History Main / TheRealSpoofbusters

* John Goodman's exterminator Delbert in ''Film/{{Arachnophobia}}''. Notable because ''MAD Magazine's'' parody, ''A Knack For Phobias'', points out that the look "didn't hurt ''Ghostbusters.''"

* In an episode of ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' titled ''Filet of Soul'', has Dexter and [=DeeDee=] trying the to hunt down the ghost of their pet fish; With Dexter having his own proton pack-like device.
--> Dexter: Who ya gonna call?

* In the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' games, Luigi (of the famous Franchise/SuperMarioBros) winds up having to hunt ghosts [[CowardlyLion despite his cowardice]] in a massive haunted mansion (which was a trap for him and Mario) with the help of Professor E. Gadd and his patented Poltergust 3000, a back-strapped vacuum designed to suck up ghosts of all shapes and sizes. And he already wears plumbers' overalls, so he matches the blue collar image of the basic trope already.

* In the cooperative card game ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'', in [[VillainTeamUp team villain]] mode, the mutant RatMan Plague Rat is put on an ExplosiveLeash by EvilInc company [=RevoCorp=]. Rather than EvilMinions of his own, his deck consists of various [=RevoCorp=] handlers... who inevitably lose control of him and get eaten. The handlers dress in green jumpsuits, carry an assortment of gadgets, and the card art for each of the four types is based on one of the original team: the [=RevoCorp=] Analyst is skinny with glasses like Egon, the Neutralizer is cheerful and pudgy like Ray and also wearing what look like [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual Ecto Goggles]], the Restrainer is balding with a [[PermaStubble five o'clock shadow]] like Peter and has on a pseudo-proton pack, and the Tanker is black, has a mustache like Winston, and is wielding what is clearly a slime blower.

* In the cooperative card game ''TabletopGame/SentinelsOfTheMultiverse'', in [[VillainTeamUp team villain]] mode, the mutant RatMan Plague Rat is put on an ExplosiveLeash by EvilInc company [=RevoCorp=]. Rather than EvilMinions of his own, his deck consists of various [=RevoCorp=] handlers... who inevitably lose control of him and get eaten. The handlers dress in green jumpsuits, carry various, and the card art for each of the four types is based on one of the original team: the [=RevoCorp=] Analyst is skinny with glasses like Egon, the Neutralizer is cheerful and pudgy like Ray and also wearing what look like [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual Ecto Goggles]], the Restrainer is balding with a [[PermaStubble five o'clock shadow]] like Peter and has on a pseudo-proton pack, and the Tanker is black, has a mustache like Winston, and is wielding what is clearly a slime blower.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "Hunted", Johnny is kicked out of his own attic, when he tries taking a rare comic in there, by a ghost haunting it. When he gets Carl's help, they dress in uniforms Carl made from his mom's dress that he claims are designed for ghost-hunting, being equipped with strap-on particle beams. [[ExpyCoexistence Johnny comments how they don't exactly look like the same guys in the movie.]]

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Bonkers}}'': "When the Spirit Moves You" had Bonkers and the gang try to chase the [[WesternAnimation/LonesomeGhosts]]; Prof. Ludwig von Drake put together a proton pack to help catch them. They even donned similar costumes to the 'Busters.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' Halloween special "[[WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventuresNightGhoulery Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery]]" has Furrball dress up in full Ghostbusters gear to take on the ghost of Sneezer.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TinyToonAdventures'' Halloween special "Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery" has Furrball dress up in full Ghostbusters gear to take on the ghost of Sneezer.

* ''WesternAnimation/DaffyDucksQuackbusters'' is a CompilationMovie which has Daffy inherit a fortune with the stipulation that he must use it for goodwill. When he doesn't, his millionaire benefactor returns to haunt him, which kicks off the premise of the movie: Daffy hiring fellow WesternAnimation/LooneyTunes to help him get rid of ghosts and monsters.

* [[https://youtu.be/ahfIXxwk2cM?t=596 This sketch]] on ''Series/ShortRibbs'' has Creator/PattyMaloney as the leader of "Host Busters". Instead of paranormal entities, they take down smarmy daytime talk show hosts. Their target is an expy of Geraldo Rivera.

* The ''WesternAnimation/TinyToons'' Halloween special "Tiny Toons' Night Ghoulery" has Furrball dress up in full Ghostbusters gear to take on the ghost of Sneezer.

This state of affairs lasted until 1984, when a HorrorComedy film called ''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Ghostbusters]]'' showed its heroes using MadScience to deal with ghosts. Not only was the movie a smash hit, it created [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} a franchise]] that has endured for decades. And when a franchise is that popular for that long, many other works [[StockShoutOuts reference it]] with [[AffectionateParody affectionate humor]], allowing it to enter the hallowed realm of StockParodies.

To see a Real Spoofbuster[[note]]not to be confused with the [=SpoofBusters=], StockParodies of the Series/MythBusters[[/note]], a specific criteria is meant to be met. They often wear jumpsuits, signifying that their profession is just that; a profession, similar to an electrician or a plumber.

While for the longest time combating supernatural phenomena used either magical (enchanted swords, chicken's feet, talismans) or religion implements (holy water, crucifix, sacred rights), the Spoofbuster instead forgoes older superstitions favor of the knowledge and skill of a ScienceHero. Geiger-counters that react to ectoplasm, chemical isotopes that make demons violently ill, and of course a bootleg proton-pack; a (probably unlicensed) nuclear accelerator strapped to their backs similar to a backpack. They can come in many settings; they can [[WeaponsThatSuck suck up the ghosts like a vacuum]], spray out anti-ectoplasmic solutions, shoot streams of energy that can explode every molecule in your body at the speed of light should they be crossed and a dozen other contrived doo-dads and what-have-you's to get the job done.

Often crosses over with the DemonSlaying, HunterOfMonsters, {{Occult Detective}}s and other fields of ParanormalInvestigation.

* In the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' games, Luigi (of the famous Franchise/SuperMarioBros) winds up having to hunt ghosts [[CowardlyLion despite his cowardice]] in a massive haunted mansion (which was a trap for him and Mario) with the help of Professor E. Gadd and his patented Poltergust 3000, a back-strapped vacuum designed to suck up ghosts of all shapes and sizes.

* [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahfIXxwk2cM This sketch]] on ''Series/ShortRibbs'' has Creator/PattyMaloney as the leader of "Host Busters". Instead of paranormal entities, they take down smarmy daytime talk show hosts. Their target is an expy of Geraldo Rivera.

* The ''VideoGame/YokaiWatchBlasters'' spin-off of the ''VideoGame/YokaiWatch'' video game series is a beat 'em up game with heavy references to the ''Ghostbusters'' series. So heavy, it had to actually be modified in the Western release to tone them down for copyright reasons. The original Japanese name was ''Yo-kai Watch Busters'', Jibanyan and Komasan had Ghostbuster-like jumpsuits in their Blaster forms, and Whismellowman, named Whisped Cream in the dub and looking more kaiju-like, was originally a Stay Puft Marshmallow Man parody.

This state of affairs lasted until 1984, when a HorrorComedy film called ''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Ghostbusters]]'' showed its heroes using MadScience to deal with ghosts. Not only was the movie a smash hit, it created [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} a franchise]] that has endured for decades. And when a franchise is that popular for that long, many other works reference it with [[AffectionateParody affectionate humor]], allowing it to enter the hallowed realm of StockParodies.

[[quoteright:350:[[WRecap/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012S5E4EndTimes https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tmnt2012_ghostbusters.png]]]]

[[folder: Anime and Manga]]

[[quoteright:350:[[WesternAnimation/TeenageMutantNinjaTurtles2012 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tmnt2012_ghostbusters.png]]]]

For the longest time, the study, capture and exorcism of ghosts have often been seen not as a ScienceFiction or even ScienceFantasy career, so much as a job populated entirely by either consecrated members of UsefulNotes/TheVatican or freelance warlocks paid for their banishments.

This state of affairs lasted until 1984, when a HorrorComedy film called ''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Ghostbusters]]'' showed its heroes using MadScience to deal with ghosts. Not only was the movie became a smash hit, it created [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} a franchise]] that has endured for decades. And when a franchise is that popular for that long, many other works reference it with [[AffectionParody affectionate humor]], allowing it to enter the hallowed realm of StockParodies.

* In the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' games, Luigi (of the famous Franchise/SuperMarioBros) winds up having to hunt ghosts [[CowardlyLion despite his cowardliness]] in a massive haunted mansion (which was a trap for him and Mario) with the help of Professor E. Gadd and his patented Poltergust 3000, a back-strapped vacuum designed to suck up ghosts of all shapes and sizes.

* ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' has ''Series/MythBusters''[='=] Jamie and Adam investigate the myth of whether or not masturbation causes blindness by driving to a kid's house in Ecto-1 and catching him like a ghost.

For the longest time, the study, capture and exorcism of ghosts have often been seen not as a ScienceFiction or even ScienceFantasy career, so much as a job populated entirely by either consecrated members of the Vatican or freelance warlocks paid for their banishments.

And then Slovak-Canadian film producer and director Ivan Reitman pitched a HorrorComedy film set to be released in 1984. That film... was ''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Ghostbusters]]''. [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} The rest is history]].

* Caesar the Exterminator (Creator/ChristopherWalken) in ''Film/MouseHunt''. While he doesn't hunt ghosts (specializing in vermin and rodents instead), he wears a Ghostbusters-like jumpsuit, a heavy tech backpack and [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual a set of goggles]], and he takes hunting the troublesome mouse every bit as seriously as the TropeNamer take ghost hunting. Which doesn't save him from that damn unexpectedly clever and tenacious mouse.

* Caesar the Exterminator (Creator/ChristopherWalken) in ''Film/MouseHunt''. While he doesn't hunt ghosts (specializing in vermin and rodents instead), he wears a Ghostbusters-like jumpsuit, a heavy tech backpack and [[GogglesDoSomethingUnusual a set of goggles]], and he takes hunting the troublesome mouse every bit as seriously as the TropeNamer take ghost hunting. Which doesn't save him from that damn unexpectedly badass mouse.

And then Slovak-Canadian film producer and director Ivan Reitman pitched a pro-Reaganomic HorrorComedy film set to be released in 1984. That film... was ''[[Film/Ghostbusters1984 Ghostbusters]]''. [[Franchise/{{Ghostbusters}} The rest is history]].

* In the ''VideoGame/LuigisMansion'' games, Luigi (of the famous Franchise/SuperMarioBros) winds up having to hunt ghosts [[CowardlyLion in-spite of his cowardliness]] in a massive haunted mansion (which was a trap for him and Mario) with the help of Professor E. Gadd and his patented Poltergust 3000, a back-strapped vacuum designed to suck-up ghosts of all-shapes and sizes.
* ''VideoGame/TheSims3'' added the "ghost hunter" career with it's "ambitions". Ghost hunters have to capture or exorcise ghosts using various gadgets.

* The UsefulNotes/ArcadeGame ''VideoGame/{{Tumblepop}}'' is all about this: two partners travel together all over the world chasing ghosts and monsters with their vacuums.

* In the ''WesternAnimation/JohnnyBravo'' episode "Hunted", Johnny is kicked out his own attic when he tries taking a rare comic in there by a ghost haunting it. When he gets Carl's help, they dress in uniforms Carl made from his mom's dress that he claims are designed for most-hunting, being equipped with strap-on particle beams. [[ExpyCoexistence Johnny comments how they don't exactly look like the same guys in the movie.]]