Getting schooled in hunting ghosts

Some people don't believe in ghosts. That's not me -- I totally believe. It's the show "Ghost Hunters" I don't believe in, as much as I want to. And unfortunately, their spinoff "Ghost Hunters Academy" doesn't do much to convince me I should be tuning in.

Here's how it goes, if you haven't seen it:

Ghost Hunter 1: "Did you hear that?"
Ghost Hunter 2: "Yeah."
Me: "No."
GH1: "There. I heard it again."
GH2: "Me too."
Me: "Still not hearing anything."
GH1: "Whoa, did you see that?"
GH2: "Yeah! Man!"
Me: "What?! What?! I didn't see anything!"

And even if there is something, you watch for 40 minutes to see 2 seconds of a shadow flick over a wall or a little light flashing in a corner. Is that worth it??

Yet, "Ghost Hunters" and their spinoff "Ghost Hunters International" are wildly popular, so "Ghost Hunters Academy" will likely have a solid future.

If you're a fan, I won't convince you that it's nuts. And you'll probably enjoy "Academy," because it's basically the guys from TAPS (The Atlantic Paranormal Society) teaching a gang of ghost groupies to walk around with digital recorders and EMF detectors (that's Electro Magnetic Field detectors for the uninitiated) and hear things that no one else can hear. Later, in a computer lab, the slightest "woosh" sound becomes paranormal communication (even after they tell me that the woosh sound is a ghost saying "what do you want?" I just don't hear it).

At the end of each show, one of the eight new cadets is fired until a winner is left. The two winners from the last installment of the show went on to work with the "Ghost Hunters International" cast.

"Ghost Hunters Academy" actually debuted in November of 2009. I can't tell if this new team of cadets represents a new season, or just part two of season one. Either way, they're back tonight with a fresh crop of anxious ghost busters. Some of the sites they'll visit are the Mark Twain House in Hartford, Ct., the Mansfield Reformatory ("Shawshank Prison") in Mansfield, Ohio, and the Stanley Hotel in Estes Park, Colorado, which inspired the movie "The Shining."

So prick up your ears and listen for the moans and groans from the other side. And if you think you can convince me the show is worth my time, have at it in the comment field (or else I'll just listen for a "woosh" or "tap tap" in the wee hours of the night).

"Ghost Hunter Academy" airs on Syfy at 9pm.