I’ve had the Commodores’ “Nightshift” in my head all day and for good reason: once again the streets of New York City down in Tribeca were lined with Ghostbusters fans making the annual pilgrimage to Hook and Ladder No. 8 to celebrate June 6!
The event, which continues to get larger and larger every year, started with a pre-party hosted by Yes Have Some with special guest Celeste O’Connor. Rodney’s (a venue named after Mr. Dangerfield himself) was the location and YHS will most likely have that conversation up in their feed in the days to come.
Then today on Saturday, right in front of the iconic firehouse, fans, celebrities, and local heroes all came together for a presentation that can be seen via the official Ghostbusters livestream.
Ghostbusters fans have done enormous charity work over the last year, and the Ghostbusters Give Back initiative was a tremendous success. In total over the past year, fan franchises and groups have raised over a half-million dollars for charities of their choosing. The LA Ghostbusters and Buffalo Ghostbusters were honored with Golden Trap trophies for their excellence in fundraising.
Accoriding to the official press release, “Jay Levine, EVP, Chief Strategy Officer & Business Operations, Sony Pictures, Reitman, and Kenan presented a $150,000 match donation check on behalf of Sony Pictures to Adam Garone, CEO of Starlight Children’s Foundation, on behalf of Starlight Children’s Foundation as part of the ‘Ghostbusters Give Back” charitable program. Ghostbusters chapters around the world raised over $516,000 for local causes with the total reaching an incredible $666,000 with the match donation from Sony Pictures. The moment celebrated the remarkable fundraising efforts of Ghostbusters fan communities across the globe and the positive impact they continue to create in local communities through volunteer work and philanthropy.”
But the marquee moment of the day was the first bit of tangible news we’ve gotten officially on the upcoming Netflix animated series…
Now called Ghostbusters: Night Shift, a logo was revealed that shows tonally that this may be a little bit edgier and gnarlier than the Ghostbusters animated series of old. Ghostbusters brand stewards Jason Reitman and Gil Kenan joined showrunners Ben Hibon and Elliott Kalan for the logo reveal and promise more in the future leading up to the series 2027 release.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products also heavily leaned into the upcoming series at the latest Licensing Expo, but details and everything shown at the trade show have been kept under a tight lock and key.
More bulletpoints on the day from our friends at Ghost Corps:
Hasbro showed off a new SDCC exclusive Ecto-Glow Copter (for more on that and how it never saw the light of day, pick up The Real Ghostbusters: A Visual History wherever books are sold), and Mondo revealed exclusive Citizen Ghost spectral Ghostbuster figures.
Fundraising for the FDNY Foundation: Sony Pictures Entertainment, Ghost Corps and the Buffalo Ghostbusters, 501 (c)(3), fan group teamed up with the FDNY Hook & Ladder 8 firehouse to host the special presentation, with all proceeds from the event and live auction raised by Buffalo Ghostbusters’ 501 (c)(3) fan group going towards the FDNY Foundation
Ghostbusters in Concert National Fall Tour Activation: Schirmer Theatrical, with Black Ink Presents, Ghostbusters in Concert National Fall Tour celebrated the day with a special GBDAY26 code, with Black Ink donating $2.12 to the FDNY Foundation for every ticket sold using the code.
New Exciting Merchandise and Collaborations: To celebrate the day, Mattel launched a new Gozer doll under their Monster High brand. Additionally, Rubber Road revealed their Ghostbusters-themed rubber ducks and Hasbro unveiled their San Diego Comic-Con Ghostbuster toy exclusive.
Local Hospital Visit: In addition to the special presentation on June 6, Reitman, Kenan, Ghost Corps, and the Starlight Children’s Foundation continued their ongoing collaboration alongside actress Celeste O’Connor and a local Ghostbusters fan chapter with a visit to the Maimonides Children’s Hospital in Brooklyn the day prior, delivering Ghostbusters-themed Starlight hospital gowns and toys to pediatric patients.