Paranormal Challenge
Encyclopedia
Paranormal Challenge is an American paranormal
competitive reality spinoff television series that premiered on June 17, 2011 on the Travel Channel
. The series was created and is hosted by Ghost Adventures
lead investigator Zak Bagans, who challenges ghost hunters from all over the country to go head-to-head in a weekly ghost hunting competition to gather paranormal evidence by spending a night in haunted locations in the United States. The show finished its first season on September 16, 2011. It is not yet known if it will return for another season or not.
"Two teams. One night. One haunted location. One winner. For the ultimate in bragging rights. Paranormal Challenge."
Technical Expert
Judges
Paranormal television
Paranormal television is a genre of popular reality television programming. Its scope comprises purportedly factual investigations of paranormal phenomena, rather than fictional representations found in such shows as The Ghosts of Motley Hall and Ghostbusters, or cartoon/children's series such as...
competitive reality spinoff television series that premiered on June 17, 2011 on the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
. The series was created and is hosted by Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures
Ghost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
lead investigator Zak Bagans, who challenges ghost hunters from all over the country to go head-to-head in a weekly ghost hunting competition to gather paranormal evidence by spending a night in haunted locations in the United States. The show finished its first season on September 16, 2011. It is not yet known if it will return for another season or not.
Plot Summary
"For years people have searched for evidence that ghosts walk among us. The series pits two teams against each other in the world's most haunted locations in a competition to find proof of the paranormal." Then a panel of judges made up of paranormal experts evaluate the two teams after they have collected and analyzed their possible findings to determine a winner."Two teams. One night. One haunted location. One winner. For the ultimate in bragging rights. Paranormal Challenge."
Criteria
- Walkthrough
- Equipment Orientation:
-
- InfraredInfraredInfrared light is electromagnetic radiation with a wavelength longer than that of visible light, measured from the nominal edge of visible red light at 0.74 micrometres , and extending conventionally to 300 µm...
Camcorder - Full Spectrum Camcorder
- Full Spectrum Still Camera
- Thermal Imaging Camera
- Mel Meter (measures electromagnetic energy and temperature)
- Digital Recorders (captures EVP's)
- PX Device (OvilusOvilusThe Ovilus, or Puck, is an electronic speech-synthesis device which utters words depending on electromagnetic waves in the air, by using an EMF Meter. The device was created by Bill Chappell, a retired electronics engineer interested in the paranormal who creates devices for the field.-Overview:The...
)- Investigation Rules:
- Teams will conduct their investigations simultaneously at different ends of the location with time constraints.
- They have 2 hours to complete part one of their investigation.
- They will then switch locations and continue for 2 more hours in part two.
- Each team will be assigned: one camera operator, one sound technician to chronicle their investigations.
- Both areas are equipped with several stationary cameras allowing Zak and the judges to watch the teams every move from a secret nerve center location.
- Investigation Part 1
- Investigation Part 2
- Investigation Debriefing
- Preparing the Evidence
- Evidence Presentation
- Judgement: Teams will be judged on: Overall teamwork, Technological proficiency, Historical knowledge, and Audio & visual evidence.
- Judge Deliberation
- Winner Reveal
- Infrared
Cast and crew
Host- Zak Bagans - Paranormal Challenge chairman, Paranormal lead investigator and co-founder of Ghost AdventuresGhost AdventuresGhost Adventures is a weekly American paranormal television series that premiered on October 17, 2008 on the Travel Channel. Currently produced by MY-Tupelo Entertainment , the program follows and stars ghost hunters Zak Bagans, Nick Groff, and Aaron Goodwin, as they investigate locations that are...
Crew (GAC), conducted hundreds of investigations.
Technical Expert
- Billy Tolley - Visual and audio advisor
Judges
- Dave Schrader (Regular) - Internet talk show host of Darkness Radio, paranormal conference lecturer, published author of The Other Side: A Teen's Guide To Ghost Hunting.
- Gary Galka (Episode 1.1) - Award-winning paranormal investigator, inventor of the "Mel Meter" and (real time) RT EVP detector.
- Patrick BurnsPatrick Burns (paranormal investigator)Patrick Burns is an American paranormal investigator, best known as star of the TruTV series Haunting Evidence. He is the founder of the popular website , which in 2001 was featured in an Emmy award-winning Turner documentary "Interact Atlanta - 'Ghost Hounds'"...
(Episode 1.1 & 1.12) - Founder of Ghosthounds, professional photographer, organizer of annual Ghoststock convention. - Aaron SagersAaron SagersAaron Sagers is an American entertainment journalist, syndicated columnist, author, paranormal personality/pundit and founder of ParanormalPopCulture.com, a popular culture Website which covers the "entertainment of the unexplained." He has appeared with Zak Bagans as a celebrity guest judge on the...
(Episode 1.2) - Published author, nationally syndicated journalist, editor of paranormalpopculture.com - Alexandra Holzer (Episode 1.2 & 1.5) - Daughter of famed paranormal investigator Hans HolzerHans HolzerHans Holzer was an Austrian-born, American pioneering paranormal researcher and author. He wrote well over 100 books on supernatural and occult subjects for the popular market as well as several plays, musicals, films, and documentaries, and hosted a television show, "Ghost Hunter".- Career...
, author of Growing Up Paranormal, syndicated columnist for OM Times. - Jeff BelangerJeff BelangerJeff Belanger is an American author, public speaker and paranormal investigator.Jeff Belanger graduated from Hofstra University with a B.A. in English...
(Episode 1.3) - Paranormal journalist, author of a dozen books on "The Unexplained", consulting historian for hundreds of paranormal investigations. - Beth BrownBeth BrownBeth Brown is an artist and author living in Richmond, Virginia.-Personal life:Between the ages of three and five, she witnessed the deaths of her paternal grandmother, maternal grandfather, and her father to cancer...
(Episode 1.3 & 1.6) - Over 20 years experience investigating the paranormal, founder of VASPER (Virginia School of Paranormal Education and Research), conducted hundreds of investigations. - Mark Constantino (Episode 1.4)- Certified parapsychologist, EVP research conference lecturer and trainer, captured over 10,000 EVP's.
- Debby Constantino (Episode 1.4)- International paranormal acknowledge award winner for "Best EVP Researcher", paranormal conference lecturer, captured thousands of EVP's.
- Joshua P. Warren (Episode 1.5 & 1.9)- Published author of many paranormal books (most notably: How To Hunt Ghosts), talk radio show host of Speaking Strange, internationally recognized paranormal expert.
- Dr. Pamela Rae Heath (Episode 1.6 & 1.9)- Noted parapsychologist, co-founder of the Paranormal Research Society, published author of several books on the unexplainedParanormalParanormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
including Handbook to the Afterlife. - Bill Chappell (Episode 1.7)- Paranormal skeptic, electrical engineer, inventor of the OvilusOvilusThe Ovilus, or Puck, is an electronic speech-synthesis device which utters words depending on electromagnetic waves in the air, by using an EMF Meter. The device was created by Bill Chappell, a retired electronics engineer interested in the paranormal who creates devices for the field.-Overview:The...
, EM pump, and PX device. - Chris FlemingChris FlemingChristopher Fleming is an American medium, paranormal researcher, television personality, and public speaker. He has written numerous articles and produced various print and online publications on the topics of paranormal activity and psychic phenomena.Fleming has appeared on several...
(Episode 1.7 & 1.12)- Award-winning psychic medium, paranormal television celebrity (appearing on numerous television shows), acclaimed paranormal conference lecturer. - Dr. Andrew NicholsAndrew NicholsAndrew Nichols, PsyD, PhD, is an American psychologist and parapsychologist specializing in the psychology of superstitions, paranormal beliefs and experiences, and is an investigator of apparitions, haunted houses, and other purportedly paranormal phenomena.He has published more than 50...
(Episode 1.8 & 1.11) - Founder and director of the American Institute of Parapsycology, studied hundreds of paranormal cases. - Ron Fabiani (Episode 1.8)- Chicago Police officer since 1987, founder of Chicago paranormal detectives, star of popular television show Paranormal CopsParanormal CopsParanormal Cops is an American paranormal reality television series that premiered on January 19, 2010 on A&E. The program is produced by NorthSouth Productions for A&E...
. - Dr. Michael ShermerMichael ShermerMichael Brant Shermer is an American science writer, historian of science, founder of The Skeptics Society, and Editor in Chief of its magazine Skeptic, which is largely devoted to investigating pseudoscientific and supernatural claims. The Skeptics Society currently has over 55,000 members...
(Episode 1.10) Founding publisher of Skeptic MagazineSkeptic (U.S. magazine)Skeptic is a quarterly science education and science advocacy magazine published internationally by The Skeptics Society, a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs...
, Executive Director of The Skeptics SocietyThe Skeptics SocietyThe Skeptics Society is a nonprofit, member-supported organization devoted to promoting scientific skepticism and resisting the spread of pseudoscience, superstition, and irrational beliefs. The Skeptics Society was originally founded as a Los Angeles-area skeptical group to replace the defunct...
. - Ursula BielskiUrsula BielskiUrsula Bielski is a recognized authority on the Chicago, Illinois region's ghostlore, historian, author, and parapsychology enthusiast Ursula Bielski has been writing and speaking about Chicago's supernatural history, folklore, and the paranormal for more than 16 years. Her interests in...
(Episode 1.10) Founder of Chicago Hauntings, published author (Most notably: Chicago haunts). - Danielle HarrisDanielle HarrisDanielle Andrea Harris is an American film and television actress, best known as a scream queen for her roles in several horror films, four of them in the Halloween series: in Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers and Halloween 5: The Revenge of Michael Myers as Jamie Lloyd and in Halloween and...
(episode 1.11) Member of The Hollywood Ghost Hunters Society, Hollywood horror actress.
Location Experts
- Patrick Smith - Pennhurst State School historian (Episode 1.3)
- Mike Middleton - Ohio State/Mansfield Reformatory expert/guide (Episode 1.4)
- Mike Flicker - Waverly Hills Sanatorium historian (Episode 1.6)
- Cindy Lydick - Old South Pittsburgh Hospital historian (Episode 1.8)
- Richard Senate - La Purisima expert/guide (Episode 1.9)
- Sid Schultz - Linda Vista Expert/Guide (Episode 1.10)
- Heidi Schave - USS HornetUSS HornetEight ships of the United States Navy have been named USS Hornet, after the stinging insect., was a ten-gun sloop commissioned in 1775, and served in the American Revolutionary War, was also a ten-gun sloop and took part in the First Barbary War, was a brig-rigged sloop of war launched on 28 July...
Educational Director - Chris Alterr - Jerome Grand Hotel Owner and expert
Season 1 (2011)
| Ep. # | Title | Location | Winner | Original Airdate |
|---|
See also
- Ghost huntingGhost huntingGhost Hunting is the process of investigating locations that are reported to be haunted by ghosts.Typically, a ghost hunting team will attempt to collect evidence claimed to be supportive of paranormal activity...
- List of reportedly haunted locations in the world
- United States
- Paranormal televisionParanormal televisionParanormal television is a genre of popular reality television programming. Its scope comprises purportedly factual investigations of paranormal phenomena, rather than fictional representations found in such shows as The Ghosts of Motley Hall and Ghostbusters, or cartoon/children's series such as...