2000-2002 MTV's Fear

Fear is a paranormal reality TV series/game show that originally aired from 2000 to 2002 on MTV. The program follows a group of five or more teenagers or twenty-somethings contestants being left at an undisclosed and allegedly haunted location. Once there they would be assigned a series of "dares" to be accomplished as they moved towards a cash reward. If they fail, they are eliminated.

This show was absolutely terrific, real people, real scares, real ghosts and real screams not only from the women, but grown, adult men as well! Each participant wore a helmet that filmed both what they were viewing and their reaction to it. The atmospheric lighting and camera work made the locations seemed even spookier than they already were.

The series only ran for two seasons and was cancelled not due to a lack of interest (the show was the second most popular on MTV at the time of its cancellation), but due to the high cost of producing each episode. All 16 episodes of MTV's Fear are in the Youtube Playlist below:

1992 Ghostwatch

Ghostwatch is a British 90-minute reality–horror/mockumentary television movie, first broadcast on BBC1 on 31 October (Halloween), 1992. Despite having been recorded weeks in advance, the narrative was presented as 'live' television. The original broadcast received a huge audience and resulted in an estimated 30,000 calls to the BBC switchboard in a single hour. It caused so much controversy that it led the BBC to place a decade-long ban on the programme ever being repeated after its initial broadcast. Although this has now been lifted, it remains unlikely that it will ever be shown again on British television.

As yet, Ghostwatch has only ever been repeated on television outside the UK – on stations such as the Canadian digital channel SCREAM for Halloween 2004, and the Belgian channel Canvas in 2008. In 2002, the British Film Institute released a 10th Anniversary edition on VHS and DVD. In 2011, 101 Films released Ghostwatch on DVD in the UK. Here's the synopsis:

The BBC gives over a whole evening to an 'investigation into the supernatural'. Four respected presenters and a camera crew attempt to discover the truth behind 'The most haunted house in Britain', expecting a light-hearted scare or two and probably the uncovering of a hoax. They think they are in control of the situation. They think they are safe. The viewers settle down and decide to watch 'for a laugh'. Ninety minutes later the BBC, and the country, was changed, and the consequences are still felt today.

1992 Sightings Halloween Special

Sightings is a paranormal news TV series hosted by Tim White that originally ran from 1992-1998 and produced several specials, home video releases and even a film released in 2002. Sightings (along with Unsolved Mysteries) were my first introduction to stories about the paranormal, which I still like to watch to this day.

The Sightings Halloween Special was the 7th episode from season 2. It originally aired on October 30, 1992 and contained the following 3 segments: Scotland's House Of Horror, Vampires and Witchcraft.

1989 The Search For Haunted Hollywood

A 1989 Halloween Special hosted by John Davidson that informs viewers of legendary hauntings in Hollywood and its studio backlots. Includes ghost stories told by the stars, the Hollywood starlet who jumped off the infamous Hollywood sign and is known to still be haunting the hills, constant sightings of Marilyn Monroe and Montgomery Cliff in the hallways of the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, the haunted earthly home of cowboy star Tom Mix and the haunted dressing room of golden girl Mary Pickford, ghostbuster Nonie Fagatt joins ghost hunter Richard Senate, and electronics experts Daniel Hobbit and Barry Taff to attempt a seek and destroy mission on a ghost. Also featured are actor/comedian Jack Carter, actor/comedian Norm Crosby, paranormal professional Hans Holzer, Patrick MacNee (John Steed of television's The Avengers), mentalist/magician Max Maven, and Harry Blackstone the magician.

1987 WNUF Halloween Special - 2013 Trailer

Originally broadcast live on October 31, 1987, the "WNUF Halloween Special" is a stunning expose of terrifying supernatural activity that unfolded at the infamous Webber House, the site of ghastly murders.

Local television personality Frank Stewart leads a group of paranormal investigators including Catholic exorcist, Father Joseph Matheson and the prolific husband-and-wife team Louis and Claire Berger. Together, the experts explore the darkest corners of the supposedly haunted Webber House, trying to prove the existence of the demonic entities within.

Did they find the horrific truth or simply put superstitious rumors to rest?

Compiled from the highest quality source material available, this trailer is for the first official release the program has received since its initial broadcast.



You can order a VHS videocassette of the "WNUF Halloween Special" exclusively through Alternative Cinema for $19.99. This is a limited release of only 300 copies, so get yours while you can.

2000s Real Scary Stories - Scary...But True

Real Scary Stories was fantastic paranormal show that debuted on FOX Family channel in the early 2000's and aired during the "13 Nights of Halloween" programming block. It was about real kids telling real scary ghost stories and also featured kids investigating locations across the country that are reported to be haunted. The show was canceled soon after the FOX Family channel switched owners and became the ABC Family channel. SYFY channel aired reruns of the show a few years ago, but they renamed the show to Scary...But True and only a couple episodes were shown. I have wanted this program to return to air for the past 10+ years. I remember watching on Saturday mornings on FOX Family. I'm not sure how many episodes were made but here are 4 episodes that were recorded off of ABC Family in 2002:

Agnes in the Wall, Room 347, Bodie's Curse:


The Lady in Gray & The Deacon:


Danny's Bed, Haunted Home Video, Green Man Tunnel


Part 1 Gurdon's Light & Condie's Ghost:


Part 2 Condie's Ghost:

1988 Unsolved Mysteries - Halloween Ghost Special

The special Halloween edition of Unsolved Mysteries premiered on October 26, 1988 and was the first episode to feature segments about ghosts. The four classic ghost stories, as told by the people who experienced them, include: "Queen Mary Ghosts," "Tallman's Ghost," "General Wayne's Inn" and "Tatum's Ghost." Hosted by the late Robert Stack and featuring the expertise of Dr. William Roll.

I was 12 years old when I first saw this episode and I remember it really freaked me out. Especially a scene from "Tallman's Ghost" story, when Mr. Tallman arrives home from work at 2am, he hears an eerie howling wind and a voice that says "come here" he looks back and notices his garage on fire, he runs inside with fear and then his lunchbox fly's out of his hands. I was so scared, this episode definitely left me with many sleepless nights.

1988 Mike Randall - Very Scary Halloween Special

Halloween special first aired on WKBW TV in Buffalo, NY October 1988. 4 parts

Part 1:

 

Part 2:

 

Part 3:

Part 4: