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« Ghost Whisperer
February 9, 2007: We've Got Spirits, Yes We Do!
Applause to Ghost Whisperer for a wicked-cool Grammy Awards tie-in with Mary J. Blige as a guest star. She did a great job acting, and didn't seem at all to be "big music star playing actor," which often happens when pop stars get cast in TV shows and movies. It was actually her performance this evening that made me cry when her character realized her little brother was in the light. I also thought it was clever that we wound up hearing one of her songs through the cheerleading competition, rather than through an obligatory forced concert at the end of the show. Very clever and smooth Grammy Awards cross-promotion for CBS.
Melinda was an adorable little freak in high school, wasn't she? She looked like a cute manga character, which I wouldn't exactly consider "nerdy," even by today's standards. But I s'pose to cheerleaders and the popular types, she would seem a bit different and be treated like a freak. Actually, her character in high school reminded me of the role that J. Love played on Party of Five. Do you all remember her from that show? She was a bit gawky and awkward then, but she still managed to get Bailey's attention in the end.
I was about to get a little bit peeved at the Ghost Whisperer writers and producers for creating negative Wiccan, pagan and goth stereotypes in this episode. I was thinking to myself that it was about as far off the mark as the movie The Craft, and I started to get a little irritated with it but tried to keep an open mind. But then as Jim read the Wiccan "golden rule" to Mel — "If it harms none, do as you will" — the show quickly redeemed itself by clarifying that this was the false and misguided "teen angst" version of Wicca. It also redeemed itself in the end when Ghost Cheerleader was able to tell Maddy that she actually liked her for being different and admired her for it. Come to think of it, in the end, the show also redeemed itself by showing that even the cheerleaders weren't quite as shallow as we'd thought.
I found myself missing Professor Payne this week! I hope that he gets to be in on some good February sweeps action over the next few episodes. By the way, now you all have me thinking (again) that his wife still may be a ghost.
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Feb 12, 2007 12:17 AM
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I will agree that it is a major stretch trying to paint Melinda as nerdy in high school. With her looks and body, she would have been at least popular with the guys. I would buy that people would think she was weird talking to thin air however.
MJB did do a good job as the coach. She seemed comfortable acting. 2nd straight week where the ghost thought something else happened that caused her death and was trying to get revenge. Hopefully this won't be a trend. It was funny seeing Melinda cover Jim's eyes when the cheerleaders were doing their routines. I also missed Payne in the ep. Hopefully they will touch upon the story about his wife soon.
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Feb 12, 2007 3:12 AM
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I do like this show and I enjoy the chemistry between JLH and David Conrad, but again with the wardrobe! Are we really supposed to believe that Melinda couldn't keep the attention of 16 year-old boys on career day dressed in a lowcut babydoll? Please. For the rest of the episode JLH was dressed pretty normally. Why the abberation in the school room?
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Feb 12, 2007 11:12 AM
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This was a second episode done at the high school this year. Still odd how Melinda has the run of the place, isn't it?
Storyline was good. I'm always intriqued with how a burned or decomposed ghost looks better as the episode goes along. First of all, I don't know why a ghost would have to look bad anyway. Seems they could look like we do, only with a lot more "abilities". But I guess it must take love and understanding to look normal again. 
Gotta say, Melinda's wardrobe was better this eppy, but showing off the "girls" at school was a bit too much.
More Prof. Payne!
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Feb 12, 2007 11:15 AM
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I thought Melinda was pregnant? Remember the episode when the re-incarnated ghost was trying to overtake her baby's soul?
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Feb 12, 2007 11:40 AM
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Nope, she wasn't pregnant. I thought she took a pregnancy test that came up negative, plus, the spirit ended up being willing to be born to her, and that willingness to sacrifice his own wants gave it the chance to go into the light.... therefore no baby.
MJB did do a good job. I liked the ep overall, but I agree.... I missed Payne. Funny how quickly he became a part of the cast we really like. I hope his story arc lasts for more than just this season.
And, yes, that outfit was totally innappropriate for a career day. I understand her career doesn't require a 3 piece suit, but having the girls out around teenage boys.... not smart.
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Feb 12, 2007 12:08 PM
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Pinkie, I agree... give me more Payne! lol
Also, I think the reason why the ghosts sometimes look so hideous when Melinda first meets them is because of a couple of reasons:
1) Confusion about what happened or where they are leaves them stuck in a moment they can't get out (to paraphrase U2).
2) Anger & resentment about what happened leaves them incapable from understanding and accepting their untimely fate & unable to "move on."
I think once they start accepting what's happened to them, resolving or facing the issues holding them back, and let go of the earthly problems or anger fueling their rages, they start to look more beautiful and softer... because they're more at peace and closer to being ready to move on...
What I'm confused about is... if Mandy was hanging those pouches around as an offering for forgiveness and the "magic" she and her "coven" was harmless, then I don't understand why they were putting the pics of the other cheerleaders into the fire... it seemed more mean and aggressive... were they trying to "jinx" or harm the girls??
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Feb 12, 2007 12:10 PM
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Hi Daesey4:
Yeah, I didn't think the coven was full of only good intent at all. It did seem their first intention was to harm the cheerleaders.
Your explanation for the ghosts' bad looks at the beginning of episodes is a good one. I thought the burn on the face of the cheerleader ghost was a little bit amusing because it looked like a healed burn and that just didn't make any sense. But I could see that their looks could be how they perceive themselves.
And as an aside, Daesey...thanks for understanding my dog-kissing line on the Brothers and Sisters blog!! 
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Feb 12, 2007 12:58 PM
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Speedy1383, Are you a male? In high school it doesn't matter how your body looks. I had a better body in high school than I do now after my daughter and I was tortured for 4 years. I think it is more on how you act, I kept my head down and did my homework. Trust me I was sooo not one of the cool kids. And lets face it if some one is going around talking to someone other's can't see it wouldn't matter how 'hot' their body was they would get major flak.
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Feb 12, 2007 1:50 PM
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My interest and knowledge of pop music is slight so I was wondering why on earth they had stuck in that final four minutes of the cheerleading routine - thanks for the explanation.
I agree about missing Payne - wouldn't Wicca have been another good topic for her to consult him about? I also thought we were seriously undervalued on Delia-time this week as well. While Melinda is ok as a main character, it's really the other three (Payne, Jim & Delia) who help this show have a unique identity and this week felt very flat with nothing fun for any of them except Jim being all EMT at the high school.
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Feb 12, 2007 3:24 PM
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Has it ever been addressed about Tim standing Delia up on their date? It just seems like 2 episodes have gone by since then and I don't remember there being anything said about it....
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Feb 12, 2007 3:40 PM
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I liked this episode, but I have to agree that I missed Prof. Payne.
The one question I have is, if the cheerleaders had practice, which from the flashback it looked like they did, where did they think that the dead girl was? Obviously the friend that left her in the boiler room, knew she was in there, so why didn't she go back for her when she didn't come to practice.
Ok, maybe the friend didn't know she was still in there, because she didn't realize it locked, but she knew that was the last place she saw her, I would think you would start there.
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Feb 12, 2007 5:49 PM
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Regarding the "date" that Delia had with that guy (Tim?): Melinda asked her about it one week, but Delia said "He didn't show, but don't tell Jim and don't make a deal of it." Still, I expected Melinda to say SOMETHING to Jim, even if she did it without giving anything away. "Hey, Jim, how did it go with Tim & Delia? Why don't you ask him?" I'm sure that will be brought up eventually & dealt with.
I like how we don't see Melinda go through her whole "I see deal people; yes, he's here" speech every week. They deal with it in different ways, as I'm sure it got old, since most people didn't or wouldn't believe her at first anyway.
I'm usually the first one to say how distracting Melinda's clothes are, but I can honestly say I didn't even pay attention to what she was wearing at the school. (I was on my stepper exercising, so I was a bit preoccupied.) However, I do think it's ridiculous that she gets the run of the school. In case nobody's noticed, security at most schools is VERY tight these days. They don't allow unaffiliated people to just wander around.
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Feb 12, 2007 6:51 PM
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Yeah jerri36, I am a male. Just giving a male perspective in high school. I just don't buy Melinda being a total outcast in high school. No matter how weird she was.
And I do agree with some posters saying that it is strange that Melinda can just wonder around the high school like that. A lot more security these days then when I went to school. Another thing is starting to bug me a little. Melinda lives in a small town. And she seems like she has helped quite a few people in the area. Don't you think her secret would be out by now? It is hard to keep any secrets in small towns. Especially one where a person can talk to dead people. Just wondering out loud about that.
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Feb 12, 2007 7:16 PM
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>>She seemed comfortable acting.
Posted by speedy1383
I agree, she really seemed "in her element" acting.
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Feb 14, 2007 11:12 AM
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