Annie Potts Reflects on Playing Janine Melnitz in Ghostbusters

During a recent appearance on Melissa Rivers’ Group Text Podcast, Annie Potts reflected on her role as Janine Melnitz within the Ghostbusters franchise, from the original 1984 film to her return in 2024’s Frozen Empire.

Rivers quickly steered the conversation toward the series’ lasting cultural impact, noting how it continues to resonate across generations. She even admitted that Janine’s voice still lives rent-free in her head, sharing that when her phone rings, she still feels the urge to answer with the character’s signature greeting: “Ghostbusters, what do you want?”

Looking back on the original film, Potts recalled that the script immediately stood apart from anything she had seen before, admitting that she thought, “This is the most original thing I’ve ever read.”

Once on set, however, she found herself navigating unfamiliar territory. Surrounded by performers with deep roots in improvisational comedy, Potts suddenly had to adjust to a much more spontaneous way of working.