Is a child's ghost visible in Three Men and a Baby?

[indiana_01]

I have been reading The Straigt Dope for a few months online now, and have discovered a wealth of intersting, and sometimes useful information. Having said that, I feel compelled to point out a minor error.

In the article about the ghost in 3 Men and a Baby http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mthreemen.html, SDSTAFF David compares that legend to the The Newlywed Game legend. Unfortunaly, the latter actually happened. For more info (and a video and audo clip of the incident) see http://www.snopes.com/radiotv/tv/newlywed.htm

I actually saw the clip on TV (not the original episode, don't think I was even born then) but on one of those "funniest TV moments" shows they do once in a while. I can't remember exactly when I saw it, but I think it was sometime last year (2003). They actually had Bob Eubanks as one of the hosts of the show, and he introduced the clip basically stating that he didn't think it had happened either, until he saw the film, and now he's forced to admit that it did.

[Duck Duck Goose]

Well, hey, allow me to be the first to welcome you aboard. Best de-lurking I've seen in a long time, link to the column and everything... :D

Hope you stick around.

[Hedda Rosa]

I've seen that clip also a few times. It is pretty darn funny, even when you know what is coming.

Welcome!

Twiddle

[samclem]

Actually, no one could have seen the original clip on tv as it never aired until the out-takes of at least the late 1980's. And, when they did show it, they bleeped out the phrase. So, no one HEARD the lady say anything on tv until just the last two years or so. Just because an out-take clip exists, doesn't mean that there isn't an urban legend. It has to do with people claiming they saw/heard something that didn't exist in the way they claim. David got it right.

[Astra]

This is going out on a limb, but is it possible that the legend could have originated with the crew of the show? Didn't they film before a studio audience? Those people would have really seen and heard the event - once they told it to their friends, it probably would have been easy for the "studio audience, not viewing audience" detail to disappear.

[C K Dexter Haven]

That might explain how the story got started, but it fairly quickly evolved to the point that people were swearing they SAW it aired. So, it's not just the urban legend (with the famous "it happened to a friend of a friend of mine") but also false memories.

In any case, it is a different situation from the THREE MEN AND A BABY syndrome, where a careful viewing of the film itself makes it very clear what's there (and what's not there.)