Sci Fi Channel suffering from a Ghost breeding infestation
by Danny Gallagher, posted Dec 18th 2008 9:27AM
If you can't get enough of Ghost Hunters, then the Sci Fi Channel is ensuring that you'll never be able to get enough of it. The network is expanding the popular paranormal reality show into "dozens of hours of programming" with renewals of some current spin-offs and pick-ups of even more spin-offs. At the rate they keep spinning this show off, it's going to have its own family tree by the end of the decade.
Right now there's the original Ghost Hunters and its international cousin, the cleverly named Ghost Hunters International. Both of those will return next season with new episodes.
The new spin-off will be called Ghost Hunters: Next Generation featuring college students who aspire to do what the TAPS team do under the supervision of regular TAPS members Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango.
The college angle will give producers the chance to do (sigh) themed shows. For example: one episode could center around haunted spring break locales or ghost infested frat houses. This, of course, leaves the door open for what could be the greatest spin-off in the history of television: Drunken Ghost Hunters. The ghosts won't be the only things that go bump in the night. Sometimes the things also vomit and sing "Louie, Louie."
Ghost Hunters is one of the few reality shows I watch, but the more spin-offs it gets, the more it feels they are stretching the show too thin. The original and international shows work well because they don't have themes. The locales and hauntings are completely random. The live shows on Halloween can get a little boring since it's all in real time, but it's nice to have in the background during a Halloween party. Now a Ghost Hunters with college kids? What's next? Ghost Hunter Babies? Come to think of it, that's actually a cool idea.

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