THE GHOSTEATER

Standing Room Only

Original Air date October 8, 1988

Writer: Richard Mueller

Director: Charles Grosvenor

Main Cast:

• Dave Coulier as Peter Venkman
• Frank Welker as Raymond Stantz
• Maurice LaMarche as Egon Spengler
• Buster Jones as Winston Zeddemore
• Kath Soucie as Janine Melnitz
• Frank Welker as Slimer

(Rating 5 of 5)

Summary: The Ghostbusters are out on an ordinary job.  Peter and Slimer are sick with a cold causing them to sneeze once every few mintues.  After the job was over Peter went on a rant about how they shouldn’t have to run out and catch the ghosts, rather they should find a way to make the ghosts come to them.  Peter then went on to argue that if they did that they would be rich.

Peter needs some meds.

                 The other Ghostbusters think his idea is nuts but Peter is inspired and begins building a machine to do just that. When Peter finishes the job, he turns it on and announces victory.  To the Ghostbusters surprise, especially Egon, a number of ghosts started to show up at the station.  After they were captured more ghosts came.  Peter was vindicated and before they knew it they were overwhelmed with ghosts, so many they couldn’t put them in the Containment Unit all at once without endangering the integrity of it.  So Peter shuts down the machine but the ghosts kept coming.

Hide us!

                It turns out there is a very powerful entity called Mee-Krah who actually eats ghosts.  At one point the viewer sees this monster pass over a cemetery and suck up all the ghosts resting there.  The other ghosts tell this to Slimer who tells this to the Ghostbusters.  The ghosts are trying to hide and thought now would be a good time to get caught by the Ghostbusters.  It was a good idea but wrong, Mee-Krah was heading their way. 

Nasty!

They decide to try to get Mee-Krah out over water and try dissipate it.  So they fly Ecto-2 out over the sea with some full traps of ghosts, who were waiting to be put in the Containment Unit, to use as bait.  This fails Mee-Krah took the bait but some of the scared spirits flew into Ecto-2 causing it to malfunction so they had to re-trap the ghosts.  The Ghostbusters then get Ecto-1 to rendezvous with Ecto-2.   With all the Ghostbusters together plus Janine, wearing jumpsuits and proton packs, blasted Mee-Krah with all five particle throwers in hand, and the particle throwers on their vehicles.  This had no effect and the creature kept coming. 

Last stand of Peter's machine.

They retreat to the firehouse.  Egon, after taking reading of Peter’s machine, determines it actually absorbs energy given off by ghosts.  If exposed the machine could destroy Mee-Krah.  They follow that plan and it’s the one that works.  Mee-Krah was destroyed along with Peter’s machine.  Egon said they should try to build another one but Peter being the lazy scientist that he is forgot to make notes. 

  My Take: Okay I have number of responses to this episode.   The first take away is how was Peter’s device was ever going to make them money?  If anything it should threaten to put them out of business.  The Ghostbusters business model is someone has ghost in their house so they call the Ghostbusters who agree to take care of the ghost for a fee.  Peter understands this he explains it in the film, he also clearly explains it when the greedy old man was trying to send his worldly positions into the netherworld and had opened a portal to it.  Peter then argued to why are they closing the portal for free when they could leave it open and wait for these ghosts to bother someone who would call and pay them.  If they are dragging in all the ghosts in the city for free who is paying them?  I rated this episode of five but almost lost a point for this.

Mee-Krah was a great force of nature villain.  That scene where it sucked up the graveyard was freaky.  Poor dead people, imagine you’ve turned to ghost form you are wondering if you are going to “pass over” and you get sucked up by this thing!  Also the ghosts are running to Ghostbusters voluntarily surrendering to be kept safe, and the Ghostbusters chose to use some of them as live bait?  I know Mee-Krah is dangerous and he was heading toward the Containment Unit and the needs of the many outweigh the needs of few or the one, but they should have sought volunteers.  The ghosts were clearly scared and I am glad they were able to resist. 

Now for my stray observations:

·         As allergy suffer who is addicted to Claritin d I feel Peter’s pain.

·         Ghosts get sick with allergies? Poor Slimer!

·         Peter can be a great scientist if only he wasn’t so lazy.

·         I love the cause and effect lesson on this episode.  Peter wrongfully declared confirmation in what turned out to be coincidence.

·         I also almost took off a point for the “too many ghosts in the Containment Unit” line.  We never let ghosts out so when is it going to get too full?  I am sorry just go with the TARDIS effect  and leave it at that.  Ectoplasm can shrink.   I corrected this concept in my summary.

·         So Janine now has her own official jumpsuit.  Looks a lot like her dream one.

Mee-Krah was a great villain for one that didn’t talk.