The World of the Psychic

The World of the Psychic
Use:	Talk Show
Also Known As:	World of the Psychic World of the Psychic with Dr. Peter Venkman
Appeared In:	Ghostbusters II Ch. 02 "World of the Psychic" Ghostbusters Annual 2015

The World of the Psychic (also known as World of the Psychic and World of the Psychic with Dr. Peter Venkman) was a TV show Peter Venkman hosted in 1989, just before the Ghostbusters went back into business.

History

Primary Canon

"World of the Psychic" was filmed at the WKRR-TV Studio and could be watched on channel 10. The show garnered an ill reputation among psychics because they believed Peter was a fraud. As a result, at least once, they had difficulty securing guests. In late 1989, one of the last, if not last, episodes was supposed to feature a telekinetic who could bend spoons but he cancelled and Norman the producer had to find new guests on very short notice. The episode was edited to have a theme about the end of the world. Peter talked to Milton Angland and Elaine. Milton shared a strong psychic belief the world would end at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve while Elaine was told by an alien, it would end on February 14, 2016. Milton Angland went first. Peter immediately talked about Milton's book "The End of the World" and asked him if he was willing to reveal the ending. Milton obliged him and predicted the world was going to end at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve. Peter inquired if he meant in the current year. Milton confirmed. Peter joked that was cutting it a little bit close. He clarified he meant just from a sales point of view and he was not going to see any paperback sales for at least a year and it would be at least another year he got a mini-series or movie-of-the-week deal. Peter played Devil's Advocate and proposed 1992 instead. Milton told him to wait. Peter settled on 1994 as a better choice. Milton exclaimed and stated the book was not a money-making scheme and he had a strong psychic belief that the world would end on New Year's Eve. Milton pressed his finger to his forehead and began to look visibly shaken. He exhaled and adjusted his coat. Peter's jovial tone shifted back to serious and hoped he was right for his own sake but revealed his other guest Elaine had another date in mind.

Elaine stated according to her source, the end of the world would be on February 14, 2016. Peter was bummed that was Valentine's Day. He asked her where she got her date from. Elaine stated she received her information from an alien. She recounted what she told her husband. She had a drink at the bar, alone, in the Paramus Holiday Inn and an alien approached her. The alien started talking to her and bought her a drink. She speculated the alien used some kind of a ray or a mind control device on her then forced her to follow him to his room. Peter stared directly into the camera. Elaine revealed the alien then told her about the end of the world. Peter pursed his lower lip and asked if the alien had a room at the Paramus Holiday Inn. She speculated it could have been a room on the spacecraft made up to look like a room at the Holiday Inn. She was not sure. Peter stood up and walked forward to wrap up the episode. He humored Elaine and noted most of the time, the whole problem with aliens was you just could not trust them. He did admit there was occasionally a nice one like Starman and E.T. but usually they turned out to be some kind of big lizard. The World of the Psychic tune started playing. He ended telling viewers that was all the time they had for this week on World of the Psychic then teased next week's episode. He asked for Ira. A crewman handed Peter a bald, hairless cat. It meowed. Peter turned his hand around to show the back of the cat, too. He promoted the weird topic of hairless pets was next. Peter handed the cat back. It meowed. Peter then did his signature goodbye, he pretended to send a psychic message to the audience then laughed. He turned around and shook Milton's hand. It is unknown if the show continued on after the Ghostbusters was started up again.

IDW Comics

In late 1984, after the Gozer incident, Peter met with his agent about a career in television. After filming 33 episodes of The World of the Psychic, Peter had enough of nutcases and bodily fluids. The last straw was when Ira urinated on his pants during a commercial break. The three-stain clause in his contract was fulfilled and Peter quit. It also didn't help that the coffee on set tasted like hot garbage.

• Known Episodes
  • Unspecified Episode: Gypsy Witch
  • Episode 4: Rob Rodgers
  • Episode 9: Episode 9 Guest
  • Episode 11:Episode 11 Guest
  • Episode 14: Episode 14 Guest
  • Episode 20: Episode 20 Guest
  • Episode 32: Elaine and Milton Angland
  • Episode 33: Ira

Trivia

Ghostbusters II Trivia

• In the Ghostbusters II August 5, 1988 draft:
  • On page 6, the World of the Psychic is filmed at the Manhattan Cable Building. The episode deals with three women who claim to have had sexual relations with aliens. One character and her story is preserved in the final version, Elaine and her Paramus Holiday Inn story.
  • On page 86, the Ghostbusters and Mayor deliver a special message to the people of New York City from the set of The World of the Psychic.
• In the September 29, 1988 draft, the show is now based at the WOR-TV station.
  • On page 14, Peter meets with the station manager David Herman and learns The World of the Psychic is canceled. Herman states the show stinks and nobody watches it. Peter contends the show is just starting to gel, he's been getting mail, and the show has a large cult following. Herman is not swayed. Peter makes a dramatic exit.
  • On page 88, the Ghostbusters and Mayor present a special edition of the World of the Psychic. The Mayor declares a state of emergency. Peter states everyone has to lighten up for a couple of days.
• In the November 27, 1988 and February 27, 1989 drafts:
  • On page 22, Peter asks Dana Barrett if she's seen his show. She replies she has and that's why she never called him.
  • On page 96, the police are hesitant to take them to Gracie Mansion because there is a big official dinner going on. The cop recognizes Peter from The World of the Psychic and tells him it's one of his two favorite shows. He tells him not to tell him the other, a callback to when he met Rudy. He asks the cop to call the Mayor and tell him the city is in danger otherwise they'll be going to the New York Times.
• The interior of Ray's Occult Books was on Stage 15 next to the World of the Psychic set at Burbank Studios.
• The theme for The World of the Psychic is "Young Man's Fancy" by New Concert Orchestra and Cedric Dumont.
• Rudy the Museum Guard, of the Manhattan Museum of Art, said "World of the Psychic" was one of his favorites along with "Bassmasters."

IDW Comics Trivia

• On page 14 panel 3 of Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3, Peter has his World of the Psychic mug.
• On page 41 of Ghostbusters Annual 2015, the episode seen in Ghostbusters II is revealed to be the 32nd and penultimate one in the IDW canon.
  • Panel 3 is a recreation of the scene in Ghostbusters II Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic" when Peter comments on Elaine's Valentine's Day 2016 prediction.
• On page 1 of Ghostbusters International #8, in panel 3, Peter has a black "The World of the Psychic" coffee mug.
• On page 4 of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3, Peter has his mug from The World of the Psychic.
• On page 20 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, Peter mentions he's got a meeting to talk to his agent about TV, a nod to and foreshadowing The World of the Psychic.

Tertiary Canon Trivia

• On page 13 of Egon's Journal, a supplement of the Hasbro Haslab Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack, the show has moved to Thursdays in a PM slot. The logo features a shot of Peter from Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic" when he signs off.
• On page 16 of Egon's Journal, it is mentioned Peter continued to host World of the Psychic after Egon left for Summerville.
• On page 29 of Egon's Journal, it is revealed Peter remained with World of the Psychic for a total of five seasons. While the first season was in public access, the remaining seasons were in syndication.

Appearances

Primary Canon

• Ghostbusters II
  • Chapter 2: "World of the Psychic"
  • Chapter 13: Mood Slime
    • Mentioned by Rudy the Museum Guard.

Secondary Canon

• IDW Comics
  • Ongoing Series
    • Volume 1
      • Ghostbusters Issue #8
        • On page eight, Peter holds a The World of the Psychic mug
      • Ghostbusters Issue #11
        • On page 22, Peter exclaims he was a 'TV guy,' in reference to his time as host of The World of the Psychic.
    • Volume 2
      • Ghostbusters Issue #6
        • On page 14, Egon finds a The World of the Psychic pen.
      • Ghostbusters Issue #12
        • On page eight, Peter alludes to the World of the Psychic and reveals the Gypsy Witch was a guest on it.
    • Ghostbusters Annual 2015
      • "World of the Psychic"

Gallery

Behind the Scenes Images

Set of World of the Psychic, seen on Entertainment Tonight in 1989 (Credit: Alex Newborn)

Read through of the scene with cast, seen on Entertainment Tonight in 1989 (Credit: Alex Newborn)

Secondary Canon Images

Cameo in Ghostbusters Issue #8

Pen in Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #6

Referenced in Ghostbusters: Get Real Issue #3

As seen in Ghostbusters Annual 2015

Coffee mug in Ghostbusters International #8

Mug seen in Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3

Tertiary Canon Images

Logo seen on page 13 of Egon's Journal, a supplement of the Hasbro Haslab Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack