Ghost Hunters on the Sci-Fi Channel

Gotta love the guys and gals of TAPS on the Ghost Hunters TV show. Every week Jay, Grant, and their gang of paranormal detectives explore someplace haunted. Those places can be large like old sanitariums, or small like someone’s suburban home.

Yet no matter where they choose to do that week’s ghost hunt, each episode will follow a specific formula. The formula seems to work because they’ve been using it for many seasons now.

Each show opens with an exterior of the TAPS headquarters, a nondescript building with blacked out windows emblazoned with the TAPS name.

Jay and Grant are either out on a Roto-Rooter assignment and get a phone call from case manager Kris Williams or they are already in the TAPS office with Kris as she goes over that week’s case.

TAPS guys and gals throw their ghost hunting equipment into large black General Motors SUVs and drive off.

In route, they discuss the case over their speaker phones acting as if they haven’t discussed where they’re going and what they are to do before driving off.

Jay, Grant, and tech manager Steve meet either the property owner, or care taker, or tour guide.

Montage of cables being unwound, computers set up, cameras positioned. Lights out. Then a montage of fingers flicking off light switches.

Then the investigation begins. Now the show goes black and white. Someone feels cold. Someone else gets queasy. Weird sounds are heard.

Cut to a color shot of one of the TAPS guys explaining what an EMF is, or what an EVP is.

Back to black and white. Eventually Jay says, “let’s wrap this up.”

Montage of lights switched back on, cables wound back up, cameras and computers put away.

The next day, Steve and Tango go over the “evidence” that was captured. “No way!” one will exclaim while pointing at the computer screen. Cut to commercial break.

The reveal. Jay and Grant go over their “evidence” with the property owner, caretaker, or tour guide. We get to hear and see what made Steve and Tango freak out at the end of the last segment.

Jay will usually say something about how they can’t prove or disprove any supernatural events based exclusively on their “evidence.” So, that place could be or could not be haunted.

The property owner, caretaker, or tour guide, tells the home audience that they are glad that TAPS came by and now everyone feels much better.

Finally, Jay and Grant in the big SUV heading home. They feel good about how the reveal turned out. Then we hear an announcer say, “Next time on Ghost Hunters…”

But, you know, I do like the show. I really do. It’s fun to watch.

Ghost Hunters on Sci-Fi ***** out of 5