don't get me wrong–I still *like* Venkman, and like the chemistry he has with Egon, but he's just no longer my favorite.

Here's the thing about Venkman, his savy is what makes him a natural leader. Let's say the guys are again fighting some ancient demon. Ray and Egon have a tendency to become lost in thought. There are times when it seems the sheer relization of the truth of some of the legends which they research is overpowering, and Pete is able to pull them back in and keep them in line. Not to say they are incompotent, but it would be as if a bigfoot hunter and his friend, who is not a serious, actually found bigfoot. Chances are, the actual hunter would be overwhelmed with happiness that he actually found the beast, and might forget to take that picture. Venkman is that friend who is there to keep the camera in focus. Venkman also fills a role that Winston doesn't because Winston was a complete outsider. To Zeddemore, the entire world of the paranormal is alien to him. While not ignorent to the supernatural, there are simply things he doesn't know about because he doesn't have the experience the other three have. Venkman is the true balance of the Ghostbusters. And in that almost, detached behavior is the man who can lead. He can explain everything in a concise and controlled manner that the others' just can't.

P.S.: Venkman isn't my favorite either, but I can respect him.

Since we're on the subject of Peter. Does anyone think Egon was being kind of judgemental in the episode Lost and Foundry when he says Peter lives an unexamined life?

I love all of the Ghostbusters, I could never pick a least favorite. Egon is my number one favorite, and the others are all tied for second place for me.

I find the Venkman bashing to be quite disturbing!!!!(*peter)

Well, honestly at the beginning of Ghostbusters 1 where Peter is doing that experiment wrong by not zapping Jennifer. And making her think she's getting every answer right when she isn't. And he's only doing it to get layed with Jennifer. I don't condone that at all.

The thing is, he's the guy who says the funniest thing at the right time - the stuff you wish you'd said way after you've lest the party.

So he may not be the smartest or the most moralistic, but c'mon, the guy is easily the coolest - if not for all his preening to the cameras in the montage of GB1, then they really would just be an exterminator service. New York is cheering them on at the end of the movies because the boy can work an interview. Peter Venkman is, essentially, Bill Murray in excelcis: The kids love him.


The rest of them are great at their jobs, and brilliantly eccentric, but Venkman is a STAR.

EgonSpengler86;160347
Well, honestly at the beginning of Ghostbusters 1 where Peter is doing that experiment wrong by not zapping Jennifer. And making her think she's getting every answer right when she isn't. And he's only doing it to get layed with Jennifer. I don't condone that at all.

But it is funny, and a wonderful way to get the character right from the off.

robbritton;160367
But it is funny, and a wonderful way to get the character right from the off.

Well I guess he gets better in Ghostbusters 2. I like the part at the beginning of Ghostbusters 2 where he's interviewing the woman and doesn't believe a word she says.