Ghost Whisperer
A woman helps ghosts cross over into the light.
Ghost Whisperer was a supernatural drama on CBS that aired from September 2005 to May 2010. The show centers on Melinda Gordon, a woman who can see and talk to ghosts. She runs an antique shop and is married, but her main task is helping restless spirits finish their unfinished business so they can move on to the afterlife. The ghosts aren't portrayed as sinful; instead, they're held back by their own guilt or fear of judgment. Melinda often faces skepticism from people who don't believe in her gift, and the spirits themselves can be mysterious or threatening until she uncovers what they need.
The show was created by John Gray and produced by Sander/Moses Productions, with Jennifer Love Hewitt as an executive producer, in association with ABC Studios and CBS Television Studios. CBS canceled the series after five seasons in May 2010.
Melinda lives in Grandview, New York, with her husband Jim Clancy and later their son Aiden. Her best friend Andrea Marino runs the antique shop with her until Andrea is killed in the season one finale while crossing the street. In season two, Melinda meets Delia Banks, a widowed real estate agent who initially thinks Melinda needs psychological help but eventually accepts her gift, though she remains skeptical at times. Delia's son Ned learns about Melinda's ability long before his mother does. Melinda also befriends Professor Rick Payne, who helps her solve ghost conflicts in seasons two and three before leaving for a Himalayan expedition in season four. That same episode introduces Professor Eli James, who gains the ability to hear ghosts after a near-death experience—though he can't see them—and becomes a close ally.
The cast includes Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda, Aisha Tyler as Andrea (seasons one and two), David Conrad as Jim Clancy/Sam Lucas, Camryn Manheim as Delia (seasons two through five), Jay Mohr as Professor Rick Payne (recurring in season two, main in season three, guest in season four), Tyler Patrick Jones (season two) and Christoph Sanders (seasons three through five) as Ned Banks, and Jamie Kennedy as Professor Eli James (seasons four and five).
The show was partly inspired by the work of Mary Ann Winkowski, with development starting at least two years before its premiere. James Van Praagh served as a co-executive producer and consultant. Production was handled by Sander/Moses Productions w
- Created by
- John Gray
- Starring
- Jennifer Love Hewitt, David Conrad, Aisha Tyler, Camryn Manheim, Jay Mohr, Jamie Kennedy
- Network
- CBS
- Original run
- September 23, 2005 – May 21, 2010
- Number of seasons
- 5
- Genre
- Supernatural television series
- Production companies
- Sander/Moses Productions, ABC Studios, CBS Television Studios
Lore & Background
The series centers on Melinda Gordon (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who lives in Grandview, New York, with her husband Jim Clancy (David Conrad) and later their son Aiden. She owns an antique shop called 'Same as It Never Was Antiques.' Melinda uses her ability to see and communicate with ghosts to help them resolve unfinished business, allowing them to cross over into the light. The show portrays ghosts as earthbound due to their own guilt or fear of judgment, not because of sin. Melinda's best friend Andrea Marino (Aisha Tyler) runs the shop with her until she is killed in the season 1 finale while crossing the street. In season 2, Delia Banks (Camryn Manheim), a skeptical real estate agent, becomes Melinda's friend and
Reader's Guide
Ghost Whisperer was a staple of CBS's Friday night lineup for five seasons, consistently drawing strong viewership, particularly in its fourth season where episodes often won their time slot and surpassed 10 million viewers. The show was based in part on the work of Mary Ann Winkowski, with James Van Praagh serving as co-executive producer and consultant. Despite its popularity, CBS canceled the series on May 18, 2010, citing rising costs and declining viewership. ABC considered picking up the show for a sixth season but passed. In 2010, Zap2it declared Ghost Whisperer the second 'most missed axed show' in a poll. Jennifer Love Hewitt later expressed disappointment that the series ended without a proper conclusion, stating, 'For a show that was about unfinished business, we didn't get to finish.' The series remains available on streaming platforms such as CW Seed, Hulu (first four seasons), and Disney+ internationally, and continues to air in syndication on Start TV.
Did You Know?
- The show was based in part on the work of Mary Ann Winkowski.
- Cast and crew believed the set on the Universal Studios back lot received visits from real spirits.
- The first three seasons were purchased for syndication by SYFY, Ion Television, and WeTV for $169.8 million.
- Jennifer Love Hewitt filmed a tour of the sets shortly before they were torn down after cancellation.
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