Scared! (stylized as SCARED!), formerly titled as Scared on Staten Island!, is an American paranormal public-access television cable TV series that was first shown on September 12, 2002, on Staten Island Community Television.[1] Produced by Core Films and Thousand Hats Productions, the program follows and stars a Staten Island-based team of urban explorers who venture into abandoned and condemned buildings in search of paranormal activity.[2] In each episode, three main members, who are collectively known as "The SCARED! Crew" and who vary throughout the series, represent three points of view or beliefs: the psychic, scientist and skeptic.[3]

Scared!
The title logo from early 2007.
Also known asScared on Staten Island! (former)
GenreDocumentary
Paranormal
Starring(See credited cast below.)
Narrated byJason Porcino
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes19
Production
Executive producersChris Mancuso
Brian J. Cano
Production locationEastern United States
Camera setupMultiple
Running time45–55 minutes
Production companiesCore Films
Thousand Hats Productions
Original release
NetworkStaten Island Community Television
ReleaseSeptember 12, 2002 (2002-09-12) –
2010 (2010)

Cast's work in the paranormal field

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In 2009, the cast began a weekly Internet radio show called Scared! on the Airwaves!, which served as an official companion to the documentary series. It coincided with their being represented by Night Management, whose client roster includes other names in the paranormal field, such as Brian Harnois and Patrick Burns.[4] In October 2010, they moved to Ideal Event Management, who represent most of the TAPS[ambiguous] members and others in the field.[5]

The crew makes it a point to team up with local groups when doing an investigation[6] and from time to time find themselves working with veterans in the field, such as John Zaffis and Rosemary Ellen Guiley.[7] Their reputation for working well with others has led to them being requested to investigate places they might otherwise not have gone.[8]

The executive producers, Brian J. Cano and Chris Mancuso, have begun appearing at paranormal conventions to promote the show and to give their lecture on urban exploration called "The Urban Explorer's Backpack".[9][10] An article of the same name, written by Cano and Mancuso, in the Winter 2010 issue of Haunted Times magazine states, "There is a fine line between bravery and stupidity, so be sure to know the extent on your own limitations as well as the severity of any particular situation before you proceed."[11]

In May 2010, they began filming a documentary on the life and work of the paranormal researcher and demonologist John Zaffis entitled, John Zaffis: The World Within. It was premiered in September 2010 at the Dragon Con convention in Atlanta, Georgia[12] and was reviewed by TAPS Paramagazine as being, "beautifully shot and stunningly edited".[13]

In 2011 Cano joined the cast of the SyFy series, Haunted Collector and was in every episode of its three-season run.[14]

Cano is currently on "Paranormal Caught On Camera" which airs on the Travel Channel and will enter its third season in late 2020.[15]

Curtain Call

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With the release of their final documentary, "Haunted Snug Harbor", in 2011,[16] the team carried on for another year before slimming down to the duo of Mancuso and Cano. Several new documentaries were planned but never completed. In 2014, the team officially disbanded.

Festivals and awards

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In 2006, the episode at the Parsonage Restaurant appeared in the inaugural Staten Island Film Festival.[17] The Eastern State Penitentiary episode appeared at the same festival in 2007.

In 2008, the Shanley Hotel episode won Best Editing at the Director's Chair Film Festival[18] and the Philadelphia State Hospital episode won Best Editing and Best Local Film at the same festival in 2009.[19] The Danvers Mental Institution episode was an Official Selection the same year in the Staten Island Film Festival.

In 2009, the group was recognized by the International Paranormal Acknowledgement Awards (IPAA) and given the award for Best Paranormal Music Score.[20]

In 2010, CORE Films received an Aegis Award in the documentary category for the Grand Midway Hotel episode.[21]

Credited cast

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Current members
  • Chris Mancuso (2002–2014) – producer, lead investigator
  • Brian J. Cano (2002–2014) – producer, head of science division
  • Lisa Ann (2007–2012) – psychic/medium, head of psychic division
  • Greg Cusick (2002–2012) – investigator
  • Jason Porcino (2002–2012) – narrator, investigator
Former members
  • Joe Rice (2002–2006) – producer, psychic
  • Daniel Fasulo (2002-2004) - Rigger & Communications
  • Erick Bonet (2002–2006) – security
  • Wael "Shawn" Sharaydeh (2002–2009) – investigator
  • Paul DiGennaro (2007–2011) – psychometric, psychic division
  • Brooke Haramija (2009–2011) – case manager
  • Karrie-Ann Versace (2010–2011) - equipment manager
  • Edwin Martinez (2010–2011) - demonologist

Episodes

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Season 1 (2002–03)

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All locations in season 1 are in Staten Island, New York.

# Location Original airdate
101 St. Augustine's Academy (The Monastery) September 12, 2002 (2002-09-12)
102 The Farm Colony at Sea View October 20, 2002 (2002-10-20)
103 Seaview Hospital February 5, 2003 (2003-02-05)
104 Staten Island Hospital May 13, 2003 (2003-05-13)
105 St. George Theatre September 25, 2003 (2003-09-25)
106 The Halloween Special October 31, 2003 (2003-10-31)

Season 2 (2004)

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# Title Location Original airdate
201 Review of Previous Episodes 2004 (2004)
202 Graveyards of Staten Island Staten Island, New York 2004 (2004)
203 Danvers State Hospital Danvers, Massachusetts August 8, 2004 (2004-08-08)

Season 3 (2006)

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# Title Location Original airdate
301 The Parsonage Restaurant Staten Island, New York February 3, 2006 (2006-02-03)
302 Eastern State Penitentiary Philadelphia, Pennsylvania June 10, 2006 (2006-06-10)
303 The Farm Colony at Sea View 2.0 Staten Island, New York October 7, 2006 (2006-10-07)

Season 4 (2008–09)

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# Location Original airdate
401 Staten Island, New York - The Garibaldi-Meucci Museum February 14, 2008
402 New Castle, New Hampshire - Portsmouth Harbor Light and Fort Constitution April 17, 2008
403 Napanoch, New York - The Shanley Hotel October 4, 2008
404 Danvers, Massachusetts - Danvers State Hospital 2.0 December 25, 2008
405 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Philadelphia State Hospital (Byberry) March 18, 2009
406 Phoenixville, Pennsylvania - The Phoenixville Library July 15, 2009
407 East Bridgewater, Massachusetts - The East Bridgewater Town Hall September 15, 2009
408 Windber, Pennsylvania - The Grand Midway Hotel December 31, 2009

Season 5 (2010)

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# Title Location Original airdate
501 The Urban Explorer's Backpack, Vol. 1 Various March 14, 2010 (2010-03-14)
502 The Lizzie Borden House Fall River, Massachusetts - Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Michael McWeeney/Staten Island Advance (5 October 2009). "'SCARED!' for their livelihood: Pair's suit seeks 50Gs from ex-partner | Staten Island Featured Entries - Breaking News". SILive.com. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  2. ^ Wright, Dennis J. (October 20, 2009). "Is the Phoenixville library haunted?". The Mercury News. Pottstownmercury.com. Retrieved February 19, 2010.
  3. ^ Courtney Mroch. "Before You Give Up On Ghost Hunting Shows, Give "SCARED!" A Chance". HauntJaunts.net. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  4. ^ "Night Management SCARED! Bio".
  5. ^ "Ideal Event Management SCARED! Bio". 6 August 2022.
  6. ^ Platt, Tevah (22 October 2009). "Seeking out things that go bump in the night". SILive.com. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  7. ^ Mroch, Courtney. "Movie Monday: SCARED!'s "Grand Midway Hotel"". HauntJaunts.net. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  8. ^ Reece, Eileen. "Door slams on Middleboro ghost probe". enterprisenews.com. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
  9. ^ "Phenomenology 102".
  10. ^ "Arizona ParaCon 2010".
  11. ^ Cano, Brian J.; Mancuso, Chris (Winter 2010). "The Urban Explorer's Backpack". Haunted Times. Vol. 4, no. 3.
  12. ^ "The World Within".
  13. ^ Roberts, Scotty (September–October 2010). "John Zaffis is SCARED!". TAPS Paramagazine. Vol. 6, no. 5.
  14. ^ "Haunted Collector".
  15. ^ "Travel Channel Renews New Hit Series 'PARANORMAL CAUGHT ON CAMERA'".
  16. ^ "Haunted Snug Harbor". IMDb.
  17. ^ Amanda Farinacci (May 31, 2006). "Staten Island Kicks Off First Annual Film Festival". NY1.com. Retrieved May 18, 2010.
  18. ^ Director's Chair Film Festival 2008 Awards page Archived 2009-01-07 at the Wayback Machine
  19. ^ Director's Chair Film Festival 2009 Awards page
  20. ^ "IPAA 2009 Awards page". Ipaawards.org. December 28, 2009. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
  21. ^ "Aegis Award 2010 Winner List". Archived from the original on 1998-12-02.
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