Sue St.Clair and Matthew Didier's Paranormal Blog

For those wondering if perchance the genre of "ghost reality-ish teevee" was really in the process of jumping the shark, well... we have the ramp, we have the water, we have the shark, and...

Now, three things sprung immediately to mind with these young ladies and this show...

#1: One has to wonder if a law suit from the original dreadful Canadian "Girly Ghosthunters" television programme will be en route shortly...

#2: When I first went to the site and saw "HM Girly Ghosthunters" pop up in the address bar, for a brief and terrifying moment, I thought they might have had a royal approval from Her Majesty!

...and #3...

This was inevitable.

Now, I will NOT be dismissive of this... and not for the male-hormone reasons one might imagine... but because these reality-ish television programs are both reaity-ISH (meaning not entirely real) and, more importantly, entertainment. They're meant to "sell soap", not really educate folks. If someone was to do a REAL documentary about ghosts and the act of studying/investigating/learning about them, although a properly done one would be AMAZING to folks like those who are readers of this blog, our sites, and many others, the vast majority of the public would be bored senseless. This is why the current (shrinking, thank God!) crop of reality-ish paranormal shows tend to "sex things up" with shutting down lights for no applicable reason, trotting machines that go "ping" without really using them properly (but they really look and occasionally sound cool!) and play up the whole "spooky-boo" aspect of things.

These ain't documentaries, folks... and most of it ain't real by any measure.

Keeping in mind that (honestly) in about ten business days, eight hours per day, I could train pretty much anyone of standard or even slightly below standard intelligence to not only be able to do pretty much everything portrayed in most para-reality-ish ghost television programming's version of an "investigation", but I could probably teach someone to be able to (at least) hold their own (read: be respectable) to most of the more educated elements within these studies and within general paranormal "academia" as well. Considering this, *IF* (and that's an assumption... probably correct, but bear with me,) these women didn't have an interest beyond a good horror flick on occasion prior to this show, they could be brought up to speed and effectively enlightening... if only via a script...

...BUT AGAIN, who knows! Perhaps they're all amazingly intelligent and well versed students of paranormal experiences/events who just HAPPEN to all look pretty astoundingly attractive with interesting and slightly shared career paths.

...or not.

So, considering the crop of shows that have come and gone, and realising that the ratings are starting to nose dive and interest is being lost faster than a bucket of questers in a casino for hyperactive people with high metabolisms and gambling disorders, what could they do?

They've tried "celebrities"... not so good... so, here we have a good mix of models, pole dancers, and burlesque performers... basic eye candy for the young males (and females) out for an evening's entertainment on the videobox.

Granted, one has to assume that with the news of this impending show, dozens of "would be" paracelebrities waiting for their own reality-ish teevee shows must be queuing up to leap off various tall structures because, as of now, you can't be a plump-ish or unsightly person to make money running about pretending to be far more knowledgeable on this subject whilst waving about any of the "scientific" equipment (or worse, religious artifact/whatever) that to the educated eye, the person wielding these items rather obviously has no clue how to properly use these implements...

...no...

..."mainstream" teevee is doing what it always did do, which is ONLY hiring the aesthetically pleasing to do entertainment for the masses.

In short, and as someone with a legit marketing background (pre-tech days) sex sells.

Granted, this isn't necessarily a "new" lesson as such... after the first few North American reality-ish programs made it small on the small screen on cable here, many cos-play (costume-play) groups launched basically mimicking these paracelebrities and even asking for recruits that weren't "frumpy" or were "photogenic"/"telegenic" and some even demanding portfolios and demi-audition videos... so it was coming... and when you consider, as stated, that not only are the ratings taking a bit of a pounding on these shows (with some already deep-sixed by their networks,) but the paracelebrities from them (at least in North America) are now doing live shows in bars and clubs, chances are things ain't so good down ghostly reality-ish teevee way.

No offense, fellas, but when you're career ends up on a stage with the words, "Try the veal!" being one of your closing lines (and not in a comedic sense,) I think it's safe to assume your days in this study are numbered... even off camera.

...and now, what you have left is up against Emma, Dani, Lisa, Elle, Stacie, Michelle, Cat, Jess, and Emma-Louise.

I mean, you guys are/have been on teevee... and even if you had a genuine interest at some point, how on EARTH will you compete for your main demographic when someone who has gotten, and I quote...

...a bit bored of the gym so I've recently started burlesque and cheerleading classes and when I'm not posing for the camera, filming or shaking my tassels or pom poms I can usually be found shopping, lunching or playing with my four dogs!

...as part of their CV!?!

This all said, do I believe this incarnation of "Girly Ghosthunters" will spur every lonely paranormal investigator's dream of a field filled with gorgeous girls as of now?

No... sadly, that's not what will happen if this gains traction.

What is more likely to happen will be loads of creepy guys hoping to lure "hot chicks" into ghost hunting... yup, let the slime trails begin!

I've always said this field has had more than it's share of cow-pats... I am now braced for the potential next big thing... and despite the televised appearances, that ain't a pretty thing.

THIS ALL SAID, in all honesty and from a strictly entertainment standpoint, I do wish this show well... and although the fact that it exists is an indication of these programs finally going the way of the Nehru jacket, it is also an indication that "popular" media is swinging these things to where, in my eyes, it really belongs... which with these teevee offerings, is "for entertainment purposes only". Enjoy the fun and visuals, but, in my humble opinion, take it with a grain of salt and know that chances are, it's not really teaching as much as entertaining...

...and oddly enough, I DO believe that's a good thing!

Those who might be genuinely interested in the subject beyond a veneer will (and do tend to) find other (more complete) sources for information on the study regardless, and those who just enjoy a good scare and the "spooky boo" stuff will have their shows... so perhaps this is what reality-ish teevee should become.

After all, as I said at the top, I thought it was inevitable.

Quick Note: Don't get me AT ALL wrong here... is it possible to be unbelievably good looking, intelligent, well versed, and a fantastic spokesperson for paranormal studies?

...and no, I will not say, "SURE! Just look at me!" as I've always felt I had a great face for radio...

...but YES. Indeed. It's very possible.

...and the "unbelievably good looking" part is becoming the only absolutely mandatory if you wish any sort of "paracelebrity" career.

This said, looking at *THIS* show (the one above) in particular, if they are all capable of complete understanding of all the potential arguments in terms of looking at experiences as being caused by psi, the "DPH", somehow multidimensional, and all points in between let alone the other aspects of these studies... I'll be honest... they're hiding it extremely well in their bios!