Ok, I won’t mince words here. I don’t like Zak Bagans. Maybe it’s because I’m not a 12-year-old girl who is more impressed by a guy taking his shirt off than actually investigating the paranormal in a serious and scientific manner. But who wants to see that, right? Anyways, it seems as though he hasn’t done enough to harm the name of paranormal investigating, so he’s hosting a new game show of sorts.
When conducting a serious, scientific investigation of paranormal phenomena, it’s always best to start by exposing your abs.
“Paranormal Challenge” is a new series scheduled to premiere 9 p.m. June 17 on Travel Channel. Bagans will hosts the series, which will feature two teams on ghost-hunting missions.
A spokeswoman for the Travel Channel confirmed Monday afternoon that Bagans was at Rolling Hills filming an episode of his new series in early April. The episode is scheduled to air at 9 p.m. July 8, according to publicity coordinator Katelyn Balach.
In each episode of “Paranormal Challenge,” Bagans will invite two teams of amateur ghost hunters to spend the night locked down inside haunted hotspots. During the night, the teams put their paranormal skills to the test by conducting a ghost investigation with high-tech gear and their own knowledge. The teams will then present their findings to Bagans and a panel of three paranormal experts who judge the teams on teamwork, use of technology and evidence collected during the lockdown, according to a series description from Travel Channel.
The series has already filmed at Eastern State Penitentiary near Philadelphia, Pa., and an old prison in Mansfield, Ohio, and about a half dozen other locations.
Bagans had previously visited Rolling Hills for his other Travel Channel series, “Ghost Adventures.” The series featured Rolling Hills in an episode that originally aired in September 2010. (A new season of “Ghost Adventures” is scheduled to begin 9 p.m. May 13.)
Rolling Hills, which is said to have a high rate of paranormal activity, is a popular destination for ghost hunters and has been featured on several such programs. The 11-acre property has been used as a location for films.
The property opened in 1827 as the county poorhouse and has been greatly expanded over the years. It’s been the county orphanage and nursing home, and host to a succession of businesses.
Now I’m almost positive that I’ll get a few numbskulls commenting on this post about how I’m jealous of Zak Bagans. It happens pretty much anytime I goof on TAPS and Ghost Hunters and I’m sure it will happen now. Probably from some 12-year-old girl or some rube who thinks that everything on TV is real. So before I go any further, a disclaimer: I’m an actual paranormal investigator, I’ve been doing this for a number of years now, and I do not want my own TV show. So I’m not jealous of any “para-celebrities.” I like having a soul and not selling out my beliefs and my friends for piles of cash. Ok? Good 🙂
That being said, I feel like a “game show” of this nature just further degrades the image of paranormal investigating. When there are so many groups out there trying so hard to get this field recognized as a true science, yahoos like Bagans and the various ghost hunters on the SyFy Channel keep making stupid shows to cash in on the ghost hunting craze. And the picture they paint is in no way accurate.
Okay, so will you hate me if I say I like Zak Bagans? (But mostly it’s because I like to laugh at him and his Scooby Crew. I don’t take him seriously as an investigator at all. He’s an actor wanna be and this is his way of being in front of the camera.)
However, I also have to admit: I was sort of curious about this show before I read your post. Then it made me think about it from a different point of view. (How these type of shows hurt the paranormal community and make it more of a laughingstock.)
I like how you don’t mince words, btw. Because then I never have to wonder what you’re really thinking! 😉
Court, I could never hate you! And I know that you enjoy Zak and Ghost Hunters as pure entertainment. I think the biggest problem I have with these shows and the “para-celebrities” is that they try to sell what they do as actual paranormal investigating. The viewing public at large doesn’t realize that there is very little reality in any reality show, paranormal shows included. Zak may be a wonderful human being; I’ve never met him so I don’t know. But I hate the reasons why people love him: because he’s attractive and hunky and “cool” and takes his shirt off. What does any of that have to do with investigating? I loved MTV’s “Fear” years ago, because it didn’t try to be anything it wasn’t. It was people scaring themselves in scary locations. And that is what Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures is all about now, but they pretend to actually be investigating. And that is my issue! 🙂
Wouldn’t it be nice if real investigaters could go on the show and prove it to be a sham? I know that these shows are purely for entertainment….I have my own real life experience with the paranormal and there is nothing funny about the real thing. These shows however are a great laugh! Zak, isn’t very good looking as most airheaded teen girls would say though….I was thinking of applying for the game show, I doubt they would air my episode however.
Wouldn’t it be nice if real investigaters could go on the show and prove it to be a sham? I know that these shows are purely for entertainment….I have my own real life experience with the paranormal and there is nothing funny about the real thing. These shows however are a great laugh! Zak, isn’t very good looking as most airheaded teen girls would say though….I was thinking of applying for the game show, I doubt they would air my episode however.
I always him as a huge douche and don’t like him either.
I LOVE ZAK BAGANS. HES SO SEXY AND HIS ABS Are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE ZAK BAGANS. HES SO SEXY AND HIS ABS Are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS REAL ITS ALL REAL!!! LOL
ITS REAL ITS ALL REAL!!! LOL
@Jason. So with someone with experience in the field, I would truly love to know what actually occurs in a paranormal investigation. I have never had any experience with the paranormal other than speculated incidents and definitely nothing in the investigation field. I am genuinely curious and would like to hear your side of the story (against reality tv’s)
Blake, to be honest, most investigations yield nothing. The “reality” TV shows are edited from 8 or 12 hours into 44-minutes programs for TV, so they usually take the most exciting aspects of an investigation and piece them together to make it a more interesting experience for the viewer. And a lot of shows these days fake evidence, set up scenarios to look more paranormal than they are, etc. Most investigations you see on TV are not even full overnight investigations anymore, they shoot the shots they need for an interesting show and then that’s it. That’s not to say real investigators don’t have experiences, but it’s far from the frequency that is shown on TV 😉
@Jason. So with someone with experience in the field, I would truly love to know what actually occurs in a paranormal investigation. I have never had any experience with the paranormal other than speculated incidents and definitely nothing in the investigation field. I am genuinely curious and would like to hear your side of the story (against reality tv’s)
Zak is cute, I even saw him in my dream 🙂
I do not like the show, its a well made cheap show for stupid. But I do not find any show on TV lately which wont be cheap and stupid. Stupid trash Kardashians … evil propaganda Fox news.. There is No History on History channel !!! What else do you want to know?
Why would you blame Zak or Grant and Jason?
They are trying to make money using their connections, you would do the same thing if you could.
Its a very weird world we are all live in. Everybody is talking about that, but no one is about to change it.
OK, so, yes i am young, and i do like Zak, but let’s get this established right here right now: do you even watch the show?! I do, and let me tell you, with college level knowledge in this stuff, and knowing some of the best places to be, and being a paranormal website owner, it seems to me, that this guy is pretty legit…
OK? good 🙂
Yes, I have seen the show. Anyone with half a brain knows that “reality” TV is not reality. Zak is an actor, who follows a script, and reacts to staged evidence for ratings. I have no problem with anyone liking the show for entertainment value, but please do not buy into any of it as even remotely accurate or real.
OK, so, yes i am young, and i do like Zak, but let’s get this established right here right now: do you even watch the show?! I do, and let me tell you, with college level knowledge in this stuff, and knowing some of the best places to be, and being a paranormal website owner, it seems to me, that this guy is pretty legit…
OK? good 🙂
Yes, I have seen the show. Anyone with half a brain knows that “reality” TV is not reality. Zak is an actor, who follows a script, and reacts to staged evidence for ratings. I have no problem with anyone liking the show for entertainment value, but please do not buy into any of it as even remotely accurate or real.
if zak should pick a girl, it should be ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if zak should pick a girl, it should be ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. I have to admit, Zak, in my opinion, is very attractive. I don’t believe in all their evidence, but some of it is pretty believable. “Ghost Adventures” is way better than “Ghost Hunters” and I respect your opinion, but I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s staged. The walk throughs are sometimes staged but the actual investigation is not staged. Those are my opinions.
Ok. I have to admit, Zak, in my opinion, is very attractive. I don’t believe in all their evidence, but some of it is pretty believable. “Ghost Adventures” is way better than “Ghost Hunters” and I respect your opinion, but I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s staged. The walk throughs are sometimes staged but the actual investigation is not staged. Those are my opinions.
i only read some of the many comments… and i don’t know why but i take some of them offensive. to the person that replied to Courtney Mroch are you applying that Mac Began is a fake??
This show is real along with the evidence. Plus, it’s GHOST ADVENTURES. Not Ghost Hunters. Please get your facts straight. Zak Bagans is not an actor as well. But before judging whether the show is fake or not, why don’t you go on an investigation with them?!
This show is real along with the evidence. Plus, it’s GHOST ADVENTURES. Not Ghost Hunters. Please get your facts straight. Zak Bagans is not an actor as well. But before judging whether the show is fake or not, why don’t you go on an investigation with them?!
@Emma If you read my post more carefully, you will see that I never said Zak was on Ghost Hunters. I simply said that when I criticize Ghost Hunters, I get people angrily defending them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again (and lo and behold…here we are).
I am an actual paranormal investigator, so I don’t need to go with them. TV, by its very nature, is fake. The evidence they capture is faked, or under the best of circumstances, edited to look more impressive than it is. There is very little reality in “reality TV ” shows.
@Emma If you read my post more carefully, you will see that I never said Zak was on Ghost Hunters. I simply said that when I criticize Ghost Hunters, I get people angrily defending them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again (and lo and behold…here we are).
I am an actual paranormal investigator, so I don’t need to go with them. TV, by its very nature, is fake. The evidence they capture is faked, or under the best of circumstances, edited to look more impressive than it is. There is very little reality in “reality TV ” shows.
Im a mom who is in need of someone to help us. We are having some things going on in our home for a few years now and the other night our daughter had a friend sleep over and she was scratched while she slept which hasn’t ever happened before. We, the 3 of us are skeptics and this is very hard to rationalize but we have all had things go on and aren’t sure whats happening. Our home is a 1947 family only owned home built by step grand dad himself who died young of brain anyuerism in living room, his mother died in sunroom and im told wasn’t the nicest lady, and step dads mom died in kitchen, we moved in and bought right after she died. I could tell you more if you think you or someone could help us. Im not interested in any phony people either, only serious people who want to confirm these things and help us.
Im a mom who is in need of someone to help us. We are having some things going on in our home for a few years now and the other night our daughter had a friend sleep over and she was scratched while she slept which hasn’t ever happened before. We, the 3 of us are skeptics and this is very hard to rationalize but we have all had things go on and aren’t sure whats happening. Our home is a 1947 family only owned home built by step grand dad himself who died young of brain anyuerism in living room, his mother died in sunroom and im told wasn’t the nicest lady, and step dads mom died in kitchen, we moved in and bought right after she died. I could tell you more if you think you or someone could help us. Im not interested in any phony people either, only serious people who want to confirm these things and help us.
I have watched Zak and the scooby crew, no idea what is fact from fiction.
attractive,hunky and cool ? Are we watching the same bunch of kids ? If he is a wanna be actor, that is sad and disappointing. There is a recipe for every episode and the spirit box ? do not believe that box is for real. I watch and the places they go to are interesting but is it real ? no idea but many things seem fake
Okay, so will you hate me if I say I like Zak Bagans? (But mostly it’s because I like to laugh at him and his Scooby Crew. I don’t take him seriously as an investigator at all. He’s an actor wanna be and this is his way of being in front of the camera.)
However, I also have to admit: I was sort of curious about this show before I read your post. Then it made me think about it from a different point of view. (How these type of shows hurt the paranormal community and make it more of a laughingstock.)
I like how you don’t mince words, btw. Because then I never have to wonder what you’re really thinking! 😉
Court, I could never hate you! And I know that you enjoy Zak and Ghost Hunters as pure entertainment. I think the biggest problem I have with these shows and the “para-celebrities” is that they try to sell what they do as actual paranormal investigating. The viewing public at large doesn’t realize that there is very little reality in any reality show, paranormal shows included. Zak may be a wonderful human being; I’ve never met him so I don’t know. But I hate the reasons why people love him: because he’s attractive and hunky and “cool” and takes his shirt off. What does any of that have to do with investigating? I loved MTV’s “Fear” years ago, because it didn’t try to be anything it wasn’t. It was people scaring themselves in scary locations. And that is what Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures is all about now, but they pretend to actually be investigating. And that is my issue! 🙂
Wouldn’t it be nice if real investigaters could go on the show and prove it to be a sham? I know that these shows are purely for entertainment….I have my own real life experience with the paranormal and there is nothing funny about the real thing. These shows however are a great laugh! Zak, isn’t very good looking as most airheaded teen girls would say though….I was thinking of applying for the game show, I doubt they would air my episode however.
Wouldn’t it be nice if real investigaters could go on the show and prove it to be a sham? I know that these shows are purely for entertainment….I have my own real life experience with the paranormal and there is nothing funny about the real thing. These shows however are a great laugh! Zak, isn’t very good looking as most airheaded teen girls would say though….I was thinking of applying for the game show, I doubt they would air my episode however.
I always him as a huge douche and don’t like him either.
I LOVE ZAK BAGANS. HES SO SEXY AND HIS ABS Are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE ZAK BAGANS. HES SO SEXY AND HIS ABS Are amazing!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ITS REAL ITS ALL REAL!!! LOL
ITS REAL ITS ALL REAL!!! LOL
@Jason. So with someone with experience in the field, I would truly love to know what actually occurs in a paranormal investigation. I have never had any experience with the paranormal other than speculated incidents and definitely nothing in the investigation field. I am genuinely curious and would like to hear your side of the story (against reality tv’s)
Blake, to be honest, most investigations yield nothing. The “reality” TV shows are edited from 8 or 12 hours into 44-minutes programs for TV, so they usually take the most exciting aspects of an investigation and piece them together to make it a more interesting experience for the viewer. And a lot of shows these days fake evidence, set up scenarios to look more paranormal than they are, etc. Most investigations you see on TV are not even full overnight investigations anymore, they shoot the shots they need for an interesting show and then that’s it. That’s not to say real investigators don’t have experiences, but it’s far from the frequency that is shown on TV 😉
@Jason. So with someone with experience in the field, I would truly love to know what actually occurs in a paranormal investigation. I have never had any experience with the paranormal other than speculated incidents and definitely nothing in the investigation field. I am genuinely curious and would like to hear your side of the story (against reality tv’s)
Zak is cute, I even saw him in my dream 🙂
I do not like the show, its a well made cheap show for stupid. But I do not find any show on TV lately which wont be cheap and stupid. Stupid trash Kardashians … evil propaganda Fox news.. There is No History on History channel !!! What else do you want to know?
Why would you blame Zak or Grant and Jason?
They are trying to make money using their connections, you would do the same thing if you could.
Its a very weird world we are all live in. Everybody is talking about that, but no one is about to change it.
OK, so, yes i am young, and i do like Zak, but let’s get this established right here right now: do you even watch the show?! I do, and let me tell you, with college level knowledge in this stuff, and knowing some of the best places to be, and being a paranormal website owner, it seems to me, that this guy is pretty legit…
OK? good 🙂
Yes, I have seen the show. Anyone with half a brain knows that “reality” TV is not reality. Zak is an actor, who follows a script, and reacts to staged evidence for ratings. I have no problem with anyone liking the show for entertainment value, but please do not buy into any of it as even remotely accurate or real.
OK, so, yes i am young, and i do like Zak, but let’s get this established right here right now: do you even watch the show?! I do, and let me tell you, with college level knowledge in this stuff, and knowing some of the best places to be, and being a paranormal website owner, it seems to me, that this guy is pretty legit…
OK? good 🙂
Yes, I have seen the show. Anyone with half a brain knows that “reality” TV is not reality. Zak is an actor, who follows a script, and reacts to staged evidence for ratings. I have no problem with anyone liking the show for entertainment value, but please do not buy into any of it as even remotely accurate or real.
if zak should pick a girl, it should be ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
if zak should pick a girl, it should be ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok. I have to admit, Zak, in my opinion, is very attractive. I don’t believe in all their evidence, but some of it is pretty believable. “Ghost Adventures” is way better than “Ghost Hunters” and I respect your opinion, but I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s staged. The walk throughs are sometimes staged but the actual investigation is not staged. Those are my opinions.
Ok. I have to admit, Zak, in my opinion, is very attractive. I don’t believe in all their evidence, but some of it is pretty believable. “Ghost Adventures” is way better than “Ghost Hunters” and I respect your opinion, but I just wanted to say that I don’t think it’s staged. The walk throughs are sometimes staged but the actual investigation is not staged. Those are my opinions.
i only read some of the many comments… and i don’t know why but i take some of them offensive. to the person that replied to Courtney Mroch are you applying that Mac Began is a fake??
This show is real along with the evidence. Plus, it’s GHOST ADVENTURES. Not Ghost Hunters. Please get your facts straight. Zak Bagans is not an actor as well. But before judging whether the show is fake or not, why don’t you go on an investigation with them?!
This show is real along with the evidence. Plus, it’s GHOST ADVENTURES. Not Ghost Hunters. Please get your facts straight. Zak Bagans is not an actor as well. But before judging whether the show is fake or not, why don’t you go on an investigation with them?!
@Emma If you read my post more carefully, you will see that I never said Zak was on Ghost Hunters. I simply said that when I criticize Ghost Hunters, I get people angrily defending them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again (and lo and behold…here we are).
I am an actual paranormal investigator, so I don’t need to go with them. TV, by its very nature, is fake. The evidence they capture is faked, or under the best of circumstances, edited to look more impressive than it is. There is very little reality in “reality TV ” shows.
@Emma If you read my post more carefully, you will see that I never said Zak was on Ghost Hunters. I simply said that when I criticize Ghost Hunters, I get people angrily defending them, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens again (and lo and behold…here we are).
I am an actual paranormal investigator, so I don’t need to go with them. TV, by its very nature, is fake. The evidence they capture is faked, or under the best of circumstances, edited to look more impressive than it is. There is very little reality in “reality TV ” shows.
Im a mom who is in need of someone to help us. We are having some things going on in our home for a few years now and the other night our daughter had a friend sleep over and she was scratched while she slept which hasn’t ever happened before. We, the 3 of us are skeptics and this is very hard to rationalize but we have all had things go on and aren’t sure whats happening. Our home is a 1947 family only owned home built by step grand dad himself who died young of brain anyuerism in living room, his mother died in sunroom and im told wasn’t the nicest lady, and step dads mom died in kitchen, we moved in and bought right after she died. I could tell you more if you think you or someone could help us. Im not interested in any phony people either, only serious people who want to confirm these things and help us.
Im a mom who is in need of someone to help us. We are having some things going on in our home for a few years now and the other night our daughter had a friend sleep over and she was scratched while she slept which hasn’t ever happened before. We, the 3 of us are skeptics and this is very hard to rationalize but we have all had things go on and aren’t sure whats happening. Our home is a 1947 family only owned home built by step grand dad himself who died young of brain anyuerism in living room, his mother died in sunroom and im told wasn’t the nicest lady, and step dads mom died in kitchen, we moved in and bought right after she died. I could tell you more if you think you or someone could help us. Im not interested in any phony people either, only serious people who want to confirm these things and help us.
I have watched Zak and the scooby crew, no idea what is fact from fiction.
attractive,hunky and cool ? Are we watching the same bunch of kids ? If he is a wanna be actor, that is sad and disappointing. There is a recipe for every episode and the spirit box ? do not believe that box is for real. I watch and the places they go to are interesting but is it real ? no idea but many things seem fake