Sure, it’s a bit baffling that Bravo and SyFy chose these two shows to merge into a special episode. I didn’t understand why until I saw the preview. You’ll understand once you see it, too.

As an aside, I used to watch Ghost Hunters semi-regularly. My husband only became interested in the show after Kris Williams joined the team. My husband noticed something that I hadn’t. The lighting and camera work in those earlier episodes made Williams’ attire nearly transparent. Every episode after that included constant queries from my husband: “Where’s Kris?”

So, male viewers were gained. When the gratuitous views ceased, my husband ceased viewing. My semi-regular viewing schedule ceased not long after that.

Funny that the preview of the upcoming episode inspired my husband to want to watch on Wednesday, although he watches neither show. Viewership mission accomplished.

If you are looking for entertainment, chances are high you’ll get what you hope for on Wednesday.  I’ve seen several comments on the web, from fans of Ghost Hunters who are seeking the drama that has been absent from the show since Brian Harnois left. Brian’s antics were part of the reason I watched the show, to be honest. Grant Wilson’s attractiveness was another.

We’ll see if there’s any drama to entertain us next week. I think that the show will bring something else: gratuitous camera shots.

Check out this screen shot from the preview. The camera’s focus on the blond woman as she walks up the stairs…much of the shot does not contain her head.

Watch the video preview here.

Screen shot from Ghost Hunters preview

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Copyright © 2010 Cherlyn Gardner Strong

Read more of Cherlyn’s posts as a contributor for Paranormal Utopia, or at Cherlyn’s Paranormal Old Pueblo website

The weekly series will feature highly publicized paranormal cases from a “skeptical” viewpoint, then a team will attempt to debunk them.

Headed by Ben Hanson, a former FBI special agent, the ‘Fact or Faked’ team has their work cut out for them on tonight’s show. They will attempt to debunk two cases: The Garden City, Long Island “Ghost Car” and the “Phoenix Lights” cases.

Both of these well-known paranormal mysteries have stirred much discussion and debate over the years.

The “Ghost Car” case stems from a video posted on YouTube in 2006. The video features a wild car chase captured on cam by the Garden City police. From the vantage point of the officer’s cam, the fleeing car appears to mysteriously pass through a chain link fence without damaging it. The team will attempt to figure out how the car mysteriously passed through to the other side of the fence.

The “Phoenix Lights” case focuses on the UFOs over Phoenix that were first witnessed in 1997.

According to an interview with Ben Hanson: “If people follow UFOs, they know that Phoenix is a hot spot for UFO activity. The Phoenix Lights – thousands of people witnessed this in ’97 and then thereafter.”

Tune in to Syfy at 10/9 Central. Check your local listings.

The phrases to describe the show weren’t really unique: “It’s just like Ghost Hunters”, “same synopsis”, “same investigation style”, “same equipment”, “I was hoping for something different.”

Personally, I was disappointed to not uncover a unique reason why the show didn’t appeal to some of the reviewers.

Sorry folks, but I stand by my original statement from January that paranormal investigators must adhere to the same methodologies. Yet, even if they all did, the sad reality is that mainstream science is not going to accept “proof” based on evidence gathered from any reality show. To keep audiences happy, I’m sure the networks are looking for that one group that does something radically “different” for the entertainment of us all.

For single overnight investigations, the only thing that should be different are the personalities involved.

Most groups split over personality differences within the teams than over differences in methodologies. The unique personalities on these shows are actually what gets me to tune in.  I’m not looking for proof when I tune into Syfy’s Ghost Hunters. Honestly, I tune in mostly due to my crush on Grant Wilson. Secondly, I tune in for the group’s passion toward the pursuit of some sort of proof the paranormal. What attracted me to Paranormal Cops was the different personality types coupled with something different: cop intuition. Cop intuition isn’t accepted by mainstream science. Yet, I believe in it enough to want to watch these investigators in action. Different people, same methods, same goals.

Some reviewers stated that due to the similarity to Ghost Hunters, Paranormal Cops was boring.

That statement confuses me.

Let me give an example that might make sense to the masses. Let’s say that you send Ghost Hunters to investigate a home. They gather the evidence and present it during the ‘Reveal” portion of the show. The next night, Paranormal Cops comes along to investigate the same location. Would the goal not be to replicate the findings of Ghost Hunters?

That scenario would be way too boring for most people, I know. Leaning a little too much toward scientific methodologies and away from entertainment.

While A & E debates on whether to air more Paranormal Cops episodes, I’m hoping that they, and the viewers, give this show the second chance it deserves.

To my horror, I just read that Syfy has decided to replace Rod Serling with William Katt. Yes, The Greatest American Hero William Katt. Don’t get me wrong, I liked The Greatest American Hero when I was growing up. However, I just never felt compelled to watch the episodes multiple times, or to watch them back to back during a marathon. Hell, I don’t even know the episode titles from The Greatest American Hero.

I do have a list of My Top 10 Favorite Twilight Zone episodes. I’m not even going to post a synopsis for each episode, because true fans of The Twilight Zone know exactly what I am talking about. These paranormal tales are classics:

1. “The Invaders”
2. “Twenty Two”
3. “Jess-Belle”
4. “The Bewitchin’ Pool”
5. “The Midnight Sun”
6. “Come Wander With Me”
7. “Night Call”
8. “The Grave”
9. “The Eye of the Beholder”
10. “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet”

In all fairness, Syfy will still run Twilight Zone episodes over the New Year’s holiday weekend. Plus, the series is available on DVD if I just have to see an episode before then.

Most importantly, I’ll accept Syfy’s decision, because we did lose The Greatest American Hero co-star, Robert Culp on March 24th of this year. I will put aside my planned boycott of Syfy to honor Robert Culp – a late, great American actor whose work earned him at least this one weekend to shine.