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"World of the Psychic" is the second chapter on the DVD of Ghostbusters II. This Chapter shows Peter Venkman on the set of his show "The World of the Psychic".

Cast[]

Locations[]

Plot[]

Peter Venkman chatted with his two guests on a darkened TV studio set and claimed a father encouraged his children to wash their hair with something of their own. The point of view shifted to a cameraman looking into a camera. The theme for The World of the Psychic, "Young Man's Fancy" by New Concert Orchestra and Cedric Dumont, played. The lights came on and recording started on an episode of "The World of the Psychic." Peter sat between his two guests. He introduced himself then his first guest, author, lecturer and psychic Milton Angland. 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 pointed out 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. Peter handed the cat back. It meowed. Peter pretended to send a psychic message to the audience then laughed. He turned around and shook Milton's hand.

Peter walked through the backstage offices with his producer Norman. He was not pleased with the two guests and asked what happened to the telekinetic man who bent spoons. Norman informed Peter the telekinetic canceled and they were the best they could do on such short notice. Norman reiterated no respected psychic would come on the show because they thought Peter was a fraud. Peter stated he was a fraud then saw Mayor Lenny, trailed by an entourage. Peter called out to him. Jack Hardemeyer stepped between Peter and the Mayor and gently pushed him away. The Mayor and his entourage continued on. Jack asked how he could help him. Peter replied he could get his hand off him then explained he was an old friend of the mayor's and he wanted to say hello and give him a kiss. Jack introduced himself, revealed his position as the mayor's assistant. He knew who Peter was and joked he did not see any ghosts anywhere. Jack pretended to look around for ghosts. Peter smirked. Peter explained the Ghostbusters performed a "little job" for the city a while back and got stiffed on the bill by some bureaucratic bookworm like him. Jack's demeanor changed to a serious one. A police officer stopped to check them out. Jack warned him to stay away from the mayor. He revealed Mayor Lenny was running for governor next fall and the last thing the team needed was for him to be associated with two-bit frauds and publicity hounds like the former Ghostbusters. Jack walked away and left Peter dumbfounded. He added he was a voter and thought that meant he was supposed to lie to him and kiss his butt.

Quotes[]

Peter: You know, I'm a voter. Aren't you suppose to lie to me and kiss my butt?

Trivia[]

Ghostbusters II Trivia[]

  • In the August 5, 1988 draft:
    • On page 6, the 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.
      • In the movie, the alien's prediction of when the world ends is added to Elaine's story. Peter holds back in reaction to Elaine's story.
    • On page 7, Peter's "Starman and E.T." line takes place between Elaine and Sarah's stories.
    • On page 8, Peter meets with a small group of eclectic fans and one of the fans has a hairless cat.
  • In the September 29, 1988 draft:
    • Much of the August 5, 1988 Draft is preserved except, the show is now based at the WOR-TV station. The scene pauses on page 8 and shifts to Lane Walker, the new romantic lead, and Jason Locke, the precursor of Janosz Poha, and Lane meeting with Egon Spengler.
    • On page 13, Peter talks with Norman exactly as in the August draft.
    • 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 15, Peter goes to his waiting fans as in the previous draft: a man holding a large crystal, a man wearing an antenna hat, a woman with a hairless cat, and a mojo-man with his eyes bugging out of his head. Peter looks at the cat and comments he once had a bald collie. New in this draft are Egon and Ray waiting for him. He vehemently refuses to help, citing they bubbled up a 100 foot marshmallow man and blew off the top 3 floors of a very big apartment building. Ray counters you can't make a hamburger without chopping up a cow.
      • In the movie, Peter contends he's a voter and Hardemeyer should have kissed his butt. The scene ends here. Peter's line about Stay Puft and 550 Central Park West is spoken by Winston after the party.
    • On page 16, Peter reminds them they are on probation and he won't risk ending up in jail again... until he sees Lane Walker.
  • In the November 27, 1988 draft:
    • On page 8, The World of the Psychic is now based in the WKRR-TV Studio and uses the reception area opening shot as in the August 1988 draft and pushes into a monitor.
    • Also kept from the August 1988 draft are:
      • Peter's guests, the three women who claim to have had some kind of a sexual encounter with aliens, including Elaine and Sarah
      • On page 10, Norman tells Peter the telekinetic guy who bends spoons because Peter is too skeptical. Peter retorts he is a pushover and even thinks professional wrestling is real. He tells Peter that Mayor Lenny was on Cityline.
      • On page 11, Peter tells Jack Hardemeyer he just wants to say hello to Mayor Lenny. Hardemeyer jokingly asks him if he's busted any ghosts lately. Peter retorts the Ghostbusters were sued, screwed, and tattooed by deskworms like Hardemeyer.
        • In the movie, Peter says he wants to give the Mayor a kiss. Hardemeyer jokes he doesn't see any ghosts. Peter calls him a bureaucratic bookworm.
      • On page 12, lastly, Peter quips Hardemeyer is the reason he won't vote for Lenny. Hardemeyer smugly walks away with two police officers. Peter goes to his waiting fans: a man holding a large crystal, a man wearing an antenna hat, a woman with a hairless cat, and a mojo-man with his eyes bugging out of his head. Peter looks at the cat and comments he once had a bald collie.
  • In the February 27, 1989 draft:
    • On page 8, the topic of the episode is now about the end of the world with this draft. Peter compares The End of the World to writing about gum disease and asks who would want to read it.
  • The World of the Psychic set was next to the set of Ray's Occult Books on Stage 15 in Burbank Studios in Los Angeles.[1]
  • The World of the Psychic scene was filmed on March 7, 1989.[Note 1]
  • The theme for The World of the Psychic is "Young Man's Fancy" by New Concert Orchestra and Cedric Dumont.
  • Milton Angland is proven wrong when the Ghostbusters prevent the end of the world and defeat Vigo.
  • The Holiday Inn Express in Paramus, New Jersey is located at 50 US Highway 17 North.
  • Chloe Webb, the actress who portrays Elaine, appeared on the Ivan Reitman movie "Twins" in 1988 before her uncredited role on Ghostbusters II
  • Peter mentions two movies about extraterrestrials, "Starman" (1984) and "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982).
    • Karen Allen, a co-star in "Starman" would go on to co-star with Bill Murray in "Scrooged" which came out in 1988, the year before Ghostbusters II.
  • Peter mentions how the alien usually turns out to be a big lizard.
    • "V," a 1984-1984 television series featured reptilian humanoid aliens.
  • There are several breeds of hairless cats: Bambino cat, Donskoy cat, Lykoi, Mexican Hairless, Peterbald, Sphynx, and the Ukrainian Levkoy.
  • Peter's wrist watch is a Jacques Edho.[2]
  • At the 10:51 mark, when Peter walks into the WKRR backstage, there are lobby cards for "Nakia," "Top Cat," and "The World of the Psychic."
  • Peter alludes to the battle with Gozer at the end of the first movie.
  • Peter states he is a registered voter.
  • In the deleted scene He Had Me by the Throat, Peter brings up Mayor Lenny's plans to run for governor in the fall. That was revealed in Chapter 02: "World of the Psychic" by Jack.
  • In the deleted scene We're Stuck in Here, Winston Zeddemore mentions he is reading "The End of the World" and alludes to Milton Angland who promoted the book in Chapter 02: "World of the Psychic".[3][4]

IDW Comics Trivia[]

  • In Ghostbusters Volume 1 #5:
    • On Page 13, "The End of the World" by Milton Anglund is on Peter's desk.
  • In Ghostbusters Volume 1 #8:
    • On Page 8, Peter's mug references the "The World of the Psychic".
  • In Ghostbusters Volume 1 #11:
    • On Page 22, Peter exclaims he was a TV guy. He used to host "The World of the Psychic".
  • In Ghostbusters Volume 2 #6:
    • On Page 14, a copy of "The End of the World" from Ghostbusters II is on the stand. Egon grabs a "The World of the Psychic" pen.
  • In Ghostbusters Volume 2 #12:
    • On Page 8, Peter refers to his show "The World of the Psychic" from Ghostbusters II.
  • In Ghostbusters Volume 2 #15:
    • On Page 12, Peter's copy of "The End of the World" mentioned in Ghostbusters II is still on his desk.
  • In Ghostbusters: Get Real #2:
    • On the left is the grab of an episode of "Top Cats" seen in Ghostbusters II framed on an office wall when Peter talks to Norman in Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic".
  • In Ghostbusters: Get Real #3:
    • On Page 14, in panel 3, Peter has his The World of the Psychic, from Ghostbusters II, mug.
    • On Page 15, on the brown tack board, on the left, below it, is the grab of an episode of "Top Cats" seen in Ghostbusters II framed on an office wall when Peter talks to Norman in Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic".
  • In Ghostbusters Annual 2015:
    • On the Regular Cover, Peter is wearing the outfit from Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic" and he is doing the telepathic sign off salute he did at the end of the episode of The World of the Psychic.
    • On Page 41, the episode seen in Ghostbusters II is revealed to be the 32nd and penultimate one.
    • On Page 41, 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 42, Ira is the reason Peter quit The World of the Psychic. In Ghostbusters II, Peter showed Ira off before he signed off.
  • In Ghostbusters International #2:
    • On Page 4, in panel 1, the frames are the Nakia and Top Cat lobby cards seen on the wall in Chapter 2 "World of the Psychic" when Peter comes out of the doorway talking to Norman near the 10:51 mark.
    • On Page 11, Milton Angland appears right of the Wolf Van Shandor sign and Elaine appears on the far right below the lion statue.
  • In Ghostbusters International #8:
    • On Page 1, in panel 3, Peter has a black The World of the Psychic coffee mug.
  • In Ghostbusters: Answer The Call Issue #5:
    • On Cover A, one of Peter's line "Hairless pets. Weird." in the episode of The World of the Psychic is quoted. Ira, who appeared at the end, makes a cameo.
  • In Transformers/Ghostbusters: Ghosts of Cybertron Issue #3:
    • On Page 4: Peter has his mug from The World of the Psychic.
  • In Ghostbusters Year One Issue #3:
    • On Page 20, 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[]

See Also[]

Notes[]

  1. According to the scene's call sheet, this scene was filmed on March 7, 1989 revealed during a private email exchange with Troy Benjamin on May 17, 2023, "Tuesday March 7th, 1989 was officially the wrap of main unit principal photography. They were supposed to be done on March 3rd but had to add days the week following. March 7th was a rushed day shooting nearly three pages of script where they filmed basically the entirety of the Chloe Webb/Kevin Dunn World of the Psychic scene."

References[]

  1. Wallace, Daniel (2015). Ghostbusters The Ultimate Visual History, p. 151. Insight Editions, San Rafael CA USA, ISBN 9781608875108. Line reads: "The interior of Ray's Occult Books came to life on Stage 15, right next to the World of the Psychic set."
  2. Profiles in History: Icons & Legends of Hollywood Auction June 5, 6, 7 & 8, 2018, page 264 Line reads: "1045. Bill Murray "Dr. Peter Venkman" wristwatch from Ghostbusters II. (Columbia, 1989) Vintage original Jacques Edho brand rectangular, gold metal watch with tan leather buckle band. Featuring hour, minute and sweeping second hand. Exhibiting light wear and age. Action untested. In vintage very gootd to fine condition. $1,500-$2,500"
  3. Winston Zeddemore (2022). Ghostbusters Ultimate Edition (2022), Ghostbusters II, We're Stuck in Here (1989) (Blu-ray ts. 00:14-00:20). Columbia Pictures. Winston Zeddemore says: "You know it reminds of this book I've been reading. It's called The End of the World."
  4. Winston Zeddemore (2022). Ghostbusters Ultimate Edition (2022), Ghostbusters II, We're Stuck in Here (1989) (Blu-ray ts. 00:17-00:21). Columbia Pictures. Winston Zeddemore says: "Well, this guy says the world's going to end New Years Eve 1990. That's tonight."

Gallery[]

Selected Screengrabs[]

Behind the Scenes[]

 
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