The San Diego Traveler

Jennifer Love Hewitt has such an endearing presence. It would be a real challenge not to like her. In person, she seems more mature, more confident than I anticipated, but every bit as charming as any of the many roles I’ve seen her play. She came to Comic-Con to talk about the new season of her supernatural series Ghost Whisperer.

Hewitt’s character, Melinda Gordon, started out light and somewhat comical, as we were first introduced to her and her adoring husband, Jim Clancy (played by David Conrad). It wasn’t long before the ghosts that Melinda helps became scary and threatening, and the plot lines much darker.

The first season finale “The One” was the most heart-wrenching and surprising episode ever, and one of the best hours I’ve ever seen on TV. In it, we lost Melinda’s best friend, Andrea (played by Aisha Tyler, whom I still miss in this role), who was replaced in the second season by her new friend, Delia (played by Camryn Manheim).  Delia was so utterly rejecting and cruel when Melinda revealed her gift to her that I’ve found it very hard to accept this new character, so I asked Love (aka Hewitt) her thoughts on this cast change.

Hewitt first affirmed her own belief that there will only be one Andrea. She said that it wouldn’t be realistic for Melinda and Delia to go right to slumber parties, as if Delia was replacing Andrea. There has to be time for Melinda to deal with the loss, and get to know Delia. She also feels that Delia’s rejection has forced Melinda to accept herself, so it was important that Delia not make it easy.

In the second season, the series turned even darker and more sinister. Asked about this, Hewitt said that it’s interesting. As she sees it, if they don’t put her in darkness, then her light can’t shine as bright. She also said that good always wins out.

What can we expect in the third season?

They expect to go deeper, rather than darker. We’ll learn more about the history of the characters and the town (there are things going on under Grandview), and more people will be introduced.

Asked if Melinda will do any traveling, Hewitt volunteered that she’d be willing to go to Hawaii. She joked that someone could have too many mai tais and go surfing, so they might need her.

Will Melinda and Jim have children? Not in the conventional way. Hmmm.

Hewitt was asked if she’s psychic. She said that this experience has definitely heightened her awareness and opened her mind and heart to it. She’s learned to intuitively judge people better, and to trust her intuition.

What does she have in common with her character, Melinda? Hewitt said that there’s a lot of love in Melinda. She takes on other people’s problems, and is defined by the people she helps. She has an undying need to be accepted and loved. Hewitt feels that she’s similar. She said that she tries to send as much goodness and light as she can.

Have they experienced psychic phenomenon on the set of Ghost Whisperer? Yes, they’ve caught some on camera. The psychic Mary Ann Windowski also comes  out from Ohio to consult with them once a year, and you can submit questions to her on their website.

If you’re not yet a fan of Ghost Whisperer, the second season DVD just came out about a week ago, so it’s a great time to catch up. There are also webisodes online, providing additional clues throughout the season, so be sure to go online during the week between shows, so that you get the full Ghost Whisperer experience. The show’s main message boards can also be found at CBS (and they are read by the producers, cast and crew), but there are others online elsewhere.

The third season Ghost Whisperer: The Other Side  starts this Friday night.

Congratulations to Jennifer Love Hewitt, winner of the 2007 Saturn Award for Best Actress in a Series.

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