A Haunting is an American paranormal drama anthology television series that depicts eyewitness accounts of alleged possession, exorcism, and ghostly encounters. The program features narrations, interviews, and dramatic re-enactments based on various accounts of alleged paranormal experiences at reportedly haunted and mostly residential locations.

A Haunting
Genre
Developed byAllison Erkelens
Narrated byAnthony Call
Theme music composer
  • Ed Smart
  • Cret Wilson
Opening theme
  • Ed Smart
  • Cret Wilson
Ending themeEd Smart
ComposerEd Smart
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons11
No. of episodes115 (list of episodes)
Production
Executive producers
  • Larry Silverman
  • Nicolas Valcour
  • Jack E. Smith
  • Tom Naughton
  • Mark Johnston
  • Jim Lindsay
  • Caroline Perez
  • Christine Shuler
  • Cecile Bouchardeau
Camera setupSingle
Running time43–50 minutes
Production companyNew Dominion Pictures
Original release
NetworkDiscovery Channel
ReleaseAugust 6, 2002 (2002-08-06) –
November 9, 2007 (2007-11-09)
Network
ReleaseOctober 12, 2012 (2012-10-12) –
March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04)

Overview

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A Haunting originally began as two feature-length specials, A Haunting in Connecticut and A Haunting in Georgia, which were developed by Allison Erkelens, who also served as head writer. The specials were executive produced by Tom Naughton and Nicolas Valcour for New Dominion Pictures.[1] Based on strong ratings, A Haunting became a weekly series on the Discovery Channel in the Fall of 2005 and was produced by Larry Silverman.[2]

The series has featured several alleged paranormal encounters, including traditional hauntings, demonic activity, ghost attacks, possessions, and cryptic visions.[3][4] The series covers incidents from various locations mostly in the United States, but five episodes are set in international locations around the world, these are Canada, England, Ireland, and Taiwan. Episodes may be set in houses, apartments, farms, commercial areas, and even vast outdoor regions.[2][5][6] Most episodes present several accounts of paranormal experiences through cinematic re-enactments, which are accompanied by commentary from eyewitnesses and investigators themselves.[7]

According to Silverman, the show's writers search for stories and then filter out accounts with enough substantial content.[2] He has further added that the episodes are strictly based on the accounts of victims, although the Discovery Channel did compel the show's producers to sanitize certain case histories due to their graphic sexual and violent content.[2] Bill Bean, whose real-life experiences were first featured in the episode "House of the Dead", claimed that the show's producers left out some of his story and that "some of the content was altered."[8]

Episodes within the series follow a frequently recurring pattern, in which victims of hauntings begin noticing peculiar incidents that gradually become more frequent and bizarre. Denial is most often the first reaction. As the situation escalates, however, and every possible conventional explanation is explored and found wanting, they either contact a paranormal investigator, a member of the clergy, or a spiritual medium for assistance. In some cases, victims are able to successfully resolve their paranormal issues, while in others, victims are forced to vacate their residence.[9][10] Certain episodes have also featured commentary from famed demonologist and clairvoyant Ed and Lorraine Warren, who have actually investigated some of the cases featured on the series. The episode "The Dark Side" was dedicated to the memory of Ed, who died in 2006.[10] The episode "Dangerous Games" featured commentary from the Warrens' nephew, John Zaffis.[11]

Episodes

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SeasonEpisodesOriginally aired
First airedLast airedNetwork
Specials2August 6, 2002 (2002-08-06)September 18, 2002 (2002-09-18)Discovery Channel
18October 28, 2005 (2005-10-28)March 24, 2006 (2006-03-24)
28August 10, 2006 (2006-08-10)September 28, 2006 (2006-09-28)
310October 5, 2006 (2006-10-05)December 14, 2006 (2006-12-14)
413August 10, 2007 (2007-08-10)November 9, 2007 (2007-11-09)
510October 12, 2012 (2012-10-12)December 16, 2012 (2012-12-16)Destination America
64September 29, 2013 (2013-09-29)October 20, 2013 (2013-10-20)
716August 1, 2014 (2014-08-01)January 23, 2015 (2015-01-23)
810January 3, 2016 (2016-01-03)March 20, 2016 (2016-03-20)
916October 21, 2016 (2016-10-21)October 30, 2017 (2017-10-30)TLC
1010May 27, 2019 (2019-05-27)July 29, 2019 (2019-07-29)Travel Channel
1110December 31, 2021 (2021-12-31)March 4, 2022 (2022-03-04)

Broadcast

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The show originally aired from August 6, 2002, to November 9, 2007, on the Discovery Channel, which produced four seasons of 39 episodes. After nearly a five-year hiatus, New Dominion productions began producing new episodes of a A Haunting in 2012. The show's fifth through eighth seasons were broadcast on the Destination America channel, which aired between October 12, 2012[12][13] and March 20, 2016. As of the show's ninth season, it aired on the TLC Network, where it premiered on October 21, 2016, and ended the following year on October 30, 2017. In 2019, the show's tenth season premiered on The Travel Channel.[14] After a two-year hiatus, the eleventh season of A Haunting debuted on December 31, 2021, on the Travel Channel as well as Discovery Plus.[15]

Home releases

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Timeless Media Group has released the first 7 seasons on DVD in Region 1 for the first time.[16][17][18]

On October 14, 2014, Timeless Media Group released A Haunting- The Television Series: Special Edition, a 9-disc box set featuring seasons 1–6.[19]

Films

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Gold Circle Films created two feature-length movies based on cases featured in A Haunting: The Haunting in Connecticut which was released in 2009,[20] and The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia, released in 2013.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Bonko, Larry (2002-12-02). "See more articles from The Virginian Pilot". The Virginian Pilot. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  2. ^ a b c d "Fiendish Friday Interview: Larry Silverman of Discovery Channel's A Haunting". Blogcritics. 2007-10-19. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 2008-08-04.
  3. ^ Parente, Audrey (2006-01-09). "'A Haunting' we will go... Discovery Channel takes a peek inside the 'weird' home of the Dunnams in Deltona". news-journalonline.com. News-Journal Corporation. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  4. ^ Baird, Mike (2007-10-18). "Corpus Christi ghost house?". Caller Times. NewsBank. Archived from the original on 11 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-29.
  5. ^ Venable, Malcolm (2006-06-17). "Local band rocks out on cable TV tonight.(Daily Break)". The Virginian Pilot. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved 2008-07-23.
  6. ^ Briggs, Tyler (2008-10-31). "Hinsdale's haunted house has all the frightful ingredients". Olean Times Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-31.
  7. ^ "A Haunting Seasons 1 & 2 DVD Set". Discovery Channel. 2007. Archived from the original on 24 July 2008. Retrieved 23 July 2008.
  8. ^ "Bill Bean Interview for Entertainment Vine". Entertainment Vine. Retrieved 2009-01-05.
  9. ^ "Spirit Seekers are featured in an episode of "A Haunting" on The Discovery Channel". The Spirit Seekers. 2008-05-29. Retrieved 2008-07-08.
  10. ^ a b "The Dark Side". A Haunting. Season 3. Episode 26. 2006-12-14.
  11. ^ Lawerence, Amy (2022-08-03). Ghost Channels: Paranormal Reality Television and the Haunting of Twenty-First-Century America. University Press of Mississippi. pp. 120–121. ISBN 978-1496838117. Archived from the original on 2023-05-14. Retrieved 2023-05-14.
  12. ^ Anderson, Kelly (September 19, 2012). "Destination America resurrects "A Haunting"" (Press release). Real Screen. Retrieved 2012-10-14.
  13. ^ "REAL-LIFE AMERICAN HORROR STORIES POSSESS "A HAUNTING," RESURRECTING ON DESTINATION AMERICA THIS OCTOBER". Discovery Web Press. September 2012. Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2012-10-14.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ Leighton, Susan (2019-05-09). "Travel Channel: A Haunting returns to scare a new audience". 1428 Elm. Archived from the original on 2022-01-02. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  15. ^ Roberts, Quinn (2021-12-31). "How to Watch A Haunting Season 11 Premiere: Live Stream, TV Channel, Start Time". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 2022-01-02.
  16. ^ Lambert, David (2013-02-21). "A Haunting - The 2012 Episodes Come to DVD with a". TV Shows on DVD. Archived from the original on 2014-05-24. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
  17. ^ "A Haunting DVD news: Announcement for A Haunting - Season 6 - TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2014-05-24.
  18. ^ "A Haunting DVD news: Announcement for A Haunting - Season 7 - TVShowsOnDVD.com". Archived from the original on 2015-01-25.
  19. ^ "A Haunting- The Television Series *Special Edition* Seasons 1-6 * 9 DVDs* 2014" – via Amazon.
  20. ^ Ebert, Roger (March 25, 2009). "The Haunting in Connecticut review". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. Retrieved June 23, 2010.
  21. ^ Olsen, Mark (2013-01-31). "Review: 'The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia' loses way". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2014-05-24.
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