Exorcism Live
“Exorcism Live” will see the team from Destination America’s “Ghost Asylum” take to the former St. Louis home of the child whose experiences inspired “The Exorcist” book and film. Pictured: (from left) Brannon Smith, Chasey Ray McKnight, Chris Smith, Steven McDougal and Scott Porter. Destination America

As Halloween draws closer, Destination America is gearing up to host one of the spookiest nights in television history with the premiere of “Exorcism Live.” A group of paranormal investigators will go to the home that was ground zero for the book and film “The Exorcist” to drive out any remaining demons live on Oct. 30.

In 1949, a boy known only as Roland Doe was believed by the Roman Catholic Church to be possessed by the devil. He had violent fits, he spoke in odd languages he had not learned, and both marks and writing began to appear on his body. Eventually, the demon was allegedly driven out of the boy, but spirits reportedly still lingered in the home where the boy had lived in St. Louis.

“Before the film, before the book, before Linda Blair, before pea-soup vomit, there was a house in 1949,” Jodi Tovay, the creator of “Exorcism Live,” told a crowd at the New York Comic Con Friday.

The major event marks the first live exorcism done on television. It’s worth mentioning that the ritual will not be done on a human being, since it would be incredibly unethical to make a purportedly possessed person live with his or her demon until Oct. 30. Instead, the exorcists will be taking on the evil spirits that call the haunted house home. The entire establishment will be decked out with various cameras for fans to survey the investigation throughout the night. If they see activity, they’re encouraged to tweet at the team so its members can go and investigate.

Destination America is sending paranormal investigators from its series “Ghost Asylum” as well as a Catholic bishop and professional psychic medium Chip Coffey, who claims to have already spoken to the demons inside the house while preparing for the show. “I was in the house, and one of the producers was asking me questions in an interview-type setting,” Coffey said. “They didn’t like him. They didn’t like him asking all these questions. At one point, he asked why they were here. The demon got ----ed, and I heard him say: ‘Is he really that ----ing stupid? We’re here because we can be here.’”

Coffey claimed the demon he’s planning to help exorcize during the live show even threatened both his and his producer’s loved ones by name. However, he’s aware of the line between a demon’s bark and bite: “Demons, to me, like to brag and show off. That’s why they sound all raspy, scary and creepy. That’s why they’ve always got such bad language, too.”

Still, this doesn’t mean that the situation isn’t one of the most dangerous paranormal investigations in America. Nick Groff, formerly of “Ghost Adventures,” did some prep work on the house as well and believes he had a demonic experience. He claimed that the following night he went to bed and had a nightmare about a black figure hurting him and his family. When he woke up, Groff said that members of his family had sent him texts reporting they had had similar dreams.

The group will gather in the house on Oct. 30 to show fans the live exorcism of the demons still within it, which just so happens to be the 66th anniversary of one of the key events associated with the infamous possession. Unfortunately, there’s no telling at this time what will happen when the cameras role. Coffey said he believes either the spirits will go extremely quiet “just to ---- us off” or they’ll call in some backup to make sure nothing drives them out of the house.

Are you brave enough to tune in to “Exorcism Live”? Comment below or tweet your thoughts to @TylerMcCarthy.