Exclusive: Ghost Hunters Jason Hawes, Grant Wilson to reunite on Beyond Reality Radio

BY AARON SAGERS

It is one the more spirited and anticipated reunions of the paranormal world, and it's about to happen on radio. Grant Wilson, formerly of Syfy's Ghost Hunters, will reunite Monday, Aug. 1, with former cast mate Jason Hawes to kick off the former's new partnership with Entercom radio stations on his show Beyond Reality Radio.

Wilson's appearance marks the first time he will join Hawes publicly since leaving the popular reality-TV series in 2012 to focus on his successful tabletop gaming company Rather Dashing. Hawes, who remained on the show he launched with Wilson, announced the end of the long-running Ghost Hunters last month -- and currently co-hosts the paranormal-themed Beyond Reality with TAPS Paramagazine publisher J.V. Johnson. The reunion is set to celebrate the radio program's debut on Entercom, the fourth-largest radio broadcasting company in the U.S., which will continue to be carried Mondays through Fridays, 12 midnight-2 a.m., on stations KJCE/Austin, WRKO/Boston, WBEN/Buffalo, KEZW/Denver, WSKY/Gainesville, WYRD/Greenville, KMBZ/Kansas City, WWL/New Orleans, KNSS/Wichita and WILK/Wilkes-Barre. The show will also be available online on those stations' sites.

Jason Hawes joined me to discuss the reunion, and the new Beyond Reality home on Entercom. He also teases that Ghost Hunters will continue, though not on the Syfy network, following Season 11. While details on that remain to be seen, and no doubt involve a lot of negotiations, check out what Hawes had to say below.

Six Season Six Teasers Released for 'American Horror Story'

"Try to keep it dry."

FX has recently released six creepy (and some crawly) vague mini "teasers" for the sixth installment of American Horror Story. The series returns earlier than its normal late October premiere, with the first episode debuting on September 14.

We've always known the theme by now but what we can glean from the six teasers below is that there may be a connection to the "Murder House." It has also been revealed that it will take place in two time periods. Returning cast members include; Lady Gaga, Denis O’Hare, Cheyenne Jackson, Angela Bassett, Evan Peters, and Matt Bomer.

Check out the teasers and let us know your theories. Is that the Countess's baby with the most unsafe mobile ever? What's with the Texas Chainsaw Massacre allusion? More importantly, will you be tuning in?













-Larissa Mrykalo

Comic-Con Official Season 7 Trailer for 'The Walking Dead'

As per tradition, here is the first official Comic-Con trailer for the upcoming season of The Walking Dead and, needless to say, it's goosebumps-inducing. Aren't they always? I can type something about new characters, which character will meet Lucille, etc., but I know you just want to check out the intense action.

The seventh season premieres on October 23.



-Larissa Mrykalo

'Paranormal Lockdown' Announces Longest Paranormal Investigation Ever With Halloween Special

Courtesy Destination America

We realize it's only July and we're sweating off our orbs but it's never too early to start thinking about that glorious month of October and Halloween. Our friends over at Destination America are already rolling out the Ghostober announcements and we think you'll be pleased. So grab a pumpkin spice latte and check out the details from the press release they just issued about the "Paranormal Lockdown" Halloween special that will premiere on Friday, October 28 at 9 p.m. ET.

What notorious location will Nick Groff and Katrina Weidman be investigating? Read on.

Official Release via Destination America
(San Diego, Calif.) – This October it’s Halloween all month long on Destination America with a celebration of all things that go bump in the night. October – make that GHOSTOBER! – keeps the thrills and chills coming with week after week of premieres so spooky viewers will never want to leave the safety of their sofa. TV’s #1 home for paranormal programming delivers tricks and treats every night of the week during GHOSTOBER, culminating in a supernatural television event sure to scare socks off. From the network that delivered the first-ever live televised exorcism last fall, comes the two-hour PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN HALLOWEEN SPECIAL (wt), premiering Friday, October 28 at 9/8c only on Destination America.

New Paranormal Comedy, 'Ghost Team' Available Early on Google Play

If you've ever been on a paranormal investigation, you know what an absolutely hilarious endeavor it can be. Well, maybe.

If you want a good laugh check out the trailer for Ghost Team then, on July 21, get an early exclusive look at the film on Google Play. It doesn't hit theaters or other OnDemand platforms until August 12. The Oliver Irving-directed film stars Jon Heder, David Krumholtz, Melonie Diaz, Paul W. Downs with Justin Long and Amy Sedaris.

Official Synopsis via The Orchard
Determined to catch some ghosts on film, a paranormal-obsessed man mounts his own investigation into the beyond with his depressed best friend, misfit nephew, a whip-smart beautician, a cable access medium and an overeager security guard by his side.



-Larissa Mrykalo

Ghostbusters' Dan Aykroyd on reality-TV ghost shows

BY AARON SAGERS

In case you hadn't noticed, a new "Ghostbusters" movies hit theaters yesterday, and early reviews and box office suggests that bustin' still makes some audiences feel good (though others opposed to the reboot think it's as bad as the coming of Gozer).

But  love it or hate it, the new film is connected to the original in many regards, perhaps none more so than the involvement of Dan Aykroyd. Co-writer of the original movie, and executive producer (and vocal cheerleader) of the new film, Aykroyd even returns for a cameo.

However, the erstwhile Ray Stantz enjoys a special connection to the spirit world. He was raised as a Spiritualist -- a belief system that communication between the living and dead is a positive thing -- and he also has an extensive interest in UFO activity. His father Peter, a renowned member within Spiritualism, wrote a book called "A History of Ghosts," for which Dan wrote the forward. And of course Dan Aykroyd's paranormal interest, and openness about them, extends to his Crystal Head Vodka -- a spirit of another sort that he says is made of pure Newfoundland deep aquifer vodka filtered through Herkimer Diamonds, or polished crystals that are supposed to emit positive energy.

With the opening of the "Ghostbusters" reboot, I wanted to revisit a conversation I had with Aykroyd some time back about the popularity of reality-TV ghosthunting shows -- which receives a little mocking in the new movie -- and how it was impacted by his 1984 film.

Even though he said there’s a big difference between mediums, channeling and other Spiritualist beliefs he holds and “ghost hunting,” Aykroyd thinks the overall effect of such shows is positive.

“I think it’s great that people are employed. It’s giving work to people, it’s enlightening the public and it’s opening the subject up to discussion and debate.” He also added there is a parallel between the current paranormal trend in the mainstream and how Spiritualism was especially en vogue in the late-19th and early-20th centuries.

“Well now, with the digital cameras and all the electronic voice phenomena (EVP), people now have a lot more tools to go out and hunt this stuff. You know, virtually every county in America has a ghost hunting society.”

“But you know, as my dad’s book points out, there’s always been an interest in it because … it’s always been a part of our existence.”

A few years back, in 2010, things got pretty meta and mashed-up between real life ghost hunters and Aykroyd when the alter ego of the fictional Dr. Raymond Stantz joined his Spiritualist father on Larry King Live alongside busters Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson of "Ghost Hunters," and medium Chip Coffey.

Reflecting on that, Aykroyd said he sees a similarity between the gadgets, the special vehicles and the team dynamics of the reality-TV ghost shows and his own "Ghostbusters" characters.

“No doubt they’re inspired by us; I think so.” But as far as his own foray into the reality-TV ghost genre, Aykroyd will confine his work to fantasy, so there will be no guest spots on the shows.

Instead, you'll have to show up to the new "Ghostbusters" movie to see Aykroyd discussing strange happenings in the neighborhood.

Amy Bruni, a real Ghostbuster, weighs in on the all-female cast

BY AARON SAGERS

In a paranormal event to rival the Philadelphia mass turbulence of 1947, and the Gozer the Gozerian attack on New York City in 1984, a new Ghostbusters film is arriving in theaters on today. And this time, the bustin' will come courtesy of a cast of four women comedians.

After an incredibly long development process, director Paul Feig confirmed the date and appeared to announce his cast of previous collaborators Melissa McCarthy (Bridesmaids, The Heat), Kristen Wiig (Bridesmaids) and Saturday Night Live castmates stars Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones.

The new movie has largely won over critics, despite some fan push back. But original Ghostbusters Dan Aykroyd, Bill Murray, and Ernie Hudson make cameos in the film, and have thrown their support behind it.

But if the female cast gets a thumbs-up from a ghostbuster, how does the idea strike a ghost hunter? I reached out to Amy Bruni, a paranormal investigator on Syfy's 10-year-old series Ghost Hunters to find out.

Debuting in 2005, Ghost Hunters introduced many reality-TV tropes surrounding the paranormal, and remains one of the most popular. Bruni retired from the show last year following six years and 112 episodes as one of the only female cast members, and is still listed as an active member of the series on its Syfy site. She has also been a longtime organizer of paranormal conventions and is the founder of the Strange Escapes event company.

Bruni joined me in the interview below to discuss what she's excited about, or concerned by, with the new cast of Ghostbusters. She also offers some advice on busting ghosts, and how to do deal with being women in a ghosty boys club.



What was your initial reaction when you heard there was going to be an all-female Ghostbusters cast?

I definitely thought it was a stunt. Then I thought about it more and realized it was perfect. There was really no way they could fill the shoes of the original cast, or re-cast them with younger actors because they were just too iconic.

Would you prefer seeing these women as characters existing in the same universe as the other Ghostbusters, or as original characters in an entirely fresh reboot?

I think what would work, and what is most believable, is if this cast is in the modern-day and that the past team still exists. Some crossover of characters would be amazing. I'd of course love to see some sort of dedication to Harold Ramis. [Ramis died Feb. 2014, and Bruni weighed in with Huffington Post with how his death impacted the paranormal community.]

What are you most excited to see from this new cast, and are you hoping for some paranormal investigative authenticity?

I think some people would be surprised to know how authentic the original Ghostbusters movies were when it came to ghostly legends and theories. It is also sort of like Star Trek in that some of the things they used actually sort of came into existence later. ("PKE" meters in Ghostbusters = our EMF meters.) I would love if they actually took some of the devices paranormal investigators use today and put them in the movie. Let's face it, things like the Spirit Box, the Ovilus, Thermal Imaging Cameras? That could all be comedy gold. We're very easy to make fun of.

As a paranormal investigator, how are women typically welcomed in the field? Is it an all boys club?

I would say the paranormal field strongly skews female. When you attend a paranormal convention, you've usually got 75 percent ladies to 25 percent men -- keep that in mind, all you single paranormal enthusiasts! However, on television, the field is strongly represented by men and frankly, it's just not accurate.

In the years since the first Ghostbusters, there have been a lot of paranormal reality shows about ghosts -- with your show arguably being the most successful one. Would you like to see that genre reflected in the movie?

I feel they have to address the paranormal reality craze because it has become such a game changer in the field. I would love to poke fun at the TV investigator versus the die-hard old-school investigators. And they can poke fun at our equipment, or the fact that we pretty much never find ghosts. Like I said, we're easily mocked and if you're going to embrace the paranormal field, you sort of have to be ready to be made fun of. A lot.

Are there any changes you'd like to see made to iconic Ghostbusters imagery or, conversely, anything you fear (like pink jumpsuits)?

I love the Ghostbusters imagery. One of the first teams I was on actually used an old ambulance as our gear truck -- mostly because it worked so well for storing everything. I'm sure the jumpsuits will get a bit of an update. I hope not pink! I mean, if we wanted to really mock the paranormal community, they could get matching t-shirts with a team acronym on them, right? [Bruni's investigative team on Ghost Hunters was The Atlantic Paranormal Society, or T.A.P.S.]

Do you know the work of these actors, and if so, what makes them suited for paranormal investigation?

I'm a huge Kristen Wiig fan and seeing her name is what really sold me on this idea. She has a dry comedic style that I think will work great. Also, if any of these ladies need to consult with a real life female paranormal investigator, I'm just saying, but I'm available!

What advice would you give to the women of Ghostbusters about entering the field of the paranormal?

Ladies, you've got big shoes to fill. Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis wrote the original Ghostbusters because Aykroyd has deep knowledge and respect for the paranormal, and it shows in the final product. Do your homework and joke about us, but get to know the reasons and theories behind our crazy hobby. I look forward to watching!

(A version of this post originally appeared in Jan 2015)

Four real-life Ghostbusters who appear in the new movie

BY JAMES DePAUL
IG: @smartestadvertising

From busting ghosts on TV, to ghostbusting at Comic-Cons, the following list all have a few things in common. The first is that all of them have been inspired by the original "Ghostbusters" films, and now they can all say they were on set as extras to shoot with the highly-anticipated reboot of this popular paranormal franchise. If you believe in the paranormal, you might say these are the ones you can call if there's something strange in your neighborhood.

Brian Cano

Location: Staten Island, NY

Best known from: "Haunted Collector" (Originally on SyFy, now on Destination America)

How I bust ghosts: I don't bust them, but rather, I share their stories when contact is made - often all they want is acknowledgement.

How long have I been…: I've been investigating the paranormal since 2002 (A short, fun Ghostbusters video I did)

Social media info: Website: www.neverstopsearching.com  Facebook: Brian J. Cano  Twitter: @brianjcano

How do I feel about being in the new movie:  I told Paul Feig this when I saw him on set: "I was ten when the original came out.  It inspired me and today I'm a parapsychologist.  Prepare to inspire a whole new generation with your film."  I gave him my card and invited him to contact me about fact checking and for the word from the actual field.  I'm certain I was not the first to do so…

My favorite piece of equipment: Until a proton pack is invented for real, it would have to be my digital audio recorder.  EVPs have become my specialty

What part did you play in the new movie? In this film, I found myself
in the audience at the "Rock Revenge Fest," where the 'Busters make their first catch. It was a long, but fun, two days on the set. I'm going to have a hard time finding myself in the crowd, since I was put in five different positions, ranging from the balcony to the pit. It'll be like a paranormal, "Where's Waldo?"

How did Ghostbusters impact you? The original "Ghostbusters" inspired me to do what I do today and if you had told me back in 1984 that, not only would I be a parapsychologist investigating life after death when I grew up, but that I'd also be IN a Ghostbusters movie…that 10-year-old kid would have lost his mind! As an adult, I even worked within view of the firehouse used in the original movie and I always maintained, "If they ever do another one, I'm going to be a part of it." Mission accomplished.

At the end of my two days on set, I got a chance to briefly meet the cast and exchange a few words with Paul Feig. At first, I thought it best not to bother him, but when would I have an opportunity like this again? I told him that the first movie inspired me and is a big part of my life. "I am who I am today because of that movie, " I said, "Your movie is going to inspire the next generation. I hope you're prepared for that…" I then gave him my card and told him to feel free to contact me for any insight on actual paranormal investigations or for fact-checking on details to make it ring truer for a community that will be eyeing the film very carefully. He never reached out to me but he was very gracious about it and he seems a very nice man.

Rachel Hoffman

Location: Boston, MA 

How do you bust ghosts?:  I am the lead paranormal investigator for an all female trio is based out of Boston, travelling across America in search of ghosts. We pride ourselves in using new age and old age equipment to seek out proof of the spiritual world.

How long have you been busting ghosts?:

I've been busting ghosts all my life, but I made it official in 2010 when I created an all-female crew to up the game in the paranormal. We bring a totally different approach in a predominantly all male field, which is why the new all-female Ghostbusters is my dream come to life.

Favorite Piece of Equipment: The Ovilus 4, programmed with phonetics, and the English and Spanish dictionary..but that doesn't stop the spirits from coming through in Latin or other old age languages. We are also in tuned with our spiritual side and as a Native American, I have made it a ritual to close every investigation with sage and prayers.
How do you feel about being in the new movie?

It is a huge honor to be a part of this legend because after all I was deeply inspired to be a badass ghostbusters from the moment I saw the first movie. 

Social media: #PXP @ParanormalXpeditions, IG: @RachelHoffman916
Anything else you'd like to add?

We are currently working on a true crime series, "True Crime Paranormal," where we seek out ghosts that have been murdered and try to locate missing people by letting the victims guide us to their resting place.

Tina Storer

Location: Boston, MA

How do you bust ghosts?: My team, Paranormal Xpeditions, likes to use a mixture of new scientific equipment and old age techniques (pendulums, dowsing rods, sage, stones) to bring forth the best paranormal evidence. We love to learn the history of each location and use it to our advantage to really connect with those on the other side. As women, we bring the softness and spirituality back to the investigation. We are able to capture some of the most highly credible paranormal evidence there is out there.

How long have you been busting ghosts?

I've had contact with the other realm my whole life, but I've been "professionally" busting ghosts since Paranormal Xpeditions was formed six years ago in 2010.

Favorite Piece of Equipment: My Pendulum. Nothing makes the hair on the back on my neck stand up more than when I ask a question and get a real response in real time. To know that someone on the other side is communicating with you is an indescribable feeling. My second favorite, and probably the most unusual, is my voice. I like to sing on investigations and we get some amazing responses! I'll sing traditional hymns in chapels, old jazz standards at clubs that once hosted the greats like Billie Holiday, lullabies in nurseries, and our equipment goes crazy! Music is timeless and universal.

Social media info:

Instagram & Twitter: @tinastorer

Facebook.com/tinastorer

How do you feel about being in the new movie?

Being in the new movie is like a dream come true! Just to be part of the history that is "Ghostbusters" is truly an honor. How cool is it to be able to say that a real female ghostbuster is in the new female "Ghostbusters?!" I'm so excited to see a group of strong, diverse women kick serious butt and be represented as the leading roles. I can't wait to see that girlpower on the big screen!

Anything else you'd like to add?

When I'm not out busting ghostly activity, I'm out singing with my band, Super Fly, all over Massachusetts and working on recording music, vegan recipes, and makeup tutorials for my social media accounts.

Luna X Mars

Location: New York City
How do you bust ghosts?: Pizza traps for a Class V Full Roaming Vapor.
How long have you been busting ghosts?: 3 years

Favorite Piece of Equipment: My proton pack; It took me 2 years to build. It's my pride and joy! 
Social media info: @lunaxmars on Twitter and Instagram, www.facebook.com/lunaxmars
How do you feel about being in the new movie?: I think being in a Ghostbusters film is the highest honor I could hope to achieve. Being a part of "Ghostbusters" history is bananas. I'm so excited to share the fun we all had making the movie and I hope people have a good time watching it.
Anything else you'd like to add?: I've been invited to the Hollywood premiere of the film! I'm over the moon to be on the red carpet for the first time ever. It's nerve wracking and mind blowing, all at the same time.