Patrick Jones season 2, Christoph Sanders thereafter) who finds out about Melinda's gift long before his mother does. Melinda also forms a friendship with Rick Payne (Jay Mohr), a professor at Rockland University. He helps Melinda solve the conflicts of ghosts throughout the second and third seasons. He departs in the fourth-season premiere for an expedition in the Himalayas. The same episode introduced Eli James (Jamie Kennedy), another professor at the university, who goes through a near-death experience which unlocks an ability to hear ghosts. Unlike Melinda, he cannot see them. He becomes a close friend to Melinda and helps her investigate the hauntings. Episodes Cast Jennifer Love Hewitt as Melinda Gordon Aisha Tyler as Andrea Marino (seasons 1–2) David Conrad as Jim Clancy / Sam Lucas Camryn Manheim as Delia Banks (seasons 2–5) Jay Mohr as Professor Rick Payne (season 3; recurring, season 2; special guest, season 4) Christoph Sanders as Ned Banks (seasons 4–5; recurring, season 3) Jamie Kennedy as Professor Eli James (seasons 4–5) Notes Production Development Ghost Whisperer is based in part on the work of Mary Ann Winkowski. Development of the show dates back to at least two years before its premiere. James Van Praagh was a co-executive producer and consultant on the show. The show was produced by Sander/Moses Productions in association with CBS Television Studios (originally Paramount Network Television) in season one and ABC Studios (originally Touchstone Television in the first two seasons) and CBS Paramount Network Television in seasons two to four. The show was filmed on the Universal Studios back lot in Los Angeles. One area on the lot is Courthouse Square from the Back to the Future trilogy, though it has been drastically modified to depict Grandview. For example, the clock tower in Back to the Future has been completely covered up. The front of Melinda and Jim's house is also the same set used by the Finch family in the film adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. Cast and crew members said they believed that the set got visits from real spirits. After the show's cancellation and shortly before the sets were torn down, Jennifer Love Hewitt filmed a tour demonstrating the ways in which the areas were different from those shown in the TV broadcast. Sound effects were completed at Smart Post Sound. Visual effects for the pilot and some season one episodes were completed at Flash Film