Ghost Whisperer

Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer.jpg
Ghost Whisperer title card
Format Supernatural drama, fantasy, thriller, procedural drama
Created by John Gray
Starring Jennifer Love Hewitt
David Conrad
Aisha Tyler (season 1)
Jay Mohr (season 2; recurring, season 3; regular)
Christoph Sanders (seasons 4-5)
Camryn Manheim (seasons 2-5)
Jamie Kennedy (seasons 4-5)
Country of origin United States
No. of seasons 5
No. of episodes 107 (List of episodes)
Production
Executive producer(s) Jennifer Love Hewitt
John Gray
Ian Sander
Kim Moses
Producer(s) Joe Dishner[1]
Running time 42-43 min.
Production company(s) Sander/Moses Productions (2005–2010)
Touchstone Television (2005–2007)
ABC Studios (2007–2010)
Paramount Television (2005–2006)
CBS Paramount Television (2006–2009)
CBS Television Studios (2009–2010)
Broadcast
Original channel CBS
Picture format 480i (SDTV),
1080i (HDTV)
Original run September 23, 2005 – May 21, 2010
Status Canceled/Ended
External links
Official website

Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.[2]

The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts. While trying to live as normal a life as possible—she is married and owns an antique store—Melinda helps earthbound spirits resolve their problems and cross over into the Light, or the spirit world. Her tasks are difficult and at times she struggles with people who push her away and disbelieve her ability. In addition, the ghosts are mysterious and sometimes menacing in the beginning and Melinda must use the clues available to her to understand the spirit's needs and help them. [3] The show was created by John Gray and was produced by Sander/Moses Productions, in association with ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios.[4] On May 18, 2010, CBS cancelled the show after five seasons.[5]

Contents

Premise

Melinda Gordon is a young woman from the fictional town of Grandview, New York who has the ability to see and communicate with the dead. Melinda lives with her husband Jim Clancy. She is the owner of an antique shop called "Same as it Never Was." Ghosts seek Melinda's help in relaying a message or completing a task that will put the spirit to rest, and allow them to cross over into The Light (which is possibly Heaven). Those who died with unfinished business become earth-bound and can not cross over, and Melinda, as their earthly representative, helps them to find peace. The show does not present the ghosts as having sinned; rather it is the spirits' own guilt that condemns them, and their own fear of judgement that keeps them from "crossing over" into an afterlife.

The first season introduces Romano, a former cult leader from Europe who influenced his followers to commit a mass suicide in 1939. His own suicide transformed him into an earth-bound negative entity. Romano attempts to do the exact opposite of Melinda and gather earth-bound souls and prevent them from crossing over into The Light. Melinda and Romano struggle over the 300 souls of people who die in a airplane crash in Grandview. Melinda also suffers a huge personal loss at the end of the season as her best friend, Andrea (Aisha Tyler), dies when her car is caught in the path of the crashing plane.

In the second season, Melinda meets Delia Banks, her son Ned Banks, and Professor Rick Payne, all of whom, by season's end, come to learn of Melinda's ability, with varying reactions. Delia remains slightly skeptical. The second season revolves around the thinning veil between the living and the dead. Melinda meets Gabriel, who has similar abilities to hers. But Gabriel is working for the Shadows (as yet unnamed) and working to make sure that ghosts do not cross over into The Light, and in fact is working to block The Light from all ghosts.

In the third season, Melinda searches in her family history for answers as she gets closer and closer to learning the secret of her gift, her childhood, and her father. Melinda also finds out Gabriel is her half-brother. He is the son of Tom Gordon (Melinda's father).

In the fourth season, Melinda meets Eli James after a fire at Rockland University and who, after his own near-death experience, develops the ability to listen to ghosts. Melinda says goodbye to her close friend Rick Payne, who leaves Grandview on a research trip for the university. In this season, Jim is shot and killed. He does not "cross over" because he does not want to leave Melinda, and his spirit later enters the body of a man who died in an accident. When the man regains consciousness, he has no memory of being Jim. Melinda works to get him to remember, and succeeds after much difficulty and skepticism on the part of her friends.

In the fifth season, we are introduced to Jim and Melinda's son, Aiden Lucas. Melinda sometimes worries about her son, because he is destined to be more powerful than she is. He can see the "Shinies and the Shadows." Melinda, Ned, and Eli, with the frequent help of Delia, work to keep the Book of Changes, a mystical object, safe from the Shadows.

Production

Development

Ghost Whisperer is based on the work of "Spirit Communicator" James Van Praagh,[6] who is co-executive producer[7] and regularly updates a blog about the show through LivingTV.[8] The stories are also said to be based in part on the work of "Spirit Communicator" Mary Ann Winkowski.[9] Development of the show dates back to at least two years before its premiere.[10]

The show was produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with CBS Television Studios (originally Paramount Network Television in season one and ABC Studios (originally Touchstone Television in the first two seasons) and CBS Paramount Network Television in seasons two and three).

The show was filmed on the Universal Studios back lot in Los Angeles.[11] One area on the lot is Courthouse Square from the Back to the Future trilogy, though it has been drastically modified to depict Grandview. For example, the clock tower in Back to the Future has been completely covered up. Cast and crew members believe that the set gets visits from real spirits.[12]

Sound effects were completed at Smart Post Sound.[13] Visual effects for the pilot and some season one episodes were completed at Flash Film Works.[14] Visual effects for nearly the entire series were created at Eden FX.[15]

Creator John Gray grew up in Brooklyn, New York, which is not far from Grandview-On-Hudson, west of the Hudson River. Piermont is often referenced in episodes as the neighboring town, which is accurate to real life as Grandview-On-Hudson is actually located just north of Piermont. Professor Rick Payne worked in the fictional "Rockland University," and perhaps not coincidentally, the actual Grandview, New York is a village located in Rockland County, New York.

Cast

Actor Role
Jennifer Love Hewitt Melinda Gordon
David Conrad Jim Clancy / Sam Lucas
Aisha Tyler Andrea Marino
Jay Mohr Rick Payne
Camryn Manheim Delia Banks
Tyler Patrick Jones/Christoph Sanders Ned Banks
Jamie Kennedy Eli James
Connor Gibbs Aiden Lucas

Broadcast

The first season premiered on September 23, 2005 and ended on May 5, 2006. It has received an average of 10.20 million viewers. Season two of Ghost Whisperer premiered on September 22, 2006 and ended on May 11, 2007, again airing Friday nights on CBS during the same timeslot. CBS officially renewed the show for a third season placing it in its regular Friday 8 p.m. ET time slot. The third season premiered September 28, 2007. Twelve episodes were completed before the strike, and once the strike ended, CBS had announced that the show would return April 4, 2008 with 6 episodes.[16] On February 15, 2008, CBS renewed Ghost Whisperer for a fourth season.[17] For the fourth season, Jamie Kennedy joined the cast as Psychology professor Eli James. Jay Mohr left after the first episode as the plot had his character, Professor Rick Payne, going on sabbatical (Mohr took a role in Gary Unmarried).[18] Recurring cast member Christoph Sanders joined as a regular cast member. The fourth season of Ghost Whisperer premiered on Friday, October 3, 2008 and concluded on May 15, 2009 and consisted of 23 episodes.[19][20] In an interview by P.K. Simonds with E! Online, it was announced that that Ghost Whisperer would return for a fifth season.[21]

CBS officially renewed "Ghost Whisperer" for the fifth season on May 20, 2009, which began airing on Friday, September 25, 2009 at 8pm ET.[22][23]

Syndication

On May 5, 2008 it was announced that the first three seasons of Ghost Whisperer were purchased for $169.8 million ($700,000 per episode, per network) for syndication by SyFy, ION Television, and WE TV. Episodes began airing in Summer 2009 on ION, and in Fall 2009 on SyFy and WE.[24] The first four seasons began airing in syndication on CBC Television in Canada on August 31, 2009.[25]

Cancellation

On May 18, 2010, citing rising costs and a decline in viewership, CBS announced that Ghost Whisperer would not be renewed for another season.[5] ABC expressed interest in picking up Ghost Whisperer for Fall 2010;[26][27] however, on May 27, 2010, Michael Ausiello reported that ABC had passed on renewing Ghost Whisperer for its sixth season.[28]

Zap2it declared Ghost Whisperer is the second "most missed axed show" after a poll determined 17.1 percent of voters would miss it.[29]

Episodes, DVD releases and U.S. ratings

Main article: List of Ghost Whisperer episodes
Season Episodes Originally aired DVD release date US Seasonal rankings
(based on average total viewers per episode)
Season premiere Season finale Region 1 Region 2 Region 4 Discs Rank Rating/share
(18-49)		 Viewers
(in millions)
1 22 September 23, 2005 May 5, 2006 October 31, 2006 July 9, 2007 May 23, 2007 6 #47 2.9/10 10.20[30]
2 22 September 22, 2006 May 11, 2007 September 18, 2007 February 25, 2008 April 2, 2008 6 #44 3.0/10 9.90[31]
3 18 September 28, 2007 May 16, 2008 September 2, 2008 April 6, 2009 March 18, 2009 5 #64 2.4/8 8.67[32]
4 23 October 3, 2008 May 15, 2009 September 22, 2009 March 1, 2010 March 10, 2010 6 #34 3.7/11 10.62[33]
5 22 September 25, 2009 May 21, 2010 October 12, 2010 TBA TBA 6 #54 1.9/6 7.78[34]

Episodes in the first half of the fourth season won their time slot every week in viewers, and across all age demographics, including the 18–49 age bracket, and also usually won the night for CBS as the most-watched show on Friday nights.[35] Furthermore, fourteen episodes from Season 4 surpassed 10 million viewers, with another seven surpassing 11 million viewers, a remarkable feat in what is considered the Friday night death slot.[36]

Other media

Webisodes

Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side is a series of webisodes released on the Ghost Whisperer website.[37] A total of eight webisodes were produced and extras (such as trailers and behind the scenes) are available for viewing. The story follows Zach (played by Mark Hapka), a young delivery boy who dies while delivering a package. He soon learns how to do things in the spirit world, and gets revenge on Danny, the man he thinks killed him, and his former best friend.

Melinda from the television series doesn't appear in the internet series as it takes place entirely in the spirit world. However, ghosts from the television series have appeared in some webisodes. In the second season finale of Ghost Whisperer, Zach made an appearance while trying to get help from Melinda before being taken into the Dark Side leaving the internet series in its own cliffhanger. The second season of The Other Side premiered on the LivingTV website on January 18, 2008.[37] Season 3 deals with Zach trying to help his high school crush Olivia find true love as her ex soon to be husband does not love her.

Internet promotion

andshamethedevil.net[38] is a site linked to Ghost Whisperer. The site is mentioned in the Season 3 premiere. By clicking on the star in the upper right hand corner, the site appears to crack into pieces. Those pieces can be moved by dragging, revealing this message: "Meet Me In The Underworld". Small type at the bottom of the page read the repeated words: "bloody mary. bloody mary. bloody mary." Also clicking on the word 'bloody', it leads to another site rubloodymary.com. There is a hidden message under the graphic. By holding down the mouse key and dragging it around, a new image will appear along with the message.

In the series, penthius.info is often used by Melinda to look up information about the families and ghosts that she is investigating in Grandview. A real world version of this site has been up since February 2008. The site description reads: "Penthius.Info is a free search engine and video super site based on the search engine in the television series The Ghost Whisperer with Jennifer Love Hewitt." It was first mentioned in a post on TV.com by misscalais,[39] a fan who created the site to promote the show.

Video game

In July 2009, Legacy Interactive announced a licensing agreement with CBS Consumer Products to develop a video game based on the Ghost Whisperer television series. Available in 2010, Ghost Whisperer: Shadowlands will debut on the PC and include characters and themes from the show.[40]

Awards

Year Group Award Result For
2006 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Actress on Television Won Jennifer Love Hewitt
Emmy Awards Outstanding Main Title Design Nominated
Kids' Choice Awards Favorite Television Actress Nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt
Teen Choice Awards TV—Choice Breakout Show Nominated
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a Television Series (Comedy or Drama)—Guest Starring Young Actor Won Joseph Castanon
2007 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Actress in a Television Program Won Jennifer Love Hewitt
Emmy Awards Outstanding Music Composition for a Series (Original Dramatic Score) Nominated Episode: Love Never Dies
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actress: Drama Nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt
2008 Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Actress on Television Won Jennifer Love Hewitt
TV Land Awards Favorite Character from the "Other Side" Nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt
Young Artist Awards Best Performance in a TV Series—Guest Starring Young Actress Nominated Jenna Boyd
2009 GLAAD Media Awards Outstanding Individual Episode (in a series without a regular LGBT character) Nominated For episode "Slam".
Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Best Actress on Television Nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt
Visual Effects Society Award Outstanding Visual Effects in a Broadcast Series Nominated Episode 403 "Ghost in the Machine"—Armen Kevorkian, Arthur J. Codron, Matt Scharf, & Stefan Bredereck
Visual Effects Society Award Outstanding Models and Miniatures in a Broadcast Program or Commercial Nominated Episode 404 "Save Our Souls" / Claridon Ship Shots, Eric Hance
2010 Saturn Award Best Series on Television Nominated
Saturn Award Best Actress on Television Nominated Jennifer Love Hewitt

DVD releases

The Region 1 DVD releases are distributed by Paramount Home Entertainment/CBS DVD, while releases in all other regions are distributed by Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment (formerly Buena Vista Home Entertainment).

Season Specifications Special features Release dates
1[41][42]
  • 22 episodes
  • 6 discs
  • Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • No subtitles
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Blooper Reel
  • Deleted Scenes
  • Two featurettes
  • Virtual tour: Grandview
  • Ghost Whisperer Mythology
  • Scare Tactics
Region 1
October 31, 2006
Region 2
July 9, 2007 (Europe)
April 23, 2008 (Japan)
Region 3
May 29, 2007 (Hong Kong)
June 19, 2007 (Korea)
Region 4
May 23, 2007 (Australia)
October 22, 2007 (Brazil)
2[43]
  • 22 episodes
  • 6 discs
  • Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Closed captioned
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Behind-the-scenes featurettes
  • The Other Side webseries
  • Tarot Cards
  • Music Video
Region 1
September 18, 2007
Region 2
February 25, 2008
Region 3
April 8, 2008 (Hong Kong)
July 26, 2008 (Korea)
Region 4
April 2, 2008 (Australia)
September 12, 2008 (Brazil)
3
  • 18 episodes
  • 5 discs
  • Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Closed captioned
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Behind-the-scenes featurettes
  • The Other Side II web series
  • Interactive games
    • Interactive Haunted House
    • Interactive Mash up
    • Melinda's Haunted Diary
Region 1
September 2, 2008
Region 2
April 6, 2009
Region 3
March 3, 2009
Region 4
March 12, 2009 (Australia)
May 12, 2009 (Brazil)
4
  • 23 episodes
  • 6 discs
  • Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Closed captioned
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Behind-the-scenes featurettes
  • The Other Side III web series
Region 1
September 22, 2009[44]
Region 2
March 1, 2010
Region 3
N/A
Region 4
March 9, 2010 (Australia)
May 12, 2010 (Brazil)[45]
March 10, 2010 (Argentina)
5
  • 22 episodes
  • 6 discs
  • Video: Anamorphic Widescreen 1.78:1 Aspect Ratio
  • Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround
  • Closed captioned
  • Audio Commentaries
  • Behind-the-scenes featurettes
  • Celebrating 100
  • A Triple Threat
  • A Season of Changes
  • The Other Side IV Webseries
  • Ghost Town
  • Ghosts of Rockland Memorial
Region 1
October 12, 2010[46]
Region 2
TBA
Region 3
N/A
Region 4
TBA (Australia)
TBA(Brazil)[45]
TBA (Argentina)

Notes

  1. ↑ Ghost Whisperer
  2. ↑ Ghost Whisperer Cast & Details, TV Guide website. Retrieved 7 February 2008.
  3. ↑ [1]
  4. ↑ http:// abcstudiosmedianet.com/web/showpage/showpage.aspx?program_id=CB2043&type=lead
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ausiello, Michael (2010-05-18). "Breaking: CBS cancels 'Ghost Whisperer' and 'Old Christine' | Ausiello | EW.com". Ausiellofiles.ew.com. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/05/18/cbs-cancels-ghost-whisperer-and-old-christine/. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  6. ↑ [2]
  7. ↑ [3]
  8. ↑ Ghost Whisperer on Ghost Whisperer on LivingTV
  9. ↑ Real-life 'Ghost Whisperer' inspires Living TV - TV dramas - MSNBC.com
  10. ↑ Ghost Whisperer on LivingTV
  11. ↑ Universal Studios Hollywood - What's New
  12. ↑ SCI FI Wire | The News Service of the SCI FI Channel | SCIFI.COM
  13. ↑ Ghost Whisperer Television Show-Mix Checks in on Creating Audio Sounds for Ghost Whisperer TV Show
  14. ↑ Flash Film Works - Ghost Whisperer
  15. ↑ EDEN FX
  16. ↑ TV returndates,0,7656374.story "Living Sets Series Return Dates". http://www.zap2it.com/tv/news/zap-Living TV returndates,0,7656374.story. Retrieved 2008-02-13. 
  17. ↑ http://tvseriesfinale.com/articles/livingTV-renews-11-tv-series-for-the-2008-2009-season-what-about-the-rest/#more-1323
  18. ↑ http://www.buddytv.com/articles/ghost-whisperer/ghost-whisperer-jamie-kennedy-20458.aspx
  19. ↑ http://www.tv.com/story/11434.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=news&tag=headlines;title;2
  20. ↑ http://www.tv.com/ghost-whisperer/show/33483/story/11434.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh&tag=headlines;title;0om_act=convert&om_clk=headlinessh
  21. ↑ Who Got Jennifer Love Hewitt Pregnant?, E! Online, March 13, 2009
  22. ↑ "Fall TV: CBS Announces Premiere Dates". TVGuide.com. http://www.tvguide.com/News/FallTV-CBS-premieres-1007227.aspx. Retrieved June 24, 2009. 
  23. ↑ By (2009-05-20). "CBS unveils fall schedule - Entertainment News, TV News, Media". Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118003988.html?categoryid=14&cs=1&query=ghost+whisperer. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  24. ↑ and in Canada on CBC."Ghost Whisperer" to Haunt ION, SyFy and WE, Broadcasting & Cable, May 5, 2008
  25. ↑ "Ghost Whisperer". http://cbcmediasales.ca/?q=programs/ghost_whisperer. Retrieved May 19, 2010. 
  26. ↑ Schneider, Michael (May 18, 2010). ""Ghost Whisperer" to ABC's Friday lineup? It's possible". Variety.com. http://weblogs.variety.com/on_the_air/2010/05/ghost-whisperer-to-abcs-friday-lineup-its-possible.html. Retrieved May 18, 2010. 
  27. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (2010-05-19). "Latest upfront headlines (including 'Ghost Whisperer' scoop) | Ausiello | EW.com". Ausiellofiles.ew.com. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/05/19/latest-upfront-headlines-cbs/. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  28. ↑ Ausiello, Michael (2010-05-27). "Exclusive: ABC passes on 'Ghost Whisperer' | Ausiello | EW.com". Ausiellofiles.ew.com. http://ausiellofiles.ew.com/2010/05/27/abc-passes-on-ghost-whisperer/. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  29. ↑ http://www.digitalspy.com/ustv/s56/flashforward/news/a236830/flashforward-is-most-missed-axed-show.html
  30. ↑ "Series - 2005-06 primetime wrap". The Hollywood Reporter. May 26, 2006. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/television/feature_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1002576393. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  31. ↑ "2006-07 primetime wrap". The Hollywood Reporter. May 25, 2007. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/features/e3ifbfdd1bcb53266ad8d9a71cad261604f. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  32. ↑ "For the networks, season didn't rate - 2007-08 primetime wrap". The Hollywood Reporter. May 22, 2008. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/television/news/e3i6e06ab8971554c64624b9b5f980db683?pn=3. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  33. ↑ "Season Program Rankings (Through 5/17)". ABC Medianet. May 19, 2009. http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051909_05. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  34. ↑ "Final 2009-10 Broadcast Primetime Show Average Viewership - TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings". TVbytheNumbers.com. June 16, 2010. http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/06/16/final-2009-10-broadcast-primetime-show-average-viewership/54336. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  35. ↑ Cynthia Littleton (March 27, 2009). "'Ghost Whisperer' beats the odds - Entertainment News, Weekly, Media". Variety.com. Variety. http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118001809.html?categoryid=1019&cs=1&nid=2562. Retrieved June 28, 2010. 
  36. ↑ "Story - Entertainment". Vancouver Sun. May 9, 2010. http://www.vancouversun.com/entertainment/David+Conrad+lives+Ghost+Whisperer+Character+lives+dead/1378207/story.html. Retrieved June 16, 2010. 
  37. ↑ 37.0 37.1 The Other Side 2 - Ghost Whisperer on Living TV
  38. ↑ and|SHAME|the|devil
  39. ↑ misscalais profile - TV.com
  40. ↑ "Press Releases and Game Reviews". Legacy Games. 2009-07-23. http://www.legacygames.com/news/press_release/2009/ghost_whisperer. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  41. ↑ Ghost Whisperer -Season 1 DVD Information |TVShowsOnDVD.com
  42. ↑ DVD : GHOST WHISPERER; S1 6DVD - Sanity.com.au - More Movies - More Music
  43. ↑ Ghost Whisperer DVD news: Announcement for Ghost Whisperer - The 2nd Season | TVShowsOnDVD.com
  44. ↑ "Ghost Whisperer DVD news: Announcement for Ghost Whisperer - The Complete 4th Season". TVShowsOnDVD.com. http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ghost-Whisperer-Season-4/12199. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  45. ↑ 45.0 45.1 "Videolar.com". Videolar.com. 2006-12-19. http://www.videolar.com/ProdutoDVD.asp?ProductID=133379. Retrieved 2010-06-16. 
  46. ↑ http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/news/Ghost-Whisperer-Season-5-Announced/14137

External links

Ghost Whisperer
Episode list  • Characters  • Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt)  • Creator
Official site