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Mock Drafts and Crossed Fingers: The Perplexing Popularity of the NFL Draft

Following sports can be a wild ride sometimes. Between the 24/7 news coverage and the constant stream of breathless takes from screaming pundits, it’s easy to forget that it’s all just about people playing games. American football and the National Football League (NFL), perhaps more than any other sport, takes this air of seriousness to some pretty hilarious extremes. Among these, the NFL Draft — and the coverage that surrounds it — is the most salient example.

If you don’t follow professional sports much, you might even be surprised to learn that drafts even exist in the first place. And the NFL Draft, even more than most, is its own kind of beast: a three-day event, the first day of which is now pulling in a larger TV audience than the Academy Awards . If you’re curious why that is, we’ll explain that if you read on — along with some of the ins and outs of what the NFL Draft is and why it exists in the first place.

What’s a Draft? NFL Draft Origins

The NFL was founded in 1920, but the first NFL draft didn’t happen until 1936. Prior to 1936, an athlete, prior to entering the league, could negotiate a contract with any NFL team. Seems fair, right? The problem was that this process gave certain teams advantages over others. Preferable locations or greater financial resources led to a competitive imbalance — as it so often does. If the money is similar, would you rather work in Miami, Florida or Green Bay, Wisconsin? See what I mean?

Bert Bell, head coach and owner — a combination that would never, ever exist now that the league is such a big business — of the Philadelphia Eagles, was one of the people running a team at a disadvantage. In 1935, he proposed that the league institute a draft . Teams would be given exclusive rights to negotiate with individual players of their choosing, and if that player couldn’t agree to a contract with the team that had his rights, he’d have to sit out until the next draft. Bell also proposed that the teams should draft players in reverse order of the previous season’s standings, so the worst team would draft first and the best team would draft last. That would ensure fairness and parity. All the owners agreed.

And that, in its simplest form, is what a draft is across all sports. Each team in the league gets to pick players from the available pool of unsigned talent, and teams with bad records are given the advantage of being allowed exclusive rights to sign the best players. Wrinkles have been added over the years: the number of rounds of the NFL Draft — currently at seven — has shifted as the league has expanded to add more teams, and teams have manipulated the process by using rights to future draft picks in trades for current players. Still, the format is largely the same as it was in the beginning: bad teams get priority in selecting the best incoming players, and players are only able to negotiate with the team that drafted them.

Why Is the NFL Draft So Popular?

Okay, so hopefully you have a sense of what the draft is at this point, but you are likely wondering why on Earth you would watch it on TV. Honestly, that’s a fair question. The first NFL draft to be televised wasn’t until 1980 , and at that time it was very much just an experiment by a then-fledgling sports network, ESPN. The NFL’s owners unanimously voted down the proposal to televise the draft, but NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle saw the potential and pushed the idea through anyway. 

The number of bells and whistles has certainly increased over the years. The draft is accompanied by endless analysis from talking heads, exciting packages of highlights for each player, and fun interviews with kids who are realizing their dream of being chosen to play in one of the biggest sports leagues in the world. The production itself is only a small piece of why the NFL Draft brings in such a huge television audience, though.

The real reason the NFL Draft is so popular is that it’s the league’s best showcase for hope. If you’re a fan rooting for a team that just struggled through a miserable season — and remember that 30 of the 32 NFL teams don’t get to play in the Super Bowl, and 18 of the 32 don’t even make the playoffs — the Draft is what you’ve probably spent the vast majority of the season waiting for. In fact, the NFL is so enormously popular in general that the Draft has become one of the biggest days of the year for the majority of NFL fanbases.

Analysis, or the Justification of Hope

Another thing buoying the popularity of the NFL Draft is the cottage industry of draft analysis that has sprouted up around the event itself. People love predicting things, so that piece of it has its own special appeal, but what people really love is getting to feel like they have a strong opinion about something. A quick look at Twitter in the months leading up to the NFL Draft will show you countless fans confidently asserting which players their teams absolutely need to get in the upcoming draft. 

The beating heart of this world of NFL Draft prediction is the mock draft . Pundits like Mel Kiper, Jr., Todd McShay and others put together full, pick-by-pick predictions ahead of the Draft itself. Fans even make their own mock drafts , and as sports gambling explodes in the U.S. and elsewhere, fans take the opportunity to put money down on hyper-specific outcomes — like when the first offensive lineman will be selected, or who the first running back selected will be. 

The Draft, additionally, is at the center of all NFL player movement. Teams decide which current NFL free agents they will pursue based on what happens at the Draft, and teams use their draft picks to trade for current stars depending on where they are in the team-building life-cycle. Some teams might be full of veterans, so they may prioritize adding other experienced players instead of younger players who are straight out of college. Other teams might be ready to rebuild their rosters around these very green athletes. 

Fans, in the meantime, get to harbor opinions about all this stuff, and those opinions lead to conversations. These kinds of conversations — arguments between friends, quick chats around the watercooler, podcasts , etc. — are the lifeblood of sports fandom. The NFL Draft is a strange beast: it’s a sporting event in which no sports are actually played. On the other hand, it’s the crystallization of everything we love about loving sports: the opinions, the chats, and the exciting feeling of wondering what might be about to happen next. 

MORE FROM ASK.COM

• Ghostbusters: The Video Game
• Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• The Real Ghostbusters
• Ghostbusters 2016 Movie

Cross the Streams

• View history

Cross the Streams (also known as Crossing the Streams ) is in reference to when two or more Proton Streams cross paths.

• 1 Canonicity
• 2.1.1 Ghostbusters (1984)
• 2.1.2 Before Ghostbusters Afterlife
• 2.1.3 Ghostbusters: Afterlife
• 2.2.1 Ghostbusters: The Video Game
• 2.2.2 IDW Comics
• 2.3.1 The Real Ghostbusters
• 2.3.2 Extreme Ghostbusters
• 2.3.3 2016 Movie
• 3.1 Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia
• 3.2 Ghostbusters: The Video Game Trivia
• 3.3 IDW Comics Trivia
• 4.1 Primary Canon Appearances
• 4.2 Secondary Canon Appearances
• 4.3 Secondary Canon (Expanded Universe) Appearances
• 4.4 Tertiary Canon Appearances
• 5 References
• 6.1 Primary Canon Images
• 6.2 Secondary Canon Images
• 6.3 Secondary Canon (Expanded Universe) Images
• 6.4 Tertiary Canon Images

Canonicity [ ]

Cross the Streams in the Primary Canon is developed from Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters: Afterlife. In Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions), a Secondary Canon, Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II pre-date the game, Ghostbusters: Afterlife conflicts with the game. Cross the Streams (prime) appears in the IDW Comic Series, a Secondary Canon, which follows Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II, also includes some elements from Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) and Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Stylized Versions); as well as being canon to Tobin's Spirit Guide (Insight Editions). In The Real Ghostbusters, a Tertiary Canon, is developed from Ghostbusters (1984). Cross the Streams appears in the 2016 Movie, a Tertiary Canon, a standalone continuity from the other movies.

History [ ]

Primary canon history [ ], ghostbusters (1984) [ ].

It was spoken of twice by Egon Spengler , (and performed once) in 1984 . During the Ghostbusters' first case, in the Sedgewick Hotel , Egon warns everyone to never "Cross the Streams", which refers to the proton beams from multiple Particle Throwers crossing paths during use. Egon noted "It would be bad." Peter Venkman countered he was fuzzy on the whole good/bad thing and asked him what he meant by "bad." Egon clarified with an example. He told them to try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light. Ray Stantz realized he was talking about total protonic reversal.

Several weeks later, to defeat Gozer , Egon told everyone to cross the streams, knowing full well the risks. He informed them there was definitely a very slim chance they would survive. They reversed the flow, banished Gozer, Zuul , and Vinz Clortho , and blew up the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man , the Temple of Gozer , and the top floors of 550 Central Park West .

Before Ghostbusters Afterlife [ ]

One of the projects Egon Spengler worked on in Summerville to prevent the end of the world was a temporary solution. He built a containment system consisting of four modified Proton Packs and a P.K.E. Meter , which were placed within the Temple of Gozer. Whenever the modified P.K.E. Meter detected a spike caused by an interdimensional gateway opening within the Temple, the four Proton Cannons activated and crossed streams, forcing the gateway to close and dissipating the Psychokinetic Atmospheric Influence . The process repeated every couple of hours and had the consequence of generating an earthquake on a daily basis.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife [ ]

In June 2021, the temple was explored by Phoebe Spengler , Trevor Spengler , Podcast , and Lucky Domingo . They happened to be present when spectral horde was rising up to the top of the sacrificial death pit. One by one, a proton stream was fired over the pit. The streams all crossed then shot into the spectral horde. The earthquake accompanying the activity was triggered. The spirits in the pit visibly reacted to the crossed streams and were forced the horde back down. The P.K.E. Meter no longer detected the horde. The cannons turned off. Soon after, Vinz Clortho, in possession of Gary Grooberson , went temple and used a pipe wrench to move a Proton Cannon's trajectory away from the sacrificial death pit and used it to destroy one of the other cannons. The interdimensional crossrip continued to its intended end. Peter, Ray, and Winston Zeddemore fired on Gozer then crossed the streams. However, Gozer used its strength to uncross the streams then whipped them. The momentum knocked the Ghostbusters into Ecto-1 .

Secondary Canon History [ ]

Ghostbusters: the video game [ ].

Seven years later, on the Thanksgiving 1991 holiday, the Ghostbusters crossed five streams to destroy Ivo Shandor in his Supreme Destructor Form.

IDW Comics [ ]

In theory, crossing the streams on the Temple of Gozer's doorway took the Ghostbusters right up to the line of complete subatomic destruction. For a split second, they were connected to every reality at once via Gozer's portal. Every thought they ever had, the very core of their beings, were seeded into the subconscious of the Multiverse. The concepts and methods of the Ghostbusters were adopted by parallel versions of the team. [1] During one spring season, nine Ghostbusters crossed the streams on Tiamat in a battle atop Dana's current apartment . They were returned to the physical plane and both Dana Barrett and Louis Tully were restored to normal but Tiamat's presence was still felt when Blood Rain showered on them and a disembodied laugh could be heard.

During the finale of the dimensional bleed incident, the two teams of Ghostbusters successfully captured the Bronx Spook but the breach left behind did not close. Erin Gilbert realized they needed a catalyst to close the breach and start the reaction that would work on the molecular level to separate the two dimensions. She suggested crossing the streams. Ray objected and called it a terrible idea. Peter was more open to it since they survived the last few times. Egon agreed with Ray but knew there was no other choice. After they crossed the streams, Jillian Holtzmann admitted she was panicking and observed it felt like being pulled in a million directions at once. The atoms of both worlds began to scatter, mingle, and separate as they came very close to the verge of protonic reversal. For seconds, the universes were joined and everything they experienced became one timeline then the fabric of reality was shaken enough and the two dimensions were restored to normal. Egon hypothesized there may be some residual memories from the atomic co-mingling. Rebecca Gorin likened it to a living representation of Escher's Relativity.

Tertiary Canon History [ ]

The real ghostbusters [ ].

During the Captain Steel and Dr. Destructo incident, the Ghostbusters were mistaken as supervillains by Steel. Captain disarmed them with his heat vision and bent a steel pole around all of them. Captain picked them up and flew off with them in hand but Dr. Destructo blasted Steel making him drop the Ghostbusters. In order to save themselves from falling to their death, the Ghostbusters pointed their Particle Throwers at the water below and crossed the streams. [2] This created a large plume of water that cushioned their impact. Egon Spengler later admitted he didn't know it would have saved their lives or not. During the first encounter with the Boogieman , Ray claimed simply using the throwers at all in the Boogieman's pocket dimension could be even worse than crossing the streams, as the laws of physics were different there.

Extreme Ghostbusters [ ]

While never actually attempted, Egon Spengler reiterated the warning to his proteges never to cross the streams when he first trained them in 1997. Eduardo Rivera made light of it until Egon blatantly compared the result of crossing the streams to a nuclear explosion.

2016 Movie [ ]

Abby Yates prioritized the need to reverse the Portal but it required an insane amount of energy. Erin Gilbert wondered what to do. Abby believed they just had to shoot directly in the portal with more power to cause a reverse reaction. Jillian Holtzmann suggested they cross the streams. [3] Erin remembered that was the thing that was so powerful that would make all of their atoms implode. Holtzmann corrected her and thought it would be more violent than that. [4] Abby believed they had an extremely good shot at pulling all the ionized ecto-matter back into the dimension of its origin by crossing their streams into the portal. [5] Erin saw the pro was they saved the world but the con was they experienced the most painful death conceivable of all time. [6] Abby admitted it was hard to shine that penny. Erin agreed to do it. They returned to the portal and crossed the streams into it. The Ghostbusters fell on their backs from the recoil. Abby realized it wasn't enough power to alter the polarity. [7] They blew up the silver reactors atop Ecto- instead and successfully changed the portal's polarity then it forcefully pulled all the ghosts back in it.

Ghostbusters (1984) Trivia [ ]

• In the August 5, 1983 draft of the first movie, Egon tells everyone to go full stream with strogon pulse then cross their streams onto the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man but it fails. [8] Like in the movie, he is only ignited and angered.

Ghostbusters: The Video Game Trivia [ ]

• The explosion that results in crossing streams during gameplay in the video game appears to be much less harmful than the result as seen in the movie. This is due to a fail safe mechanism in the experimental Proton Pack named the "cross-stream governor." At the end of the game, Egon tells everyone he's deactivating them on all the packs then they cross the streams to destroy Ivo Shandor. [9]
• In the realistic version, after Museum of (Super)Natural History , the seventh message on the Firehouse answering machine inquires about crossing the streams in a humorous manner. [10]

IDW Comics Trivia [ ]

• On page 19 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #3 , Peter Venkman suggests they use the cross the streams strategy to save the day. [11]
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #15 , Winston Zeddemore suggests crossing the streams on the Megaspook but Egon shoots down the idea on the notion there is no extradimensional portal to skew the results. [12]
• On page 19 of Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #20 , Peter alludes to Crossing the Streams. [13]
• On page 3 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Ghostbusters Issue #3 , Ray mentions to not cross the streams. [14]
• On page 11 of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #4 , Winston mentions crossing the streams. [15]
• The subject of Ghostbusters: Deviations revolves around what if the Ghostbusters never crossed the streams on the Temple of Gozer because of the inherent catastrophic danger in doing so. Gozer even suggests they do it so he can return to his home dimension but they still refuse and cite the whole planet could be destroyed.
• On page 18 of Ghostbusters 101 #3 , Jillian Holtzmann alludes to the urinating joke that came from the crossing the streams term in the first movie.
• On page 11 of Transformers/Ghostbusters Issue #3 , Egon replies "That would be bad," similar to when he informed the team about crossing the streams in the first movie.
• On page 13 of Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 , Egon reveals shooting the Proton Grenade would be effectively crossing the streams.

Appearances [ ]

Primary canon appearances [ ].

• Mentioned by Egon Spengler
• Chapter 28: Crossing Streams

Secondary Canon Appearances [ ]

• Central Park Cemetery Level
• Mentioned on Page 23 [16]
• Mentioned on in Prime Ghostbusters' bio on Dramatis Personae Page 1. [17]
• Mentioned on page 5. [18]
• Mentioned by Gabriel Sitter on page 18. [19]
• Mentioned by Egon Spengler on page 13. [20]
• Mentioned on Page 81. [21]

Secondary Canon (Expanded Universe) Appearances [ ]

Tertiary canon appearances [ ].

• Mentioned by Ray Stantz [22]
• " Captain Steel Saves the Day "
• Mentioned by Egon Spengler [23]
• Alluded to by Jillian Holtzmann . [24] [25]
• Mentioned on Page 137. [26]

References [ ]

• ↑ Egon Spengler (2017). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters 101 #3 " (2017) (Comic p.18). Egon Spengler says: "It took us right up to the line of a complete subatomic destruction. And by way of Gozer's portal, for a split second, we were connected to every reality at once. Every thought we ever had, the very core of our beings... that's how they were seeded into the subconscious of the Multiverse. Our concepts, our methods... In theory, anyway. But so far, observation has only lent the idea credibility."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - " Captain Steel Saves the Day " (1987) (DVD ts. 11:33-11:35). Time Life Entertainment. Egon says: "Aim at the water and cross the streams!"
• ↑ Jillian Holtzmann (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 15 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:52:55-1:52:56). Sony Pictures. Jillian Holtzmann says: "We gotta cross the streams."
• ↑ Jillian Holtzmann (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 15 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:53:01-1:53:03). Sony Pictures. Jillian Holtzmann says: "No, implode is the wrong word. It'll be more violent than that."
• ↑ Abby Yates (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 15 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:53:03-1:53:09). Sony Pictures. Abby Yates says: "We gotta cross 'em up, and we've got an extremely good shot at pulling all the ionized ecto-matter back into the dimension of its origin."
• ↑ Erin Gilbert (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 15 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:53:12-1:53:16). Sony Pictures. Erin Gilbert says: "And on the negative side, we experience the most painful death conceivable of all time."
• ↑ Abby Yates (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 15 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:54:06-1:54:09). Sony Pictures. Abby Yates says: "The portal's too strong. We still don't have enough power to reverse it."
• ↑ Aykroyd, Dan & Ramis, Harold (1983). Ghostbusters (First Draft August 5, 1983) (Script p. 129). Egon Spengler says: "Full-stream with strogon pulse. We'll cross the beams."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game ( Realistic Version )- Central Park Cemetery Level "In cinematic after final boss battle" (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Atari. Egon Spengler says: "I'm deactivating the cross-stream governor!"
• ↑ Male Caller; After Museum of (Super)Natural History , Firehouse 2nd Floor Answering Machine Message 7 of 11 (2009). Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Realistic Versions) - Firehouse (2009) (PC/PS3/Xbox 360). Terminal Reality. Male says: "I was just calling because I was really confused about something. Me and my buddies have been going fly fishing for years and never once had any trouble crossing the streams."
• ↑ Peter Venkman (2011). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #3 " (2011) (Comic p.19). Peter says: "We'll lickety-split it on over to his usual haunt, cross some streams, and be back in time for the news."
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2012). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 1 Issue #15 " (2012) (Comic p.18). Winston says: "Should we Cross the Streams?!"
• ↑ Peter Venkman (2014). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Volume 2 Issue #20 " (2014) (Comic p.19). Peter says: "We can't always be lucky enough to save the world with five seconds of focused zapping."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2014). IDW Comics - " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #3 " (2014) (Comic p.3). Ray says: "Oh yeah - be careful not to cross the streams! Protonic reversal isn't on my list of things to do today!"
• ↑ Winston Zeddemore (2015). IDW Comics - " Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles/Ghostbusters Issue #4 " (2015) (Comic p.11). Winston says: "Uh, we're wedged in pretty tight, man. I can't reach my Trap without crossing your stream."
• ↑ Ghostbusters 101 Class Notes (2017). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters 101 #4 " (2017) (Comic p.23). Ghostbusters 101 Class Notes reads: "All packs have one important rule: do NOT cross the streams. This can cause a chain reaction, which may lead to total protonic reversal (or destruction at the cellular level). Crossing streams is like Russian roulette, protonic reversal may never happen. But it might."
• ↑ Prime Ghostbusters Biography (2018). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #3 " (2018) (Comic Dramatis Personae p.1). Line reads: "The original Ghostbusters of the Prime Dimension, who defeated Gozer by crossing the streams-seeding the multiverse with their memories and methodology, and creating Ghostbusters teams across the interdimensional landscape."
• ↑ Kylie Griffin (2018). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Crossing Over Issue #8 " (2018) (Comic p.5). Kylie Griffin says: "We didn't beat Tiamat by crossing a dozen streams - what other choice do we have?!"
• ↑ Gabriel Sitter (2019). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters IDW 20/20 " (2019) (Comic p.18). Gabriel Sitter says: "At least we're not prancing in front of a dinosaur, or crossing streams, or - oh crap."
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2020). IDW Comics - " Ghostbusters Year One Issue #4 " (2020) (Comic p.13). Egon Spengler says: "The prototype carries a positive proton charge. Your stream might damage it and release the energy. You'd be effectively crossing streams."
• ↑ Narrator (2016). Insight Editions - " Tobin's Spirit Guide " (2016) (Book p.81). Paragraph reads: "Ultimately, Gozer's physical essence was destroyed when we crossed our individual proton streams (risking total protonic reversal) and aimed them at the temple from which the deity had emerged into this plane of existence."
• ↑ Ray Stantz (2009). The Real Ghostbusters - " The Boogieman Cometh " (1986) (DVD ts. 18:12-18:17). Time Life Entertainment. Ray says: "The laws of physics are different here. It could be even worse than crossing the streams!"
• ↑ Egon Spengler (2009). Extreme Ghostbusters - Darkness at Noon, Part 2 (1997) (DVD ts. 2:55-2:59). Sony Pictures Home Entertainment. Egon says: "The important thing to remember is that you must never under any circumstances, cross the streams."
• ↑ Jillian Holtzmann (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 9 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:02:51-1:02:54). Sony Pictures. Jillian Holtzmann says: "Erin, I forgot to tell you, don't let your beam get entangled with my beam."
• ↑ Jillian Holtzmann (2016). Ghostbusters (2016 Movie) Extended Edition; Chapter 9 (2016) (Blu-Ray ts. 1:02:56-1:03:02). Sony Pictures. Jillian Holtzmann says: "It's too much power. It would cause a counter reaction. The beam would shoot back into your body, and each atom will implode."
• ↑ Shaffer, Andrew (2016). Ghosts From Our Past: Both Literally & Figuratively: The Study of the Paranormal , p. 137. Three Rivers Press, New York NY USA, ISBN 9781101906002 . Line reads: "Plasma stream convergence is highly, highly discouraged."

Gallery [ ]

Primary canon images [ ].

Secondary Canon Images [ ]

Secondary Canon (Expanded Universe) Images [ ]

Tertiary Canon Images [ ]

• 3 Ecto Cooler

The science behind Ghostbusters: What happens when you cross the streams?

• March 16, 2022

If there’s one constant within the Ghostbusters universe, it’s that you should never cross the streams. Why? Well, it would be bad. How bad? Well, try to imagine all life as you know it stopping instantaneously and every molecule in your body exploding at the speed of light.

That’s bad. Remember that important safety tip as continue along with today’s article. 

Now, of course, rules are made to be broken, as different scenarios have led to the streams being crossed on multiple occasions, not only in both the original film and last year’s Ghostbusters: Afterlife , but also the animated Real Ghostbusters series and the 2009 video game.

But what exactly happens when two streams are crossed?

Well, YouTube channel Channeling Spirits are back, combing through script drafts, commentaries, and about all the Ghostbusters media you could imagine, providing fans with not only the science but accurate in-canon reasoning why crossing the streams “would be bad.”

Crossing the streams is almost as iconic as the Ghostbusters themselves, but what really happens if you cross them? We’ve gone over the science of how proton packs create a stream of protons, but what about when two of those beams cross? We went over past script drafts, commentaries, cartoons, and video games to dive deep into why you don’t cross them.

If you missed Channeling Spirit ‘s previous video, in which they broke down the mechanics of Ghostbusters II’s Slimer Blower, you can give it a watch below.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife has finally come out, but what about the movie that preceded it? The Slimer Blower was the shiny new pack the boys in gray strapped to their packs, but how does it work? We go through previous script drafts, novelizations, comics, video games and more to dig up how it came to be. Then we explore the physics behind the behemoth blower.

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This week’s episode of Extraplasm Podcast crosses streams with the Mooglie Fan Club

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Screen Rant

Original ghostbusters movie crossing the streams scene without vfx released.

The famous Ghostbusters scene in which the streams get crossed for the first time has been released, and this time it's without VFX.

The famous  Ghostbusters scene in which the streams get crossed for the first time has been released without VFX. The original 1984  Ghostbusters  has become a beloved classic in pop culture thanks to its fun premise and the comedic perfection of the original team.  Ghostbusters  introduced fans to four men who band together to create a ghost-catching business in New York City, played by Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, and Ernie Hudson. Sigourney Weaver, Annie Potts, and Rick Moranis also supplied supporting roles .  Ghostbusters II  was then released in 1989, but wasn't nearly as well-received as the first. Paul Feig revived the property on the big screen in 2016 with an all-female reboot, but its mixed reception led to the franchise going dormant for a short while.

Ghostbusters  features several memorable moments, such as the climactic battle against the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man . Earlier in the film, Egon (Ramis) warned the others not to cross the streams of their proton packs, or they would trigger an explosive, world-shattering incident. However, when the fight against the Stay Puft Man grows too dire, the Ghostbusters agree to risk it all and cross the streams. Needless to say, the devastating result Egon worried about never comes to pass, and they end up saving the day.

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The official  Ghostbusters   YouTube account shared a fun behind the scenes video recently, in which fans can see the crossing the streams moment without VFX. The video helpfully shows the scene alongside the one from the film so fans can properly see how it looked without the effects and with them. It's rather funny to see the actors grappling with energy that isn't actually there. You can see the video down in the space below.

Obviously, movies like  Ghostbusters  wouldn't be the same without their special effects, but it's interesting to see how it all came together behind the scenes. Special effects have come a long way, and it's cool to get a little glimpse into how they worked in the 80s. Of course,  Ghostbusters  utilized a good number of practical effects as well, but this is a nice peek behind the curtain at the VFX process.

Ghostbusters  will get new life next year with the arrival of  Ghostbusters: Afterlife . The film was supposed to arrive this summer, but Sony delayed it to March 2021 because of the coronavirus pandemic. After the 2016  Ghostbusters   strayed from the original films,  Afterlife  will serve as a direct sequel to the second film and introduce a new generation of ghost hunters. Additionally, most of the original cast will return. Still, only time will tell if  Afterlife  can supply any iconic moments like the original installment did.

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Source: Ghostbusters

Key Release Dates

Ghostbusters: afterlife.