I happened to come across a post by Amy Bruni (she has become quite popular in my blog lately!) on Facebook with a Larry King Live show segment featuring Josh Gates (Destination Truth and Stranded), Steve Gonsalves (Ghost Hunters) and John Zaffis (Haunted Collector). It is a 21-minute segment and totally worth watching.
I don't normally watch Larry King but I do understand that he can be a tough interviewer and quite frankly, I was quite surprised he did a show on the paranormal. What I appreciated about him is that he kept the questions moving quickly, asked some questions from Twitter followers, varied the questions and the responders, and was respectful of the topic, even though it was clear he was a hard skeptic. He even had John do an investigation in his studio!
I was also really impressed by the guests. First, it was a great line up with very different experiences, expertise, and backgrounds so that was nice to see. But they were also very honest and up front about the field and how its changed. Josh even bluntly stated that you can in fact make a career out of this, that there is money to be made (particularly with lecturing). With such a large percentage of the population believing in the paranormal (Larry was really sticking to ghosts even though they kept referring to paranormal in general) and the growing popularity in pop culture, they agreed that this is worth capitalizing on. Not to say that any of them are out for the money, mind you. Steve and John had been doing this for years before the shows and Josh had been a world traveler/photographer/adventurist before DT and was the host for that reason. Fortunately for us viewers, they are truly invested in this field and stick with it because they are genuinely facinated by their experiences.
I believe it was Josh who talked about the fact that a lot of people who have entered the field just want to get on TV and/or make a profit. That it used to be a hobby and about helping people but has now become something widly different (those are my words, not his). I don't believe its become completely commercial, there are still some great helping people out there (some have become good friends), but you have to admit, there is for sure an increase in desire to be famous by doing this work. Ironically, I feel the need to point, Josh's new show seems to perpetulate that (my reasoning for not watching it yet although I've recently gained an interest in checking it out).
I found this talk about being able to make a career out of this fascinating because I remember the cast of Ghost Hunters specifically saying that they don't make money from doing the show. TAPS has always been, and still is, non-profit, structured to help people and is not a business. Now, I am not saying that it isn't true and it sounds like they are saying their careers are from lecturing and a little from the shows. However, you can't tell me that TAPS hasn't "profited." New office, new equipment, lots of staff, suped up vans...you mean to tell me it isn't directly from having the show? That the production company didn't provide all of that? Hmmm. I just wish I would hear someone admit this publicy. If anyone reading can chime in and tell me that they have actually admitted to this, I would love to hear it! Please leave comments.
Sorry to pick on GH and TAPS but given where they started, I just have to. John has been providing lectures to colleges and universities for a while now - I met him at a conference where students contract his lectures and his aunt and uncle (Lorraine and the late Ed Warren) lectured at my alma mater for years - so while his business has boomed from the show, this has always been a career for him.
Anyway, back to my original point. It was a great show, something I haven't seen before. It was professionally done and to get on such a huge broadcast warms my heart. Sometimes I wonder if I just think the field is bigger than it is because I have immersed myself in this world but obviously, it is a big, national topic. Makes me happy :-)
Here is the link to the show: http://www.ora.tv/larrykingnow/2013-04-02-lkn1138-syfypanel-0_ynxo49kj
