SEASON OF THE WITCH – SHILLING SHOCKERS IS BACK FOR HALLOWEEN
Local TV Show Returns With Its Final Season
October 15, 2015 – The final season of award-winning cult TV show Penny Dreadful’s Shilling Shockers promises to thrill and chill viewers this Halloween. Hosted by Penny Dreadful the witch, Shilling Shockers ends its 10-year run with seven classic films and a wraparound storyline that is sure to surprise enthusiasts of the “horror host” format.
Penny Dreadful’s alter ego and show co-producer Danielle Gelehrter elaborates, “Back in season 7, we decided to try serialized storylines. This style better reflects the “penny dreadfuls” and “shilling shockers” which inspired the name of the show and of the hostess. In this season, we find out how Penny Dreadful became a witch and we discover the repercussions of the pact she signed centuries earlier. In folklore and horror stories, witches have connections to dark forces. Because we showcase vintage horror films, we wanted to explore this aspect of Penny’s history and what it means for her from a moral standpoint. This may sound odd for a horror host show, but we decided to push the boundaries a little bit. Once the storyline wraps up, we get to the fun, traditional horror host style episodes in the latter portion of the season.”
Series director and co-producer Rebecca Paiva adds, “The show has grown from its start as a simple, traditional hosted movie show to one with complicated narratives about the life and experiences of its hosts. Writer and creator Danielle Gelehrter has elevated the horror-host genre from mere late-night schtick to an art form. It’s a joy to work with her, as well as the rest of the cast.”
Gelehrter echoes Paiva’s sentiments, “Rebecca is a prodigiously talented individual. From directing, to editing, to lighting, to acting, she puts an immense amount of work into everything she does. Her efforts are awe-inspiring. It has truly been an honor working alongside her, Magoo, Ivan, and Eric.”
This season also stands as tribute to Gelehrter’s real-life husband Magoo Gelehrter, who portrayed Garou the werewolf in the show. He passed away last year after a brave battle with cancer. Gelehrter says, “We shot all of Garou’s scenes early on because he felt he’d be too sick to do it later on, so he asked us to shoot all of his scenes first. Magoo is utterly wonderful in these episodes. He brought such joy to everything he did. I miss him more than words can express.”
While this is the end of Shilling Shockers as an ongoing series, it is not the end of Penny Dreadful. Gelehrter mysteriously whispers, “Witches…Somebody always finds an incantation to bring ‘em back.”
Penny Dreadful won the 2007 Rondo Hatton Classic Horror Award for Favorite Active Horror Host. She won the award again in 2010, becoming the first horror host to win the award twice. She was inducted into the Horror Host Hall of Fame in 2014, joining the likes of Elvira, Vampira, Zacherley, and Ghoulardi.
Garou received a special “Pure In Heart” Rondo Award last year for his bravery in the face of adversity. Series director Rebecca Paiva also received a special Rondo in 2010 for her accomplishments in producing, directing, and editing the series.
Shilling Shockers has sponsored fundraisers for the “Make a Wish” Foundation and the St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. In addition, the Shilling Shockers “scream team” continues to make local convention appearances at events such as the Rhode Island Comic Con and Necronomi-Con.
A partial list of television stations airing Penny Dreadful’s Shilling Shockers
Boston, Massachusetts BNN Comcast 23 & RCN 83
Worcester, Massachusetts WCCA 13
Salem, Massachusetts SATV 3
Falmouth, Massachusetts FCTV 13
Cambridge, Massachusetts CCTV 10
New Bedford, Massachusetts NBTV 95
Providence, Rhode Island COX 18 & Verizon 39
Warwick, Rhode Island COX 18 & Verizon 31
Portland, Maine CTN 4
Belfast, Maine BCTV 2
Washington County, Maine TV 2
Manchester, New Hampshire MCAM 23
Laconia, New Hampshire LRPA 25
Burlington, Vermont VCAM 15
Montpelier, Vermont ORCA 15
New Haven, Connecticut CTV 27
Stamford, Connecticut CABLEVISION 77
Huntington, West Virginia COMCAST 20
Nashville, Tennessee WRTN 6
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING ABOUT PENNY DREADFUL’S SHILLING SHOCKERS
“Shilling Shockers is no fly-by-night production. Slick and professionally produced, it should be on the Sci-Fi Channel or PBS.” – David Nahmod, Scary Monsters Magazine
“Horror hostess Penny Dreadful is the one to watch!” – Dave Fuentes, Terror From Beyond the Daves
“Penny has drop-dead comic timing, and the rare ability to be in character and at the same time stand back and arch an ironic eyebrow at that character. Her low, sexy, husky voice is like Bela Lugosi channeled through Greta Garbo.” – Big Ole Face Full of Monster Magazine
