Ghosts is a supernatural comedy series (listed as sitcom) which premiered in C.B.S. in 2021 and reaches our lands with the help of Universal+. The story revolves around a young couple, Samantha and Jay, who inherit an old mansion that turns out to be inhabited by an eclectic group of ghosts from different eras and backgrounds.
The series is an adaptation of the successful British comedy of the same name released in 2019. In the American version, the combination of humor, supernatural situations and the development of ghostly characters has managed to capture the attention of the public, making it a great success. The way in which Joe Port (Portrait of Billie Joe, Average Joe: Portrait of the American Man) and Joe Wiseman (Me, Myself and I, New Girl) updated The particular British look at humor was key to the development, and in 2021, Ghosts It became the most watched comedy series in the United States.
On this occasion, we were able to talk with Joe Portwho answered several questions and told us what he believes is the secret to the series’ success. We invite you to watch our video interview or read the transcript below.
—First of all, thank you for having us and congratulations on the third season of the show, it’s great. My first question has a little to do with that. Why do you think this series has been so successful at a time when there are so many shows on the air?
Joe Port: —Well, I have to give credit to the British creators of the original Ghosts. I think they came up with a really cool premise that’s very universal. And, you know, it gave us something that we could adapt but that we could also make our own, in terms of going into our history, into American history with our ghosts. And I think… I don’t know, it’s like… You know, we all lost someone. And it’s nice to think that they are still somewhere watching us. I think there’s something of a warm feeling to that.
-I totally agree. To continue with another question, at first glance Ghosts is a series about two people dealing with characters that inhabit this shared space. But we are reaching the third season and we understand that it explores much more. In your opinion, what would be the main theme of Ghosts?
Joe Port: —The central theme? That’s an interesting question. I think it’s that we are here for a limited time and we try to make the most of it. Our young couple who are the center of the show have the advantage of these ghosts who live with them and can help them with their relationship problems, and give them the perspective of people who have lived, have lost people, have lost their own lives, and have been like flies on the wall for generations watching other people. The ghosts have a lot of experience that helps our young couple.
-I understand. You briefly mentioned how lucky you felt about the source material for the British version of this series. But at the same time, the British style of comedy is certainly very different from the rest of the world, not just North America. They have their own humor and ways of approaching certain situations. What are the challenges of adapting these particularities to an American version? How do you decide what to copy and what to tell completely differently, beyond the nationality, of course, of the ghosts?
Joe Port: —Well, there are some… practical differences. We do 22 episodes a season, they do 6. So we have to try to find ways to squeeze more story out of each season. And I think there are… their episodes are longer, they last half an hour, ours are 22 minutes. And I think… In terms of British sensibilities, maybe their shows tend to be a little darker than American sitcoms. But we loved their show, and we thought that… we were able to break away a little bit and make this show our own work, and a lot of the credit for that goes to the fact that we have great writers and we have an incredible cast. And they inhabit these characters and really made them their own.
—Do you consider it a challenge or an opportunity to be able to make almost double the number of episodes per season?
Joe Port: —Well, it is both a challenge and an opportunity, certainly. It’s… It’s definitely a lot of work to do so many episodes but that’s how we manage to go down certain paths and really expand the stories, something that when you only do six episodes, maybe you don’t get to do.
—This may be a strange question, but I have no other way to say it. How do you make ghosts feel so alive? Everyone has their own aspirations and interests, when you think about ghosts and spirits… I know it’s super fun. I really like Ghost, I really like your version, the American version, much more than the English version because… I don’t know, it resonates more with me. But I’m constantly watching the scenes on screen thinking “these people feel so alive”, at times they are so joyful. How do you achieve that?
Joe Port: —I don’t know, I think the actors are really good. We try to give them a story that… even though they’re ghosts, they’re people. Some of them have been dead for a thousand years. We try to give them desires that you can relate to and things that they’re trying to resolve and learn. And even though they’re dead, they’re still trying to grow. I also think there’s a practical decision that the British version uses and we do too, of course, which is that unlike other ghost shows, these ghosts are not translucent, they’re not transparent, they look like normal people. I think that helps you get attached to them and identify with them.
—I like that because, why would they be translucent on the screen? People can see them, why should they be transparent?
Joe Port: -Exact.
—At the same time, it’s a very large cast. Do you find it easier or more difficult to work with so many actors and actresses?
Joe Port: —I think it’s more difficult to have so many people in the cast, in certain ways, because, as I mentioned, the episodes are only 22 minutes long. So… pleasing everyone is really impossible. It’s not something we try either. We try to focus on a few in each particular episode, but it gives the show a different feel than other shows, because we have a kind of Greek chorus of commentators in the background of each scene, commenting on what’s happening. So it’s fun.
—That’s super fun. My last question, and thanks for everything, it’s been a pleasure talking to you. It’s a silly question, of course: if you had a visitor and you couldn’t stop him, and one day a ghost appeared in your house, what was he from and what country would you like him to be from?
Joe Port: —And in this scenario I can see it?
-Yes Yes. You are the one who can see it. Maybe your family doesn’t, which would be worse for you, but you can see it.
Joe Port: —Wow, I don’t know. I don’t know, it’s a great question. I don’t know, Pete seems cheerful and warm and sweet and open, so he seems like a fun guy to spend eternity with, although he could get annoying, I guess. I think I’d probably have my ups and downs spending eternity with either of them, but yeah, Pete seems nice.
—Eternity is a long time, isn’t it? Joe, thank you so much for speaking with us.
Joe Port: —Thank you Tomas.
-I hope you have a great day.
Joe Port: -You too.
