Extreme Halloween - Part 26 ("Ghost In The Machine" & "Dog Days")

From September 1st to December 8th 1997, Ghostheads were treated to the first new Ghostbusters media since The Real Ghostbusters aired its last original episode in September 1991. Back in the '90s, everything was EXTREME! So, naturally, we'd get EXTREME GHOSTBUSTERS!!! Yeah, the title was dumb even back then, but at least they weren't "super". The series saw a new crew of young 18- and 19-year-olds being mentored by an older Egon and Janine, who were the only original team members left after the city's influx of spiritual energy ran dry years ago.

A lot of Ghostheads disliked the show at the time, as they wanted to see Peter, Ray, Egon, and Winston; not Eduardo, Kylie, Garrett, and Roland. Those who stuck with it - assuming they could find it, as Sony dropped it into the shittiest syndication deal possible at the time - found a show that was a lot more mature than the "kiddie" stuff ABC was peddling with The Real Ghostbusters in the latter years. I rewatched all 40 episodes last year, and was surprised by how well the show has held up 20+ years later. The writing is sharp, the acting in on point, and the character designs are fantastic. The only thing that sucks is the piss-poor animation. Sorry animators, but flickering back and forth between Photoshop filters is not how you animate proton streams.

Spook Central is giving you the chance to watch this semi-forgotten piece of Ghostbusters lore all throughout the month of October. Every day leading up to Halloween, I will present one or two episodes, with optional English subtitles, and a little bit of commentary from me. A little something to whet your appetite until Afterlife comes out next year. So, sit back, relax, and let's get EXTREME!!!!!

An ancient, buried spirit trapped for years escapes when an abandoned oil mine is reopened. The ghost possesses vehicles such as cars, buses and airplanes and makes them look like demons.

The main story here is about a ghost that possesses vehicles, which is fun, though done already in The Real Ghostbusters episode "Follow That Hearse". What I liked most is the side story involving Janine and her bad cooking. Janine really adds a lot to this show.

Please be aware that the video above has five frames of digital artifacts at 10:57, VERY bad artifacts and audio glitch at 19:05 for one second, and more digital artifacts at 21:45 (on Columbia logo at end). There is nothing I can do about these issues. Hopefully, one day, Sony will release a perfect copy onto DVD for us all to buy.

FAVORITE QUOTE
Janine: I've decide to start a little side business. Janine's Pralines and Miscellaneous Baked Good Dreams.

The Extreme Ghostbusters battle a demonic canine who has turned all of New York's dogs into his own personal slaves. The Extreme Ghostbusters finally capture the powerful entity, only to face its much more powerful master.

Man, those Ghostbusters have the worst luck with dogs. At least Roland gets another spotlight.