Extreme Paranormal – What were they thinking?

I just had to get my feelings out about this show. I started watching it hoping for another show the lines of my beloved “Ghost Hunters” or even “Paranormal State”. They should name this show “Ghost Taunters” instead, because that’s all it seems to be about. I have watched both episodes, all the time hoping it will get better…it doesn’t. The one segment that I particularly have to heap some comments on is the recent one about the Manchac Swamp.

As a background, these three guys, who act like college frat boys, “investigate” haunted sites. It almost seems like a “Ghost Hunters” wanna-be show, except the hosts have NO respect for the dead.

Back to the horrible episode… (not that it’s saying much, as every one I’ve seen so far is horrible.) Well, these guys are investigating the ghost of some lady who placed a voodoo curse in Manchac Swamp, after which a hurricane came, causing the deaths of hundreds of people and the destruction of three towns. To me, this is a fascinating subject for an investigation! So, before venturing out to the grave sites, these guys visit a present day voodoo priestess. They get warnings from her about dangers of being possessed, and then record her singing the same song that the legendary priestess sang.

On arriving at the site, they come armed with a coffin, which they first use as a shrine. Instead of doing an investigation with tools and meters to measure sensible things…they carry out a voodoo ritual and play the tape of the priestess singing. I’m sure this is meant more to provoke and tease the spirits. Before long, the one idiot ends up convulsing on the floor! Do they count their losses and seek help for their friend? Of course not! Because now it’s time to mark the assistant as “dead” (this poor guy seems to always get volunteered), and dig a hole and bury him. WHAT?!?! The poor guy is in the coffin, with a walkie talkie, and is once again playing the recorded singing. While he’s probably about to soil himself, things start scraping and banging on the sides of the coffin. On the surface, his friends are getting confrontational to provoke the ghosts. I’m not talking in the respectful tone that they use on “Ghost Hunters” (i.e. “Why are you tormenting this family?”) These guys remind me of a bunch of rowdy popular kids at school stuffing the kid with the glasses into a locker.

I’m not going to go any further into this episode, because it is just too horrible for words. But, they act like this on every investigation. The only reason I can see to watch it? For the same reason I used to watch the nature shows: to laugh when their dumb butts have something bad happen because of their utter disrespect. So, watching this show for the paranormal reasons? No. Watching this as an amusing stupidity-fest? Absolutely. Wanna see the paranormal? Watch “Ghost Hunters”, “Paranormal State”, or “A Haunting”.