strange Universe | 1996–1998 | Paranormal | News Magazine | syndicated television
| |||
The Successor |
2007 | Psychic | Competition | (Israel) | |||
| Survivorman Bigfoot | 2015 | Cryptozoology | Discovery Channel/Science Channel | ||||
| That's Incredible! | 1980–1984 | Paranormal | Reality | ABC | |||
| Truth or Scare | 2001–2003 | Paranormal | Discovery Kids | ||||
| UFO Files | 2004–2007 | UFOs–aliens | History
| ||||
| UFO Hunters | 2008–2009 | UFOs–aliens | History
| ||||
| UFOs Declassified | 2015 | UFOs–aliens | History (CAN)
| ||||
| The Unexplained | 1996–2000 | Paranormal | A&E | ||||
| The Unexplained | 2011–2012 | Paranormal | Documentary | Biography Channel
| |||
| Unexplained Canada | 2006 | Paranormal | Space (CAN)
| ||||
| The Unexplained Files | 2013–2014 | Paranormal | Documentary | Science
| |||
| Unexplained Mysteries | 2003–2004 | Paranormal | Documentary | Syndication
| |||
| Unsealed Alien Files | 2011–2015 | UFOs–aliens | Investigation | History
| |||
| Unsolved History | 2002–2005 | Conspiracy/Paranormal | Discovery Channel | ||||
| Unsolved Mysteries | 1987–1997; 1997–1999; 2001–2002 | Paranormal | Documentary | NBC; CBS | |||
| Weird or What? | 2010–2012 | Paranormal | History Television (CAN)
| ||||
| Weird Travels | 2001–2006 | Paranormal | Documentary | Travel Channel | |||
| Weird U.S. | 2004–2005 | Paranormal | Reality | History
| |||
| Wrestling With Ghosts | 2017-2018 | Paranormal | Documentary | ASY TV | |||
| The X Creatures | 1999 | Cryptozoology | Documentary | BBC | - | Conjuring Kesha | 2022 |
See also
References
- ^ "Alone in the Dark: An Oral History of MTV's Fear". 29 October 2018.
- AZ Central. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ John Blake (7 September 2013). "Ghost hunters haunted by new terror: competition". CNN. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
- ^ "A&E Network Returns to Paranormal Programming with New Shows Including the Return of "Ghost Hunters" with Original Team Leader Grant Wilson". The Futon Critic. June 26, 2019.
- ^ Wilson, Grant (October 30, 2019). "The season finale of @GhostHunters is tonight at 10pm ET/PT! What does that mean for the future of the show???? Watch the video and find out! @aetv #GhostHunterspic.twitter.com/8mlnO0cY8x". @grantswilson. Retrieved November 5, 2019.Wilson, Grant (October 30, 2019). "The season finale of @GhostHunters is tonight at 10pm ET/PT! What does that mean for the future of the show???? Watch the video and find out! @aetv #GhostHunterspic.twitter.com/8mlnO0cY8x". @grantswilson. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ "Mike Hale, Editor, The New York Times". New York Times Knowledge Network. Archived from the original on 2 December 2009. Retrieved 4 October 2010.
- ^ Hale, Mike (December 10, 2009). "Consigning Reality to Ghosts". The New York Times. Retrieved 7 January 2010.
- ^ "TV Skeptic: 'Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files' looks at the real 'Battle of L.A.' - latimes.com". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2011-07-14.
The show is a part of the paranormal/supernatural-investigation subgenre that has cropped up on cable television over the last few years, which includes "Ghost Hunters," "Destination Truth," "Ghost Adventures," "Ghost Hunters International" and a few others. Each promises to take a skeptical approach in its investigations and to rely on science to confirm or disprove paranormal claims. So far not one has been able to consistently keep that promise.
- ISBN 978-1-317-04218-1.
- ISBN 978-1-4766-7247-2.