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Ghost Brothers
Ghost Brothers
Ghost Brothers
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Ghost Brothers
GenreParanormal
Reality TV
StarringDalen Spratt
Juwan Mass
Marcus Harvey
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons2
No. of episodes20 (incl. specials)
Production
Executive producersCraig Piligian
Danny Passman
Fay Yu
Mike Nichols
Camera setupMulti-camera setup
Running time43 minutes
Production companiesPilgrim Media Group
Crybaby Media
Original release
NetworkDestination America
TLC (season 2)
ReleaseApril 15, 2016 (2016-04-15) –
May 12, 2017 (2017-05-12)

Ghost Brothers is an American television series about the paranormal that premiered on April 15, 2016 on Destination America, which is part of Discovery Communications. Produced by Pilgrim Media Group in association with Crybaby Media, the program follows ghost hunters Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and Marcus Harvey as they investigate locations around the United States that are reported to be haunted.[1] The team is officially led by Spratt, with Mass and Harvey providing assistance and technical support.[2] Season 2 aired on March 10, 2017 on TLC.[3]

On July 17, 2019, it was announced that a spin-off series titled, Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests, would premiere on August 16, 2019 on Travel Channel.[4]

Premise

[edit]

Based out of their hometown of Atlanta, Georgia, the Ghost Brothers are an all African-American group of ghost hunters who investigate the most haunted locations in America in an attempt to prove that ghosts are real.[5] Before every investigation, their tagline is, "It's time to pop the trunk on these ghosts!", meaning open the door to their SUV's trunk where all their ghost hunting equipment is located. They also like to say, "Let's go ghosting!", and sing, "Ghost Brothers, ghosting out." when they roll out after their investigation is finished.

Opening Introduction:

There's a new team of paranormal investigators here to answer two questions about ghost hunting. Are ghosts for real? And why is everybody white? I'm Dalen, the leader of the group. We're three best friends who all had paranormal experiences as kids. Now that we're grown, we're not afraid to look for answers. I'm Juwan, and I'm a Ghost Brother. My name is Marcus, and I'm a Ghost Brother. Our mission is to hit the most haunted locations in america to prove that ghosts are for real. We are...the Ghost Brothers.

Cast and crew

[edit]
  • Dalen Spratt – Leader, paranormal investigator, fashion designer
  • Juwan Mass – paranormal investigator, fashion designer
  • Marcus Harvey – paranormal investigator, full-time barber

Series overview

[edit]
SeasonEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
16October 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)November 2, 2016 (2016-11-02)Destination America & TLC
26April 15, 2016 (2016-04-15)May 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)Destination America
38March 10, 2017 (2017-03-10)May 12, 2017 (2017-05-12)TLC

Specials

[edit]

Note: * These Ghostin' Edition specials re-aired on TLC after the first-run season 2 episodes.

Episode Title Location Original Airdate U.S. viewers
(million)
1"Ghostin' Edition: Magnolia Plantation"Derry, LouisianaOctober 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)[6]N/A
In this special "Ghostin' Edition", the Ghost Brothers share previously un-aired bonus footage they filmed during their ghostin' time at Magnolia Plantation, including investigation updates they captured from the home.
2"Ghostin' Edition: Prospect Place"Trinway, OhioOctober 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)N/A
This Ghostin' Edition features new bonus footage from the brothers investigation at the highly haunted Prospect Place in Trinway, Ohio.
3"Ghostin' Edition: The Allen House"Monticello, ArkansasOctober 26, 2016 (2016-10-26)N/A
This Ghostin' Edition includes previously un-aired footage and new updates during the brothers time at the Arkansas' haunted Allen House.
4"Ghostin' Edition: Magnolia Hotel"Seguin, TexasNovember 2, 2016 (2016-11-02)N/A
The brothers spend their ghostin' time at Texas' Magnolia Hotel, where they reveal bonus footage and new evidence.
5"Ghostin' Edition: The Delta Queen"Houma, LouisianaNovember 2, 2016 (2016-11-02)N/A
Previously unaired bonus footage and new investigation updates are featured in this Ghostin' Edition of the brothers on board The Delta Queen, docked in Louisiana.
6"Ghostin' Edition: The Fitzpatrick Hotel"Washington, GeorgiaNovember 2, 2016 (2016-11-02)N/A
In this Ghostin' Edition, the brothers share new evidence during their investigation at the haunted Fitzpatrick Hotel in their home state of Georgia.

Episodes

[edit]

Season 1 (2016)

[edit]
Episode Title Location Original Airdate U.S. viewers
(million)
1.1"Magnolia Plantation"Derry, LouisianaApril 15, 2016 (2016-04-15)0.458[7]
The Ghost Brothers head to Derry, Louisiana to investigate the Magnolia Plantation, which dates back to the early 1800s that was a former cotton plantation with slave labor. They want to prove that deceased overseer Mr. Miller, who was shot by union troops, is still angrily roaming the property, and conjurer Aunt Agnes, who was a slave here until she died in the 1920s, is still practicing voodoo in the afterlife.
1.2"The Allen House"Monticello, ArkansasApril 22, 2016 (2016-04-22)0.456[8]
The brothers travel to Monticello, Arkansas to investigate the Allen House, which has claims of the current owner's doppelgangers, and the ghost of the original owner's middle daughter, LaDell, who was in love with a married man. After he left her, she committed suicide by drinking poison in her bedroom on Christmas night in 1948. In order to prove if the Allen family’s apparitions are here, they set up a casket while in the dining room, which was used for funerals.
1.3"Prospect Place"Trinway, OhioApril 29, 2016 (2016-04-29)0.443[9]
The brothers head up north to Trinway, Ohio to investigate Prospect Place, a 29-room mansion built in 1856 as a stop on the Underground Railroad. They learn the legend of a bounty hunter who was captured and then hanged in the barn by ranch hands after he demanded the owner give up his runaway slaves. It is said his aggressive spirit still haunts the property. And in order to find if he's buried here, they hire a cadaver dog to hunt for his body.
1.4"The Delta Queen"Houma, LouisianaMay 6, 2016 (2016-05-06)0.425[10]
The brothers go on board to investigate the Delta Queen, a haunted river steamboat formerly a floating hotel tied up in Chattanooga, Tennessee and currently docked in Houma, Louisiana for renovations. They learn that a murder took place in the 1950s when the butcher stabbed the chef in the kitchen over a gambling argument. Also, they bring in their fraternity brother Jason on his first investigation to help them contact the spirit of previous captain Ma Greene who died in her cabin in 1949.
1.5"Magnolia Hotel"Seguin, TexasMay 13, 2016 (2016-05-13)0.290[11]
The brothers travel to Seguin, Texas to investigate the Magnolia Hotel, a former stagecoach stop established in 1840 where 13 confirmed murders occurred in a 20-year span, starting in 1874. When they pull up to the house, Marcus can't breathe and is rushed to the hospital. But he comes back to capture evidence of the many spirits that haunt the place, including the ghosts of children, a prostitute, and a man who axed a little girl to death.
1.6"The Fitzpatrick Hotel"Washington, GeorgiaMay 20, 2016 (2016-05-20)0.295[12]
The brothers stay in their home state to check into the historic and restored Fitzpatrick Hotel, which was built on top of a cemetery and is haunted by a little girl who plays in the halls. And the ghost of Polly Barclay, a local woman who was executed for the alleged murder of her husband in 1806. They learn the legend about a husband who attended a ball here with his wife in the 1930s, however, he brought his mistress as well. When the enraged wife found out, she pushed her out a third-story window, falling to her death.

Season 2 (2017)

[edit]
Episode Title Location Original Airdate U.S. viewers
(million)
2.1"Thornhaven Manor"New Castle, IndianaMarch 10, 2017 (2017-03-10)0.408[13]
The Ghost Brothers travel to rural Indiana to investigate the abandoned Thornhaven Manor where a murder took place when the Bailey family lived there. In 1906, caretaker Rueben Bailey was poisoned by his son-in-law Frank Thurman after finding out the family was going to contact the police after he sexually assaulted his sister-in-law. Even since Thurman died in prison for the murder of Rueben, people have claimed to see both their apparitions.
2.2"Longleaf Sawmill"Longleaf, LouisianaMarch 17, 2017 (2017-03-17)0.477[14]
The Ghost Brothers travel to rural Louisiana to investigate the Longleaf Sawmill, a former lumber mill that is so haunted that the locals nicknamed it the "Mill of Death" due to its history of tragic accidents and murders. Now a part of the Southern Forest Heritage Museum, the whole complex is filled with the spirits of workers who died here, including "Dead Man Stokes", who dangerously operated the skidder machine that killed many of his fellow workers.
2.3"Winchester Mystery House"San Jose, CaliforniaMarch 24, 2017 (2017-03-24)0.535[15]
The brothers travel to Northern California to the Winchester Mystery House, a 160-room mansion built like a maze by Winchester Rifle heiress Sarah Winchester to confuse the ghosts who were victims of her company's weapons over the decades. They're also the first paranormal team to investigate the unfinished section on the third floor and hire a psychic to make contact with the spirits by conducting a seance.
2.4"Old City Jail"Charleston, South CarolinaMarch 31, 2017 (2017-03-31)0.419[16]
The brothers head to Charleston, one of the most haunted places in the country, to investigate the city's most paranormally active location, the Old City Jail, where an estimated ten thousand people died due to unsanitary conditions. During their investigation, they try to make contact with the first female serial killer, Lavinia Fisher who, along with her husband John, had murdered over a hundred guests using poison tea at their inn.
2.5"Rose Hall"Montego Bay, JamaicaApril 21, 2017 (2017-04-21)0.254[17]
The brothers travel to Jamaica to investigate Montego Bay's infamous Rose Hall, where they learn the story of the White Witch who haunts her former great plantation house.
2.6"Cocke County Memorial Building"Newport, TennesseeApril 28, 2017 (2017-04-28)0.252[18]
2.7"Poasttown Elementary School"Middletown, OhioMay 5, 2017 (2017-05-05)0.256[19]
2.8"House of Wills"Cleveland, OhioMay 12, 2017 (2017-05-12)N/A

Spin-off

[edit]

On July 17, 2019, it was announced that a spin-off series titled, Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests, would premiere on August 16, 2019 on Travel Channel.[4]

A second spin-off, Ghost Brothers: Lights Out ran for two seasons of eight episodes each from 2021 until 2022.

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Ghost Brothers

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Ghost Brothers is an American paranormal investigation franchise centered on Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and , three Atlanta-based friends who formed the first all-African American ghost-hunting team, blending comedic banter with investigations of reportedly haunted sites across the . The flagship series premiered on Destination America's Ghost Brothers on April 15, 2016, documenting their visits to locations such as historic plantations, asylums, and prisons, where they employ tools like EMF meters and spirit boxes to document alleged activity. Subsequent iterations include Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests (2017), which focused on private residences plagued by disturbances, and Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (2021) on Discovery+, emphasizing high-fear environments with darkened conditions to heighten encounters. Known for their unfiltered, no-nonsense style that challenges spirits directly rather than provoking fear, the team has garnered a niche following for humanizing pursuits while prioritizing client relief over theatrical drama, though the franchise's claims of ghostly evidence remain unsubstantiated by empirical standards.

Overview

Premise and Format

Ghost Brothers is an American paranormal reality television series featuring three best friends from —Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and —as they investigate reports of hauntings at legendary sites across the , particularly in the Southeast. The premise centers on their mission to discern whether paranormal claims stem from genuine activity or alternative explanations, such as structural issues or psychological factors, while infusing investigations with humor derived from their camaraderie and straightforward demeanor. Premiering on on April 15, 2016, the original season comprised six episodes, each dedicated to a unique location with a history of alleged ghostly encounters. The format adheres to the conventions of investigation programming, structuring each around a single venue. It begins with historical context and interviews with witnesses or property owners to establish reported phenomena, followed by on-site setup of detection . The core of the involves overnight vigils where the hosts conduct experiments, provoke responses from potential entities, and document anomalies using tools like meters and audio recorders. Conclusions feature analysis of evidence, often highlighting personal experiences alongside any captured data, with the trio's comedic interplay providing levity amid tense moments. This approach distinguishes the series by combining evidential rigor with relatable, unfiltered reactions.

Production Background

Ghost Brothers was developed by hosts Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and Marcus Harvey, who met as students at Clark Atlanta University between 2004 and 2005 and bonded over personal encounters with paranormal phenomena, such as Spratt witnessing an apparition at age seven. Motivated by the lack of African-American representation in television paranormal investigations, the trio began conducting their own probes and sharing footage on YouTube, which attracted attention from a television development company that connected them to Destination America. The network greenlit the unscripted series on February 10, 2016, positioning it as a comedic approach to ghost hunting by the first all-African-American paranormal investigation team on television. The production was handled by , a Lionsgate company, in association with Crybaby Media, with executive producers and overseeing the effort. senior manager Jodi Tovay, who has ties to the area, guided the development, aligning the show with the network's focus on content like Paranormal Survivor. The hosts, all natives or residents with professional backgrounds in , barbering, and , incorporated their regional connections and humor into the format, targeting haunted sites primarily in the American South. The series premiered on April 15, 2016, with an initial six-episode run, the first of which was screened publicly in to promote its Southern-rooted investigations. This launch marked the foundation for subsequent iterations, including a second season and spin-offs under the hosts' production company, Straight Ghosts Entertainment, though the original emphasized their grassroots entry into the .

Cast and Crew

Primary Investigators

The primary investigators for the Ghost Brothers series are Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and , a trio of Atlanta-based friends who pioneered an all-African American investigation team on television, debuting in 2016 on before moving to formats. Spratt serves as the team's leader and strategist, emphasizing historical context and investigative rigor, while Mass brings exploratory boldness rooted in early personal experiences, and Harvey provides empathetic spiritual insight drawn from his community interactions. Their approach combines collection—such as EVP recordings and thermal imaging—with candid humor and cultural relatability, distinguishing them from predominantly white-led programs. Dalen Spratt, an entrepreneur and fashion designer, acts as the ringleader, focusing on the foundational details of each case including timelines, locations, and historical backgrounds to guide investigations. His interest in the originated from a childhood encounter at a where he reportedly saw the spirit of a deceased man standing over him, fostering a lifelong to historical and narratives. Spratt bonded with over shared paranormal curiosity, eventually recruiting Harvey to form the core team; he has since expanded into solo projects like The Graveyard Shift while maintaining his role in group investigations. Married to Stacey Nicole Spratt since April 21, 2021, Spratt's leadership style prioritizes methodical debunking alongside openness to anomalous data. Juwan Mass, born November 17, 1985, in , , functions as the team's risk-taker and natural explorer, informed by his start in at age 12 through graveyard explorations during his studies at . A former with a helper's ethos, Mass balances daring fieldwork—such as entering unstable structures for evidence—with pragmatic retreats when safety demands, often capturing personal reactions to phenomena like apparitions or unexplained sounds. His transition to television in 2016 marked a shift from private pursuits to public scrutiny, where he contributes elements alongside investigative duties. Marcus Harvey, the most spiritually attuned member and the group's only father, leverages his background as a renowned Atlanta barber—known as the "Barber to the Stars" and founder of Suprema—to build rapport with affected families and witnesses during investigations. Harvey met Spratt in 2009 and joined the team as its comedic empath, using humor and client-honed listening skills to comfort participants amid tense encounters, such as poltergeist activity or residual hauntings. His barber shop experiences, where he applies empathy to diverse clientele, translate directly to on-site dynamics, enabling him to interpret emotional residues in haunted environments while advocating for resolution over sensationalism.

Supporting Production Team

The original Ghost Brothers series (2016–2017) was produced by Pilgrim Studios in association with Crybaby Media for . Executive producers included and from Pilgrim Studios, Danny Passman from Crybaby Media, and Fay Yu from . Subsequent entries in the franchise featured varying production teams aligned with different networks and formats. For Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (2021–present) on Discovery+, executive producers were Jim Casey and Ross Kaiman from Painless Productions, alongside Nina Giannelli as co-executive producer and Rob Saffi as . Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests (2019–2020) on was produced by Tremendous! Entertainment, with executive producers Colleen Needles Steward, Shannon Keenan Demers, Matthew Hobin, and Tammy Bloom; Hobin also directed episodes alongside Hayden T. Mauk. Key behind-the-camera roles across the series included editors such as Mark Town for the original run and production managers like Sabina Edwards handling post-operations. These teams supported the by managing location shoots, evidence processing, and episode assembly, often emphasizing the hosts' cultural perspective in exploration.

Broadcast History

Original Series Seasons

The original Ghost Brothers series aired two seasons between 2016 and 2017, featuring the trio of Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and investigating reportedly haunted locations across the using paranormal detection equipment and personal experiences. Season 1 premiered on on April 15, 2016, and consisted of six one-hour episodes broadcast weekly on Fridays, concluding on May 20, 2016. The season focused on Southern and Midwestern sites tied to historical tragedies, such as plantations and steamboats, with each episode documenting overnight investigations yielding claims of apparitions, electronic voice phenomena, and physical interactions.
EpisodeTitleAir DateLocation
1Magnolia PlantationApril 15, 2016Derry,
2The Allen HouseApril 22, 2016
3Prospect PlaceApril 29, 2016Trinway,
4The Delta QueenMay 6, 2016Various (riverboat)
5Magnolia HotelMay 13, 2016
6The Fitzpatrick HotelMay 20, 2016
Season 2 shifted to TLC for broadcast, premiering on March 10, 2017, and spanning eight episodes through May 12, 2017, expanding investigations to include international sites like Jamaica's Rose Hall while maintaining the format of historical research, EVP sessions, and gadget-based evidence collection. The season incorporated more comedic elements from the hosts amid claims of poltergeist activity and shadow figures, with episodes airing primarily on Fridays. No further seasons of the original format were produced, leading to spin-offs.
EpisodeTitleAir DateLocation
1Long Leaf SawmillMarch 18, 2017Long Leaf, Louisiana
2March 25, 2017
3Old City JailApril 1, 2017
4Rose HallApril 8, 2017Montego Bay, Jamaica
5Cocke County Memorial BuildingApril 15, 2017
6Poasttown Elementary SchoolApril 22, 2017West Alexandria, Ohio
7April 29, 2017
8May 12, 2017

Specials and Spin-offs

The Ghost Brothers franchise expanded beyond its original two-season run (2016–2017) on with a series of specials and spin-off programs produced for and . In 2016, during the airing of the first season, the team released specials featuring previously unaired bonus footage from investigations, such as extended material from their visit to Magnolia Plantation in , which included additional EVP recordings and personal encounters not shown in the main episodes. The primary spin-off, Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests, premiered on August 16, 2019, on , shifting the format to residential investigations where hosts Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and responded to pleas from families experiencing in their private homes. The six-episode first season featured cases such as a mansion haunted by aggressive spirits targeting a disabled veteran's family (episode aired October 2019) and a property plagued by shadow figures and demonic presences. This series emphasized overnight stays and direct intervention, differentiating it from location-based hunts by incorporating homeowner testimonies and customized cleansing rituals. A subsequent spin-off, Ghost Brothers: Lights Out, debuted in 2021 on discovery+, returning to iconic public haunted sites but with an emphasis on unorthodox methods like power outages to heighten spirit interactions. Season 1 consisted of eight episodes exploring locations such as asylums and battlefields, while Season 2, premiering October 7, 2022, with a three-episode binge followed by weekly releases, included investigations into sites like the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The series maintained the trio's comedic rapport alongside tools like spirit boxes and thermal cameras, though it faced cancellation alongside other paranormal programs by 2024. No further specials or spin-offs have been announced as of October 2025.

Content and Investigations

Key Investigative Techniques

The Ghost Brothers, consisting of Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and , adopt a straightforward and accessible methodology in their paranormal investigations, prioritizing calm, conversational interactions over aggressive provocation to elicit responses from potential spirits. This approach involves asking yes-or-no questions during sessions to encourage communication without escalating tensions, often collaborating with local investigators or witnesses for contextual insights into historical events and reported phenomena. They supplement these interactions with dramatic reenactments of hauntings during initial walkthroughs to contextualize claims, though the core focus remains on evidence gathering via electronic means rather than theatrical elements. Central to their toolkit are electromagnetic field (EMF) detectors, which measure fluctuations in s believed by proponents to signal spirit activity; these devices are deployed in areas of reported hauntings to baseline normal readings before monitoring for spikes. Audio recorders facilitate (EVP) sessions, where the team poses targeted questions in quiet environments and later analyzes playback for unexplained voices or sounds not audible during recording. Video cameras provide continuous visual documentation, capturing potential apparitions, shadow figures, or object movements under low-light or conditions. For interactive communication, they frequently employ REM Pods, antenna-equipped devices that light up and emit alarms in response to proximity or electromagnetic interference, interpreted as affirmative answers to questions when placed in active zones—such as near historical artifacts like coffins. Flashlight methods involve manipulating a flashlight's on/off switch to enable binary yes/no responses from spirits, a technique used in controlled settings to test for intelligent interaction. Spirit Boxes (including app-based variants) and devices like the Ovilus scan radio frequencies or generate synthesized words, allowing real-time verbal responses during instrumental transcommunication (ITC) sessions, often yielding fragmented phrases tied to the site's lore. This combination of tools reflects a reliance on quantifiable anomalies—such as EMF spikes on March 18, , during their investigation of the Villisca Axe Murder House—while maintaining a team dynamic that incorporates humor to manage fear, though critics note the subjective interpretation of data without rigorous controls. Their methods, documented across 13 episodes in the original season, emphasize portability and minimal setup, enabling rapid deployment in diverse locations from historic mansions to abandoned asylums.

Notable Episodes and Claims

The premiere episode, "Magnolia Plantation," aired April 15, 2016, focused on the 1830s-era site in Derry, , where enslaved individuals reportedly practiced voodoo. The investigators probed claims of restless slave spirits conducting post-mortem rituals, including apparitions and activity; they reported capturing electronic voice phenomena (EVPs) interpreted as responses from entities and experienced unexplained physical touches during sessions in slave quarters. Season 1, Episode 2, "The Allen House," examined the 1900-built residence in , tied to a family tragedy involving a , by , and suspected . Reports centered on doppelgangers mimicking living residents and apparitions of the builder's middle daughter, Ladell Allen; the team claimed to record shadowy figures on video and EVPs naming family members during targeted investigations in sealed-off rooms. In "Cocke County Memorial Building," the brothers investigated the 1930s-era structure in , linked to unsolved 1970s murders and subsequent hauntings. Witnesses described apparitions, violent object manipulation, and threatening voices; the investigators documented EVPs with aggressive phrases and anomalous electromagnetic field spikes correlating with reported entity movements. Later spin-off episodes in Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (2021) revisited sites like the Gothic Jail in Marietta, , yielding claims of violent spirit interactions, including self-igniting objects and full-bodied apparitions captured on thermal cameras, which the team presented as evidence of malevolent presences tied to historical executions.

Reception and Cultural Impact

Viewer and Critical Response

The original Ghost Brothers series garnered a viewer rating of 6.5 out of 10 on , based on 750 user reviews, with audiences frequently highlighting the hosts' comedic rapport and engaging personalities as strengths. The premiere episode in 2016 drew approximately 1 million unique viewers and ranked 12th in share of tweets among primetime cable shows according to Nielsen Social metrics, indicating strong initial engagement. Positive feedback often emphasized the team's unorthodox, lighthearted approach to investigations, contrasting with more somber formats in the genre, as noted in viewer comments and online discussions. Subsequent spin-offs received somewhat higher acclaim; Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (2021) achieved a 7.2 out of 10 rating from 291 votes, with reviewers commending its brisk pacing, clear storytelling, and high production values. Fans expressed disappointment over the original series' cancellation after two seasons, citing the hosts' charisma and the rarity of an all-African American team in media. However, some viewers criticized early episodes for perceived amateurishness and lack of compelling evidence, with isolated reviews dismissing the investigations as unconvincing. Formal critical coverage was limited, reflecting the show's niche cable positioning on , but trade outlets like Variety described it as a "comedic take" on that filled a representational gap in . No major controversies emerged regarding viewer response, though general toward programming's evidentiary standards occasionally surfaced in broader critiques. Overall, the franchise cultivated a dedicated audience appreciative of its humor and diversity without relying on .

Representation and Diversity Aspects

The Ghost Brothers series introduced the first all-African-American team of paranormal investigators to television, consisting of Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and , who premiered their investigations on on April 15, 2016. This representation marked a departure from the predominantly white male ensembles in prior ghost-hunting programs, such as Ghost Adventures or Ghost Hunters, which had saturated the genre since the early 2000s without featuring similar racial diversity. The team's approach incorporated elements of Black American cultural perspectives, including humor rooted in their Atlanta upbringing and references to religious taboos against supernatural pursuits prevalent in many African-American communities, where such activities are often viewed as spiritually risky. Spratt, a fashion , Mass, also a designer, and Harvey, a , emphasized a lighthearted, relatable style that contrasted with the more somber tones of established shows, potentially broadening appeal to underrepresented audiences in media. Their presence highlighted a lack of ethnic variety in the field, as noted by Spratt himself, who observed prior to the series that lacked diverse participants. In terms of broader impact, the series contributed to discussions on diversifying , with subsequent spin-offs like Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests (2019) maintaining the team's visibility on platforms such as the . However, while praised for breaking barriers, the show's focus remained on the investigators' racial identity rather than explicit advocacy for diversity initiatives, aligning with its format centered on investigations over . No empirical data on viewership demographics has been publicly detailed to quantify shifts in audience diversity attributable to the series.

Skepticism and Scientific Critique

Methodological Flaws in Ghost Hunting

Ghost hunting investigations, including those featured on Ghost Brothers, typically rely on tools such as (EMF) detectors, electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recorders, and spirit boxes, which are presented as evidence of . However, these methods suffer from fundamental flaws in scientific rigor, as they fail to establish causal links between readings and ghostly presences; for instance, EMF spikes are often attributed to sources like faulty wiring or nearby electronics without baseline controls to rule out natural explanations. A primary issue is the absence of controlled experimental protocols, such as double-blind testing or randomized sampling, which allows environmental variables—like vibrations causing unease or leaks inducing hallucinations—to mimic effects without verification. Investigations often involve overnight "stakeouts" in reportedly haunted locations, leading to sampling errors where anomalous events are overemphasized while null results from quieter periods are dismissed, skewing interpretations toward confirmation of preconceived notions rather than objective analysis. Subjective interpretations exacerbate these problems, with phenomena like EVPs or fleeting shadows subject to auditory and visual , where investigators hear voices or discern faces in ambiguous data due to expectation bias rather than reproducible patterns. Scientific critiques highlight that lacks , as claims evade disproof by invoking untestable spirit behaviors, and devices like spirit boxes, which scan radio frequencies rapidly, capture fragmented transmissions misinterpreted as otherworldly communication without accounting for stray signals. These methodological shortcomings render findings anecdotal at best, as no peer-reviewed studies have validated tools under rigorous conditions, prioritizing dramatic encounters over systematic debunking of prosaic causes.

Lack of Empirical Evidence for Claims

The investigations featured on Ghost Brothers primarily rely on tools such as (EMF) detectors, electronic voice phenomena (EVP) recordings, and personal sensory experiences to claim the presence of ghosts or spiritual entities. However, these methods produce data that is correlative rather than causative, with no controlled, repeatable experiments demonstrating that such readings specifically indicate rather than mundane environmental factors like , radio frequencies, or auditory . Scientific analyses of similar protocols emphasize that EMF spikes, often interpreted as spirit manifestations, frequently align with natural fluctuations unrelated to the , and lack baseline calibrations or double-blind testing to rule out artifacts. No peer-reviewed studies have validated the specific claims from Ghost Brothers episodes, such as apparitions or activity at sites like the , where the team reported physical interactions and . Broader empirical scrutiny of reveals that purported evidence, including video anomalies and thermal imaging, consistently fails under rigorous replication, as initial "captures" degrade upon re-examination for or equipment limitations. For instance, EVPs—key to many Ghost Brothers conclusions—are typically low-quality audio snippets subject to subjective interpretation, with attributing them to expectation effects rather than external . Skeptics applying the , including testing, argue that the absence of falsifiable predictions in the show's methodology precludes empirical confirmation; hauntings are framed as untestable "" or intermittent presences that evade scrutiny, mirroring critiques of pseudoscientific practices in the field. Despite the team's use of digital recorders and spirit boxes, no independent verification has linked their findings to verifiable causation, and historical reviews of thousands of cases show zero instances meeting standards for extraordinary . This evidentiary shortfall underscores how entertainment-driven formats prioritize dramatic narratives over causal realism, where physical measurements are retrofitted to anecdotal reports without isolating variables like or psychological priming.

Legacy

Post-Series Activities of Cast

Following the conclusion of the original Ghost Brothers series in 2017, the cast members Dalen Spratt, Juwan Mass, and extended their investigations through spin-off projects on . In 2019, they starred in Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests, an eight-episode series where the trio visited private residences plagued by reported hauntings, employing their signature humorous and culturally attuned approach to evidence collection. This was followed by Ghost Brothers: Lights Out in 2021, a format shift emphasizing investigations conducted entirely in darkness to heighten sensory reliance on non-visual tools like EVP recorders and thermal cameras across historic sites. Dalen Spratt has pursued independent content creation, launching the YouTube channel The Graveyard Shift around 2020, which features solo explorations of cemeteries involving spirit communication sessions, historical research, and on-site experiments with devices such as spirit boxes. By 2024, Spratt positioned himself as a content producer and experience curator, participating in fitness-oriented -themed workouts for iFIT's Haunted Bayou Series and Exploring the Abandoned: . In March 2025, he announced a new collaborative series with medium Scotty the NJ Medium, focusing on joint investigations shared via and video platforms. Spratt also appears at paranormal conventions, such as scheduled events in 2025, delivering talks on investigation techniques. Juwan Mass transitioned into complementary ventures, leveraging his background in acting from shows like The Game and to maintain media presence. A Clark Atlanta University alumnus, Mass has developed a practice while endorsing events that emphasize and audience interaction. He continues group engagements with Spratt and Harvey, including convention panels discussing their investigative origins and methods. Marcus Harvey sustains a primary career as a , integrating it with selective pursuits such as live appearances and discussions on team dynamics in . The trio collectively promotes Urban Legends with the Ghost Brothers, a post-2021 initiative recapping hauntings with added cultural commentary, and participates in fan meetups at events like Blerdcon, scheduled through 2026, where they share anecdotes from over six years of fieldwork. Network shifts following Discovery's acquisitions halted further official seasons by 2024, prompting a focus on independent and event-based activities.

Influence on Paranormal Media Landscape

Ghost Brothers, premiering on Destination America on April 15, 2016, introduced the first all-African American team of paranormal investigators to television, diversifying a genre historically dominated by white male-led ensembles such as those in Ghost Hunters and Ghost Adventures. This breakthrough challenged the uniformity in casting and perspectives, potentially expanding audience demographics by incorporating cultural viewpoints from Black investigators raised in religious households, who blended humor, skepticism, and personal anecdotes into investigations. The series' success in ratings, described as "scaring up top ratings" for the network, prompted a second season in 2017 and influenced programming strategies at Discovery-owned channels, which increased focus on paranormal content amid steady prime-time viewership around 228,000 nightly in 2015. Spin-offs like Ghost Brothers: Haunted Houseguests (2019) and Ghost Brothers: Lights Out (2021–2023) on Travel Channel extended this model, collaborating with other haunted properties and reinforcing a trend toward ensemble diversity and comedic elements in ghost hunting formats. Beyond television, the team's expansion into podcasting via Urban Legends with the Ghost Brothers addressed underrepresentation of voices of color in audio, fostering niche discussions on urban legends and investigations with humor and expertise. Academic examinations of the genre have since highlighted Ghost Brothers as evidence that diverse casts can attract broader engagement without diluting investigative rigor, though empirical data on long-term shifts in industry demographics remains limited.

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