Is Ghost Hunting Really Reality TV?

The other day I saw that there is going to be yet another Ghost "reality" show on TV, this time on Discovery. Each and every October at least one new haunted house reality show seems to appear on my screen. Ghost Lab is the latest which follows a group of ghost hunters using high tech equipment. Um... isn't that like every other ghost show out there? I'm somewhat wondering why and how so many networks are turning to the "other realm" for ratings. Maybe it's the Halloween season they are trying to draw on or maybe it's people's fascination with the unknown. Let's take a look at some other famous Ghost shows and see how they differ, or if they differ at all.

Ghost Hunters

This is the granddaddy of ghost hunting shows. Airing on Syfy, Ghost Hunters followed the group of TAPS around their hometown area, helping people who may be haunted by ghosts. The show was amazing at the start as it showed real people being haunted but has turned in the past few years. I admit that I no longer watch Ghost Hunters, or it's spinoff Ghost Hunters International, simply because it's become too big. No longer do they focus on local residents or try to help out families whose homes seem to be overtaken by the unknown. That is what made the show, real situations being investigated. Now the show seems to always visit big name haunted landmarks, rather then helping. I'm not sure exactly what the TAPS team is up to now-a-days but I honestly don't care to watch anymore.

Most Haunted

Founded in England the show focused mostly on hauntings in their homeland. Since becoming popular in America, they have now morphed into investigating our haunts rather then their local manors. Most Haunted is shot in mostly night-time vision and features a host who love to scream. I mean it's great fun to watch, but most of the time it seems too staged to actually believe. Plus someone getting possessed almost each and every episodes doesn't help it's credibility either. I sometimes watch Most Haunted when it's in its LIVE format, but other then that it's left alone as it's reality just isn't there.

Paranormal State

I watched the first season of Paranormal State but haven't watched since, but from what I saw I really liked. It went back to the roots of Ghost Hunters and tried to help families who needed it. The show follows a group of college students from Penn State who formed their own ghost hunting team. They research and try to help families understand what they are going through while not screaming all the time. It also seems more real as they aren't on a high budget for equipment

Ghost Adventures

Probably the newest Ghost hunting show now on the air (until Ghost Lab), Ghost Hunters follows three friends who get locked down in mostly well known haunted locations. The show tries to get the backstory behind the hauntings, people and towns as well which gives it more of a documentary type feel. Once they actually do get locked down though is when the fun begins as Zak, the lead investigator, likes to scream at the ghosts. Only problem is they hardly get solid findings but usually when they do it's pretty amazing. I wish the show would spend more time reviewing the findings at the end, it generally ends too soon but overall it's a pretty good show, not sure if it's reality but it's a good Ghost show at least.

Ghost Lab

Not much is known about the newest haunting show but I found out about it while watching Dirty Jobs yesterday. The show seems to be much like other shows, just focusing more in the technology that is being used rather then ghosts themselves. I'm not sure how well it will go over as most people who watch ghost hunting shows are more there for the drama and actual ghosts, rather then the techniques and technology used. I'll tune in a few times, probably, but I'm skeptical on how exciting this one will be.

So there you have it, a quick review of some of the latest and greatest ghost hunting shows out there. I'm sure I missed a few so if you know of any others I should check out, leave a comment. Also if you have differing opinions on some of these shows feel free to comment as well. I know some of you love the old Ghost Hunters like me, while others will stick with it until the very end.