TV End of an Era: Ghost Hunters loses Grant Wilson

[scarlettina]

I've been a fan of Ghost Hunters since it first aired on SciFi SyFy eight years ago. It was programming targeted point-blank at me: someone with a lifelong interest in the paranormal, a show filled with interesting people doing something I'd love to do. And I dug the two main investigators, Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson--especially Grant who was, by all reports, a writer, a gamer, and musician, the more talkative of the two. Over time the show went from focusing on both the investigations and the team's interpersonal relationships to focusing purely on the investigations, almost to the point of making it all a little dry. More recently, Grant began to seem impatient, a little bored with the work, or at least a little frustrated. His enthusiasm seemed to be dwindling and it was obvious.

So last night, when he announced that he was leaving Ghost Hunters, the show, and TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society), the organization at the center of the show, to pursue other personal goals, I have to say that I was only slightly surprised. And disappointed, certainly. For me, Ghost Hunters has always been about Jason and Grant mainly (though it's been fun to watch Steve Gonsalves and Dave Tango come into their own as investigators). I'm really going to miss him. And I have to say, my interest in the series, which has already waned somewhat, will probably wane all that much more. As I said above, it all seems to be pretty rote at this point. The investigations are less interesting to me, and there's not much in the way of human interest or drama. All good things come to an end, I guess.

I hope that, whatever it is that Grant's going to pursue, it's something that satisfies him and gives him joy; it sure seems like that stopped being TAPS quite some time ago.

Comments

[dreamline.livejournal.com]

I haven't watched the show ever since we gave up cable but it was one of my favorites. I admired Grant and Jason's ability to not get too excited, keep a cool head and find explanations instead of jumping to conclusions (instead of ZOMG ORBZ!). Grant was a good contrast to Jason's often gruff demeanor. Plus, he was pretty easy on the eyes ;).

[marthawells.livejournal.com]

I thought Grant was getting impatient, too. I'm going to miss him, but I did like the show better when they showed more of the debunking and the logistics and difficulties of what they were doing.

[dancinghorse.livejournal.com]

Grant's been looking tired for a couple of years. I'm glad the announcement wasn't that he's ill. He's a bright, creative guy, quite a good musician and cartoonist. I can see him wanting to move on and do more of that.

Never seen it

[the-same-andrew.livejournal.com]

Were I a spiritual creature, I would give thaks that I have lived to see such a thing as a "science fiction channel," whatever you call it.