[seaniccus]

Shameless self promotion?
Sorry. Not totally sorry, but a little sorry

Earlier this year, I picked up the Real Ghostbusters box set, and it started rekindling my life-long love of Ghostbusters. I wanted to share it, but none of my local friends really want to nerd out about it the same why I do. So I made a YouTube video.

Here it is.

Please don't hate me.



The idea is to make a short video talking about each episode of the Real Ghostbusters before the new film hits theaters... though editing this bit took quite a lot longer than I planned. We'll see where it goes.

I was a little harsh on the first episode -- there's a lot of amazing stuff in RGB, but I've always found Ghosts 'R Us to be offputting, off style and generally unpleasant. It doesn't take long for the series to get its stride, though -- season one has a ton of great stories.

The video also talks a little bit about the new movie -- kind of poking fun at a lot of the hate for it, but mostly just focusing on how I have no idea who the actresses are. I'm pretty out of touch.

Anyway, I hope 'yall enjoy it. Let me know if you have any tips or suggestions -- I'm pretty new to YouTube stuff and what I'm doing right now is very experimental.

Thanks!

[philmorgan81]

Hey great review. I can understand not being terribly impressed with Ghosts R Us, after all it is the first episode and it was trying to figure out what kind of series it was going to be. I mean you have seen the many changes that the show went through some good, many bad. This show was one heck of a ride though. Regarding Killerwatt the next episode I am surprised to find that you find that one weak. I look forward to hearing your view on it. Ironically when I was a kid Killerwatt was the first episode in the series I saw. From the perspective of a 5 year old and a 34 year old, I feel that Killerwatt was a very strong episode. If you look at the trivia in the DVD booklet Killerwatt was actually the first episode to go into production. I am sure you can see from the viewing that this was the one intended to be the first episode. You can see it in the scene where the Ghostbusters go on haunted department store call, Janine blows a kiss to Egon before he leaves and then Slimer slides down the pole and plants a kiss on Janine then flies off with the guys. That moment mirrors the Opening of the series so well that it really sets up the kind feel that the series is going for. In my opinion it is a much stronger introduction to the series than Ghosts R Us. It kept me hooked and after that I never missed an episode. Once again great review you have an awesome structure and I look forward to seeing your reviews of future episodes. I hope you stick with it even after the series starts to go south. As for my opinion of the new film. I am in the same boat as you. I know who Melissa Mcarthy and Kristen Wigg are but I don't find them very funny. As for Lesley Jones and Kate Mckinnen I have know idea who they are and what they are capable of so I can't say if they would make decent Ghostbusters. My only vice with the reboot is that it is not in the continuity of the original series. It takes place in a world where Ghostbusters 1 and 2 didn't happen and that irks me a bit, but I am happy that there are so many of the actors from the original making cameos and as of right now that is the biggest thing I am looking forward too. I am all for these ladies being Ghostbusters, I just wish it was canon with the original universe. I really hate the design of the new car and proton packs, but I believe that I am blinded by pure nostalgia. Anyway sorry for being so long winded I love your video and hope you have more time to put more together. Thanks for sharing.

[seaniccus]

after all it is the first episode and it was trying to figure out what kind of series it was going to be.

Yeah, there are a lot of things that are really off style. The cartoony "breaking" of Egon's PKE meter never happens again, for instance. There are a lot of little things that make it obvious Ghosts R' Us was an early stage in finding the show's voice! I didn't like it, but every show has to go through those stages.

I'll get into it in more detail in the video (and i might have to rewatch it, i wrote the script a few weeks ago), but Killerwatt isn't bad, it's just not great compared to some of the stuff Season One delivers on later. After Killerwatt, we get Mrs. Rogers Neighborhood, which I feel has some bigger themes that are more fun. Killerwatt is okay, and would have been a much MUCH better first episode, though.

My only vice with the reboot is that it is not in the continuity of the original series. It takes place in a world where Ghostbusters 1 and 2 didn't happen and that irks me. ...I am all for these ladies being Ghostbusters, I just wish it was canon with the original universe.

This is pretty close to how I feel. I thought Extreme Ghostbusters was pretty rad -- so I'm all for a new team -- but throwing out the original continuity devalues the new film for me. I can't say why -- it just seems like someone's already told the story of creating a Ghostbusters company, and I don't need to see that again. If the new movie does something really unique and new, maybe I'll be okay with it but.. if the story is one it could have told in the context of the original universe (maybe everybody forgot about the Ghostbusters again, like in the beginning of GB2 and wrote them off as a hoax) then I'll be kind of annoyed. Like, if it isn't following the original films.. why make it a Ghostbusters movie? I donno.

I'll have to wait and see.

I really hate the design of the new car and proton packs, but I believe that I am blinded by pure nostalgia.

I think the new car is okay, all things considered. Very much in the spirit of the original. My only problem with it is that the rubber bumper on the door covers the ghostbusters logo. Looks bad. The new packs are okay, I guess. I'm not crazy about them.

I wonder if they'll have the same kind of visual effects.

[philmorgan81]

Yeah I am looking forward to the trailer for the new film. I am hoping that the proton pack has the same powering up sound. Whatever the film winds up being I am sure it will be entertaining.

Thanks for the response it is fun to talk about The Real Ghostbusters. Killerwatt was a great introduction and I do agree with you that there were better episodes. When Halloween Was Forever was a real nice strong episode. Mrs Rogers Neighborhood was awesome because I always loved it when the supernatural forces hit them where they lived, with Peter getting possessed and shutting down the containment unit. Citizen Ghost was real fun because it does a good job of answering the questions of what happened after the films conclusion. I can continue yacking your eyes off on season 1, but I will wait to see your reviews which I look forward to. Thanks Again.

[seaniccus]

Dude I should be thanking you for replying -- starting a Youtube series is hard and kinda daunting, and I'm just happy to see that people are liking it.

..but yeah, so much to like about season one. It does a great job building a universe. Looking forward to doing more of these once my voice comes back (i've been sick most of this week, which you can hear a little of at the end of the video)

[philmorgan81]

Hey My Pleasure. Hope you feel better soon and you have more fun as you get deeper into your series. Looking forward to it.

[seaniccus]

Two weeks later...

Not that this thread has had a ton of attention, but I figured I may as well update in case anybody found the first video here. I've done up episode 2: Killerwatt



I hope to do more than one every couple of weeks soon, but I need to streamline my workflow. As is, each video takes hours upon hours in editing, filming, writing. Ideally, I'd like to get it to a pace where I can do more than one a week.. which should give me enough time to finish the project before the new film comes out.

[seaniccus]

Finally we're past the terrible first episode and the better, but middling second adventure, and we're on to something good: Mrs. Roger's Neighborhood.




This is the episode that put me at ease: while I watched the first two episodes, I wondered if buying the box set was a mistake. Then I watched this one, and it reminded me of what made The Real Ghostbusters a great show.

Bonus part at the end thinking too much about the team's vocation.


MODS: Is this thread cool? I seem to just be updating it with the most recent episodes at this point...and I hate being the only person posting in succession of themselves. If this qualifies as SPAM, I'll gladly stop.

[Hammer]

I think you're doing great. Keep it going!

[philmorgan81]

Oh no please don't stop posting, I know this thread doesn't get a lot of traffic, but I think traffic might pick up if you keep posting your episodes. That way there are more eps to discuss. Then even more traffic should be going to your Youtube channel. I will be checking on that more so I can see your new episodes. I shared your videos on the Ectopod Facebook page. My partners and I are still trying to get traffic flowing to that sight, but like your vids it's a labor of love. Is it okay if I continue sharing your work on our site? Just wanted to check.

Again great vids and great views. The Question on the ethics of Ghost Busting are definately going to be brought up again in future episodes and I look forward to more of your work. Awesome Job Man.

[seaniccus]

I'm not going to stop making the videos either way -- I just wanted to make sure I wasn't breaking a self-promotion forum rule! I'm otherwise happy to drop the videos in here each time I get one up so people can stumble across them at their leisure!

[philmorgan81]

That is awesome. I look forward to seeing more. You are one of many artists I have discovered through this site that I just enjoy. Oh by the way loved your Back to the Future vid.

[Fritz]

As an official Mod and a guy who's used to updating his own thread and often being the only one on it you're doing just fine, seaniccus.

[seaniccus]

As an official Mod and a guy who's used to updating his own thread and often being the only one on it you're doing just fine, seaniccus.

Let's keep going then!

We're now up to Episode 4: Slimer, Come Home



When I scripted this episode, I found it way more annoying than when I re-watched it for editing -- it still has a lot of silly mascot tropes I could do without, but there are a few excellent character moments in there.

[ghoulishfright]

These are great! Keep 'em comin'!

[Razorgeist]

Good video reviews keep up the good work. You know its funny as Ive gotten older it occurs to me just how much i dislike "Slimer come home"

[seaniccus]

Thanks guys! I'm trying to keep pace! This one almost didn't make it out because my Adobe CC subscription (or rather, the free trial) lapsed a day before I was supposed to edit it, but I manged to stumble through with my old CS4 install.




CS4 really doesn't like modern media files though, I had to convert the episode to another format before it would happily deal with it.

Feel free to pitch me any suggestions -- I'm trying to find ways to speed up production time and exposure on these, though I don't expect these niche reviews to get a TON of traffic..it would be nice to get more than a few dozen views per episode.

I'm kind of nervous about next week -- Boogyman is such a great episode, it's going to be hard to really give a good, short summery of it.

[Razorgeist]

Im enjoying your show as is so I cant think of anything to tell you.

[seaniccus]

It's two weeks late (I had to fill last week with an archived gaming review) but it's finally here: The Boogieman Cometh.



This episode still holds up, but this time around I noticed some carefully crafted themes that seem directed at teaching kids to overcome their own fears. It was neat!

As expected, good episode.

Edit: Yes that new title card his hideous. I'm trying some experiments with youtube thumbs and metrics. It seems being annoying gets more views? At least that's what i'm seeing on other videos. So I'm seeing what happens if I make an obnoxious thumbnail. I'll switch it back if it produces no noticeable difference.

[ThrowingChicken]

Ghosts 'R Us is my favorite episode.

[seaniccus]

Ghosts 'R Us is my favorite episode.

Man, different strokes for different folks, as they say -- but I just couldn't get into it. It's very different from the rest of the season. I do like the concept though, just not the ghost characters they went with.

[ThrowingChicken]

I don't think any of your issues were necessarily things I enjoyed, but rather was willing to look past. I enjoy the concept of a competing company (in this case, ghosts) accidentally wakening a spirit they can't control. I also really liked the properties of the class ten ghost. It's a mimicker of its environment. When it laid dormant in the smoke stack, it reveals itself as a cloud of smoke. Once awake, it consumes and mimics the children's toys (basically a homage to Stay Puft). Then in the final form, after it has fallen into the water, it mimics aquatic life. The episode takes off for me when the class ten arrives.

[seaniccus]

I can't argue with that. The show has a good track record of coming up with interesting monsters and ghosts, and that's certainly not an exception.

And yeah, like I said, I do like the overall concept of the episode, but don't totally like the execution.

[Razorgeist]

I just favorited your boogieman review. Great points about kids learning to face their fears.

[seaniccus]

Hey 'yall!

This one isn't quite as carefully put together, but I didn't have time to do a full script before the Holidays:



Still.. I just had to get something out on that Christmas episode before the 24th.

[Razorgeist]

I think the scripted episodes are better but this was a nice compromise.

[seaniccus]

I agree, it's just a matter of time constraints, it's been a hell of a week at work.

At minimum I'd like to do the more careful scripting with the rest of the non syndicated season 1 episodes, and then after we get to (what I hear is generally lower quality) syndicated episodes, I might switch to a faster, mini format to get through the mass of content before the film hits. One a week will leave me at least 90 episodes behind, so I'll have to pick up the pace.

[Razorgeist]

I was about to say maybe you should try to do that. More well known or higher quality episodes (this would clearly be up to you) should get the scripted treatment.

Are you gonna do EGB?

[seaniccus]

I'd love to but I'm on the fence. I'm a pretty big stickler for legal acquisition, and EGB simply isn't available anywhere, legally. Torrents of never commercially sold content is a Grey area, but I try to avoid it.

I do want to talk about EGB though. I don't know how the community receives it, but I liked it when it was on TV, and there are some memorable moments for sure.

[seaniccus]

Also, I just got a green screen! Looking forward to using that in a few episodes