Post by Forever Xena on Nov 27, 2005 1:20:13 GMT -6
The 'Ghost Whisperer' Phenomenon
November 25, 2005
"Ghost Whisperer" quickly became a Friday night hit for CBS, and no one is happier than JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, who plays Melinda, the woman that talks to the dearly departed and helps them cross over to the other side, or Co-Executive Producer JAMES VAN PRAAGH, one of the foremost mediums in the world.
"I think what's great and beautiful about this show is that it makes you believe, if you don't already, that the people you love the most maybe don't actually leave you for good," Jennifer says. "That maybe they look after you and are there to see you through the rest of whatever your journey is."
"I think people love this show because people are curious about death," James adds. "Everybody wants to know about that sort of thing. I think if we can present that, be entertaining and have human drama, it's incredible."
Jennifer plays Melinda Gordon, who has the ability to communicate with earthbound spirits and help them find the peace they seek. Of course, the messages aren't always clear, causing those she comes into contact with to doubt her, but even in her darkest moments, she never doubts that what she is doing is a blessing, not a curse.
James got the idea for the series when he was working on his "Beyond with James Van Praagh" daytime series, and realized he wanted audiences to be able to see what other paranormal people were capable of doing. That is when he met MARY ANN WINKOWSKI, on whom Jennifer's character is loosely based.
"It was just amazing to meet this woman who really plays an extraordinary part of so many people's lives," Jennifer says. "She's very relaxed and mellow and takes it all in stride, but she's also very passionate about what she does. I think she obviously has a huge heart, and it comes from her gut and her belief in helping spirits go where they need to go and helping people that are still living move on with their lives."
So with all the actresses in Hollywood who auditioned for the role, how did Jennifer get the part?
"We were looking for an actress and couldn't find a lead and I said to the other producers, 'Listen, we're going to find someone,'" James recalls. "A leading actress will fall out of another pilot and we'll get her and that's exactly what happened and how we got Jennifer Love Hewitt."
To get into the "spirit" of things, Van Praagh even gave his leading lady a private reading before the show premiered, during which she communicated with her late grandmother.
"My favorite thing was that my grandmother was like, 'Don't worry, you will fall in love someday. So stop always trying to force the issue,'" Jennifer relates with a laugh. "Which is so my grandmother and so something I need to hear."
For more on the "Ghost Whisperer" phenomenon, tune in to tonight's ET.
November 25, 2005
"Ghost Whisperer" quickly became a Friday night hit for CBS, and no one is happier than JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, who plays Melinda, the woman that talks to the dearly departed and helps them cross over to the other side, or Co-Executive Producer JAMES VAN PRAAGH, one of the foremost mediums in the world.
"I think what's great and beautiful about this show is that it makes you believe, if you don't already, that the people you love the most maybe don't actually leave you for good," Jennifer says. "That maybe they look after you and are there to see you through the rest of whatever your journey is."
"I think people love this show because people are curious about death," James adds. "Everybody wants to know about that sort of thing. I think if we can present that, be entertaining and have human drama, it's incredible."
Jennifer plays Melinda Gordon, who has the ability to communicate with earthbound spirits and help them find the peace they seek. Of course, the messages aren't always clear, causing those she comes into contact with to doubt her, but even in her darkest moments, she never doubts that what she is doing is a blessing, not a curse.
James got the idea for the series when he was working on his "Beyond with James Van Praagh" daytime series, and realized he wanted audiences to be able to see what other paranormal people were capable of doing. That is when he met MARY ANN WINKOWSKI, on whom Jennifer's character is loosely based.
"It was just amazing to meet this woman who really plays an extraordinary part of so many people's lives," Jennifer says. "She's very relaxed and mellow and takes it all in stride, but she's also very passionate about what she does. I think she obviously has a huge heart, and it comes from her gut and her belief in helping spirits go where they need to go and helping people that are still living move on with their lives."
So with all the actresses in Hollywood who auditioned for the role, how did Jennifer get the part?
"We were looking for an actress and couldn't find a lead and I said to the other producers, 'Listen, we're going to find someone,'" James recalls. "A leading actress will fall out of another pilot and we'll get her and that's exactly what happened and how we got Jennifer Love Hewitt."
To get into the "spirit" of things, Van Praagh even gave his leading lady a private reading before the show premiered, during which she communicated with her late grandmother.
"My favorite thing was that my grandmother was like, 'Don't worry, you will fall in love someday. So stop always trying to force the issue,'" Jennifer relates with a laugh. "Which is so my grandmother and so something I need to hear."
For more on the "Ghost Whisperer" phenomenon, tune in to tonight's ET.