Tuesday, May 22, 2012 10:00

Josh Gates Invites Fans to Join His Adventures

April 16th, 2012

Syfy Host to Arrange Mysterious, Far-Flung Dinners Through Twitter And a Chance to “Steal” His Frequent Flyer Miles

Hungry for more of Josh Gates?

Destination Dinner

Syfy Channel host Josh Gates is about to embark on all new adventures, and this time his fans are invited to come along. Gates made the surprise announcement during his panel at the C2E2 Expo in Chicago. “The fans of Destination Truth have been asking us for years how they can get involved with our travels. We loved the idea of bringing fans on the show, but it proved difficult. There are lots of considerations that have to be made at the network level, and the bottom line is that we just couldn’t make it happen as part of the show. So I decided to do it on my own,” Gates said.

The independent project, which Gates calls “Destination Dinner,” will allow fans to participate in an unprecedented travel opportunity. “Starting this summer, to coincide with the return of Destination Truth, I’m going to be personally hosting some very special dinners as a way of saying thank you to our amazingly loyal fans,” Gates announced. “And you’re all invited” he told the cheering crowd at C2E2.

As Gates pointed out, though, there’s a catch. The dinners will be staged in unusual locations around the world. “It could be a fish fry at floating village in Vietnam or a nomadic campfire BBQ in the Sahara Desert. I’ll be posting a date, a time and a place on Twitter @joshuagates, maybe just coordinates. And if you can make it there, an amazing dinner will be waiting for you – on me.”

Along with an exotic meal with one of the world’s most well traveled hosts, those who make the journey will also be rewarded with a custom guided tour of the destination, personally led by Gates. He also announced that a few lucky fans will also have a chance to dip into his frequent flyer miles. “It’s a well known fact that I am a depraved frequent flyer mile hoarder, and I got to thinking that without the fans of Destination Truth, I wouldn’t have nearly so many miles. It only seems fair that they should have a chance to steal some of those miles back.”

At each of the dinners, one guest will not only get a free meal, but have all of their airfare covered as well. “I’ve devoted the last four years to travel-adventure television, and I’ve always say that I want the fans to feel like they’re out there with me in the field. Now they can be,” Gates concluded. “I hope this little project will excite people to embark on their very own travels, and I’ll be waiting to toast them when they arrive.”

Destination Dinner is an independent project organized by Josh Gates and is not affiliated with NBC Universal, Syfy, or Ping Pong Productions.

Official rules and eligibility will be announced on Twitter by @joshuagates with the hashtags #DestinationDinner and #StealMyMiles.

The Dead Files Returns for Season Two

April 3rd, 2012

Premieres on Friday, April 20 at 10 PM ET/PT
 

Travel Channel brings back an all-new season of its compelling one-hour paranormal investigative series “The Dead Files,” featuring retired NYPD Homicide Detective Steve DiSchiavi and medium Amy Allan as they travel throughout the country to uncover the unexplained disturbances in each locale.

The new thirteen-episode season kicks off on Friday, April 20 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT with a special one hour investigation of the notorious Lizzie Borden House, and once again, pairs the no-nonsense detective, who investigates physical evidence, with the gifted medium, who channels the dead. They explore each crime scene separately from each other, joining together only at the end to compare notes and deliver some startling results to the homeowner.

Season two premieres with an astonishing examination of the Lizzie Borden House in Massachusetts – a residence made infamous by the vicious, gruesome and still-unsolved murders that occurred there back in 1892. Now an inn, frightening new claims of violent attacks and ominous apparitions propel Allan and DiSchiavi into a disturbing investigation as they attempt to unravel the mystery and paranormal activity that has plagued this spot for generations. While Allan is eager to push the limits of her unique powers, DiSchiavi digs deeper into the facts, legends and lies surrounding the house. Their unsettling findings shock the inn’s owner as they uncover a bizarre new twist to a century-old murder mystery.

Throughout the rest of the series, Allan and DiSchiavi visit riveting new locations across the country, each with a unique story to uncover and solve.

Highlights from the upcoming season include a historic home in Cartersville, Georgia, where the duo investigates a terrified mother’s claims of strange paranormal activity and soon discover aggressive entities and evidence of a shocking murder.

In Santaquin, Utah, the team explores disturbing paranormal reports at a family-owned restaurant, along with a residence in Elizabeth City, North Carolina housing a tragic past.

Additional sites include the Slocum House Theater in Vancouver, Washington, where increasingly odd unexplained activity and ghostly apparitions have left its staff fearful for their safety, and a family home in Wichita, Kansas that is the center of a bone-chilling paranormal mystery dating back to the cowboy days of the 1800s.

In each locale, the team approaches the case from their two specific areas of expertise: Steve DiSchiavi is a retired Homicide Detective with the New York City Police Department with more than 21 years of active service, and a natural skeptic; and Amy Allan is a medium whose unique gifts allow her to communicate with the deceased.

DiSchiavi begins each investigation exploring the property, questioning the owners or tenants, and even interviewing local historians and police investigators. Allan’s abilities have been studied and tested by leading parapsychologists, and she’s worked with many private investigators and police agencies.

Destination Truth

March 27th, 2012

Destination Truth Returns This Summer

 

Long Island Medium Returns for Season Two

February 23rd, 2012

TLC has ordered 14 half-hour episodes for Season Two

On Sunday, March 25 at 9pm ET/PT, TLC brings back its hit series LONG ISLAND MEDIUM for a second season.

With a waiting list of over two years, Theresa Caputo has turned numerous skeptics into believers as she helps countless individuals connect with their loved ones on the other side. Between Theresa’s over-the-top personality, relatable and loving family, and her remarkable ability to connect with the dead with specific and emotional details, viewers have fallen in love with this average Long Island mom turned real life medium.

In each episode of LONG ISLAND MEDIUM, Theresa’s work/ life balance is put to the test as she juggles her readings and her family. Her husband Larry and children Victoria and Larry have learned to live with Theresa’s mediumship, but it is certainly trying on their relationships. For Theresa, there is no “turning off” her gift. Whether she is grocery shopping or getting her nails done, someone from the other side is constantly trying to contact her to pass a message on.

Each episode also focuses on Theresa as she conducts private and group readings, with both believers and skeptics. As she goes about her day, Theresa is also compelled to spontaneously give messages to people anywhere she goes. Between the spirit world and our world, there is Theresa’s world, where she is simply trying to strike a happy medium between her family life, work like, and the afterlife.

Season two brings more spontaneous readings as Theresa goes about her daily routines such as going to the dentist and getting groceries, while spirit continues to interrupt everywhere she goes.

Viewers also see more of Theresa’s family, including a trip where all of them volunteer at a soup kitchen, and a dinner meeting at their house with daughter Victoria’s boyfriend’s parents. Theresa’s spiritual healer, the woman who actually helped Theresa realize her gift, also makes an appearance this season.

Ghost Hunters International’s Kris Williams on The Paranormal

February 22nd, 2012

Video Q&A on The Paranormal

 

Ghost Hunters International Premieres
Wednesday, February 22 at 9 PM on Syfy

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files Returns April 17

February 17th, 2012

Season 3 Premieres Tuesday, April 17 at 9 PM

Syfy

Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files uncovers the truth behind supernatural and unexplained occurrences that have been caught on camera.

In each episode, the team searches for the most intriguing images, videos and unnatural phenomenon found online and around the world.

After selecting the most compelling cases, they head into the field, attempting to recreate the video, carrying out key experiments and questioning eyewitnesses. The team investigates all the clues and evidence with the most advanced techniques and tools at their disposal, and their objective is to answer the question, “Is this real?”

In one of the season’s upcoming episodes, Ben Hansen, Austin Porter and Jael de Pardo investigate a mysterious hovering light piercing through the night’s dense fog over the waters of Bodega Bay – a California paranormal hotspot that has been featured in movies including The Fog, Puppet Master and Alfred Hitchcock’s The Birds.

 

Grant Wilson to Depart from Syfy’s Ghost Hunters

February 16th, 2012

Grant’s Last Episode Will Air May 16

As announced on last night’s episode, Grant Wilson, co-lead investigator of Syfy’s hit reality series Ghost Hunters, will be departing the show.

His last episode will air Wednesday, May 16 @ 9pm, and he will wrap production at some point next month.

Statement from Grant Wilson:

“It is with mixed emotion that I am announcing my departure from the cast of Ghost Hunters. While paranormal investigating has always been and will remain a passion for me, after enjoying nearly eight successful seasons on television, I have made the decision to leave the series in order to focus on other aspects of my personal life.

“I will deeply miss working with Jason and the rest of the dedicated investigators and crew that have become like family, and I wish them all the best as they continue to follow their passion and realize the vision of TAPS. I will also miss interacting with our wonderful fans worldwide. You are all at the heart of what we do on Ghost Hunters, and I’m grateful to have gotten to know many of you over the years.

“Thank you to Syfy and Pilgrim Studios for giving me the opportunity to do what I love for nearly eight years, and for supporting this difficult decision.”

Statement from Jason Hawes:

“When Grant and I founded TAPS nearly 20 years ago, we never imagined that we would be able to make such an impact just by doing what we enjoy every day. I will miss working with Grant on a daily basis, and am indebted to the level of dedication and expertise he has brought to our field.

“I can’t imagine having a better partner through it all – both on the show and off. Grant and I, along with our spouses and children, are all like one big family. While I fully support his decision to move on from the series, this longtime friendship – as well as our business partnership – will continue off-camera for years to come.”

 

 

Grant Leaving Ghost Hunters

February 16th, 2012

The Shocking Announcement

“I’m Going to Be Leaving Ghost Hunters”

“Eight years has put stress on us..in various ways..and..over the course of awhile…Jay and I have been talking..And….its been a very difficult decision to make..but..I’m going to be leaving Ghost Hunters.

So..Its just time for me to back off..step aside..and..no one has done anything wrong to push me there by any means….its tough..a tough decision to make..

But its not the end..its not goodbye..I still have a few more cases that I will be working with you…and I appreciate the support.”

Grant Wilson

 

Update – Statements from Jason and Grant

 

Ghost Hunters Season Finale “You Can’t Miss”

February 10th, 2012

Mid-Season Finale – Wednesday, February 15, 2012

City Hell

 

Ghost Hunters continued its audience growth.  A season high 2.07 million total viewers watched last Wednesday’s “Moonshine & Madness” episode. It was the third time in the 5 episodes of Season 8 that Ghost Hunters broke the 2 million viewer mark.

This upcoming week’s episode promises that a team member’s “shocking announcement will change Ghost Hunters forever.”  No doubt the speculation and anticipation will make the mid-season finale a huge ratings success!

Ghost Adventures Returns for a Sixth Season

February 8th, 2012

Travel Channel returns with season six of the popular paranormal travel series, “Ghost Adventures” on Friday, March 9 at 9:00 PM

Investigative duo, Zak Bagans and Nick Groff, along with equipment technician Aaron Goodwin, explore some of the most haunted locations in America to unearth the trapped souls and dark energy within.

This season, the team visits spots that have never been explored by the Ghost Adventures team including the Peabody-Whitehead Mansion in Denver, CO, the Shanghai Tunnels in Portland, OR, as well as the family home of paranormal equipment inventor Gary Galka in East Granby, CT, where business gets personal as they help one family make contact with their dead daughter in a deeply personal story of love, loss and a haunted house.

Each of the seven, one-hour episodes starts with an in-depth profile of a location’s haunted past. Once the story is told, viewers follow the investigative team as they survey every nook and cranny while conducting scientific experiments while being locked down overnight.

“Ghost Adventures continues to attract huge audiences for the Network and has a growing appeal to travelers who seek a different type of thrill and adventure,” said Andy Singer, SVP, Programming and Production, Travel Channel. “Zak, Nick and Aaron have built a dedicated fan base that seem to follow their every visit and tweet, and are inspired to visit many of the destinations featured in their show.”

The new season kicks off with the trio as they head to Denver, CO to explore the historically haunted Peabody-Whitehead Mansion. Built in 1889, its first owner Dr. William R. Whitehead was convinced the building was plagued by the spirits of hundreds of soldiers he tried to save from his days as a surgeon for the Confederate Army during the United States Civil War.

After his death, when controversial Colorado Governor James Peabody moved in to the mansion, things only worsened. The governor was viewed by many as the enemy of the working man and in 1904, the Governor ordered state militia to break union strikes by the region’s gold miners by brute force. Hundreds were injured in the violence, and dozens were killed as their bloodshed was on the governor’s hands.

All the years of torment are now trapped inside this now empty Grant Street mansion. In addition to being the site of a suicide, there have been over 120 years of ghostly activity in the building including reports of visitors being pushed up against the wall by unseen forces!

UFC Fighter Brendan Schaub joins the trio at the Peabody-Whitehead Mansion in hopes to shed some light on the evil entities in order to learn more about the darkness that lies within the walls of this historic location.

During the investigation in the basement, it gets personal when a spirit calls out Brendan by name, and then reveals new evidence about an unsolved crime.

This turn of events triggers the involvement of the Denver Police Department – currently reviewing the “Ghost Adventures” team’s evidence.