"Ghostwriter" (1992) TV series 1992-1995

Director:

Susan Dansby

Writers:

D.J. MacHale
Matt Witten
(more)

Seasons:

1 | 2 | 3

Release Date:

4 October 1992 (USA)

Genre:

Family | Mystery

Plot:

The show is about a group of teens who goes around solving neighborhood crimes and mysteries in New...

Awards:

1 win & 1 nomination

Cast

Blaze Berdahl	...	Lenni Frazier (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
David López	...	Alejandro 'Alex' Fernandez / ... (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
Sheldon Turnipseed	...	Jamal Jenkins (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
Tram-Anh Tran	...	Tina Nguyen (72 episodes, 1992-1995)
Marcella Lowery	...	Grandma Jenkins / ... (66 episodes, 1992-1995)
Mayteana Morales	...	Gabriella 'Gaby' Fernandez / ... (66 episodes, 1992-1994)
Todd Alexander	...	Rob Baker / ... (41 episodes, 1992-1993)
William Hernandez	...	Hector Carrero (28 episodes, 1993-1995)

Series Directed by
Gilbert Moses		(5 episodes, 1992)
Nell Cox		(4 episodes, 1992)
Susan Dansby		(unknown episodes)

Series Writing credits
Kermit Frazier		(30 episodes, 1992-1993)
Miranda Barry		(4 episodes, 1993-1994)
Carin Greenberg Baker		(unknown episodes)
D.J. MacHale		(unknown episodes)
Matt Witten		(unknown episodes)

Series Produced by
Miranda Barry	....	supervising producer (unknown episodes)

Series Original Music by
Gail 'Sky' King		(unknown episodes)
Peter Wetzler		(unknown episodes)

Series Film Editing by
Kristen Huntley		(unknown episodes)

Series Set Decoration by
Christina Kuhnigk		(unknown episodes)

Series Art Department
Rachael Weinzimer	....	props (unknown episodes)

Series Sound Department
Peter Roos	....	supervising sound editor (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
Richard Fairbanks	....	sound re-recording mixer (34 episodes, 1992-1993)
John Gare	....	sound re-recording mixer (13 episodes, 1992)

Series Special Effects by
David 'Yoko' Jose	....	special effects assistant (4 episodes, 1995)

Series Visual Effects by
Mark Egyud	....	lighting director (unknown episodes)

Series Stunts
Marco Paul	....	utility stunts (1 episode, 1992)

Series Camera and Electrical Department
Mitch Bogart	....	lighting director (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
Lew Comenetz	....	video engineer (74 episodes, 1992-1995)
Bob Hagerty	....	camera operator (40 episodes, 1993-1995)
Michael Gordon	....	video tape operator (34 episodes, 1992-1993)
John Geisler	....	electrician (2 episodes, 1992)

Series Animation Department
Tonya Smay	....	animator (34 episodes, 1992-1993)
Mike de Seve	....	animation director (unknown episodes)

Series Costume and Wardrobe Department
Gail A. Fitzgibbons	....	costume supervisor (40 episodes, 1993-1995)

Series Music Department
Peter Wetzler	....	music producer (74 episodes, 1992-1995)

Series Other crew
Marj Kleinman	....	assistant to producers (12 episodes, 1994-1995)
Robert Child	....	technical director (4 episodes, 1992)
Darren Wiseman	....	location manager (unknown episodes)

Production Companies

• British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)
• Children's Television Workshop (CTW)

Distributors

• Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) (1992) (USA) (TV)
• Shout! Factory (2010) (USA) (DVD) (season one)

Also Known As:

Country:

UK | USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

USA:TV-PG (1992-1997) | USA:TV-Y7 (1997-1999)

Filming Locations:

Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC)

Trivia:

Julia Stiles made her acting debut in this series, playing the bratty and rebellious punk Erica.

Quotes:

Calvin Ferguson:[singing off key] Attila the parrot, you were my best friend. You'd nip my nose sweetly, right up through the end!

Movie Connections:

Followed by "The New Ghostwriter Mysteries" (1997)

I Loved this Show....

I just finished watching another episode of Ghostwriter. For the uninitiated, Ghostwriter was a popular kids show during the 90's which involved a gang of kids in NY and their invisible ghost friend, who they couldn't see, but who could make words out of letters. With the help of this ghost buddy, they went around NYC solving various mysteries. The episodes were always in 4 or 5 part mysteries, and I used to love them. I remember in Saudi, as a kid, i would want to wear pens around my neck just like they used to. Got a couple of my friends to do the same too.

Anyways, the funny thing was, i just realized how much i still like the show, 10-15 years after i first saw it. Now when i revisit it, i realize the show was not only entertaining, but also dealt with a lot of issues which a lot of adults would do good to take note of. It celebrates the power of togetherness and friendship, as well as showing glorious examples of steadfast loyalty to the ones you love, passion and determination, as well as an aversion to violence in any form. I remember the show was probably one of the first ones i saw where the kids who made up the gang where all of different ethnicities. There was Jamal, the African American, Tina the Chinese American, Alex and Gaby, the Hispanics as well as Lenni, the true blue American. Yet, without ever getting preachy, it managed to make us care for these kids and put across the point that with tolerance, understanding and friendship, the differences don't really matter. Another thing i liked about it was the importance given to writing. It genuinely encouraged kids to take up writing more.

The poignant thing is though, all the kids who played a part of this have now all gone to the 'Where are they now' list. I looked up their limited profiles available on IMDb, and it looks like hardly any of them went onto any more acting assignments. Though they all seemed to have graduated from university. That was surprising for me, considering they all seemed to have the natural flair for the screen. Especially the unmentioned leader Sheldon Turnipseed (Jamal) and Blaze Berdahl (Lenni), who seemed to have it in them to carry it off on the big screen.