Show: Ghost Whisperer (CBS)
Episode: “Firestarter” – Season Premiere (Season 4)
Premiere Date: Friday, October 3rd, 2008
Rating: 1.5 out of 4 Stars
Quick Synopsis: I hear dead people.
Long Synopsis: A fire burns through a building at Rockland University. One professor is saved, but his near death experience seems to have left him able to hear dead people. He tries to pretend it isn’t happening, but finally comes to grips with his new ability, with a little help. Someone who died in the fire and was close with the professor needs to be helped to crossover.
Review: Ghost Whisperer is pretty decent at what they do, but I have a fundamental dislike for the show. It runs along the same lines as what Moonlight fans may feel about The Ex List, which will now follow this on Friday nights.
So, to start off this review, you should know three things:
- Every time I watch an episode of Ghost Whisperer, the first thing that comes to mind is, they cancelled Joan of Arcadia, for this?
- I don’t really care for the whole trying to be spooky thing.
- Lastly, I’m a guy and not exactly in the show’s target demographic.
With those in mind, I will say one thing for the guys that get roped into watching this with their ladies. Ghost Whisperer is not shy about putting Jennifer Love Hewitt’s two best assets front and center. But, other than that, it’s pretty much just another sappy mystery story being told that revolves around death and loss.
For fans of the show, they may find a new element that is revealed to be interesting. I did and I don’t really like the show. Also, if you liked Jay Mohr’s Prof. Payne, then you will probably be disappointed with his departure. He could be back if his new sitcom Gary Unmarried doesn’t perform well.
To take his place they have added Prof. Eli James, played by Jamie Kennedy (The Jamie Kennedy Experiment). He is the professor mentioned in the synopsis above that can now hear ghosts. I didn’t particularly care for his character.
Overall, it doesn’t have a whole lot of competition in the first hour of primetime on Friday nights. The only other scripted shows on in that hour are The CW’s Everybody Hates Chris and The Game. The non-scripted shows include ABC’s Wife Swap, FOX’s Are You Smarther Than a 5th Grader?, and right now NBC’s America’s Toughest Jobs and then in a couple of weeks, Deal or No Deal. What this time period really is perfect for is catching up with the shows from earlier in the week you haven’t watched yet. That would be my suggestion. But, if you need something to watch, to kick off your Friday nights, I’d go with Chris on The CW.
Ghost Whisperer premieres tonight, Friday, October 3rd on CBS.
