Destination America has a Lockdown with the Premiere of its New Series
Paranormal Lockdown
Episode 1 Review
By Christiane Elin
Paranormal Lockdown
Episode 1 Review
By Christiane Elin
March 4, 2016 - If you are looking for demons or bro time, this might not be the paranormal show for you. I was able to watch a rough cut of the newest series addition to Destination America, Paranormal Lockdown.
Episode one introduces familiar paranormal television faces, Nick Groff (Ghost Adventures, Executive Producer of Ghost Stalkers) and Katrina Weidman (Paranormal State) traveling to a haunted location each week and staying locked down in it for 72 hours. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is the first location Nick and Katrina stay in. Paranormal Lockdown has the Lockdown duo taking a different approach to the paranormal compared to their past endeavors. They are investigating during all hours of the lockdown (yes, daytime) and their demeanor doesn’t seem exaggerated for TV. Nick says they are looking for groundbreaking paranormal evidence. Nick wanted to return to Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum because of the experience he had with shadows at the location in 2009.
After watching the first episode, I’ve deemed Paranormal Lockdown the “Paranormal and Chill” show. I’m really digging the calm, relaxed, stripped down version of investigating that I saw Nick and Katrina take. The show felt closest to a real paranormal investigation. There’s plenty of quiet times when investigating. It’s not zany and filled with unexplained noises, apparitions, and black mists non-stop.
The episode slightly played up Nick’s former visit to the Asylum which spoke upon his history with the location. It was a little dramatic at times but nothing like we’ve seen on other shows. Nick is definitely more emotionally affected by the location.
The Lockdown crew consists of Nick, Katrina, and cameraman, Rob. The lockdown starts with a daytime EVP session with the owner of the asylum. Nick captures some answers to questions on his voice recorder after Nick spots a solid figure, thinking it was the cameraman and Katrina was picking up some energy affecting her emotionally.
Nick and Katrina are excited for their investigations after they meet with former employee, Beth Nease, who was working during a murder incident on the third floor in ward F which left two patients dead. Katrina is saddened by her recollection of the murdered patients.
The nighttime investigation begins on the third floor in ward F where the double homocide took place. Nick introoduces George Brown’s Geobox which was specifically made for Nick and measures EMF, vibrational wave, and radio frequency. The Geobox has one response but after two hours the team moves on to the fourth floor where Nick saw a shadow figure in his 2009 visit.
Rob and Nick hear a disembodied voice on the fourth floor. Before Nick settles on his location he does an EVP Session. Nick does get a response and chooses to stay on the fourth floor for the night. Cameraman Rob leaves for the night while Katrina goes to the third floor in the murder room.
Katrina feels the "murder room" has a hopeless feeling. Nick feels there is energy all around him while he settles down for the night. Nick hears a loud bang but decides to observe rather than react on night one. In the morning Nick investigates and does a "paranormal wake-up." Nick checks on Katrina to see if she had been up walking around. Katrina says she hadn't but Nick says he heard the sound of nurses shoes walking the hallway.
Katrina and Nick begin a daytime investigation. Katrina reports she has a "hard to breath" type feeling like having asthma. The duo proceed in an EVP session where the capture a response - shut up, bitch.
Their second night takes off with more Geobox sessions. They think they catch a female response of - Hello and a male voice via the Geobox that says, Don't say a word, No and I'm telling you. Katrina takes the stand to leave if the box says her name. The box then says three syllables that sound like "Katrina" to Nick. Katrina is more skeptical. After listening back to the recording, Katrina does think the Geobox said her name. Katrina keeps her promise and leaves the women's auxiliary building.
Nick and Katrina move to the medical building which houses the morgue. Nick returns to the morgue slap where he laid years ago during a prior investigation. Nick thinks it would be a good place for Katrina to spend the night. Katrina starts to feel a pain in her chest like a pinching or stabbing. Nick wonders if it is related to symptoms of a lobotomy. She shares that she has been to locations in the past and was able to pick up how somebody died or trauma. Katrina decides to stay on the morgue slab for the second night at 3 a.m. which Nick points out is the devil's hour. Nick says that it's documented that 3 a.m. is when most death's occur and paranormal energy is at its peak. Katrina shares that she feels shakey while on the slab. She says she hears footsteps and a couple of dinging sounds.
Nick heads to the basement where he saw shadow figures. Nick says he hears weird voices and shuffling sounds while trying to set up his bedding. While in bed he reports hearing sounds of walking/shuffling.
The morning of day three begins with no shadow figure caught. Nick introduces some friends who have had prior experiences in Trans-Allegheny. Amy Bruni (Ghost Hunters) and Adam Berry (Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Academy), pop in the location. Amy and Adam take Nick and Katrina to the kitchen area where they had something in their last visit. After arriving in the kitchen area, Amy, Adam, and Nick hear something make shh sound. Cameraman Rob agrees that he shh sound was a lot like the day before's catch.
Nick, Katrina, Amy, and Adam go to the fourth floor where Nick saw the shadow figure in the previous visit. Adam decides to lay down where Nick slept on the first night to see if he can capture any experiences while the rest leave the area. Amy comments that Adam will most likely last five minutes by himself. Adam doesn't last long as predicted. He reports a someone is behind you feeling in Nick's bed area. Nick, Katrina, Amy, and Adam review the digital recorder and hear a Hello Adam. Amy and Adam give a little pep to Nick and Katrina’s lockdown time then swiftly depart. #hibyeghosts
Nick and Katrina go back to investigating with cameraman Rob on the fourth floor. Nick and Katrina are feeling that they aren't alone. Katrina thinks she sees something and Nick gets the chills. Nick was feeling anxious. Katrina was concerned if Nick was feeling well. She had never seen him affected. Katrina is sure she saw something go in front of a window but she doesn't know what it was.
Nick and Katrina focus on where Katrina saw something block the window while cameraman Rob notices something behind them. He gets Nick and Katrina's attention. Rob says he thinks he saw something move across the back wall low. Nick and Katrina investigate the area where Rob sees some figure. Rob explains it has a shape and was not a mist. Rob was shaking and did not know what he saw. Rob explains he was looking in the camera and though he heard something in his ear like footsteps behind him. As Rob zoomed in on Nick and Katrina the focus went to the back wall. He describes what he saw as a large snake or lizard and slithered past. Rob plays back the footage for Nick and Katrina. Katrina exclaims, "What the f*ck was that?" Nick sees it and says, "Wow!"
Nick and Katrina try to do some debunking. They rule out that it was an animal. Nick investigates further but does not come across what Rob caught on camera.
Nick and Katrina finish up their lockdown. Nick sums up his time at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum as frightening and intense.
I’m happy to see a balanced paranormal team, with one female and one male, if you exclude the cameraman. It is important in paranormal investigating to have feminine and masculine energy represented. Some energies are only drawn to feminine or masculine energy.
Whether you believe what Nick, Katrina, and Rob caught during their time at Trans- Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was paranormal or not, it was definitely compelling. The slithering creeper was an awesome catch.
With only viewing a rough cut of the first episode, it is possible that the word demon will be used in future episodes. My hopes are that it remains off the list of words used in at least one paranormal series currently airing. #everythingisnotdemonic
Thank you for reading.
Paranormal Lockdown airs on Friday at 10/9c on Destination America. If you'd like to know more about Destination America's Paranormal Lockdown, Check it out on facebook and twitter @LockdownDEST, @NickGroff_, and @KatrinaWeidman. #ParanormalLockdown #ExploretheUnknown
About the writer: Where you can find Christiane Elin, under a bridge… wait I’m not a troll… living in a van down by the river… I’m not Matt Foley. You can find me, @ChristianeElin, @Red_Glean, @FactOrFaked, @HauntedOrange, at a pop culture convention, hanging with paranormal friends, or in a haunted location snacking on some Girl Scout cookies.
.
Episode one introduces familiar paranormal television faces, Nick Groff (Ghost Adventures, Executive Producer of Ghost Stalkers) and Katrina Weidman (Paranormal State) traveling to a haunted location each week and staying locked down in it for 72 hours. Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum is the first location Nick and Katrina stay in. Paranormal Lockdown has the Lockdown duo taking a different approach to the paranormal compared to their past endeavors. They are investigating during all hours of the lockdown (yes, daytime) and their demeanor doesn’t seem exaggerated for TV. Nick says they are looking for groundbreaking paranormal evidence. Nick wanted to return to Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum because of the experience he had with shadows at the location in 2009.
After watching the first episode, I’ve deemed Paranormal Lockdown the “Paranormal and Chill” show. I’m really digging the calm, relaxed, stripped down version of investigating that I saw Nick and Katrina take. The show felt closest to a real paranormal investigation. There’s plenty of quiet times when investigating. It’s not zany and filled with unexplained noises, apparitions, and black mists non-stop.
The episode slightly played up Nick’s former visit to the Asylum which spoke upon his history with the location. It was a little dramatic at times but nothing like we’ve seen on other shows. Nick is definitely more emotionally affected by the location.
The Lockdown crew consists of Nick, Katrina, and cameraman, Rob. The lockdown starts with a daytime EVP session with the owner of the asylum. Nick captures some answers to questions on his voice recorder after Nick spots a solid figure, thinking it was the cameraman and Katrina was picking up some energy affecting her emotionally.
Nick and Katrina are excited for their investigations after they meet with former employee, Beth Nease, who was working during a murder incident on the third floor in ward F which left two patients dead. Katrina is saddened by her recollection of the murdered patients.
The nighttime investigation begins on the third floor in ward F where the double homocide took place. Nick introoduces George Brown’s Geobox which was specifically made for Nick and measures EMF, vibrational wave, and radio frequency. The Geobox has one response but after two hours the team moves on to the fourth floor where Nick saw a shadow figure in his 2009 visit.
Rob and Nick hear a disembodied voice on the fourth floor. Before Nick settles on his location he does an EVP Session. Nick does get a response and chooses to stay on the fourth floor for the night. Cameraman Rob leaves for the night while Katrina goes to the third floor in the murder room.
Katrina feels the "murder room" has a hopeless feeling. Nick feels there is energy all around him while he settles down for the night. Nick hears a loud bang but decides to observe rather than react on night one. In the morning Nick investigates and does a "paranormal wake-up." Nick checks on Katrina to see if she had been up walking around. Katrina says she hadn't but Nick says he heard the sound of nurses shoes walking the hallway.
Katrina and Nick begin a daytime investigation. Katrina reports she has a "hard to breath" type feeling like having asthma. The duo proceed in an EVP session where the capture a response - shut up, bitch.
Their second night takes off with more Geobox sessions. They think they catch a female response of - Hello and a male voice via the Geobox that says, Don't say a word, No and I'm telling you. Katrina takes the stand to leave if the box says her name. The box then says three syllables that sound like "Katrina" to Nick. Katrina is more skeptical. After listening back to the recording, Katrina does think the Geobox said her name. Katrina keeps her promise and leaves the women's auxiliary building.
Nick and Katrina move to the medical building which houses the morgue. Nick returns to the morgue slap where he laid years ago during a prior investigation. Nick thinks it would be a good place for Katrina to spend the night. Katrina starts to feel a pain in her chest like a pinching or stabbing. Nick wonders if it is related to symptoms of a lobotomy. She shares that she has been to locations in the past and was able to pick up how somebody died or trauma. Katrina decides to stay on the morgue slab for the second night at 3 a.m. which Nick points out is the devil's hour. Nick says that it's documented that 3 a.m. is when most death's occur and paranormal energy is at its peak. Katrina shares that she feels shakey while on the slab. She says she hears footsteps and a couple of dinging sounds.
Nick heads to the basement where he saw shadow figures. Nick says he hears weird voices and shuffling sounds while trying to set up his bedding. While in bed he reports hearing sounds of walking/shuffling.
The morning of day three begins with no shadow figure caught. Nick introduces some friends who have had prior experiences in Trans-Allegheny. Amy Bruni (Ghost Hunters) and Adam Berry (Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters Academy), pop in the location. Amy and Adam take Nick and Katrina to the kitchen area where they had something in their last visit. After arriving in the kitchen area, Amy, Adam, and Nick hear something make shh sound. Cameraman Rob agrees that he shh sound was a lot like the day before's catch.
Nick, Katrina, Amy, and Adam go to the fourth floor where Nick saw the shadow figure in the previous visit. Adam decides to lay down where Nick slept on the first night to see if he can capture any experiences while the rest leave the area. Amy comments that Adam will most likely last five minutes by himself. Adam doesn't last long as predicted. He reports a someone is behind you feeling in Nick's bed area. Nick, Katrina, Amy, and Adam review the digital recorder and hear a Hello Adam. Amy and Adam give a little pep to Nick and Katrina’s lockdown time then swiftly depart. #hibyeghosts
Nick and Katrina go back to investigating with cameraman Rob on the fourth floor. Nick and Katrina are feeling that they aren't alone. Katrina thinks she sees something and Nick gets the chills. Nick was feeling anxious. Katrina was concerned if Nick was feeling well. She had never seen him affected. Katrina is sure she saw something go in front of a window but she doesn't know what it was.
Nick and Katrina focus on where Katrina saw something block the window while cameraman Rob notices something behind them. He gets Nick and Katrina's attention. Rob says he thinks he saw something move across the back wall low. Nick and Katrina investigate the area where Rob sees some figure. Rob explains it has a shape and was not a mist. Rob was shaking and did not know what he saw. Rob explains he was looking in the camera and though he heard something in his ear like footsteps behind him. As Rob zoomed in on Nick and Katrina the focus went to the back wall. He describes what he saw as a large snake or lizard and slithered past. Rob plays back the footage for Nick and Katrina. Katrina exclaims, "What the f*ck was that?" Nick sees it and says, "Wow!"
Nick and Katrina try to do some debunking. They rule out that it was an animal. Nick investigates further but does not come across what Rob caught on camera.
Nick and Katrina finish up their lockdown. Nick sums up his time at Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum as frightening and intense.
I’m happy to see a balanced paranormal team, with one female and one male, if you exclude the cameraman. It is important in paranormal investigating to have feminine and masculine energy represented. Some energies are only drawn to feminine or masculine energy.
Whether you believe what Nick, Katrina, and Rob caught during their time at Trans- Allegheny Lunatic Asylum was paranormal or not, it was definitely compelling. The slithering creeper was an awesome catch.
With only viewing a rough cut of the first episode, it is possible that the word demon will be used in future episodes. My hopes are that it remains off the list of words used in at least one paranormal series currently airing. #everythingisnotdemonic
Thank you for reading.
Paranormal Lockdown airs on Friday at 10/9c on Destination America. If you'd like to know more about Destination America's Paranormal Lockdown, Check it out on facebook and twitter @LockdownDEST, @NickGroff_, and @KatrinaWeidman. #ParanormalLockdown #ExploretheUnknown
About the writer: Where you can find Christiane Elin, under a bridge… wait I’m not a troll… living in a van down by the river… I’m not Matt Foley. You can find me, @ChristianeElin, @Red_Glean, @FactOrFaked, @HauntedOrange, at a pop culture convention, hanging with paranormal friends, or in a haunted location snacking on some Girl Scout cookies.
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DESTINATION AMERICA SIGNS
GHOST-HUNTING ALL-STARS NICK GROFF AND KATRINA WEIDMAN
TO LIVE WITH THE DEAD FOR ALL-NEW SERIES PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN
Official Press Release
January 8, 2016
(Silver Spring, Md.) – From the network that delivered the first-ever live televised exorcism last fall, comes an all-new series this March that stretches the limits of paranormal investigation. Destination America’s six-part series PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN, hosted by paranormal all-star Nick Groff and co-hosted by seasoned ghost hunter Katrina Weidman, follows the two as they confine themselves in America’s most terrifying places for an unprecedented 72 hours straight. Living at haunted locations, many of which have never before been seen on television, some being investigated for the first time ever, Groff and Weidman believe that the longer they stay, the more the spirits will communicate with them and the more information they can gather about the unknown. From the creepy Kreischer Mansion on Staten Island to the foreboding Franklin Castle in Cleveland, PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN is set to premiere on Friday, March 4 at 10/9c exclusively on Destination America.
“As valued fixtures of the paranormal community, Nick and Katrina have years of thrilling investigation under their belts and join the Destination America family with huge support from their fans,” said Jane Latman, general manager of Destination America. “Overnight explorations are a staple of ghost hunting, but PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN supersizes the suspense in a round-the-clock, multi-day investigation that has never been conducted before on a paranormal TV series.”
“Living with the dead was a whole new experience for me and Katrina, giving us the opportunity to document some incredibly enticing evidence about the afterlife that we can’t wait to reveal to PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN’s viewers,” said host and executive producer Nick Groff.
For Destination America, Groff previously executive produced GHOST STALKERS in 2014 and appeared in EXORCISM: LIVE! this past Halloween to share his experience investigating the original Exorcist house. PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN will mark Groff’s debut as host of a Destination America original series.
About Nick Groff
Nick Groff has been fascinated with the paranormal ever since surviving a near-death experience as a child. Now, he chases ghosts full-time with the goal of finding new evidence of the afterlife and discovering a breakthrough in paranormal research. After graduating from the University of Nevada with a B.A. in Film, Groff made his big break when he co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed, co-edited, and co-starred inGhost Adventures: The Original Documentary, which aired on the SciFi Channel in 2007. The film was a winner at the Los Angeles Film/Video Festival and was nominated for “Best Feature Film” at the Eerie Horror Film Festival. The documentary served as a pilot for the Ghost Adventures television series that debuted in 2008 on Travel Channel. Groff was an Executive Producer, co-host, and investigator on seasons 1-10. Groff is also the author of the book Chasing Spirits: The Building of the Ghost Adventures Crew.
About Katrina Weidman
Katrina Weidman is paranormal researcher and investigator, host, producer, and lecturer. She’s best known for her role on A&E’s hit series Paranormal State, in which she worked on hundreds of cases of unexplained supernatural phenomena and interviewed thousands of witnesses with the world-renowned Paranormal Research Society (PRS) from 2006-2011. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Weidman has been working professionally as a paranormal researcher and investigator since 2006, but her passion for the supernatural began when she was a child living in historic Bucks County, Penn., where many locations are said to be haunted. Weidman also hosted Chiller’s Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies, following Weidman and her team as they travel the country looking for the real-life stories that inspired some of the world’s most iconic horror films.
PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN is produced for Destination America by Groff Entertainment with Nick Groff and Justin Narragon as executive producers. For Destination America, Fay Yu is executive producer, Jane Latman is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, and American Heroes Channel.
About Destination America
Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in 56 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters; Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-tv programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.
January 8, 2016
(Silver Spring, Md.) – From the network that delivered the first-ever live televised exorcism last fall, comes an all-new series this March that stretches the limits of paranormal investigation. Destination America’s six-part series PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN, hosted by paranormal all-star Nick Groff and co-hosted by seasoned ghost hunter Katrina Weidman, follows the two as they confine themselves in America’s most terrifying places for an unprecedented 72 hours straight. Living at haunted locations, many of which have never before been seen on television, some being investigated for the first time ever, Groff and Weidman believe that the longer they stay, the more the spirits will communicate with them and the more information they can gather about the unknown. From the creepy Kreischer Mansion on Staten Island to the foreboding Franklin Castle in Cleveland, PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN is set to premiere on Friday, March 4 at 10/9c exclusively on Destination America.
“As valued fixtures of the paranormal community, Nick and Katrina have years of thrilling investigation under their belts and join the Destination America family with huge support from their fans,” said Jane Latman, general manager of Destination America. “Overnight explorations are a staple of ghost hunting, but PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN supersizes the suspense in a round-the-clock, multi-day investigation that has never been conducted before on a paranormal TV series.”
“Living with the dead was a whole new experience for me and Katrina, giving us the opportunity to document some incredibly enticing evidence about the afterlife that we can’t wait to reveal to PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN’s viewers,” said host and executive producer Nick Groff.
For Destination America, Groff previously executive produced GHOST STALKERS in 2014 and appeared in EXORCISM: LIVE! this past Halloween to share his experience investigating the original Exorcist house. PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN will mark Groff’s debut as host of a Destination America original series.
About Nick Groff
Nick Groff has been fascinated with the paranormal ever since surviving a near-death experience as a child. Now, he chases ghosts full-time with the goal of finding new evidence of the afterlife and discovering a breakthrough in paranormal research. After graduating from the University of Nevada with a B.A. in Film, Groff made his big break when he co-wrote, co-produced, co-directed, co-edited, and co-starred inGhost Adventures: The Original Documentary, which aired on the SciFi Channel in 2007. The film was a winner at the Los Angeles Film/Video Festival and was nominated for “Best Feature Film” at the Eerie Horror Film Festival. The documentary served as a pilot for the Ghost Adventures television series that debuted in 2008 on Travel Channel. Groff was an Executive Producer, co-host, and investigator on seasons 1-10. Groff is also the author of the book Chasing Spirits: The Building of the Ghost Adventures Crew.
About Katrina Weidman
Katrina Weidman is paranormal researcher and investigator, host, producer, and lecturer. She’s best known for her role on A&E’s hit series Paranormal State, in which she worked on hundreds of cases of unexplained supernatural phenomena and interviewed thousands of witnesses with the world-renowned Paranormal Research Society (PRS) from 2006-2011. A graduate of the Pennsylvania State University, Weidman has been working professionally as a paranormal researcher and investigator since 2006, but her passion for the supernatural began when she was a child living in historic Bucks County, Penn., where many locations are said to be haunted. Weidman also hosted Chiller’s Real Fear: The Truth Behind the Movies, following Weidman and her team as they travel the country looking for the real-life stories that inspired some of the world’s most iconic horror films.
PARANORMAL LOCKDOWN is produced for Destination America by Groff Entertainment with Nick Groff and Justin Narragon as executive producers. For Destination America, Fay Yu is executive producer, Jane Latman is general manager, and Henry Schleiff is Group President of Investigation Discovery, Destination America, and American Heroes Channel.
About Destination America
Destination America is the only network to celebrate the people, places, and stories of the United States. The inclusive network targeting Adults 25-54 is available in 56 million homes, emblazoning television screens with the grit and tenacity, honesty and work ethic, humor and adventurousness that characterize our nation. Destination America features travel, food, adventure, home, and natural history, with original series like BBQ Pitmasters; A Haunting; Mountain Monsters; Buying Alaska; Buying the Bayou; and Railroad Alaska. For more information, please visit DestinationAmerica.com, facebook.com/DestinationAmerica, or twitter.com/DestAmerica. Destination America is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world’s #1 pay-tv programmer reaching nearly 3 billion cumulative subscribers in 220 countries and territories.