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real talk Reality TV rising A&E resurrects ‘Ghost Hunters’ three years after Syfy canceled it By Breanna Henry TV Media Reality TV rising: I have watched many episodes of “Ghost Hunters” with my partner and our friends. While one of us laughs and attempts to explain the disproving science behind the hunters’ technology, another is searching the web for a place where he can buy it. I, on the other hand, am generally half- hidden behind my hands waiting for the creepy parts to end. These varying reactions to the show are a huge part of the rea- son “Ghost Hunters” was able to, despite criticism, cynicism and an entire society dedicated to debunking it, run for 11 success- ful seasons on Syfy, and remains one of the station’s most viewed series to this day. It has been three long years since the show came to an end in 2016, but on Wednesday, Aug. 21, A&E brings it back from the dead, with series alumni Grant Wilson leading a whole new team with brand new ghost-detecting tech. “Ghost Hunters” is about more than just hunting ghosts with EMF meters and Geiger counters. The show is about the dynamics of the team as well. A&E’s “Ghost Hunters” revival gave Wilson the chance to hand pick his new team members, and he’s grabbed the cream of the paranormal investigat- ing crop circle. Co-team leader Daryl Marston has been leading investigations since 2011; Kris- ten Luman is a hypnotherapist and the team’s biggest skeptic; Brandon Alvis founded the APRA (American Paranormal Research Association); Mustafa Gatollari is a people person who takes a journalistic 20 | Screentime approach; Rachel Stratton is a dental hygienist and mom of two who hunts ghosts on the side; and Brian Murray is an ex- military man and contractor who has put his experience to work in more than 200 investigations. “Ghost Hunters” is back from the dead after three years with a brand new season on A&E start- ing Wednesday, Aug. 21. Psychic skill set: A&E is prac- ticing a little bit of voodoo this summer. Not only has the net- work revived “Ghost Hunters,” it has filmed brand new episodes of a series that ended in 2010: “Psy- chic Kids” premieres right after “Ghost Hunters” on Wednesday, Aug. 21. If you have traumatizing memories of little Carol Anne reaching out her hand in “Polter- geist” (1982) like I do, there is no need to be afraid; “Psychic Kids” is a whole lot more “I see dead people” than “they’re he-ere.” In each episode, a child who claims to have supernatural powers is introduced to an adult with the same abilities. These unique skills can range from the ability to predict someone’s death to mind reading. The adult becomes the child’s mentor, teaching them how to control and develop their abilities. More importantly, these children are often teased or feel alone, and the adult mentor is able to show them that there are other people out there like them. Interestingly, rebooting a show that’s been off the air for nearly 10 years has rebooted some of the controversies that plagued the original — some critics believe this series is ex- August 14, 2019 | East Oregonian and Hermiston Herald ploitative and that the inclusion of impressionable children is irresponsible. In 2010, people were playing on the very first version of Ap- ple’s iPad, rocking “Beiber-hair” and listening to Train again, for some reason. While no one is doing any of those things anymore (hopefully), people are still downright riled up about “Psychic Kids.” Don’t ask them to spell “cryptozoology”: In 2017, Trap- per, Huckleberry, Buck and Jeff left Destination America viewers on a cliffhanger. The “Mountain Monsters” boys didn’t waste time middling about with your average cliff- hanger, though. They left us in the middle of a place called “The Dark Forest,” with items being forcibly pulled out of people’s noses in creepy abandoned den- tist cabins, and then they had the nerve to not return to television for more than two years! Finally, TV’s best pile of camo, beards and denim overalls are back, this time on Travel Channel, premiering Wednesday, Aug. 21. If you’re one of the people who have been holding out for a new episode to wrap up that wild cliffhanger from Season 5, you’re in luck. The new season premiere of “Mountain Mon- sters” promises to pick up right where they left off. And if you think this series is just a bunch of good ol’ boys leaving apples for Sasquatch, you’re definitely missing out. Even if you didn’t know how much the world’s most elusive creature loves apples (just ask any legitimate “squatcher,” and don’t think too hard about that term), you should know that “Mountain Mon- sters” brings you way more than just Bigfoot. Rachel Stratton, Brian Murray, Kristen Luman, Grant Wilson, Daryl Marston, Brandon Alvis and Mustafa Gatollari Late laughs Conan The hilarious Jim Gaffigan is here. I’m happy he’s here — I think he’s the only guy in show business whiter than I am. At Disneyland, a family was kicked out after getting into a violent fist fight. They were told to leave and come back on St. Patrick’s Day. The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon The heat was brutal all around the country. For the first time in years, ice cream truck drivers sold more ice cream than weed. This weekend was the 50th anniversary of the moon landing. It’s crazy, only 12 people have ever set foot on the moon, and no one has been there since 1972. It’s basically the JC Penny of space. Democrats are hoping Mueller goes out there and explains his written report on camera. It’s their way of saying to Americans, “We know you didn’t read the book, so maybe you’ll watch the movie.” Mueller was questioned by 60 lawmakers for six hours. The only time you get grilled like that is if you’re single at your family reunion. A pair of Nike shoes were just auctioned off for a record $430,000. One day, the buyer will show his kids and say, “These are the reason you couldn’t go to college.” The Late Show With Stephen Colbert So things are pretty bad here, but on the bright side, they’re also bad in other places. Take Great Britain. They just got a new prime minister: former foreign secretary and shaved muppet Boris Johnson. Special counsel Robert Mueller testified for six hours in front of two different congressional committees. It was a marathon. I know my nipples were bleeding. At a fundraiser this week, [Joe] Biden said, “I’m not going to be as polite this time,” and I’m excited for “Bad Grandpa 2: Biden His Time.” The Late Late Show with James Corden Twin brothers in Belgium were recently arrested after getting involved in a fight, but police couldn’t differentiate the brothers in the security footage. First, the authorities in Belgium thought it was one brother, then the other, then the one, then the other — it’s a classic case of Belgian waffling. According to researchers, donkeys living in England hate the weather over there. Apparently, donkeys really dislike wind and rain. Was this a study we needed? Did we ask for this? Nobody likes the weather in England! A company in Idaho has just developed the world’s first potato infused with cannabis. This is the first potato in history that bakes you. Jimmy Kimmel Live Bernie ran for president in 2016, and he’s hoping people are still feeling the “Bern.” Though, if you are still feeling that after three years, you should probably consult a urologist. Late Night With Seth Meyers T-Mobile and Taco Bell are running a promotional event this weekend called T-MoBell, which gives out free tacos inside T-Mobile cellphone stores. Not to be outdone, Arby’s just announced their new promotion, “Sprint to the Bathroom.” Today was Amelia Earhart Day. And people celebrated almost all the way around the world.
