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.

Contents

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 Daniel Defoe is a well-known example. Paranormal television proper can trace its genesis to local TV news programs in the UK and US, which have featured ghost stories since the 1960s. The earliest TV show devoted exclusively to the paranormal was One Step Beyond which broadcast 96 episodes on the ABC network from 1959 to 1961. The stories were promoted as being based on actual real-life experiences, including historically well-known events such as sinking of RMS Titanic, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, and the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.

It was followed 15 years later by In Search of... , hosted by Leonard Nimoy which ran for six years from 1977 to 1982. Rod Serling was originally slated to host the series, but he died in 1975. In Search of... explored many paranormal topics, including UFOs, cryptozoological creatures (cryptids), lost civilizations, and other mysteries. Though the subject matter gradually lost popularity, the show gave way to future TV series following the same genre.

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, MTV's Fear premiered, merging nascent reality television with the storytelling of traditional horror films. The innovative show established the visual look, music and editing style of the paranormal reality television genre; most iconically, the format of investigators filming themselves with portable cameras as they become frightened exploring dark, unnerving environments. [1] By the end of 2000, shows inspired by MTV's Fear began production for a growing range of networks, starting with Fox Family's Scariest Places on Earth, followed by Murder in Small Town X in 2001, Scare Tactics in 2003. To-date, the genre has grown into a staple of television.

Ghost Hunters premiered in 2004 on Sci Fi (later Syfy) [2] [3] Sci Fi broadened into other paranormal shows, including Destination Truth . Ghost Adventures , another ghost-hunting program, which premiered on the Discovery Networks-owned Travel Channel in 2008, was the successor to a documentary film of the same name that aired on Sci Fi in 2007. A&E aired the prominent ghost-hunting series Paranormal State from 2007 to 2011, and History Channel began to compete in the general paranormal genre around this time with series such as UFO Files , MonsterQuest , UFO Hunters and the documentary special Ancient Aliens , which led to a successor series that began airing in 2010.

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 Kindred Spirits (2014–present) and Ghost Nation (2019–present). Destination America planned to compete with Travel Channel's paranormal programming (seasons 1-2 of Kindred Spirits aired on DA and TLC), but reversed course after it and TLC were reacquired by Discovery Networks during their acquisition of Scripps Networks Interactive in 2018. In 2019, Ghost Hunters was revived by A&E and aired a 12th season on the channel with a 13th season coming in 2020. [4] [5]

Reactions/critics

Noting the recent trend in reality shows that take the paranormal at face value, The New York Times Culture editor Mike Hale [6] characterized ghost hunting shows as "pure theater" and compared the genre to professional wrestling or soft core pornography for its formulaic, teasing approach. [7]

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

ProgramOriginal Run Years (Premiere–Finale)CategoryFormatOriginal Channel/Network
6ixth Sense 2002–2003Psychics Living TV (UK)
10 Million Dollar Bigfoot Bounty 2014 Cryptozoology RealitySpike
13: Fear Is Real 2009ParanormalRealityCW
A Haunting 2002, 2005–2007, 2012-2019GhostsAnthology Discovery Channel
Alien Encounters 2013UFOs–aliensScience Channel
Alien Mysteries 2013UFOs–aliensDocumentary Discovery Channel (Canada)
America's Psychic Challenge 2007PsychicsCompetitive reality Lifetime
America Unearthed 2012–2015, 2019Conspiracy History
Ancient Aliens 2009–presentUFOs–aliensDocumentary History
Ancient Mysteries 1994–1998Paranormal A&E
Ancient Secrets 2012 National Geographic Channel
Ancient X-Files 2010Paranormal National Geographic Channel
Animal X 2014 Cryptozoology Documentary Discovery Channel
The Antiques Ghost Show 2003GhostsReality Living TV (UK)
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious Universe 1995Paranormal ITV (UK)
Arthur C. Clarke's Mysterious World 1980Paranormal ITV (UK)
Arthur C. Clarke's World of Strange Powers 1985Paranormal ITV (UK)
Beast Hunter 2011Cryptozoology National Geographic Channel
Beyond 2005-2007ParanormalDocumentaryCanada
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction 1997–2002ParanormalAnthology Fox
Beyond Reason 1977–1980ParanormalQuiz show CBC Television (CAN)
Brad Meltzer's Decoded 2010–2012ConspiracyInvestigation History
Celebrity Ghost Stories 2009–2014GhostsReality Biography Channel
Celebrity Paranormal Project 2006–2007GhostsReality VH1
Chills2012Investigation(UK)
Conspiracy Theory with Jesse Ventura 2009–2011ConspiracyTruTV
Creepy Canada 2002–2006Paranormal OLN (CAN)
Critical Eye 2002ParanormalScience Channel
Crossing Over with John Edward 1999–2004Psychic SyFy
Cuarto Milenio 2005 Cuatro (TV channel) (SPA)
The Curse of Oak Island 2014 – presentPseudo–archaeologyReality History (Canadian TV network)
Dark Matters: Twisted But True 2011–2012Paranormal Science
Dead Famous 2004–2006GhostsReality Living TV (UK)
The Dead Files 2011–presentPsychics Travel Channel
Deadly Possessions 2016–Paranormal Travel Channel
Decoding the Past 2005–2008Paranormal History
Deep South Paranormal 2010–2013Paranormal Syfy
Derek Acorah's Ghost Towns 2005–2006GhostsReality Living TV (UK)
Destination Fear 2012Paranormal Travel Channel
Destination Truth 2007–2012ParanormalReality Syfy
Encounters: The Hidden Truth 1994–1996Paranormalnews/documentary Fox
Enigma 2005Paranormaldocumentary Vision TV (Canada)
The Extraordinary 1993–1996ParanormalDocumentary Seven Network (AUS)
Extreme Ghost Stories 2006–2007GhostsDocumentary ITV1 (UK)
Extreme Paranormal 2009GhostsDocumentary A&E
Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files 2010–2012ParanormalInvestigation Syfy
MTV's Fear 2000–2001Paranormal MTV
Finding Bigfoot 2011–2018CryptozoologyDocumentary Animal Planet
Fortean TV 1997–1998ParanormalDocumentary Channel 4 (UK)
Ghost Adventures 2008–presentGhosts Travel Channel
Ghost Adventures: Aftershocks 2014GhostsDocumentary Travel Channel
Ghost Asylum 2014–2016ParanormalReality Destination America
Ghost Brothers 2016ParanormalReality Destination America
Ghost Hunt 2005–2006GhostReality TV2 (New Zealand) (NZ)
Ghost Hunters 2004–2016, 2019–presentGhostsReality Sci Fi Channel
Ghost Hunters Academy 2009–2010GhostReality Syfy
Ghost Hunters International 2008–2012GhostReality Syfy
Ghost Lab 2009–2011Ghosts Discovery Channel
Ghost Mine 2013GhostReality Syfy
Ghost Nation 2019–presentGhostsReality Travel Channel
Ghost Stalkers 2014ParanormalReality Destination America
Ghost Stories 2009–2010Ghosts Travel Channel
Ghost Trackers 2005–2008GhostsReality YTV (CAN)
Ghosthunters 1996–1997GhostsDocumentary Discovery Channel Europe (UK)
Ghosthunting With... 2006–2011Ghosts ITV2 (UK)
Ghostly Encounters 2005–2011GhostsDocumentary Viva/W Network (Canada)
Ghosts 2019Ghosts BBC One
The Girly Ghosthunters 2005Ghosts Space (CAN)
Great British Ghosts 2011–2012Ghosts Yesterday (UK)
Hangar 1: The UFO Files 2014–2015UFOs–aliensDocumentary H2
The Haunted 2009–2011GhostsAnthology Animal Planet
Haunted Collector 2011–2013GhostsDocumentary Syfy
Haunted Encounters 2012ParanormalReality Biography Channel
Haunted Highway 2012–2013ParanormalInvestigation Syfy
Haunted History 1998–2001GhostsDocumentary History Channel
Biography Channel
Haunted History2013ParanormalDocumentary H2
Haunted Homes 2004–2010GhostsReality ITV (UK)
Haunted Hotels 2001–2005GhostsReality Travel Channel
Haunted Lives: True Ghost Stories 1991–1995GhostsAnthology CBS, UPN
Haunted Towns 2017–presentParanormalReality Destination America
Haunted USA 2017ParanormalReality Travel Channel
The Haunting of... 2012–2016GhostsDocumentary Biography Channel
LMN
Haunting: Australia 2014ParanormalReality Syfy
Haunting Evidence 2005–2008ParanormalDocumentary Court tv
The Haunting of... 2012–2016ParanormalDocumentary Biography Channel
History's Mysteries 1998–2006ParanormalDocumentary History
Hunting Hitler 2015 – 2018, 2020ConspiracyInvestigation History
I Was Possessed 2015ParanormalReality LMN
I'm Famous and Frightened! 2004–2005GhostsReality Living TV (UK)
In Search of... 1976–1982ParanormalDocumentary Syndication
In Search of Aliens 2014UFOs–aliens H2
Is It Real? 2005–2007Paranormal National Geographic Channel
It's a Miracle 1998–2004Miracles Ion Television
Joe Rogan Questions Everything 2013Paranormal Syfy
John Edward Cross Country 2006–2008Psychic WE tv
Khon Uad Phee 2010–presentGhostsVariety talk show Channel 7
Channel 5 (THA)
Killer Contact 2013Paranormal SyFy
Kindred Spirits 2016–presentParanormalReality TLC
Knock Knock Ghost 2016–presentParanormalReality OutTV (Canada)
Lawrence Leung's Unbelievable 2011ParanormalComedy ABC1 (AUS)
Legend Quest 2011ParanormalLive action SyFy
Leap in the Dark 1973, 1975, 1977, 1980ParanormalAnthology / Documentary BBC Two (UK)
Living with the Dead 2008–2009Ghosts Living (UK)
Long Island Medium 2011–2019PsychicReality TLC (TV network)
Megalodon: The Monster Shark Lives 2013pseudo–documentary Animal Planet
Mermaids: The Body Found 2011pseudo–documentary Animal Planet
Monica the Medium 2015PsychicReality ABC Family
MonsterQuest 2007–2010CryptozoologyDocumentary History
Monsters and Mysteries in America 2013–2015CryptozoologyDocumentary Destination America
Most Haunted 2002–2010, 2014–2019GhostsReality Living (UK)
Paranormal Channel (UK)
Travel Channel (US)
Really (TV channel) (UK)
Most Haunted Live! 2002–2010GhostsReality Living TV (UK)
Paranormal Channel (UK)
Travel Channel (US)
Most Terrifying Places in America 2009–2010ParanormalDocumentary Travel Channel
Mountain Monsters 2013CryptozoologyDocumentary Destination America
Mostly True Stories?: Urban Legends Revealed2002-2004Urban legendsDocumentary TLC
MTV's Fear 2000–2002GhostsReality MTV
My Ghost Story 2010–2013Ghosts Biography Channel
LMN
Mysteries at the Museum 2010–presentParanormal Travel Channel
Mysteries at the National Parks 2015ParanormalReality Travel Channel
Mysterious Journeys 2002–2007Paranormal Travel Channel
Mystery Hunters 2002–2009Skeptical, ParanormalDocumentary YTV
Mystery Hunters India 2012–2014ParanormalDocumentaryDiscovery Kids (Asia) (India)
MysteryQuest 2009Paranormal History
The Next Step Beyond 1978–1979Paranormal Syndication
Northern Mysteries 2005ParanormalDocudrama Global Television Network
Nostradamus Effect 2009Psychics History
The One 2008–2011PsychicsCompetitive reality Seven Network (AU)
One Step Beyond 1959–1961ParanormalAnthology ABC
The Othersiders 2009GhostsReality Cartoon Network
Paranormal?2005ParanormalDocumentary National Geographic Channel
Paranormal Challenge 2011ParanormalCompetitive reality Travel Channel
Paranormal Lockdown 2016–2019ParanormalReality Destination America
Paranormal Paparazzi 2012ParanormalReality Travel Channel
Paranormal State 2007–2011ParanormalReality A&E
Paranormal Witness 2011–2013, 2015-2016ParanormalDocumentary Syfy
The Past Hunters 2015Paranormal YourTV (UK)
Patrick Macnee's Ghost Stories 1997
Penn & Teller: Bullshit! 2003–2010ParanormalDocumentary Showtime
The Pet Psychic 2002–2003Psychics Animal Planet
Phenomenon 2007Competition NBC
Proof Positive: Evidence of the Paranormal 2004ParanormalReality Sci Fi Channel
Psychic Detectives 2004–2008Psychics Court tv
Psychic Kids 2008–2010Psychic A&E
Real and Chance: The Legend Hunters 2010ParanormalReality VH1
Rescue Mediums 2006–2011PsychicReality W Network (CAN)
Ripley's Believe It or Not! 1949–1950Paranormal NBC
River Monsters 2009–2017Skeptical, Cryptozoology Wildlife documentary Animal Planet
Scare Tactics 2000–2006horror/hidden camera[Syfy]
Scared! 2002–2009GhostsStaten Island Community Television
Scariest Places on Earth 2000–2006ParanormalReality ABC Family Channel
School Spirits 2012GhostsDocumentary Syfy
Sci Fi Investigates 2006ParanormalReality Sci Fi Channel
Scream Team 2002ParanormalReality Living TV (UK)
Secrets & Mysteries 1988–1989Paranormal Syndication
Sensing Murder 2006–2008, 2010, 2017-2018ParanormalReality Biography Channel
Sightings 1992–1997ParanormalNews Fox
Spøgelsesjægerne 2013GhostsReality Kanal 5 (Denmark)
Stranded 2013ParanormalInvestigation Syfy
Strange but True? 1993–1997ParanormalDocumentary ITV (UK)
Strange Universe 1996–1998ParanormalNews Magazine UPN, syndicated television
The Successor 2007PsychicCompetition(Israel)
Survivorman Bigfoot 2015Cryptozoology Discovery Channel/Science Channel
That's Incredible! 1980–1984ParanormalReality ABC
Truth or Scare 2001–2003Paranormal Discovery Kids
UFO Files 2004–2007UFOs–aliens History
UFO Hunters 2008–2009UFOs–aliens History
UFOs Declassified 2015UFOs–aliens History (CAN)
The Unexplained1996–2000Paranormal A&E
The Unexplained2011–2012ParanormalDocumentary Biography Channel
Unexplained Canada 2006Paranormal Space (CAN)
The Unexplained Files 2013–2014ParanormalDocumentary Science
Unexplained Mysteries 2003–2004ParanormalDocumentary Syndication
Unsealed Alien Files 2011–2015UFOs–aliensInvestigation History
Unsolved History 2002–2005Conspiracy/Paranormal Discovery Channel
Unsolved Mysteries 1987–1997; 1997–1999; 2001–2002ParanormalDocumentary NBC; CBS
Weird or What? 2010–2012Paranormal Discovery Channel
History Television (CAN)
Weird Travels 2001–2006ParanormalDocumentary Travel Channel
Weird U.S. 2004–2005ParanormalReality History
Wrestling With Ghosts 2017-2018ParanormalDocumentaryASY TV
The X Creatures 1999 Cryptozoology Documentary BBC - Conjuring Kesha 2022

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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