Paranormal State

Infobox Television
show_name = Paranormal State


caption =
format = Reality series
runtime = 30 minutes
creator = Four Seasons Productions and Go Go Luckey Productions
starring = Ryan Buell, Heather Taddy, Sergey, Katrina, Josh, & Elfie Music
country = United States
network = A&E Network
first_aired = December 10, 2007
last_aired =
num_episodes = 21

Paranormal State is a docu-drama reality television series for A&E about a student-led college club, the Penn State Paranormal Research Society. The show depicts the students' investigations of paranormal activity and supernatural phenomena.

Production background

The show is produced by Four Seasons Productions International and Go Go Luckey Productions (which produced MTV's "" and "," and A&E's now-cancelled "Rollergirls"). Gary Auerbach and Julie Auerbach (who head Go Go Luckey Productions) and Emmy-nominatedFact|date=January 2008 Betsy Schechter (Four Seasons) are the executive producers. [http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117939685?cs=1&s=h&p=0 Martin, Denise. "Reality Sets in for New A&E Series." "Variety." March 13, 2006.] ] Lowry, Brian. "Paranormal State." "Variety." December 9, 2007.]

The show was tentatively titled "Out There," "Dead Time" and "Paranormal U" before the name "Paranormal State" was chosen. [ [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/11/11-10-06tdc/11-10-06dnews-09.asp Hughes, Elaine. "A&E Begins Filming Paranormal Show." "Penn State Daily Collegian." Nov. 10, 2006.] ]

Each episode of the show is outlined by the production team first, co-executive producer Tina Gazzerro has said, to ensure that a produceable episode will result. "We try to identify where we get our discovery moments, our 'Ah-ha!' moments," Gazzerro told the "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." Information about the event under investigation may also be held back from the students in order to create dramatic tension, and only situations which will have a conclusive outcome are investigated. "We may have information we don't give to [the PRS team] ," Gazzerro said, "but we need to make sure [the episode is] produceable." Story arcs are also outlined for each "character" on the show, and the production team has publicly expressed its hope that a romantic relationship will develop between Buell and one of the women on the series. The production team and the show's researchers say that no pressure is put on the research team to act in certain ways or make paranormal discoveries.Owen, Rob. "Ghost-Hunting Is All in a Normal Day's Work for Penn State Researcher." "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." December 9, 2007.]

A&E had high hopes for the new series. Cable television reality shows about the paranormal require only about a quarter of the budget for a scripted show of the same length. They also draw much-coveted younger viewers, and skew slightly more female than male (a difficult demographic to draw for most cable networks not explicitly targeting women).Becker, Anne. "Networks' Scary Strategy." "Broadcasting & Cable." December 10, 2007.]

Fourteen half-hour episodes were ordered for the first season. A&E upped that order to 20 shows after seeing the pilot and the first few episodes.Nordyke, Kimberly. "Some Freaky Goings-On in A&E's 'Paranormal State'." "Hollywood Reporter." December 17, 2007.] Owen, Rob. "Ghost-Hunting Is All in a Normal Day's Work for Penn State Researcher." "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." December 9, 2007.] Had the show not been picked up by A&E, Buell said he had another series deal in the works with the Auerbachs and their production company. [ [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2006/04/04-06-06tdc/04-06-06dnews-07.asp Hughes, Elaine. "Club May Get TV Exposure." "Penn State Daily Collegian." April 6, 2006.] ]

The show was initially scheduled to debut in May or June 2007, but was pushed back to December 2007 (although no reasons were reported). [ [http://www.collegian.psu.edu/archive/2007/02/02-05-07tdc/02-05-07dnews-04.asp Scrabis, Johanna. "Paranormal TV Series to Investigate Ghosts, Myths." "Penn State Daily Collegian." February 5, 2007.] ]

The show debuted on December 10, 2007, with 2.5 million viewers watching the first two back-to-back episodes, [Levin, Gary. "Nielsens: 'The Hills' has Millions of Eyes." "USA Today." December 18, 2007.] making it the third-most watched show on A&E since 2004. The cable network reported that this included 1.6 million people aged 18 to 49 (a highly coveted demographic by broadcasters and advertisers). It also included 1.5 million viewers in the 25-to-54 age range, A&E's target demographic.Dempsey, John. "'Paranormal State' Intrigues Viewers." "Variety." December 11, 2007.]

The show's second season began on July 28, 2008 on A&E.

Its visual, musical, and editorial style, was inspired by MTV's Fear

Episode Guide

Season 1

Season 2

Critical reception

Critical reception for the show has been mixed.

Positive reviews

Positive reviews are somewhat in the minority, but effusive in their praise. One positive review called the show "reality TV at its reel frightening best." [Elkin, Michael. "Ghost Listeners." "Jewish Exponent." December 27, 2007.] Most critics who enjoy the show credit it for being "spooky". In a typical comment, one reviewer said the show was "...the perfect blend of bump-in-the-night scariness and cinéma vérité. It's 'The Blair Witch Project' meets 'Unsolved Mysteries.' But if you scare easily, don't watch this show alone."Toby, Mekeisha Madden. "'Paranormal': It's a Real Ghostbusters." "Detroit News." December 10, 2007.]

Reviewers have pointed out that the show effectively utilizes a number of cinematic techniques common in horror film. The editing leaves open the question of whether paranormal activity is actually occurring, and the cinematography uses night-vision and infrared photography to create a suspenseful atmosphere. The writing on the show is particularly effective at creating a sense of portent and dread, one reviewer noted, and the music and graphics contribute effectively to the tension and fear as well.

At least one critic has pointed out that the investigatory team's failure to find paranormal activity each episode gives the show credibility other series about the paranormal lack.Owen, Rob. "Penn State's Double Dose of National Media Exposure." "Pittsburgh Post-Gazette." December 5, 2007.]

Negative reviews

Other critics have been less than kind. The "Orange County Register" gave it a "dishonorable mention" as one of the worst new shows of the 2007-2008 television season. [Hewitt, Michael. "The Best and Worst Shows of 2007." "Orange County Register." December 25, 2007.] "The New York Times" critic Neil Genzlinger faulted the series for being too low-budget and not frightening enough (a "The Blair Witch Project" minus the fright). As Genzlinger wrote::Mr. Buell tries to generate interest in his personal demons as well, but he's just not that compelling. ... Maybe "Paranormal State" is pure put-on. If so, it's not deft enough.Genzlinger, Neil. "Television Review: 'Paranormal State'." "New York Times." December 16, 2007.]

Some reviewers have strongly criticized the high production values which others praise.Weprin, Alex. "'Paranormal State' Undermines Own Concept." "Broadcasting & Cable." December 14, 2007.] As one otherwise positive review noted, "The biggest drawback to the series is that it's over-produced, with too many eerie sounds and visual effects. Is the heavy breathing something picked up by PRS microphones, or is it a sound effect added after the fact by the show's producers?"

Critics have also pointed out that the show lacks visual punch. People interviewed in the show declare that they "feel" a spirit next to them, but nothing is shown to the TV viewer. In the series debut, the audience is told that a young boy sees ghosts, but the audience is not able to see any evidence of this.Peterson, Karla. "The Difference Between Fright and Wrong." "San Diego Union-Tribune." December 10, 2007.] "The most compelling footage seems to come more from the editing room than beyond the grave," noted one industry trade publication. Reviewers say the show also fails to effectively integrate and utilize the team's (apparently) sophisticated audio and video equipment to heighten tension or help support their claims of paranormal activity.

Others have noted that the show's stars are not particularly good performers or presenters. Buell and the changing cast of supporting "paranormal trainees," psychologists, counselors and psychics seem inexperienced and are ineffectual at creating a sense of fear or suspense. "Buell looks self-conscious and sounds like he is reading from cue cards," one critic wrote. "The remaining three members of the core team ... don't seem confident or mature enough to take on a crabby Starbucks' manager, much less a demonic presence."

Several observers have been extremely critical of the open-mindedness (some reviews call it gullibility) of the team of investigators. Typical of these reviews is the opinion of the "Boston Herald," whose critic wrote: "There hasn't been a more suggestible crowd gathered since the last 'Crossing Over' taping with alleged psychic John Edward." [Perigard, Mark A. "'Paranormal' Doesn't Stand a Ghost of a Chance." "Boston Herald." December 10, 2007.]

One news report even challenged the show's popularity. "Variety" suggested that the show's initial popularity may have been due to its lead-in show, "Intervention." The lead-in show had 2.4-million viewers the night "Paranormal State" debuted. It was the most-watched episode of "Intervention" in that show's four-year history. Others pointed out that cable shows about the supernatural and paranormal have drawn extremely high ratings since 2002, and that high initial ratings for "Paranormal State" should not be a surprise.

Ad campaign

The advertising and marketing campaign for "Paranormal State" broke new ground. In November 2007, a six-story billboard was erected at the corner of Prince and Mulberry Streets in New York City by [http://www.BlueBlastMedia.com BlueBlastMedia] . Behind the billboard were two directional audio (or [http://www.holosonics.com audioSpotlights] ) which produce a highly focused beam of sound. Passers-by who walked directly in the path of the sound would hear spooky, disembodied voices whispering suggestive messages such as "What's that?" and "Who's there? It's not your imagination." But someone standing next to that person would hear nothing. The billboard had a dramatic effect on people coming within range of the "cone of sound" created by the directional audio speakers. The billboard was apparently the first commercial use of the technology on a billboard. [Mindlin, Alex. "For Your Ears Only." "New York Times." December 9, 2007.] A video of the installation can be seen [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwAeb3RBZ1Y here] .

Ryan's Demon Stalker

As of January 3rd 2008, Ryan Buell claims the demonic entity is no longer following him. In a Q&A section of the Penn State Paranormal Research Society's forums, he responded to a question on the topic by stating, "I haven't been troubled by any bunnies (the PRS calls demons "bunnies") as of late. There came a point in my life where I let go of some of that baggage. When it comes to that whole side, there's a back story that involves my group dealing with a case three years ago. I kind of reached a resolution with that. Coincidentally, the bunny tried to make another cameo appearance when we were filming the final investigation of the season, but we just told it to go to you-know-where. I hope it makes the cut!" [ [http://forums.pennstateprs.com/index.php?showtopic=2204&st=0 Buell, Ryan "Ask RYAN BUELL a question..." "Penn State Paranormal Research Society Forums" January 3, 2008.] ]

Controversies

"Paranormal State" has been the subject of several controversies. Such as the Christian influence of the show, or whether the show is depicting real or faked paranormal activity, and whether the show is documentary or scripted entertainment.

In the episode entitled "School House Haunting," which first aired on January 28, 2008 the "client" whose home the team investigated Shannon Sylvia, a cast member of another paranormal show, Ghost Hunters International. On January 29, 2008, Ryan Buell posted an entry to his blog [ [http://ryansblog.pennstateprs.com/2008/01/29/concerning-psychics--chip-coffey.aspx Concerning Psychics & Chip Coffey.] ] on the Official Penn State Paranormal Research Society Web site concerning his view of psychics and, in particular, the inclusion of psychic Chip Coffey on the show. In the comment section of the blog, several people questioned Shannon Sylvia's inclusion in the series, asking why a high-profile paranormal investigator would hire the Penn State Paranormal Research Society to investigate her property when she essentially has a team of her own. In his blog, Ryan mentions that it was his visit which brought Shannon Sylvia into the study of the supernatural as an investigator, herself. [ [http://paranormalinsider.com/2008/01/episode_postmortem_schoolhouse.php Episode Post-Mortem: Schoolhouse Haunting] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.pennstateprs.com/ Penn State Paranormal Research Society website]
* [http://www.scaryforkids.com/paranormal-state/ Paranormal State] Episode Guide
*imdb title|id=0785036|name=Paranormal State
* [http://www.aetv.com/paranormal-state/ Paranormal State - Official A&E Web site]