Pater Familias
Encyclopedia
"Pater Familias", or "Pater Families" is the third season finale
of Ghost Whisperer
, it originally aired on May 16, 2008 on CBS
in United States
. All main cast appears in the final episode of season three. This episode marked John Gray
's departure from the series as executive producer, although he continued to write and direct episodes for the rest of the run.
In the end Tom tries to kill Melinda but Paul saves her by killing Tom. In the very last scene Melinda and her mother, Jim, Delia, Ned and Professor Payne wait to cross the road and they realize that there are only 5 shadows for the 6 of them, which we later learn is a sign from the Watchers for someone's death.
, who is co-executive producer
and constantly updates a blog
about the show through CBS. The stories are also said to be based in part on the work of "Spirit Communicator" Mary Ann Winkowski. Development of the show dates back to at least two years before its premiere. The show is currently produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television
(originally CBS Productions
in season 1) and ABC Studios (originally Touchstone Television in the first 2 seasons). The show is filmed on the Universal Studios
back lot in Hollywood. One area on the lot is Courthouse Square
from the Back to the Future trilogy
, though it has been drastically modified to portray Grandview. For example, the clock tower
present in Back to the Future has been completely covered up. Cast and crew members also believe that the set gets visits from real spirits. Sound effects are completed at Smart Post Sound and special effects at Flash Film Works. The hair stylist for the show’s protagonist, Melinda Gordon (played by Jennifer Love Hewitt), was 5 time Emmy award nominated hair designer Michael Reitz.
Season finale
A season finale is the final episode of a season of a television program...
of Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer
Ghost Whisperer is an American television supernatural drama, which ran on CBS from September 23, 2005 to May 21, 2010.The series follows the life of Melinda Gordon , who has the ability to see and communicate with ghosts...
, it originally aired on May 16, 2008 on CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
in United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. All main cast appears in the final episode of season three. This episode marked John Gray
John Gray (director)
John Gray is an American writer, director, producer. He is the creator of the CBS television series Ghost Whisperer starring Jennifer Love Hewitt...
's departure from the series as executive producer, although he continued to write and direct episodes for the rest of the run.
Plot
Continued from the previous episode, Melinda bursts in to Tom Gordon’s hotel room, where it appears that he has attempted to take his own life. Tom is rushed to the hospital in critical condition, but survives. Melinda, still working under the assumption that Paul Eastman is seeking revenge for being wrongly convicted of murder, figures that Tom had been possessed by Paul during the suicide attempt. However, when she confronts Paul and asks him to leave Tom alone, Paul leads Melinda to his own body, which is buried in the house Melinda grew up in. This leads to even more questions about Tom’s involvement with Paul and as Melinda peels away the layers of lies Tom has told her she finally learns the horrible truth. It turns out that Melinda’s mother had been madly in love and engaged to Paul when he was accused of murder, which was how she met Tom. After Paul was convicted, she explained to Tom that she and Paul could see ghosts, and that’s how he had found the little boy’s body. Tom, who turns out to be a total sociopath, promised to help get Paul out of prison, but secretly did nothing to help Paul so he could endear himself to Melinda’s mother and eventually marry her. When Paul finally escaped and confronted Tom at his house, Tom killed him and buried him in his basement. Topping it all off, Melinda discovers that Tom isn’t even her father, but that Paul Eastman is.In the end Tom tries to kill Melinda but Paul saves her by killing Tom. In the very last scene Melinda and her mother, Jim, Delia, Ned and Professor Payne wait to cross the road and they realize that there are only 5 shadows for the 6 of them, which we later learn is a sign from the Watchers for someone's death.
Main cast
- Jennifer Love HewittJennifer Love HewittJennifer Love Hewitt is an American actress, producer, television director and former singer-songwriter. Hewitt began her acting career as a child by appearing in television commercials and the Disney Channel series Kids Incorporated...
as Melinda GordonMelinda GordonMelinda Irene Gordon, portrayed by Jennifer Love Hewitt is the title character of the American fantasy television series Ghost Whisperer created by John Gray.-Character background:... - David ConradDavid ConradDavid Crawford Conrad is an American actor. From 2005 to 2010, he starred in the television series Ghost Whisperer alongside Jennifer Love Hewitt.-Early life:...
as Jim Clancy - Camryn ManheimCamryn ManheimCamryn Manheim is an American actress known primarily for her roles as attorney Ellenor Frutt on ABC's The Practice and Delia Banks on CBS's Ghost Whisperer and as Elvis's mother, Gladys Presley in the 2005 mini-series Elvis....
as Delia Banks - and Jay MohrJay MohrJay Mohr is an American actor and stand up comedian. He is known for his role as Professor Rick Payne in the TV series Ghost Whisperer, the title role in the CBS sitcom Gary Unmarried, which ran from 2008 to 2010, and the back-stabbing sports agent Bob Sugar in Jerry Maguire.-Early life:Mohr was...
as Professor Rick Payne
Guest Starring
- David Farkas as Young Tom Gordon
- Haley Alexis Pollos as Young Melinda
- Kirk B.R. Woller as Dr. Farrington
- Corin Nemec as Masked Man/Paul Eastman
- Anne Archer as Beth Gordon
- Nick Jameson as Sean
- Sarah Jaye as Young Beth Gordon
Recurring
- Afemo Omilami as Archivist
- Martin Donovan as Tom Gordon
- Chris Sanders as Ned Banks
Production notes
The series is based on the work of "Spirit Communicator" James Van PraaghJames Van Praagh
James Van Praagh is a self-proclaimed medium who has written several books on spirituality and spirit communication.-Early life and career:Van Praagh was born in Bayside, New York and is the youngest of four children...
, who is co-executive producer
Executive producer
An executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
and constantly updates a blog
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
about the show through CBS. The stories are also said to be based in part on the work of "Spirit Communicator" Mary Ann Winkowski. Development of the show dates back to at least two years before its premiere. The show is currently produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with CBS Paramount Network Television
CBS Paramount Network Television
CBS Paramount Network Television was the main production arm of CBS Paramount Television, a division of CBS Corporation. It was known as Paramount Network Television and CBS Productions until 2006.It is now CBS Television Studios, starting in fall 2009....
(originally CBS Productions
CBS Productions
CBS Productions is the production arm of the CBS television network now a part of CBS Corporation, formed in 1952 to produce shows in-house, instead of relying solely on outside productions. Its first production was CBS Television Workshop, a drama anthology series...
in season 1) and ABC Studios (originally Touchstone Television in the first 2 seasons). The show is filmed on the Universal Studios
Universal Studios
Universal Pictures , a subsidiary of NBCUniversal, is one of the six major movie studios....
back lot in Hollywood. One area on the lot is Courthouse Square
Courthouse Square
Courthouse Square is a backlot located at Universal Studios. The set is composed of several facades that form an archetypal American town square with a courthouse as its centerpiece...
from the Back to the Future trilogy
Back to the Future trilogy
The Back to the Future trilogy is a comedic science fiction adventure film series written by Bob Gale and Robert Zemeckis, directed by Zemeckis, produced by Amblin Entertainment and distributed by Universal Pictures. The main plot follows the adventures of a high school student Marty McFly and...
, though it has been drastically modified to portray Grandview. For example, the clock tower
Clock tower
A clock tower is a tower specifically built with one or more clock faces. Clock towers can be either freestanding or part of a church or municipal building such as a town hall. Some clock towers are not true clock towers having had their clock faces added to an already existing building...
present in Back to the Future has been completely covered up. Cast and crew members also believe that the set gets visits from real spirits. Sound effects are completed at Smart Post Sound and special effects at Flash Film Works. The hair stylist for the show’s protagonist, Melinda Gordon (played by Jennifer Love Hewitt), was 5 time Emmy award nominated hair designer Michael Reitz.