The Real Ghostbusters had only concluded six years before its direct sequel premiered in 1997. And, as with many things geared toward children at the time, there was this trend of overselling the product to bring in both eyes and money. Hence the title of Extreme Ghostbusters (hereinafter referred to as XGB). The revival never quite lived up to the marketing hype, however, this cartoon was also no lightweight. It proved to be a worthy successor that was neither afraid of no ghost nor afraid to push the envelope in ways its predecessor could not.
After a few blissful years of zero paranormal activity in XGB, the supernatural has returned in full force to haunt New York City and the rest of America. So who you gonna call to handle this new flux of specters, ghouls and other uncanny creatures? Well, not the Ghostbusters. The original team understandably disbanded after fulfilling their mission. Which brings us to the next option: another quartet of eager ghost hunters whose arsenal include upgraded proton packs and a heavier-duty ghost trap. Unlike before, though, the heroes are not another assemblage of adult scientists. Just the opposite, the XGB squad is made up of the four young college students who so happened to be enrolled in Egon Spengler’s Paranormal Phenomena 101 course.
Had things gone differently, it would have been Ghostbusters receptionist and ally Janine Melnitz training undergrads to be mankind’s last hope in these new and spooky times. The switch from Janine to Egon as the team mentor was one of several significant changes made behind the scenes before the finished product aired in ‘97. In fact, XGB nearly turned out to be two female Ghostbusters fighting alongside Eduardo Rivera (voiced by Rino Romano). Character designer Fil Barlow (Godzilla: The Series, Starship Troopers: Roughneck Chronicles) certainly had his work cut out for him when handed the revisions later on. Although, the XGB roster featured a ‘buster with a physical disability from the beginning; adrenaline chaser “Lucy” eventually became Garrett Miller (Jason Marsden). Rounding out the finalized cast of misfits was goth Kylie Griffin (Tara Strong) and mechanics whiz Roland Jackson (Alfonso Ribeiro).
Pictured: The ghosts of “Deadliners.”
The Breakfast Club-ish appearance of the core cast seemingly undermines the edgier aim of XGB, but these characters are not always so agreeable or straight-laced. For instance, ginger jock Garrett, who was popular with both boys and girls during a children’s test screening, does not rally his teammates so much as rile them up with his arrogance and endless quips. He does not shy away from self-deprecation either, namely in regards to his wheelchair. Meanwhile, Eduardo is the resident smartass who fancies Kylie — with some PG-13 jokes slipped in to help sell his massive crush — and habitually feigns disinterest in helping the haunted. And when Eduardo has to “come out” (as a Ghostbuster) to his older brother, who is also a cop, it becomes clear that Rivera’s slacker trait is really a cover-up for his fear of failure. Roland, on the other hand, is more responsible and level-headed than his teammates. Yet for all the respect he carries for technology, he dreads the same tech failing him when he needs it the most. Lastly, Kylie offers an element overlooked in The Real Ghostbusters: death. The taboo topic was glossed over in the ‘80s cartoon despite the constant presence of ghosts and the series’ own version of the afterlife. Here mortality is more openly discussed and usually in regards to Kylie, whose grandmother’s passing influenced her interest in the paranormal (as well as contributed to the return of ghosts en masse).
For the time, XGB was a considerable exercise in creating more well-rounded characters in genre animation on TV.
While most episodes contained no-frills ghostbusting, others colored outside the lines and better qualified the use of “extreme” in the title. “The True Face of a Monster” was the first to show how XGB was willing to take on heavier content, such as anti-Semitism; Garret unknowingly joined, then helped stop the bad crowd vandalizing a local synagogue and provoking a summoned Golem. There were also the Cenobites-esque and torture-craving antagonists (to go with an obvious R. L. Stine parody) in the fan-favorite episode “Deadliners.” Finally, and in an episode directly referencing an event from The Real Ghostbusters, “Grundelesque” saw Kylie confronting her childhood trauma: her friend went missing and presumably died because of The Grundel. The same episode used the boogeyman-like entity to, essentially, show how killers create other killers.
Of course, it was not always that serious or high-stakes in XGB; many times over the team entered into more inconsequential but no less entertaining confrontations with the otherworldly. This includes encounters with a famous cryptid (“The Jersey Devil Made Me Do It”), a leprechaun who curses Garrett (“The Luck of the Irish”), and teenage witches who, out of desperation more than desire, recruit Eduardo into their coven (“Witchy Woman”). Then there are other minor episodes with a touch more going for them in the nightmare fuel department: “Home is Where the Horror Is” presents a living ghost house that feeds on children, aspects of “Killjoys” seem inspired by Killer Klowns from Outer Space, and “Fear Itself” is the show’s vivid take on the ever popular “face your fears or they will kill you” prompt.
Pictured: The Grundel grabs Kylie in “Grundelesque.”
In addition to the new class, the legacy characters were given their own spotlight episodes here and there. Janine, beloved GB clerical warrior and occasional frontline reinforcement, was voiced by her overall third actor in the animated continuity, Pat Musick. XGB Janine slightly resembles her loathed redesigns from the retooled seasons of The Real Ghostbusters, minus the lobotomized personality. This Miss Melnitz retains her acerbic wit, hankers hard for Egon (“The Crawler”), and will suit up if the need rises (“A Temporary Insanity”). As for Mr. Spengler (Maurice LaMarche), he is not “long-bearded and robed” as he was envisioned during pre-production; that wizard-like design along with an obsession with the Netherworld were both passed on to Egon’s rival-turned-foe Edward Kirilian (“Heart of Darkness”). Egon is, more or less, the same as before (withdrawn, rational, and oblivious to Janine’s affection), only now with a spot of age anxiety whenever he feels past his prime as a Ghostbuster (“The Sphinx”). Finally there is Slimer (Billy West), once the bane of many Real fans, who is now not anywhere as obnoxious as his former iteration. XGB makes certain to remind everyone that Slimer is a member of the team — Egon considers him his family — and even gives the green glob a chance to save the day in heroic fashion (“Slimer’s Sacrifice”).
It only made sense to bring back the rest of the old gang at some point in XGB.
Serving as the series finale, the two-parter “Back in the Saddle” is a tremendous gift for longtime fans of RGB. At first the youngers are in awe of their elders — who, by the way, are not anywhere as ancient as the writing makes them out to be — but when Peter and the others indulge their, as Janine put it so delicately, collective mid-life crisis, viewers cannot help but feel sympathy for Kylie and her teammates. Particularly after their predecessors contemplate un-retiring. The inferiority the XGBs experience here is soon replaced with validation as they prove they are not just stand-ins for the originals. No, they are indeed bonafide Ghostbusters who have earned their spots and our respect. This is a satisfying display of one generation passing the torch to the next, all while reminding fans why they love this franchise to begin with.
Extreme Ghostbusters was a small yet significant part of the animation renaissance happening on television back then. Its bolder and often complex storytelling made the series appealing to viewers of all ages and not just the kid demographic. The classic Ghostbusters cartoon went on to downplay its creepiness over time, whereas XGB turned up the dial whenever possible. Unfortunately, a lousy early-morning time slot and low toy sales killed the show; it was swiftly canceled after one season. Based on steady appearances in the comics as well as the fandom’s largely positive (and not rose-colored) nostalgia, though, there is still plenty of love for the XGBs all these years later. Kylie, Eduardo, Roland and Garrett deserved better than they were given, and it would be a treat to see them back in action in the near future.
Stream Extreme Ghostbusters and buy the complete series on DVD now.
Pictured: Both teams of Ghostbusters unite in “Back in the Saddle.”
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