The Ghost Writer

I have to admit that this might have been a good series. Perkins with his devilishly contained grin could have made for a interesting series. It's been a while since I've seen this, and I'd love to see it again. The plot was about a horror writer who had moved his family into a haunted house as his first wife returns from beyond the grave. Sort of campy and tongue in cheek, but why it didn't work is anyone's guess.

This was one show that never had a chance, but deserved one. "Ghost Writer" starring the late great Anthony Perkins, was a comedy in a class by itself. It had dark humor ingeniously incorporated with really bad jokes.

The premise focused on a novelist (Perkins) who was caught in a bad case of writers block. Desperate and ready to give up, be thinks suicide is the only way out. Before he his able to complete the deed, he is visited by a plethora of unearthly beings. These included a dead bride, a "something" under the stairs and a host of other ghostly helpers. And in turn the ideas begin to fly.

Though its run was only 2 episodes, those few who were able to view it greatly enjoyed it. It was a chance to see Perkins in a comedic role where his inherent creepiness could shine through brilliantly. Had it been given a chance and had Perkins lasted the run, I think this could have been one of the cult TV classics of all time.

This pilot for a never-materialized series (another reviewer is incorrect in referring to it having a run of only 2 episodes....this, the pilot, was the ONLY episode ever made. It was never picked up or approved as a weekly series.) is a lot of corny, goofball fun. It was a perfect situation for Anthony Perkins, and the rest of the cast is hysterical throughout, often stealing scenes right out from under Perkins, especially Joshua Miller as Edgar, and Pam Matteson as Miss Blasco (who seems to echo Madeline Kahn had Kahn been playing the character). It would have been interesting to see what other stories would have been created had this delightful concept been given a chance.

Late in Anthony Perkins' career he starred in this failed TV pilot, excruciating to watch three decades later. BTW, the IMDb storyline someone submitted is incorrect and misleading.

His line readings are stilted, mainly delivered deadpan. For contrast his wife (Leigh Taylor-Young) and sexy housekeeper (Pam Matteson, whose acting career never took off) overact miserably. The intended black humor, mostly one-liners, is punctuated by a preposterous laugh/applause track, one of the worst.

Premise of Perkins as a hit horror writer living with a blended family and second wife, but haunted by his first wife's ghost might have worked if played straight, but the incompetent writing here is strictly factory-reject. Production values including SPFX are meager.

I remember this show vividly because I had taped it when it aired and watched it over and over again when I was a kid. To the best of my knowledge there was only one episode. It was about a really eccentric author played by Anthony Perkins who marries your all around average woman. Both had children, who were also radically different from each other. Everything is just peachy until Perkins' ex-(and I should mention deceased) wife decides to have her say in his remarriage.... It's like the Brady Bunch meets The Munsters meets Ghost. I loved it for the cheesy special effects, the corny jokes, and for of course, Anthony Perkins. If anyone out there is able to get their hands on the episode, I would definitely give it a try!