Best Paranormal TV Shows

Paranormal investigation shows have been around for a while now. Initially presumed to be something of a fad and heavily expected to quickly drop in popularity, that hasn’t proven to be the case. With fan favorite programs like SyFy’s Ghost Hunters, Travel Channel’s Ghost Adventures and several YouTube channels run by investigation groups, the options for the paranormal enthusiast are almost limitless.

Most programs focus on seeking out paranormal hot spots, haunted houses, prisons, and hospitals in the dark using night-vision cameras, EMF detectors, digital voice recorders and several other interesting ghost busting gadgets. Each show differs with it’s own unique premise, with some being more evidence driven, only relying upon what they capture (whether that be something or nothing at all), while others aim for more heart pounding suspense.

With a Harris Interactive Poll indicating that 65% of Americans believe in ghosts, the popularity of paranormal entertainment seems to reinforce whatever empirical evidence may exist. Whatever your beliefs might be, the following shows are definitely worth a look (or a laugh).

Ghost Adventures

Currently in its 13th season, Ghost Adventures is arguably one of the most popular and successful programs on the Travel Channel. This might not sound like too big of a feat—granted it’s the Travel Channel—but the fact that as a series it’s been able to break out of the TV paranormal niche and gain true notoriety, is no laughing matter.

The basic premise of Ghost Adventures is pretty straightforward. Hosted by Zak Bagans, a former wedding DJ who became paranormal investigator after an encounter with the spirit of a suicidal woman, is joined by a team of investigators to examine one haunted locale per episode. They provide the audience with the backstory of the location, talk with people who have encountered the spirits, and do a brief walk-through to highlight the places where paranormal activity has occurred. That night, they do a lock-down where the men are locked inside of the location all night (there is no real reason for them to be locked inside, but whatever) and use that time to try to communicate with ghosts, record strange events, and so on.

At first glance Ghost Adventures is basically your average run of the mill ghost hunting show, but what sets them apart from their competitors are the cast members themselves. While serious about what they do, the investigators, particularly Zak Bagans, exude—for a lack of a better word—total “bro” style. For example, Bagans celebrates discovering a spiritual anomaly by dishing out a round of high fives and loudly proclaiming “Dude!”

If you’re comfortable with the Jersey Shore-esque vibe that surrounds the cast, you’ll be in for a treat because some legitimately scary stuff goes down on Ghost Adventures.

Debuting in 2004 on Syfy, the enthusiastic docusoap was an almost instant hit. The premise was still relatively simple, but contained more than the audience was expecting. Each episode surrounds a team of investigators (the real life Atlantic Paranormal Society) who seek to debunk or affirm claims of ghostly activity. At its peak, the show pulled in roughly 3 million viewers per episode and still stands as Syfy’s longest-running series to date. Since its debut, it has spawned several similar themed TV shows, many of which are even listed here.

The team was originally co-founded by co-leads Grant Wilson and Jason Hawes (famously Roto-Rooter plumbers by day, ghost busters by night). However, in 2012 Wilson left the show to presumably spend more time with family. Since his departure, the show has clearly been on a decline and it doesn’t come with much surprise that after 11 seasons and Syfy’s heavy shift from paranormal TV, the cast has decided to call it quits. Just on Syfy that is, so relax, paranormal lovers.

Hawes himself has suggested that he was the one to announce the end of filming, but promising to come back elsewhere. With a still relatively strong audience and a solidified brand, it shouldn’t be too hard to find a new home.

As one of the only paranormal shows to become a true part of the pop culture lexicon and break through to the mainstream, this show is a must re-watch for any ghost hunting fans.

Another Travel Channel gem, is unlike many other paranormal programs in that the cast consists of Steve DiSchiavi, a former NYPD homicide detective, and Amy Allan, a physical medium. Yes, you read that right. A medium. Each episode consists of the duo traveling to a presumably haunted location. Steve is in charge of researching facts and history along with interviewing witnesses and experts. Amy plays her part in communicating with the dead to understand what paranormal activity lies within each location. The interesting part is that they both keep their investigations separate from one another until the very end when they come together and reveal their findings to the client.

Now in its eighth season, the show remains consistently popular. Despite this, there remain many critics, largely skeptical of Allan’s abilities. Ghost hunting is already a sticky arena for many, add in someone who can not only catch sighting of an unearthly spirit, but also speak to them? It’s a hard act to sell. But many people are willing to open their minds and believe a little. What about you?

Paranormal Witness

Premiering in 2011, Paranormal Witness was another of Syfy’s additions to its then overwhelming collection of paranormal TV. Different from many of its competitors in that there isn’t any ghost hunting involved, instead, it uses first-hand testimony, home videos, and personal photos to recreate the stories of people who have lived through paranormal experiences.

Driven by a testimonial viewpoint, there is very much a feeling of “based on a true story” that lingers throughout each episode. While at times a bit overly dramatized, I wonder if there’s really any other way to depict actualizations of haunted tales.

Offering something its competitors don’t, plays a huge part in Witness’s success. If you’re looking for a good old-fashioned scary story, with a bit of truth thrown in for good measure, this is definitely one to check out.

Destination Truth

Another one bites the dust. Like Ghost Hunters, along with being a part of the Syfy family, Destination Truth’s reign of paranormal investigation has ended. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t still have something to offer in it’s re-watching.

Each episode of Truth involved the search and investigation of often heavily fictionalized creatures. Hosted by Josh Gates who, along with his team, ventures to various locations around the world where he interviews witnesses, reviews physical evidence, and researches local history. Once the research has been collected, Gates and his team spend time in the field, often after nightfall (honestly, how creepy would it really be in the daytime?), in an attempt to capture firsthand evidence of the existence of these infamous creatures. Any evidence gathered is then sent back to experts for further analysis. At the end of each segment, the show details the findings and Gates either states whether the case was based largely on myth or if there may indeed be something out there.

While heavily based on pure entertainment value, there’s plenty of educational knowledge mixed into the often overwhelmingly fantastical. Destination Truth is the perfect show to watch when you’ve seen enough “unbelievable” ghost sightings to last you a lifetime.

With so many paranormal programs migrating from channel to channel or disappearing altogether, it’s not surprising that many have found their way to YouTube, one of which being LiveSciFi.

Founded by Tim Wood in late 2007, the show was the first live streaming paranormal show ever attempted on the Internet, and in turn, has achieved a cult-like status among viewers.

Wood and his team (Scott Di Lalla and Patrick Langdon) take turns participating in various experiments in some of the most haunted locations, such as the infamous Sallie House and Whispers Estate in Mitchell, Indiana. The beauty of the program is that it allows viewers to watch unedited continuous feeds from various rooms in the building, while the ghost hunters deal with whatever supernatural energies may be placating the premises and attempt to bring them out for all to see.

LiveSciFi also offers a multitude of different investigative styles including the frequent use of Ouija Board sessions. What makes those sessions particularly interesting is that Wood also runs a voice recorder at the same time to catch EVPs (electronic voice phenomena).

Currently, LiveSciFi is the largest paranormal channel on YouTube with over 300,000 subscribers and over a billion views in its 10-year life span. If this doesn’t warrant even a quick peak, I’m not sure what does.

Living Dead Paranormal

Another hit Youtube program, Living Dead Paranormal is a real life paranormal group founded by Josh, Rocky, and Shaun Fourman—also known as the Fourman brothers. After living through a serious haunting in their childhood home, they decided to start investigating and share their findings with the public.

Their investigations are presented as documentaries with a production value as high, if not higher, than what you’ll find on TV. If you only have time to grab one of their investigations, make it The Monroe House in Indiana, or if you’re looking for decidedly more demonic viewing, check out their Demon Case in northern Ohio.

With a likable cast not afraid to be seen wetting their pants, serious paranormal investigation, and downright frightening locals, this is not one to miss.