Ghost Hunters Recap Episode 6.03:Paddy Reillys/Harriet Beecher Stowe

Posted by Ron Martin on 03.19.2010

On the new season of Ghost Hunters, all attempts at creative names have fallen to the wayside as has any idea of debunking. Need your St.Patrick's Day fix? How about a bar that serves only Guinness? Brilliant!

I bet long time readers of my recaps thought I had abandoned Ghost Hunters. I'd talked about it during the last run of the show and now, we're what three shows into this run and still not a recap to be seen? It's not looking good for the homes team.

However…

Just the fact that you're reading this right now means the good guys won. It's not a matter of not wanting to do recaps for the last two episodes (including the two hour live Alcatraz show); it was a matter of bad timing. My computer going up in smoke, timed with non-favorable work schedules and ill conceived drinking nights have led to no recaps thus far. I'll make them up at some point. Perhaps subscribing to the feed to know when I put out new articles would help you get caught up because I really have no clue when or on what days they would appear, but they'll be around.

For now, where did we leave our heroes? I believe our Alpha Males, Jason and Grant were trying to get a ghost to knock while they listened to footsteps. The females, Amy and Kris, were alternating between yelling and playing nice with the other side and our clowns, Dave and Steve were absent. Yes, they started their own clown school with graduates who get to travel the world to play their trade.

Where are they now?

Let's find out on this episode of….



On This Episode of Ghost Hunters
To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, the team investigates an Irish pub where drunken Irish ghosts hit on Amy and Kris. Afterwards, they try to find the ghost of Harriet Beacher Stowe and try to get her to say her name.

New five-second opening promo.

As the team travels to New York, Jason makes the brilliant observation that a place called Paddy Reilly's is an Irish pub. Kris gives us about twenty seconds of info and one travel package later, we arrive.

Case #1: Paddy Reilly's Pub, New York City, New York

The Investigation
Lots of live Irish music greets our ghost hunting team. Some dude named Steve with the most stereotypical Irish accent you can imagine is our host. I'm pretty sure he could use some subtitles. Apparently, Paddy's only serves Guinness. Brilliant! Steve namedrops celebrities so fast that it makes even Jason and Grant blush. Lots of "weird stuff" happened here sorts of places—shadows and whatnot. Of course there are apparitions, but this seems like kind of a reach just to put something out on St. Patrick's Day. One guy says Gene Hackman haunts the place. I wonder if he knows that Gene Hackman is still alive.

Tango says things need to be efficient because they're in New York and someone's going to steal their crap if they don't get it set up quickly. To their credit, ten seconds later, they're set up. It looks as if Britt is back. Does this mean he's a regular? Did GH add a member because GHI has seven? No way Jason and Grant would settle for one less member than GHI.

LIGHTS OUT. All girl edition.

Alpha Team is in apartment 5W. This is where Gene Hackman is seen. Grant makes the observation that Gene is still alive, which should pretty much end the investigation but Jason is such a fan of Hoosiers, he's going to keep looking to try to get Gene's autograph. They start an EVP session, but have no luck. They're not looking for just knock and bangs this season, as Jason puts it, they would like ANYTHING to prove there is something there. Jason's dog ears hear something, while I just hear the sound of oncoming…

COMMERCIALS.

This dog whistle sound actually gets them off the couch. Grant tells the ghost to not be afraid, they are harmless. Confessional Grant tells us they just heard noises. I'm glad he cleared that because all the "what was that sound?" and "don't be afraid, we're just investigating this sound" was confusing to me. Confessional Grant, who looks like he's been on a five day bender, tells us the sound was probably more mechanical than paranormal.

Weird transition including moon shot and some shady guy standing on a street corner. I didn't get a good look, but I am pretty sure it was not Gene Hackman. Perhaps is was Brian Harnois trying to get back on the show.

Alpha Team has moved to the basement and immediately decide there will be a high EMF field. They waste no time in dropping the term "fear cage." Three seconds later (I counted) Confessional Jason tells us what a fear cage is. Grant says the smell, mixed with the fear cage atmosphere is probably what freaks people out. That, and it's the basement of a supposedly haunted place.

Chick Team is in the bar area where there is some sort of beer pump that was imported from Ireland. Where is Barry when you need him? The girls actually do some good debunking by mentioning that they know from past experience that if bars are wet, things slide a lot easier on them. There's some sort of sex on the bar joke to be had here, but I'm not digging for it. They prove this by sliding things across a wet bar, beating on the bar and shaking the bar while a bottle of beer (keenly taped up since said beer brand is not a sponsor, though the slogan KING OF BEERS is clearly visible) does nothing. They aren't able to debunk the experiences. Since they aren't, Amy asks for the ghost to play with the pump. Instead, Kris decides to play with the pump. Kris pumping things is too much for the ghosts and he makes a sound. Unfortunately for all of us, it's just footsteps. It should be noted that the hood on Amy's hoodie is large enough to fit her and Kris's head in. Someone tries to get in the back door, so we cut to…

COMMERCIALS.

Repeat last few seconds leading into the girls investigating all three locks for the back door. They can't tell if someone on the street was trying to get in or not, so they have to mention it in the recorder. Kris makes the observation that in a case like this they have to tag everything so there are no mistakes in the analysis. That's actually very good advice. Kris is almost in my favorite mousy look of hers, though she does have the spiral perm back instead of the straight hair. Maybe next week.

Clown Team makes their triumphant return in the bar area. Much to my chagrin, they are not down Guinness. Steve does try to poor a glass, thus proving that I am a much better bartender than he is. Don't feel bad Steve, I got 8 years experience on you. I am wondering if the New York excise is watching because this has to be illegal. Many very bad Irish accents later, they start an EVP session. Tango promises the ghost that if they move something, they will leave them alone. Please, move something so they will go back to their own show! A truck goes by outside, vibrating things in the room, possibly debunking many experiences. Steve starts naming off Americanized Irish things that he likes so the producers can play the "fun-loving ghost hunter" track behind him. I do actually like when he mentions that they the soccer and Tango is quick to agree. Even Jason has had enough of this and calls for the wrap up.

Jason and Grant know there is nothing to be found, but they have to make it look good for the show so they claim that maybe the cameras caught something. We know better.

The Analysis
Are male ghost hunters not allowed to shave? They all have the half-ass, I haven't shaved in three days beard going. Britt is nowhere to be seen. Steve hears a breath in a scene with the girls, but the two write it off as Kris's natural speech pattern. That's either good analysis or a good decoy to make us think they are doing good analysis. Tango sees something in the Gene Hackman room. I don't.

The Reveal
Jason and Grant drop the "fear cage" bomb on Steve about the basement. Jason busts out as many theories as possible to confuse Steve so he will readily accept this. We get bonus footage of an exercise bike – yay? The running theme here is Jason and Grant saying they can't verify nor debunk evidence. They are talking about a lot of investigating that they did that we didn't get to see, which is fine. They debunk Gene Hackman as the headlights of a passing car. Steve doesn't think it looks much like Gene Hackman. Jason suggests to Steve to keep a book of experiences. Steve said he is now a believer in the spirits even though TAPS caught absolutely nothing.

STATUS: This is the most ambiguous Jason and Grant have ever been. They wouldn't say ‘yea' or ‘nay' to anything.

Steve does a little spiel about how friendly the ghosts are so don't feel like you need to stay away from Paddy Reilly's.

Cartalk.

Fistbump.

Harriet Beecher Stowe House, Hartford, Connecticut

Jason is noticeably absent from the get go. Kris has changed from glasses and wavy hair to straight hair sans glasses. Amy is also without glasses but banished to the back seat. Kris gives us a quick history lesson on Harriet Beecher Stowe, including her dabbling in séances.

The Investigation
Without Jason, Tango gets to go on the tour, but I think it might just be because Shannon, our tour guide, is ridiculous and Tango paid Grant to get to hang out with her. Does Shannon give the tours herself? How much and where do I sign up? She mentions even Honest Abe gave Harriet her props. Steve acts like he is taking notes, but I think he is drawing a stick figure re-enactment of the infamous "Dude, run!" episode. Shannon is wearing all black and for mush of the tour looks like a floating head. It's all the basic things moving, voices, apparitions, lights, yadda, yadda yadda. Why are all the employees pretty young girls? Is the Harriet Beecher Stowe house some sort of front for something else? Just making observations, here.

Tango says that Jason is not here so there is extra weight. Apparently, physics was not Tango's best subject.

I could have sworn I saw Britt during that first investigation. Was it the ghost of Britt?

LIGHTS OUT! Second investigation begins with 22 minutes of the program left. This is never promising.

Steve and Grant are in the front parlor. With Jason out, I don't get to use my cool team names! Grant immediately notices vents under each window thinking maybe it would cause the shades to roll up. I'm impressed. We're well into the second investigation before the infamous K-II makes its first appearance. As Grant asks questions, the K-II goes off (imagine that) but is backed up by the EMF meter rising.

COMMERCIALS.

Grant keeps harping on the shades, but the ghost seems more concerned with the K-II. Grant starts dropping possible ghost entities, but just causes the ghost to take off. Way to go, Grant. Steve now wants a sign, but the ghost has moved on.

Chick Team is in the dining room. In the night visions, they look like they dressed up twinsies – how cute. The ghost notices this and gives them some footsteps from upstairs. The girls chase but in the end, it's a futile chase as most chases often are.

Grant and Steve are in the master bedroom. Steve wants to thank the ghost for causing a war. Or as he calls it "positive turns." The two guys try to lure the ghost into the bedroom. That's not creepy.

Kris and Tango are looking for the bearded man. Their search begins on the visitor's center second floor where Tango starts spouting off about all the cool stuff that's seen in the room in a spot that is obviously not natural. Speaking of not natural, Confessional Kris talks about calling to Amy to see what she can see from the outside. Amy's a player so she goes along with the crazy antics. Kris desperately wants Amy to see them with beards but Amy can see nothing. Eventually she relents that out of the corner of her eye there may be bearded people walking around.

They celebrate by moving to the first floor of the visitor's center. Kris compares Harriet' séances to their EVP work. Kris is very fidgety. Maybe she is gassy, maybe Tango makes her all tingly or maybe she hears thumping coming from the walls. Nope – just a car.

The Analysis
Steve says they got lots to look at. Good job, Steve. They immediately hit up the thud the girls heard. They can't say one way or another, but they'll bring it up cuz that's what they do. They have something on audio that Tango has deemed "crazy." Instead, we get…

COMMERCIALS.

The Reveal
Shannon is very happy to see Steve. Hmmm. Grant mentions the whole vent thing even though it proved to be absolutely fruitless. Next up, they talk about how they debunked the bearded ghost sighting, only they didn't debunk it because Grant says they can't truly debunk because they weren't there. Then what's the point? They play the audio, but it's extremely weak. It could be anything. Shannon says it may be the ghosts playing checkers. Lastly, they play the thud sound. They mention that they all wear shoes that could have made the sound. Grant gives another "we're not saying one way or another speech." In the middle of it, my DVR stops.

Assumed cartalk.

Assumed fistbump.

Overall Completely new season and things are a bit different. They've sped up some of the down segments and cut out some of the repetitive stuff. This is all good stuff. More investigating. I didn't even mind Steve's rant on Irish things that he likes. There's a place for humor on the show, just not when it' contrived. And certainly not when it overtakes the ghost hunting. Clown Team can throw humor while their ghost hunting and it's all good. It's when they go for the humor in spite of the ghost hunting that gets to me. The ghost hunting and debunking were fine. They didn't get anything at either place and that happens. I've mentioned that we need shows like this to make the ones where they find stuff more important.

Here's where my main problem with this episode lies. Why won't they give the client definitive answer? It's almost as if they know the ratings go up when they find stuff, but they don't want to try and overexagerate what little they do find, so they don't say anything. It's annoying. Why come to a place and say "well, we didn't find anything, but it's probably still haunted anyways." Or even "we found a logical explanation for why this is happening, but that doesn't mean it's not paranormal." I'm sure it's a new format thing, but at some point they're going to have to take a stance one way or another.

Regardless, much – much better than where they were for all of 2008 and much of 2009.

Fin.