Janine Melnitz

Infobox character
name = Janine Melnitz
series =


caption = Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz
first = Ghostbusters (1984)
last = Extreme Ghostbusters Series Finale (1997)
cause =
creator =
portrayer = Movies Annie Potts Cartoons Real Ghostbusters: Laura Summer Kath Soucie Extreme Ghostbusters: Pat Musick
episode =
nickname =
alias =
species =
gender =
age =
born =28 October 1958
death =
specialty =
occupation =Secretary Ghostbuster
title =
callsign =
family =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
residence = Brooklyn Heights
religion = Christian
nationality = American

Janine Melnitz is a fictional character in the "Ghostbusters" series. Over time, the Ghostbusters have come to count on Janine, not only for her work as a secretary keeping the business afloat, but also for help against ghosts.

Importance to the Ghostbusters

On numerous occasions, Janine has been forced to take up a 'busters uniform and proton pack to bail the guys out of trouble. Janine's first jumpsuit is an off white Pink in color, with red elbow and knee pads (when the Sandman puts her to sleep, she dreams herself as a Ghostbuster and manifests in this form), and in two episodes is shown to be a version of Peter's uniform with light blue trim. In all other appearances from Season 4 to Season 7, it is a pink uniform with light blue collar and cuffs. In the episode "Janine Melnitz, Ghostbuster" from Season 2 she borrows one of Peter Venkman's uniforms, and in the "Extreme Ghostbusters" episode "A Temporary Insanity" she borrowed one of Egon Spengler's. In the NOW comics, Janine wears a version of Egon's uniform with orange trim.

Personal life

Throughout most "Ghostbusters" media, Janine is often displayed as having a romantic attraction to Egon Spengler. This is shown in the first movie and more prominently in the "Real Ghostbusters" cartoons. In "Ghostbusters II", however, she becomes involved with Louis Tully, who has become the team's financial advisor and lawyer. Despite this, Janine retains her attraction to Egon throughout the entire "Real Ghostbusters" series, and even into the "Extreme Ghostbusters" series. In "Janine's Genie", in which Janine encounters an evil genie after receiving a possessed lamp (unaware that the genie is evil), one of her wishes was for Egon to fall in love with her, and in one instance when she is driving Ecto-1, Egon comments "Janine, you're beautiful when you drive." (the effects of her wish later wore off once the evil genie had been defeated)

Egon and Janine share a handful of tender moments throughout the series, but Egon's somewhat stilted emotions often create a barrier between them.

"Ghostbusters I" and "II"

In "Ghostbusters II", Peter Venkman assigns her to baby-sit Dana Barrett's baby Oscar. She asks Louis Tully to babysit with her.

"The Real Ghostbusters"

Janine is the youngest daughter of a working class family. Though her parents, sister, nephew and grandmother all live in Canarsie (as seen in "Janine's Day Off"), she has remained in Brooklyn Heights, where she grew up. She tends to wear loud, blocky jewelry and (in early seasons) tends to wear a mini-skirt at work.

In 1987, Janine owns a convertible red Volkswagen Beetle, which is severely damaged after being loaned to the Ghostbusters in "Beneath These Streets". In "Baby Spookums" she has a yellow Renault 5 Le Car, although it is not known if this is a loaner/rental or her own car; in later instances she owns a pink Beetle convertible.

She has a sharp, sarcastic sense of humor and has been known to make jokes about the Ghostbusters, either to their faces or under her breath, but most of the time she usually gets along with Ray and Winston, while usually having a kind of sibling rivalry with Peter.

Changes in "The Real Ghostbusters"

Season 3 of "Real Ghostbusters" features severe changes to the character: a new voice actor, a new character design, and a softened personality.

In the Season 5 episode "Janine, You've Changed", it is revealed that her changes were the result of her wishes to a "makeoverus lotsabucks" (the name likely a swipe at the network by J. Michael Straczynski), a demon posing as a sort of fairy godmother (and even referred to as such by Janine herself). (This was one of a handful of episodes Straczysnki wrote as a favor to the show's producers, as he could not return as a full time writer due to other working commitments he had at the time). As such, the creature fed off of Janine's insecurity regarding her looks and her frustration in trying to win over Egon, but used magic to externally blind Egon (and the other Ghostbusters) to the changes, thus making Janine more dependent on the creature for "improving" her appearance in hopes of getting Egon to notice her; indeed, the Ghostbusters themselves did not notice until Slimer showed them pictures of Janine in their photo album that demonstrated the startling differences in her appearance over the years, since, as Winston put it, "you can't fool a camera." While not stated openly, it is believed that the creature's influence caused Janine's behavior to become erratic, thus explaining her change from a feisty woman to a more mellow one. Janine almost turns into a similar version of the same creature, briefly possessing magic powers (allowing her to change her own appearance at will among other things) and lashes out at Egon when he comes to rescue her for what she perceived as his ignoring her, blaming her current state on him for almost never acknowledging her feelings for him and lashes out at the world in general for a lifetime of criticism over her physical appearance, but in the end Egon defeats the creature's hold over Janine by telling her that he and the Ghostbusters love her. (note that the NOW and Marvel UK comics ignored the changes completely).

Strangely, by the time of "Extreme Ghostbusters", Janine has apparently reverted back to the way she was before Season 3. It can only be theorized that over time the effects of the demon changing Janine's physical appearance (and voice) gradually wore off, causing her to revert back to her original or natural state.

Janine's character was changed at the suggestion of consultants, who said that they wanted to change the shape of Janine's glasses (which they thought would frighten children), and change her from a feisty character to the "mother" of the Ghostbusters group as they felt she was "too abrasive". Additionally, the very strong, very thick Brooklyn/Bronx accent was discarded with a change in voice actresses. This, among other reasons, was why writer J. Michael Straczynski left "The Real Ghostbusters".

"Extreme Ghostbusters"

Set 6 years after the series finale of "The Real Ghostbusters", Janine had bounced from various jobs since the Ghostbusters closed down in 1991. Having been recently downsized from her last job she returned to school at the New York City College and amongst the various (and unmentioned) courses she was taking was a paranormal one, where she was reunited with Egon, going on to help him form the new team.

Video games

Janine has not appeared in any of the Ghostbusters games to date, but it has been announced that Annie Potts is among the actors returning to be in the new Ghostbusters game that is coming out on all the Current Generation video game consoles.

Quotes

"Ghostbusters" (film)

*"Yes, of course they're serious."
*"You do? You have? No kidding? Ok, just give me the address. Oh, yes, oh they'll be totally discreet, thank you!"
*"We got one!"
*"I've quit better jobs than this. (picks up phone) Ghostbusters! Whaddaya want?"
*"Is it just a mist, or does it have arms and legs?"
*(To Winston during his job interview) "Do you believe in U.F.O.'s, astral projection, mental telepathy, ESP, clairvoyance, spirit photography, full-trance mediums, telekinetic movement, black and/or white magic, pyramidology, the Loch Ness Monster and the theory of Atlantis?"
*(To a police officer at the firehouse door) "Dropping off or picking up?"
*"Hold on, hold on, I've seen TV. I know you can't come in here without a warrant or a writ or something."
*Louis: (while possessed by Vinz) "This is it! It's the sign!":Janine: "Yeah, it's a sign all right. We're going out of business."

"Ghostbusters II" (film)

*"Ghostbusters! Yes, we're back."
*"So, do you live alone?"
*"He's (Oscar) such a good baby, he was a little fussy at first, then we gave him some french bread pizza, (he) passed right out."
*"You look great in that uniform."

"The Real Ghostbusters" (cartoon)

*Dr. Peter Venkman: "How about some coffee, Janine?":Janine: "No, thanks." ("Lost and Foundry")
*"I'm a secretary, I can read anything." ("Slimer Come Home")
*"Well, if I must, I must. But all things considered I'd rather be Meryl Streep... But then again, wouldn't we all?" ("Citizen Ghost")
*"Nobody messes with Melnitz." ("The Grundel")
*"What are you guys doing in that mirror? Is Lewis Carroll in there with you?" ("Janine Melnitz Ghostbuster")
*"Ghostbusters are heartbreakers, kid. Don't get too close to them." ("The Collect Call of Cathulu")
*"Hmm... Egon must have left this on. It's greek to me." ("Beneath These Streets")
*"Slimer brought back this. Ray's in trouble! And if you're not downstairs and ready to go in five minutes, you're fired!" ("Beneath These Streets")
*Dr. Egon Spengler: "Janine, why don't you show Mrs. Faversham the containment unit? I'm sure she'd find it fascinating.":Janine: "Of course. Come along, Mrs. Faversham. I'll show you where they figure out new ways to do stupid things." ("The Thing in Mrs. Faversham's Attic")
*"Ooh, men! Can't live with 'em, can't sell 'em for parts!" ("Janine, You've Changed")
*"I tried to stop him... And you know what? You guys don't need a secretary, you need a babysitter!" ("Knock, Knock")
*"Dr. Venkman! Don't you dare! There's nothing on my job description about target practicing!" ("The Spirit of Aunt Lois")

"Extreme Ghostbusters" (cartoon)

*"All this high-tech equipment and you still don't have a vacuum." ("Darkness At Noon" Part 1)

References

*Shay, Don (1985). "Making Ghostbusters", New York: New York Zoetrope. ISBN 0918432685
*cite web | url=http://movies.ign.com/articles/035/035905p1.html | title=IGN: Interview with J. Michael Straczynski (Part 2 of 4) | accessdate=2007-02-06