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Dubbed the "Children's Television Workshop's most innovative educational endeavor since Sesame Street," the PBS mystery series Ghostwriter debuted in 1992 and ran for three seasons. For those unfamiliar, Ghostwriter followed a group of diverse kids who befriended a ghost (known as Ghostwriter) that could only communicate by manipulating letters on signs, books, and screens. Together, they solved mysteries while uncovering the ghost's own enigmatic past. Whether you were a devoted fan or new to the show, here are eight fascinating insights about Ghostwriter.
1. Ghostwriter was a runaway slave who met a tragic end.
Although the series ended before the kids could fully uncover Ghostwriter's origins, producer and writer Kermit Frazier had a clear backstory in mind. “Ghostwriter was a runaway slave during the Civil War,” Frazier revealed to The New York Times in 2010. “He was killed by slave catchers and their dogs while teaching other escaped slaves to read in the woods. His spirit remained trapped in a book until Jamal (Sheldon Turnipseed) discovered and released it.”
2. Samuel L. Jackson launched the series' adventures.
Jackson portrayed Jamal’s father, appearing in just three episodes throughout the show. The series begins with father and son searching their basement for an old trunk for Jamal’s sister to take to college. Jackson delivers the first line, and as they move the trunk, the book containing the ghost falls from the shelf.
3. The show featured numerous celebrity cameos.
Famous figures like Spike Lee, Daisy Fuentes, Bo Jackson, Salt-N-Pepa, Dr. Dre, Ed Lover, and other well-known personalities appeared on the educational series, either as themselves or in brief roles.
4. Brooklyn played a significant role in the show.
Atomische, Flickr // CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The series was set in Brooklyn's Fort Greene and Clinton Hill neighborhoods, with the creators envisioning Ghostwriter as a tribute to the borough. “We sought an urban, diverse area with historical significance,” executive producer Liz Nealon explained to The New York Times. “Fort Greene immediately felt like the perfect fit.” The Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church, a former stop on the Underground Railroad, was featured, and Nealon noted that Ghostwriter, during his lifetime, would have likely passed through the area.
5. The ghost was never the central focus of the show.
Although the ghost added an exciting element to engage young viewers, the creators of Ghostwriter emphasized education as the show's core purpose. A 1992 Education Week article highlighted the series' three main objectives: "to inspire children to appreciate reading and writing," "to teach effective reading and writing strategies," and "to offer engaging opportunities for kids to practice these skills."
6. Nike partially funded Ghostwriter.
eBay
During the early 1990s, Nike was a prominent advertiser on Fox, which aired a sneak peek of the pilot episode. The company also served as the primary sponsor of Ghostwriter, contributing $5 million to the series. This amount was hailed as the “largest corporate grant ever awarded for a children's educational TV initiative.” Nike further supported the show and literacy through its “Exercise Your Head, Read” campaign.
7. The debut episode delayed the
X-Men: The Animated Series
premiere.
YouTube
As part of the agreement with Nike and PBS, Fox had to adjust its Saturday morning cartoon schedule. On October 3, 1992, X-Men: The Animated Series was postponed from its planned premiere date to October 31 to accommodate Ghostwriter. However, the commercials intended for its time slot still aired. To encourage viewership across both networks, the first part of the premiere aired on Fox, with the conclusion airing on PBS the following Sunday evening.
8. Julia Stiles made her acting debut on the show.
According to IMDb, Julia Stiles's first professional acting role was as Erica Dansby in Ghostwriter. Portraying the school newspaper editor, she appeared in six episodes. One particular scene, where Erica educates Tina (Tram-Anh Tran) about hackers, has become a viral favorite online.
