Ghost Adventures (Travel Channel)

common sense media says

Haunted house investigations more creepy than scientific.


parents & educators say
  • 33% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this reality series -- which follows a team of paranormal investigators as they visit allegedly haunted sites -- could be quite scary for younger viewers. The team's overnights in these locations are pretty creepy, as are their discussions of the murders, torture, and other gory events that took place there. Expect some bleeped swearing, usually when team members are reacting to something unexpected.

Positive messages: The show isn't out to convey any particularly constructive take aways, but it does send a message to viewers that the supernatural may be real and spirits should be treated with respect -- but not necessarily feared.
Positive role models: Zak and his team spend their nights in dark, creepy places as they try to find scientific evidence for the supernatural. Their missions would likely be terrifying to many people, so their choice to linger in such environments can be seen as both brave and foolhardy, depending on your point of view.
Violence: Zak and the crew often discuss the murders, massacres, and torture that make up the storied histories of the possibly haunted sites they visit.
Sex: Not applicable.
Language: Plenty of bleeped swearing as the crew encounters mysterious and sometimes unexplainable things.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Not applicable.

More on Ghost Adventures

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
  • Families can talk about the supernatural. Do you believe in ghosts? Do you think the team manages to capture real footage of spirits? How does this show compare to fictional movies and TV shows about haunted houses?
  • What do you think the show's main goal is? Is it  to entertain or to scare viewers? Or both? Does it succeed?
  • Do you think this kind of show is as entertaining as series about things that are familiar to everyone -- like cooking or fashion?

What's the story?

What's the story?
In GHOST ADVENTURES, Zak Bagans and his team of supernatural investigators travel around the country to find real-life haunted houses -- and hopefully capture evidence of the spirit world on film. During their investigations, the team is locked inside each location overnight, with their cameras, digital tape recorders, and other high-tech specter-sensing gear ... and possibly a few actual phantoms.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

The team attempts to bring some scientific rigor to their investigations as they try to document the presence of the supernatural. There's also some history -- the investigators discuss the grisly incidents that may have created restless sprits -- and a good bit of ghoulishness, thanks to amped-up spooky music and frequent quick cuts to creepy (and usually unrelated) images.

The result is kind of muddled. The team does sometimes seem to have encounters with the unexplained, but they don’t do much with their evidence; they replay it a few times, say “wow!” and then move on. At times, locked in a haunted house in the dead of night, Zak and his colleagues seem truly unnerved -- even frightened. But watching them get scared isn’t very scary for viewers. This series isn’t nearly as thorough as the Ghost Hunters franchise, which pioneered this genre, nor does it offer the chills that people might want from seeing a haunted house.

TV themes & details

TV Details
TV Rating: TV-PG
Network: Travel Channel
Cast: Aaron Goodwin, Nick Groff, Zak Bagans
Genre: Reality TV
Where to watch: Travel Channel

This review was written by Will Wade
 
 

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What parents & educators say

12
Based on 6 parent & educator reviews:
  • 33% say there are positive role models
  • 33% say there are positive messages
  • 33% say language is an issue

Most useful reviews by all members

Plague
parent
 
Ghost Adventures
Love this show. I watched the 7 hour live investagation (along with their past episodes), and i've always been impressed by how much energy they put into making this show acutally interesting to watch, unlike Ghost Hunters. I'm really looking forward to seeing new episodes and watch them investagate new areas. And yes I am a ghost believer, laugh if you want.

XxshayminxX
teen, 14 years old
 
Eh...
Sorry, I'm not trying to ruin anything for anyone but I think it's all fake. It is just trying to scare you.

Lucifix
adult
 
Without a doubt, my favorite show on TV.
This is a very intense, high adrenaline ghost hunting show. Their dedication of trying to get skeptics to believe and capturing real videos and EVPs of ghosts is highly present. They confront malevolent spirits without fear and often put themselves into dangerous situations, like opening themselves up to what may be trying to communicate with them, and sometimes, it doesnt end so well. So this show could easily scare young ones, or people who don't take scares too well.

GhostAdventure ...
teen, 17 years old
 
Great
I love this show. It gets scary at times even for me but over all it is a very great show.

readyourheartout
teen, 14 years old
 
i believe in ghost!
It can be scary, but its good!! it builds ur andrenaline!

lineman11
teen, 16 years old
 
A Rush to Watch With Your Favorite Horror Junkie
It is a great show, that I do watch very often. I love how they really have fun with it all. It can get pretty disturbing at some times, and in fact I havn't seen every episode as I have watched some and got scared and turned it off. Not something to watch at night, or at least after 9PM. For kids that feel it is the coolest thing ever when they are under 11 have them watch it with parents. It is a show that helps you see that the supernatural could be real. I reccomend it for the kind of kids that like scary stuff.

 
Zak is on steroids.
I am very disappointed in the Travel Channel. I do enjoy watching the shows they air and when i came across this particular series i thought i would give it a shot, instead i am appalled at the drama queens they have promoting this. Zak and his crew are horrible, I am embarrassed for them and the Travel Channel.

Seminolefreak
teen, 14 years old
 
Best supernatural show out there!
Love this show!!! I have for like a REALLY long time! I hope thy get their own movie!

coolpup
kid, 13 years old
 
my fav show watch it now
i love to watch this show but it is very scary but thats no match for the paranormal hunters Zak Nick and Aaran keep um coomen 5 stars

camprock2fan
teen, 13 years old
 
Perfect for any age
I love it it's awesome I've ben watching it from the start.

iLovePeace
kid, 12 years old
 
Everyone
The F word is bleeped out, but bastara*, a**, b*tch, and other words are heared... But its also very entertaining but sometimes there are some innapropriate images. Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

singer16
teen, 18 years old
 
Awesome!!! 13+
This show is amazing,but for younger tweens it is a little iffy! Even i get freaked out sometimes!So i rate it 5 stars and 13+!! (I'm definalty a ghost believer, i have mi experiences!!)

mememem
parent of 15 year old
 
The Hand is Quicker Than the Eye
The Ghost Adventures are a highly entertaining show. They are exactly that for entertaining purposes. Imagine being a electrician and having to turn the main power switch off at a home. You would be taught to do this yourself so you know it was done and not get yourself electricuted. Well the same is with the Ghost Adventures. What these guys are doing is not an exact science. The only way to believe what you are seeing is to be there yourself and witness these phenomenon. For instance these EMF devices are really neat and stuff but, if you left one out for an hour and watched it the readings would go up and down on their own without being touched. The odd thing here is that the human body gives off electricity. The same for the digital recordwers. how do we know that these devices memories are emptied before thier investigations??? We don't! Like I said great for entertaining and ratings for the station, but in reality alot of things can be done in television. So if you want to experience a ghost, go ghost hunting on your own.

yamomma
parent
 
Too much bad language
Way too much bad language. Even with the bleeps we know what they are saying. I stopped watching it. They need to clean up the language. Now I watch Ghost Hunters.

Kebi Cullen
kid, 13 years old
 
GAC ROCKS!
This show is the best show on T.V. I can't believe they gave this only 2 stars but gave Degrassi 5! This show shows that ghosts can be real. It also has quite a bit of history in it, so it is educational. Yes, they cuss, but what adult doesn't these days? The only adult I know that doesn't is my grandma and she's slipped quite a few times. This show is the best show I've ever seen. I watch it every weekend, even the reruns. I'm not the only one in my family that watches it, even though I watch it first. My older cousin, my 8 year old cousin, my six year old sister, and my 33 year old mom. So as you can see, a variety of ages watches it. It doesn't give my little cousin and sister nightmares, and they are pretty squirmish. Greatest show ever!

lehi007
parent
 
Your child's teacher recommends, "Just Say NO!"
I am a teacher with twenty years experience working with children and I have to say that I am appalled at these reviews. THIS is what you have your kids watch in their spare time? SERIOUSLY? This is absolute over the top garbage. OMG go read a book, ride your bike, get a hobby. This is cotton candy for the brain. There has GOT to be something better for your children to watch on T.V. Let's parent up and help our kids make better choices. The fact that so many seem to like this silly show makes me a little sad.

seb123
kid, 10 years old
 
ghost... are they scary?
I think its okay ahhhh...good show .They do good drama. dont think its scary at all,I like it. WHAT AM I KIDDING! fake ers

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