Note: The name Scott Dickinson applies to Beeline Mobile App Canon. The name Bob Douglas applies to IDW Comics Canon and Tertiary Canon in Egon's Journal.
Male Student[1] (also known as Scott Dickinson in Beeline canon and Bob Douglas in IDW Canon)[2] was the male student that Peter Venkman was doing tests on at the beginning of the first film.
History[]
Primary Canon[]
The Male Student participated in the experiment on the effect of negative re-enforcement on ESP ability that was conducted at Columbia University by Peter. The only other participant shown was Jennifer. His fourth card was a star but he guessed a square. His fifth card was a square but he guessed a circle. On the fifth shock, gum shot out of his mouth. He grabbed it off the table, put it back in his mouth, and continued chewing it. While Jennifer was given preferential treatment and always told that her responses were correct, he was never allowed a correct response, even when he correctly guessed the sixth card were some wavy lines. He grew tired of the experimental procedures, specifically the inflicting of electrical shocks in correspondence with each incorrect (or, in the one case, correct) guesses. The male student pointed out he didn't know Peter was giving the volunteers electric shocks. He asked Peter what he was trying to prove. Peter pressed his hands together and revealed he was studying the effect of negative reinforcement on ESP ability. The male student became irate and screamed the effect was the shocks were pissing him off. Peter stood and countered maybe his theory was correct. The male student ripped the electrodes off his hands. Accordingly, he decided to forgo the $5.00 payment he was promised for volunteering as a test subject and stormed out of Room 205 A.
Secondary Canon[]
IDW Comics[]
For her book about the Ghostbusters, Rebecca Morales went to Columbia University a few weeks after Gozer was defeated and interviewed Jennifer Adams and Bob Douglas in a cafeteria. Bob called the Venkman experiment the worst experience he ever had even though he also pledged at Delta Tau Chi. He called Peter a maniac and claimed the electrocutions he suffered left him having weird dreams like one the previous night about a giant painting trying to kidnap a baby. He asked Rebecca if she was still paying him for the interview. Many years later, sometime in the summer, Bob walked past a Pequod's on Broadway where Ray Stantz and Jenny Moran happened to be meeting up.
Beeline App[]
Scott Dickinson developed psychic abilities and caused major disturbances at the Ganzfield Electric Tower.
Trivia[]
Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia[]
- In the final shooting script, the Male Student was simply described as "an obnoxious Sophomore."[3]
- It was discussed at length when the Male Student would spit out his gum.[4]
- In Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, the Male Student is named Scott Dickinson.[5]
IDW Comics Trivia[]
- On page 21 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #9, the Male Student appears on pin-up art.
- On page 1 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2:
- The Male Student's name in the IDW Canon is revealed to be Bob Douglas.
- Bob's last name is a nod to SCTV characters Bob and Doug McKenzie.
- Bob's outfit is based on one worn by Steven Tash's character Richie Trelawney in "Christine" (1983) on the night of his death at the gas station.
- Bob mentions pledging to Delta Tau Chi. This was the name of the fraternity in "Animal House" which was co-written by the late Harold Ramis and directed by Ivan Reitman.
- Bob refers to his repeated electrocutions in Peter's experiment in Chapter 2 "Shock The Nerd".
- Like in the Beeline video game, it's revealed Bob gained a psychic ability after Peter's experiment.
- Bob's precognitive dream is of the events of Ghostbusters II and he alludes to Vigo and Oscar.
- As with his reason for taking part in Peter's experiment, Bob once again asks if he is being paid for the interview.
- On Cover RI of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3, a nod to the cover of Batman #251, Jennifer and Male Student replaces Batman.
- Male Student is spitting gum like he did in Chapter 2: Shock The Nerd.
Tertiary Canon Trivia[]
- On page 28 of Egon's Journal, a supplement of the Hasbro Haslab Ghostbusters Plasma Series Spengler's Proton Pack, the student going by Bob Douglas is now a medium psychic that does tarot card reading, palm reading, past life regression, soulmate readings, aura cleansing, spiritual coaching, chakra balancing, and soul protection in a space rented at Ray's Occult Books.
Appearances[]
Primary Canon[]
Secondary Canon[]
Ghostbusters Beeline (Mobile app)
- IDW Comics
- Ongoing Series
- Volume 2
- Ghostbusters Year One
- Ongoing Series
References[]
- ↑ End Credits - Cast
- ↑ Text Box (2020). IDW Comics- "Ghostbusters Year One Issue #2" (2020) (Comic p.1). Text box reads: "Bob Douglas Student."
- ↑ Shay, Don (November 1985). Making Ghostbusters, p. 18. New York Zoetrope, New York NY USA, ISBN 0918432685. Paragraph reads: "He turns to the male volunteer, an obnoxious Sophmore, and pulls out a card from the standard deck of ESP symbols."
- ↑ Ivan Reitman (2005). Ghostbusters- Commentary (2005) (DVD ts. 04:47-04:58). Columbia TriStar Home Video. Ivan Reitman says: "There was a lot of conversation I remember about when the spitting of the gum moment should occur. Should it be on the first? The second? The third? We used it as a climax moment. "
- ↑ Mueller, Richard (August 1985). Ghostbusters: The Supernatural Spectacular, p. 17. Tor Books, New York NY USA, ISBN 0812585984. Paragraph reads: "Scott Dickinson nodded nervously, his mouth pumping away on a quid of gum."
Gallery[]
Primary Canon[]
Secondary Canon[]
