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In Egon on the Rampage, a news crew, trying to create a sensationalistic story about the Ghostbusters, disrupts an experiment being conducted by Egon. In the process, Egon's soul is sucked into another dimension while a demon takes possession of his body![2]

Cast[]

Winston Zeddemore

Peter Venkman

Ray Stantz

Janine Melnitz

Slimer

Eldon Bromo

Dr. Ruth

Sandy Van Sanders

Helen Shreck

Egon Spengler

Scaredy-Cat Ghost

Possessor Demon

Roon Ancient

L.P. Bats

One-legged Monster

Flying Hands

Equipment[]

Dimensionometer

Trap

Proton Pack

Particle Thrower

Ecto-1

P.K.E. Meter

Locations[]

Firehouse

Netherworld

ABS Studios

Plot[]

A television screen had a show on with a shot of the Firehouse. Winston lamented it was a slow day so everyone is taking time off. Ray donned work out clothes and went out on a run. Peter and Winston went shopping. A father told his children to watch something educational and flipped through the stations. He stopped on a 20/40/60 report. Eldon Bromo talked about an examination into hearing damage caused by loud clothes, an in-depth look at fabulously boring rich people, and the Ghostbusters. Ace reporters Sandy Van Sanders and Helen Shreck checked in from outside the Firehouse. They were set on proving the guys were con artists. Sandy knocked on the door. Janine answered and told them to return during office hours. However, they forced their way inside.

After Slimer slimed the camera, Janine took him out for a walk. As the guys tried to hide where Egon was... Egon yelled out for them. The reporters burst into a laboratory and Egon decided to make the experiment public. Since on-site containment was both expensive and hazardous. He and Ray developed the Dimensionometer to banish entities to other dimensions permanently. Peter opened a Ghost Trap and revealed the test subject. Ray and Winston opened fire on the ghost and forced it through a portal opened by the new device. Sandy was skeptical and overloaded the high voltage switch. Egon suddenly transformed into a demon!

The report shifted back to ABS Studios and Eldon introduced the week's commentary by Roone Ancient. The report resumed back at the Firehouse. Winston and Peter extinguished the fire while Ray rung Sandy's neck. "Egon" comes to and declared he was "free to destroy" and tossed Peter. Winston quickly popped in the video tape recording and realized Egon's soul got sucked into the other dimension and a demon was in his body. The guys flipped through Egon's contingency notes and learned they had 15 minutes to reverse the process. Unable to use the packs, Peter tossed sleeping gas at "Egon." It worked but he stumbled and crashed through a wall. The camera truck sped off with the demon. Helen planned to interview to the demon at ABS Studios.

Peter elected to go into the other dimension to find Egon's soul while Ray and Winston retrieved the demon. Eldon spoke about how news anchors are compelled to make vacuous comments at the end of reports and broke off for commercials. He returned as Peter fastened himself to a rope. Janine remained on standby to monitor Peter and pull him back when the time came. Sandy and his cameraman followed Peter and were attacked by a swarm of flying creatures. Meanwhile, Helen interviewed the demon only to be carried off. Ray and Winston arrived and tripped him up with prop balls. The demon ran out of the building with the Ghostbusters in hot pursuit. Somehow, Helen and her cameraman jumped inside Ecto-1.

Back in the other dimension, Peter ran into the ghost used as a test subject. He is terrified of the place and begged to be trapped again. Peter agreed if he told him where there was a human soul. The ghost gladly told Peter it was over the hill and jumped into the open Ghost Trap. Peter went over and saw a One-Legged Monster using Egon's soul as a trampoline. Peter handed his equipment and rope to Sandy and descended to take Egon's soul. He ran for it and signaled Janine. They returned to the Firehouse with the monster in pursuit. Ecto-1 crashed through the remains of the wall as Slimer tickled the monster. The demon arrived and ran right into Egon's soul. Egon was back in his body and the demon slimed the reporters. It then ran into the monster and both fell back into the other dimension. Egon checked with his P.K.E. Meter and confirmed the room was clean. Peter took the microphone and ended the report. Eldon then wished everyone good night and fainted.

Quotes[]

Janine: I'm Janine Melnitz, secretary.

Trivia[]

  • The episode was recorded on January 7 and 9, 1987.[3]
  • Arsenio Hall and Maurice LaMarche recorded on January 9, 1987.[4]
  • Writer Marc Scott Zicree noted the episode is a commentary on the excess of journalism and points out 60 Minutes, Geraldo Rivera, and Barbara Walters were among those referenced.[5]
  • Eldon Bromo was based on Walter Cronkite and voiced accordingly by Maurice LaMarche.[6]
  • The POV of the camera was influenced by the movie "Aliens"[7]
  • The news show 20/40/60 is a parody of "20/20."
  • The Eye of Truth is based on the CBS Studios' own trademark eye.
  • Sandy mentions Trolls and Goblins.[8]
  • The Ghostbusters' office hours are 10 am to 4 pm.[9]
  • Sandy referenced the O-Zone layer while trying to trap the Ghostbusters in a lie.[10]
  • Roon Ancient is a parody of "60 Minutes" contributor Andy Rooney.
  • Papers on Roon Ancient's desk have Cuneiform on them, the oldest form of writing.
  • The demon's roar was based on Ted Cassidy's narration on "The Incredible Hulk."[11]
  • When Peter tossed sleeping gas at the demon, he referenced King Kong. [12]
  • When told to yank Peter when he gives a tug on the rope, Janine mentioned that she'd seen "Poltergeist," a 1982 horror film.[13]
  • The Netherworld dimension was influenced by The Twilight Zone's "Little Girl Lost" and Salvador Dali.[14]
  • Sandy mentions the Emmy and Pulitzer awards once inside the Netherworld.[15]
    • The line itself was a riff on The Twilight Zone's "The Bard."[16]
  • The attack of the flying creatures was a riff on the Harpies attacking Jason and the Argonauts.[17]
  • Winston makes reference to Lois Lane in comparison with Helen Shreck.[18][19]
  • Helen Shreck mocks Lane's wardrobe, which is a nod to her early appearances in comics and television.
  • The One-legged monster was an homage to Merrie Melodies' "Duck Amuck."[20]
  • On page 20 of Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #8
    • In panel 1, on the sidewalk is Dr. Ruth and around the corner is one of her patients, the man in the cooked turkey suit.
    • Janine Melnitz' business suit is visually based on one briefly worn by her animated counterpart.

References[]

  1. Marsha Goodman (1987). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "Egon on the Rampage" (1987).
  2. Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 15. CPT Holdings, Inc.
  3. Marsha Goodman (1987). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "Egon on the Rampage" (1987).
  4. Marsha Goodman (1987). Episode Call Sheet and SAG Report - "Egon on the Rampage" (1987).
  5. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 02:18-02:19). Time Life Entertainment.
  6. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 02:37-02:54). Time Life Entertainment.
  7. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 04:05-04:06). Time Life Entertainment.
  8. Sandy Van Sanders (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 2:25-2:32). Time Life Entertainment. Sandy says: "Since their emergence on the scene, the Ghostbusters have allegedly been keeping New York sage from everything from truculent Trolls to garrulous Goblins."
  9. Janine Melnitz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 03:12-03:14). Time Life Entertainment.
  10. Sandy Van Sanders (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 05:12-05:17). Time Life Entertainment.
  11. Maurice LaMarche (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 09:50-09:52). Time Life Entertainment.
  12. Peter Venkman (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 10:38-10:40). Time Life Entertainment.
  13. Janine Melnitz (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 12:34-12:35). Time Life Entertainment.
  14. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 13:20-13:30). Time Life Entertainment.
  15. Sandy Van Sanders (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 13:39-13:40). Time Life Entertainment.
  16. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 15:07-15:17). Time Life Entertainment.
  17. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 15:00-15:04). Time Life Entertainment.
  18. Winston Zeddemore (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (1987) (DVD ts. 16:13-16:14). Time Life Entertainment.
  19. Eatock, James & Mangels, Andy (2008). The Real Ghostbusters Complete Collection booklet, p. 15. CPT Holdings, Inc.
  20. Marc Scott Zicree (2009).The Real Ghostbusters- "Egon on the Rampage" (Visual Commentary) (1987) (DVD ts. 18:26-18:29). Time Life Entertainment.

Gallery[]

Episode Screen Caps[]

Collages and Edits[]

RGB DVD Boxset Features[]

Secondary Canon[]


 
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