Ghost Hunters Recap Episode 6.19.08: 4.13 - Fort Delaware
Posted by Ron Martin on 06.19.2008
This week TAPS takes on Fort Delaware, the largest Civil War prison in America. It's the only second mid-season finale on TV!
The evidence we've been looking for all along because the ghosts always crank up the activity during a season finale. Even if it is just a mid-season finale of…
TONIGHT ON GHOST HUNTERS…
The largest Civil War prison is at the feet of TAPS. A new investigator? Wait a minute? Is that? Could it be? Is that the dude that won the contest last year --- you mean he actually gets to be on the show….13 episodes later? Also, Kris is in for a big surprise. My guess is that they are going to make her a full investigator…and then give TAPS to her because she is much prettier than everyone else. It will be good for the ratings.
"The Day Job"
Notice I put that in quotation marks. If you are silly enough to think these guys are actually still plumbing, then you probably don't understand the quotations marks and don't deserve to have them explained to you. Nobody tell them! Kris calls about Fort Delaware. You know, for Delaware not being very far from them and being the largest Civil War prison in the country, Grant doesn't know a damn thing about it. Once again, if they are plumbers, then they are the cleanest plumbers ever.
Jason is looking forward to Fort Delaware because so many people died there. Wow, usually he tries to hide his evilness, but tonight – well, it's the mid-season finale, so he doesn't give a damn.
Kris gets to ride in the first car with the big boys again. I bet she smells a lot better than Steve, who is afraid of water. And soap. Kris said that 2500 people died at the fort and at one point there were 33,000 prisoners there. Jason tells everyone that Mark, the Hunt for the Hunter winner is going to be there. They have to show a flashback because no one remembers it from last Halloween. I said it was a bad choice then and I stand by it now. Of course Jason brags about being the first team to investigate…because he's evil.
Case #1: Fort Delaware, Pea Patch Island, Delaware
I'm guessing we're just getting the one case tonight. Krysten is with the team…aaaaaah shit – it's JOE CHIN!!
Lee is the guide and says that historians can't say whether a place is haunted which is weird because TAPS says a ghost hunter is both a scientist and a historian. The prisoners at the jail made the island the second largest city in Delaware. Dude, someone crushed their skull right where Jason is standing. I think Jason just creamed himself hearing that. Re-enactors see people dressed like Civil War soldiers….uhm, okay. A cleaning lady cleans and walks through a closet that used to be a door. This gives the cameraman the perfect opportunity to use the bug eye lens and Jason the perfect opportunity to remind us what a residual haunting is. Lee is really getting into telling the stories. Now Grant tells about an intelligent haunting. That eye witness kind of looks like Kris.
I refuse to report on Steve reporting on what the cameras are reporting on. They do have extra cameras. Steve is also excited because people died horribly here. I hope a spider lands on his face. Mark is paired up with Krysten first tonight…hope he likes to sit.
LIGHTS OUT!
Jason and Grant are in the officer's bedroom. A lamp was thrown at a lady in here, but Grant thinks that the lady tripped over it or something. Woah! We're like three minutes in and Jason hasn't sat down yet! Okay, three minutes is all you get. Now we get exciting ghost hunting action…sitting. They're using K-2 meters again. I don't like K-2 meters. They don't prove anything and they light up every single time.
Ghost Hunters International is back July 9! Unfortunately, so is Shannon. Sigh.
Back from commercial, Jason and Grant are still sitting. Okay, the K-2 meter went off. So what. Jason asks for the ghost to set if off again. It does. So, Jason asks for the ghost to set it off again. Are you kidding me? This is ridiculous. Grant answers my ridicule by telling the ghost that he knows they keep asking him to do the same thing over and over again. His reasoning? The more you do it, the better it is. Jason changes things up by demanding the ghost light up the K-2 meter after he count to 3. When it doesn't happen, Jason says they're leaving because the ghost sucks. They've done all they can do by sitting in chairs and watching a red light. Grant says what they were getting on the K-2 probably wasn't paranormal though it does the exact same thing when it is paranormal so how do you know? See why I don't like the K-2? Can Jason want to not be here anymore than he already does?
The best TAPS team ever assembled, Tango and Joe Chin are in the tunnels. Tango writes love poems about tunnels. He loves tunnels because he likes to stare. They hear something and Tango says "If you're trying to get our attention, you need to try harder." No! No! No! No! No! That's the problem with TAPS. It's not the ghost's job to come to you. You're hunting the ghosts. That's the name of the mother f'n show! You hear something; you investigate it and find out if it's a ghost. You don't sit on your ass or stand there like a goon and hope something materializes in front of you. Joe Chin asks the ghost to throw a rock and it sounds like there is one thrown. Joe Chin, being the man he is, throws a rock back. You don't throw rocks at Joe Chin!
Krysten and Mark are in the officer's bedroom. They're doing EVP work and have already in the first minute done 20 times the investigating Jason and Grant did in the same room. Mark is listed as "guest investigator" by the way. There's something a knockin'. Krysten finds figures it's the window.
Jason and Grant are in the tunnels. Jason is pissed because there is no where to sit. They are doing EVP work then they hear voices…so they stop asking questions. They got the thermal out scanning the tunnel and something has walked around the corner, supposedly. I never saw it. They replay it. It looks like a person walking so we go to …
COMMERCIALS.
A red image walks into the tunnel and back. They theorize that someone is down there and go hunting. They decide to set up the thermal imaging camera on a tripod down the hall and see what happens.
Joe Chin has downgraded to Kris in the mess hall. Kris uses the word residual to prove that she is worthy of taking over TAPS. She freaks out from seeing a spider, but not near as bad as Steve would have. Joe Chin is getting strange EMF readings. Kris is big on introducing everyone. Joe Chin explains the equipment to the ghost, but we just get scary music. This is very much like the live Halloween special.
Steve and Tango are in the tunnels. Steve is on the screen and within 20 seconds the "wacky hijinx" ensues. Steve has spider spray with him because it soooo hilarious to have spider spray. He sees a spider and reacts a thousand times as bad as Kris did. Steve leaves the investigation because of the spider.
Jason and Grant are in the officer's kitchen. They immediately sit and use the K-2 meter that may or may not be paranormal. Grant says they were doing everything they could to communicate. Oh good, then that means I am doing everything I can to communicate right now as well – and I'm naked. They hear a thump so it's time for…
COMMERCIALS.
They try to debunk the thump but can not.
Tango and Steve are in the hallway where they see a lot of solid apparitions. Steve hears clothing moving. Instead of investigating, the duo has chosen to stand right where they are. Finally, they move.
Grant and Jason have pulled Kris Williams aside. Here is comes…the keys to the kingdom will be given to her and this will be the end of everything as we know. The Unholy Trinity has been consummated. Let Hell on Earth begin. (Seriously, I think they are going to make her a real investigator). Kris thinks she's being set up. Yep – Jason makes her an Investigator instead of Investigator-in-Training.
Jason, Grant and Mark are in the tunnels. They stand at one end of the tunnel and stare. Mark and Jason walk to the far end of the tunnel as Grant stays put. They see something and its Jason and Grant so you know that means…
COMMERCIALS.
Grant is chasing something he saw at the far end of the tunnel, but it ends up being nothing just like always. Mark spiels about TAPS reputation and how they try to get to the bottom of things. Hmmm…I see things differently.
Mid-season finale and they are wrapping up. They have exactly one piece of evidence.
The Analysis
Tango, Joe Chin and Steve are on the job. How come Joe Chin has to do analysis while he's in training, but Kris never had to? Because he finds an EVP. Joe Chin rules! Tango finds a head popping in and out of the tunnels on the thermal imager after it was set on the tripod so we go to…
The Findings
Krysten has somehow disappeared. The EVP is real quick, like less than a second. Jason says no go as it could be anything. It will be interesting if he brings it up to Lee even though he says it probably isn't paranormal. There's a second EVP. It seems to say "Show some respect!" They replay the thump showing Jason getting scared to which he responds that at least he didn't pull a "Dude, Run!" No, Jason, you would never pull a "Dude, Run!" because you would never run. Unless you could somehow sit and run at the same time. Leave your internet feuds on the internet! Before the bang, a female's voice is muttering saying "Kitchen!" Steve brings up the thermal. They replay the guy walking and I assume that they play the guy popping his head in but we may never know because we go to
COMMERCIALS
The Reveal
Hmm…seems like they had Joe Chin and Mark take pictures in the courtyard acting like they were tourists trying to get the ghosts to come out. Now that's good ghost hunting! They play the EVP/thump thing first. They play Joe Chin and Mark outside in the courtyard at the same time and the cameras watching them got the sound as well. Lee says that it sounds like an old school cannon. They play the thermal imaging piece and tell Lee that everyone was accounted for at the time. We finally see the mysterious head and shoulders peeking around the corner at the camera.
Status: Haunted
Cartalk --- minus Kris. Nothing too interesting to end the season.
Overall: I'm going to go on record and say this is the worst run of episodes the show has ever produced. TAPS is now a parody of what they were in seasons one and two. Jason and Grant (especially Jason) seemed burned out. It doesn't appear (on TV anyways) that they want to do this anymore. Going to some of the most haunted locations in the country and just sitting on your ass seems pretty criminal to me. A couple of episodes ago they got some of the most interactive ghost hunting they've ever had and they just seemed like they wanted it to go away. It took a ghost almost materializing before his eyes for Jason to even stand up. Steve is no longer a ghost hunter. He's a clown. He did less than five minutes of actual ghost hunting in this set of episodes. I understand that this could just be the editing, but I have to go by what they give me. I don't see how evidence collected by Steve could be regarded as legitimate. They are obviously stocking up on ghost hunters so they have enough for the Halloween episode. They now have Jason, Grant, Steve, Tango, Krysten, Joe Chin, Kris and I'm sure they could use Mark and Heather if they have to. I like the addition of Joe Chin because I was getting sick of the same five people over and over. Especially when three (probably four if you count Kris) would rather be somewhere else.
They always talk about TAPS reputation and how they're the best. If this is the best, then we are in big, big trouble.
I'll see you July 9 for Ghost Hunters International. I'm looking forward to covering ghost hunters who, you know, want to catch ghosts. Accept for Shannon who has to be sleeping with someone to remain on the show at this point.
Until then, don't become a ghost. But if you do, give me a sign.
I'm pretty sure I heard the screams of the undead when Kris was officially made an investigator. As for Joe F'N Chin, I was so glad to see he didn't throw that rock like a little girl, it would have been HI-Larious if there was something there and threw it back and hit Joe Chin, would've loved to see Joe F'N Chin go crazy on the ghost. Joe F'N Chin would have throw down on that ghost. Long live Joe Chin.
Posted By: Hulk (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Did you notice that Lee, the historian, had bedhead in the beginning of the episode when he was telling the guys about the history of the fort?
And as a full-fledged investigator, does Kris now get to do all of her investigating sitting down like Jason and Grant?
Steve is such a goof now! He even makes Brian (GHI) look good!
I LOVE Joe Chin!
Posted By: Jeannie (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 09:52 AM
I don't really understand how you draw your conclusions. Have you actually gone ghost hunting before? Are you aware that a good portion of that is sitting on your ass because randomly walking around doesn't help you find ghosts.
I admit the past run of episodes have been a bit weak. Mostly because there wasn't a lot of activity. I wouldn't necessarily blame the investigators for that. I'd more likely blame people like the idiot who brings TAPS in to investigate the fake stuff that he "forgot" was there.
I probably shouldn't take your reviews too seriously. It seems that the general mood on the Internet is to criticize TAPS. I would assume that has more to do with other ghost hunting groups being jealous of the exposure that TAPS gets. Also because TAPS comes across as a respected group with fairly normal people in it, while other ghost groups come across as a bunch of Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans playing Scooby Doo while marking out over dust "orbs" in photographs.
Posted By: Rick T (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 10:29 AM
I was a little disappointed with this season as well. Same old, same old. They need new and better questions when they do EVP work. I wondered if Lee the guy who gets to hang out at Ft. Delaware, was setting them up for something when he gave a special warning about going into the newer section. I get cranky when Jason and Grant debunk stuff people witness. Unless they interviewed the witness, how would they know how the lamp fell? Sure, make the witness out to be a fool, 'coz they are the best ghost hunters! I'm looking forward to Andy the Debunker in the International shows. Steve is a buffoon, and Tango should distance himself because he is just a sidekick.
Posted By: Jeannine (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:01 AM
Rick-Ron's been pretty good throughout his reviews in giving postive and negative feedback on TAPS. He especially goes back to the first and possibly second season and compares them to this season-basically what I am trying to say is the the first two seasons shows TAPS actually doing ghost hunting whereas recently they are doing a lot of sitting down and not showing much effort in the actual ghost hunting. I do agree that there are probably times where they do need to sit there and "let things happen" but it would also be nice to see them actually do more investigating. I think Ron as well as others just get frustrated by the change in the show since the first two seasons. Plus Ron likes to have fun with his reviews which makes it more enjoyable to read-so yeah he probably would tell you not to take it so seriously.
JOE F'N CHIN RULES ALL!!
Posted By: Hulk (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:13 AM
I think they're ALL sleeping with someone to be remaining on this show. I heard some of them dropped out too but it's not who you were hoping for.
Posted By: Guest (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 11:53 AM
The show has gotten worse along with the editing. The cut-aways at commercials and attempts at building suspense are what I can't stand about the show these days. If they just let the evidence speak for itself without adding little editing techniques to scare the viewer it would be a lot more enjoyable.
Posted By: Matt Short (Registered) on June 19, 2008 at 12:27 PM
Actually, Rick, I do ghost hunt and have posted evidence I have collected in this column before. I am aware that there are times when ghost hunting can be boring. My main problem is that I just don't believe sitting there and letting the ghost come to you. You're the hunter. If they had shown Joe Chin and Mark taking pictures acting like tourists, that would have been great. That's perfect. You're trying to coax the ghost into showing itself. However, when a ghost knocks, show some excitement instead of just saying "Do it again. Do it again. Do it again. I'm going to count to three then do it." That's ridiculous. A living person would get pissed at that, so why wouldn't a ghost?
A lot of it could be Pilgrim Films editing because let's face it, they have the worst production team on TV. However, they also want ratings. Two tired former plumbers on their ass aren't going to bring in ratings as say two former plumbers actively chasing down the source of the knocking. So I have to believe this is what J and G are giving them to edit. Maybe if they would do something -- anything, we wouldn't have to resort to ratings tricks like pretty girls and acting like clowns.
Go watch Season One of Ghost Hunters and notice the huge difference. In the beginning TAPS was a force. They came in with their people and their equipment and they investigated every corner of your property. Now, they are five people who are sitting around your house.
Posted By: Ron Martin (Registered) on June 19, 2008 at 06:35 PM
Rick T, how much do YOU know about ghost hunting?? Apparantly not much. I am Co-Founder of a Louisville based paranormal group. I started doing this BECAUSE of TAPS. That was the first/second season. Now, we have been forced to change our views on the "Gods of the paranormal". The last two seasons have put a bad name on what we are trying to do, just look at the evidence on the internet that shows how they have downright faked some of the stuff they have captured and tried to pass off. If my house was experiencing activity, and I called these guys to check it out, I'd ask them to leave after about twenty minutes of watching them sit on there asses and do nothing but ask stupid questions. That's not investigating. Cut Ron some slack for calling it like it is,,,,
Posted By: SHAWN (Guest) on June 19, 2008 at 10:22 PM
I admit to not knowing everything about ghost hunting, but I have actually gone ghost hunting with actual ghost hunters before.
I certainly see some of the same problems with the current crop of episodes we've been given. The digital zooms that cut away to commercial, the over-emphasis on Steve seeing a spider (because it's always a spider), and I admit that there have been some things I would like to see.
My basic point was that these reviews feel more pointed at TAPS and its organization. I don't see how a lot of the criticisms against the members of TAPS can be honestly dealt out based on watching an episode of a TV show. That's all I'm saying.
And yes, I've seen some of the videos about how they've faked some stuff. The ones that I've seen feel more like unintentional mistakes than actual fakes. But as I said, other Paranormal groups out there clearly would like the exposure these guys are getting, and will be happy to tear their methods down to do so.
BTW, the time I went ghost hunting, I felt like the group I was with was working hard to create their own evidence too.
Posted By: Rick T (Guest) on June 20, 2008 at 10:40 AM
Hi Ron,
This is Krystin Contant, the eyewitness from the Fort Delaware episode. I just wanted you to know that I AM NOT WITH THE TEAM. I was a volunteer at the Fort for 10+ years and the expereince I explained was one of three. In your article, you kept confusing me with Kris Williams the investigator. Please correct your article.
Posted By: Krystin Contant (Guest) on June 20, 2008 at 12:05 PM
Krystin,
There were two female ghost hunters with TAPS that night, Kris Williams and Krysten Gartland. When I mention Krysten, I am obviously referring to the TAPS team member that the internet seems to dislike, but I personally think she does pretty good even though she was the first to do all the sitting.
I think you just got a little confused about the name thing. Krysten G. was only shown on the show in I think like two scenes, if you blinked you never would known she was there.
Have you had other experiences there since TAPS was there? It seems like an awesome place.
Posted By: Ron Martin (Registered) on June 20, 2008 at 01:06 PM
Sorry Ron, I didn't know there were two female investigators in the show also with my name. I just didn't want people to think that I was part of the team and my story was false.
I have not been to the fort, other than the interview, since 2005. My other expereinces were in the mid-1990s on the trail where the hospital used to be and in the current laundry room.
I agree, it is a fantastic place for historians and "others"
Posted By: Krystin Contant (Guest) on June 20, 2008 at 07:09 PM
Snippy comments this week. Lighten up.
Posted By: Colette (Guest) on June 23, 2008 at 12:53 AM
hey i did not know they have faked some of there results and have not seen any video or article about it. Where do i go to see this, and what happen to brian on ghi? Now i would have to say that i have been pleased somewhat with ghi's investigations, the only thing that gets me on both is the dam music they play when one of them will say did you hear that and music is playing the whole time so how am i gonna hear it.
Posted By: joseph from ok (Guest) on August 21, 2008 at 12:51 AM
Just to clear up a little misconception by the arthor of this article. I happened to do a ghost hunt with the TAPS team in January. According to Jason and Grant, they still work as plummers when they are not shooting the show, but take a leave of absence when they are, so they do still have a "Day Job".
Posted By: Randy (Guest) on March 01, 2009 at 11:29 AM
