Remember our sneak preview of “Paranormal State”? From us to you, back in October:
From the network that brings you “Dog the Bounty Hunter” and “Gene Simmons Family Jewels”, A&E TV has a new show that just might interest some of our readers. “Paranormal State“, debuting in December, promises to be a riveting half-hour series “chronicling the extraordinary life of Ryan Buell and other members of the Penn State University Club The Paranormal Research Society (PRS) as they seek to find the truth behind terrifying real life mysteries, hauntings and ghosts.”
College kids and ghosts? How can you go wrong. Buell even looks like a poor man’s David Boreanaz. Just throw in some lissome co-eds and the requisite spooks and scares, and you’ve got a ratings bonanza in the making (at least for something on A&E).
Well, the drivel appeared on teh b00b t00b last night, and was pretty much panned in the media. The show itself may be cheezy to the extreme, but what makes us laff is still Buell. I guess every era needs a P.T. Barnum., right?
Did you catch it? Let us know what you thought.
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Related Area51.Org Posts: TV Preview: Paranormal State on A&E, Alive, Ghostbusting in the Sunshine State, Coming Soon
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December 11th, 2007 at 7:43 am |
I think even some religious(ish) people would find the show’s technique of attacking demons by dousing everything with holy water and dutifully marking invisible crosses on each window of the house more than a little bit hoaky.
Coincidentally, in both episodes after the main character (aka there are allegedly 5, 6 stars of this show but we only ever see one) drew religious symbols all over their houses they reported everything was magically better.
Also it was horrendously superstitious- I mean did you see the second episode with the whole bit about dreaming about a demon’s name? And that it was totally incapable of uttering the name out loud or else he’d start a terrible demon war on him? He admitted it really didn’t connect to the current case they were on but Lorraine Warren the old lady at the end shows up and tells him exactly what he already told us, that there’s some evil demon after him and to always be prepared. Is it just me or does that sound like they are setting us up for Ryan vs. the demon battles throughout the series and that was just the beginning of it? As if a reality show can actually contract a demon to continuously haunt the star- coincidentally started right when the show did? I mean come on, the whole thing was crud. Addictingly fun crud to watch because it’s all so bizarre, but still crud.
December 11th, 2007 at 9:16 am |
Great comment, Paul — thanks. I whole-heartedly agree. The demon thing seems more than a bit scripted. Too bad we can’t sick ‘em on America’s Next Top Idol or whatever. Demon on a leash that goes after reality TV personalities might be cool!