USA Network’s Psych is a fast paced, quirky comedy created by Steve Franks. It centers around the quick witted and immature Shawn Spencer played by James Roday. Always by his side is Burton (Gus) Guster played by Dulé Hill known best for his role as Charlie Young on The West Wing. Shawn and Gus have been best friends since childhood proving that opposites do, indeed, attract. Shawn is beyond spontaneous and somehow is endearingly immature, while Gus prides himself on having a “real job” as a pharmaceutical salesman, 401(k), and a steady paycheck.
Childhood Training: An Unwilling Cop
As a child Shawn was groomed to be a cop by his father Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen) one of Santa Barbara’s finest. Shawn was relentlessly taught the nuances of police work. He was made to answer quiz after quiz of the most arbitrary details of a room or situation. Every episode opens with a scene from Shawn’s childhood.
Of course, the unrelenting pressure from his father causes Shawn to abhor the idea of actually becoming a cop himself. But his father’s training did allow Shawn to be hyperaware of his surroundings and able to solve most cases based on minuscule details that the rest of us miss.
Psychic?
His skills are so honed that, while refusing to become a cop, he can’t help but solve cases based off the local television news. For fun, he used to call in tips that solved many of the cases, until one tip is a little too good. When the police suspect him of being a part of a crime and bring him in for questioning. Shawn tries to tell them he solves the cases by watching the news to no avail. In a spontaneous effort to escape arrest he claims he’s actually a psychic using details of people around him that he has seen while being questioned. He is convincing enough to be released but not before Chief Karen Vick (Kirsten Nelson) decides to hand him his first case. He quickly involves Gus and together they solve the case convincing most that Shawn has psychic abilities. Shawn seems to quickly discover his calling in life and creates a private detective agency aptly named Psych.
The Players
Detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Edmundson) does not take to these “psychic” abilities. He just can’t prove that Shawn is a fraud. This tightly wound detective is partnered with Detective Juliet O’Hara (Maggie Lawson). She is much more open to the idea of psychic abilities but does not put them above hard logic. She admires Shawn and finds him amusing. Throughout her time on the show, Shawn had become more and more enamored with Juliet, which would make her the first serious commitment Shawn has ever made if they were to ever get together.
Psych is a rare brand of comedy; silly, sardonic, and smart. It goes beyond the easy joke of two would-be private detectives. The comedy ranges from such in-joke humor as having a pineapple appear in every episode to quotable lines. Puns and plays on language are mixed expertly with a near slapstick style. These characters are easy to like and easy to cheer for, the mysteries are entertaining and complex, and the dialogue is fast and funny.
Psych airs on the USA Network on Fridays 10/9 central.
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