Psych
Psych | |
---|---|
Genre | |
Created by | Steve Franks |
Starring | |
Opening theme | " The Friendly Indians |
Ending theme | "I Know You Know" by The Friendly Indians |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 8 |
No. of episodes | 120 (list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Producers |
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Production locations | White Rock, British Columbia, Canada |
Camera setup | Single-camera |
Running time | 42 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | USA Network |
Release | July 7, 2006 March 26, 2014 | –
Related | |
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Psych is an American
Psych premiered on July 7, 2006, following the
Psych: The Movie, a two-hour television film, aired on USA Network on December 7, 2017, launching the Psych film series,[8] with Franks' hope being to make five more Psych movies following Psych: The Movie.[9] On February 14, 2019, it was announced Psych: The Movie 2 was greenlit and set to premiere in late 2019, for which the main cast would return, but the premiere thereof was subsequently delayed to 2020, with the film renamed Psych 2: Lassie Come Home, and released on NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock, July 15, 2020, the day the service officially launched.[10][11][12] On May 13, 2021, Peacock announced a third film, Psych 3: This Is Gus, which premiered on November 18, 2021.[13][14] Three further Psych films are in development.[9]
Overview
Most episodes begin with a cold open in the form of a flashback to Shawn and Gus' childhoods. The flashbacks usually involve Shawn and Gus being taught a lesson by a young Henry Spencer (Shawn's father) (Corbin Bernsen), who wishes that his son would follow in his footsteps and become a law enforcement officer. These lessons often play a role for the climax of the episode. As a child, Shawn was taught by Henry to hone his powers of observation and deduction, often using games and challenges to test him. Each flashback also sets the theme for the episode.
Shawn originally becomes known as a psychic when, after calling in tips on dozens of crimes covered on the news which help the police to close the case, the police become suspicious of his knowledge, theorizing that such knowledge could only come from the "inside" and unwilling to believe that it is merely Shawn having honed his observational skills. To avoid being sent to jail, Shawn uses those skills to convince the police that he is psychic; though the interim police chief warns Shawn that if his "powers" are fake, he will be prosecuted. With no choice but to keep up the act, and having proven himself an effective aid to the police in solving crimes, he establishes a
Head detective Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson), playfully nicknamed "Lassie" by Shawn and Gus, quietly comes to respect Shawn's crime-solving skills despite doubting his psychic abilities; Lassiter is constantly exasperated by Shawn keeping investigations ongoing and/or infuriated by Shawn's antics. However, junior detective Juliet "Jules" O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) and Chief Vick (Kirsten Nelson) are far less antagonistic – with O'Hara expressing belief in Shawn's abilities while Vick is mum on the subject – and usually willing to give Shawn the leeway he needs to solve cases. Henry and Shawn have a difficult relationship, but despite this, Henry reluctantly helps Shawn on various occasions.
Characters
Main
- Shawn Spencer (James Roday) is a freelance consultant with the Santa Barbara Police Department who pretends to be a psychic.
- Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill) is Shawn's best friend and business partner.
- Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) is the head detective for the Santa Barbara Police Department.
- Juliet "Jules" O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) is a junior detective for the Santa Barbara Police Department partnered with Lassiter.
- Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen) is Shawn's uptight and precise father and a former police sergeant.
- Shawn (and Gus) of the Dead" (main seasons 2–8, recurring season 1).
- Lucinda Barry (Anne Dudek)[a] is Lassiter's original partner and love interest in the pilot, she is transferred after Shawn tips off her relationship with Lassiter to the Santa Barbara Police Department (season 1).
Recurring
- Young Shawn (seasons 1–5: Liam James; seasons 5–6: Skyler Gisondo) is the younger version of Shawn Spencer.
- Young Gus (Carlos McCullers II) is the younger version of Burton "Gus" Guster.
- Buzz McNab (Sage Brocklebank) is a naive but lovable cop who often provides Shawn and Gus with clues.
- Madeleine Spencer (Cybill Shepherd) is a police psychologist who is Shawn's mother and Henry's ex-wife.
- Abigail Lytar (Rachael Leigh Cook) is Shawn's high-school crush.
- Winnie Guster (Phylicia Rashad) is Gus' mother.
- Bill Guster (season 2: Ernie Hudson; season 3: Keith David) is Gus' father.
- Mr. Yang (Ally Sheedy) is a serial killer.
- Mary Lightly (Jimmi Simpson) is a department psychologist who is an expert on Mr. Yang.
- Woody the Coroner (Kurt Fuller) is a police coroner with whom Shawn shares a mutual respect.
- Pierre Despereaux (Cary Elwes) is an extremely elusive international art thief.
- Declan Rand (Nestor Carbonell) is a rich criminal profiler.
- Marlowe Viccellio (Kristy Swanson) is a woman Lassiter meets and later marries.
- Curt Smith (himself) is the singer of the band Tears for Fears.
- Frank O'Hara (William Shatner) is Juliet's estranged father.
- Rachael (Parminder Nagra) is Gus' girlfriend.
- Lloyd French (Jeffrey Tambor) is Juliet's stepfather.
- Harris Trout (Anthony Michael Hall) is a special consultant hired by the mayor to increase efficiency at the SBPD.
- Betsy Brannigan (Mira Sorvino) takes over as the new head detective when Lassiter is promoted to chief.
- Father Wesley (Ray Wise) is a Catholic priest and friend of Shawn and Gus.
Episodes
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | Network | |||
1 | 15 | July 7, 2006 | March 2, 2007 | USA | |
2 | 16 | July 13, 2007 | February 15, 2008 | ||
3 | 16 | July 18, 2008 | February 20, 2009 | ||
4 | 16 | August 7, 2009 | March 10, 2010 | ||
5 | 16 | July 14, 2010 | December 22, 2010 | ||
6 | 16 | October 12, 2011 | April 11, 2012 | ||
7 | 14 | February 27, 2013 | May 29, 2013 | ||
Psych: The Musical | December 15, 2013 | ||||
8 | 10 | January 8, 2014 | March 26, 2014 | ||
Psych: The Movie | December 7, 2017 | ||||
Psych 2: Lassie Come Home | July 15, 2020 | Peacock | |||
Psych 3: This Is Gus | November 18, 2021 |
Production
The show uses White Rock, British Columbia, Canada for its Santa Barbara, California setting.[16]
Casting
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (December 2021) |
Anne Dudek's character was written out of the series after the character generated a negative test audience reaction with Lassiter due to their relationship. Maggie Lawson was cast as Juliet O'Hara to serve as a replacement.[17][18]
Theme song
The theme song for Psych is "I Know You Know" by The Friendly Indians, series creator Steve Franks's band. Some episodes in seasons three through eight use an extended version of "I Know You Know" consisting of the first verse and the chorus,[19] but most episodes use a shortened version consisting of mostly the chorus. In some episodes, the theme song is changed, usually as a tie-in to the theme of the episode to come.
Variations of the theme song include:
- A Christmas-themed version in "Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy" (2x10), "Christmas Joy" (3x09), and "The Polarizing Express" (5x14)
- A Spanish-sung version in "Lights, Camera... Homicidio" (2x13) and "No Country for Two Old Men" (7x04)
- A Bollywood-themed version sung in Hindifor "Bollywood Homicide" (4x06)
- An a cappella version recorded by Boyz II Men in "High Top Fade-Out" (4x07) and "Let's Doo-Wop It Again" (6x13)
- A version recorded by Curt Smith for "Shawn 2.0" (5x08)
- A version sung by Julee Cruise in "Dual Spires" (5x12)
- A superhero-themed version in "The Amazing Psych-Man & Tap-Man, Issue 2" (6x04)
- A The Shining-inspired version for "Heeeeere's Lassie" (6x11)
Pineapple
In the "
Series finale aftershow
Following the series finale on March 26, 2014, USA Network aired a live aftershow entitled "Psych After Pshow." The hour-long special was hosted by Kevin Pereira and featured series stars and creator/executive producer Steve Franks.[22]
Release
Syndication
In July 2011,
Home media
Title | Ep # | Region 1 | Region 2 | Region 4 |
---|---|---|---|---|
The Complete First Season
|
15 | June 26, 2007 | April 24, 2008 | April 30, 2008 |
The Complete Second Season
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16 | July 8, 2008 | June 7, 2010 | March 3, 2010 |
The Complete Third Season
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16 | July 21, 2009 | February 21, 2011 | March 2, 2011 |
The Complete Fourth Season
|
16 | July 13, 2010 | July 18, 2011 | August 22, 2012 |
The Complete Fifth Season
|
16 | May 31, 2011 | May 21, 2012 | September 5, 2013 |
The Psych-O-Ween Collection | 4 | September 11, 2012[25] | TBA | TBA |
The Complete Sixth Season
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16 | October 16, 2012 | July 26, 2013 | August 14, 2014 |
The Complete Seventh Season
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14 | October 8, 2013 | July 11, 2016 | TBA |
Psych: The Musical | 4 | December 17, 2013[26] | TBA | TBA |
The Eighth and Final Season
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10 | April 1, 2014[27] | TBA | TBA |
The Complete Series | 120 | October 7, 2014[28] | TBA | TBA |
The Complete Collection | 120, 1 Movie | July 3, 2018[29] | TBA | TBA |
Reception
Ratings
Psych scored a 4.51 rating and an average of 6.1 million total viewers at its premiere, which made it the highest-rated scripted series premiere on basic cable in 2006 in all key demographics (households, P18-49, P25-54, and total viewers), according to a USA Network press release, quoted from the Futon Critic.[4]
Season | Timeslot ( ET )
|
Episodes | Premiered | Ended | TV season | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Date | Premiere Viewers (in millions) |
Date | Finale Viewers (in millions) | ||||
1
|
Friday 10:00 pm (July 7, 2006 – February 20, 2009) | 15 | July 7, 2006
|
6.06[30] | March 2, 2007
|
4.48[31] | 2006–2007 |
2
|
16 | July 13, 2007
|
4.33[32] | February 15, 2008
|
4.70[33] | 2007–2008 | |
3
|
16 | July 18, 2008
|
4.89[34] | February 20, 2009
|
4.83[35] | 2008–2009 | |
4
|
Friday 10:00 pm (August 7, 2009 – October 16, 2009)
Wednesday 10:00 pm (January 27, 2010 – March 10, 2010) |
16 | August 7, 2009
|
3.98[36] | March 10, 2010
|
2.95[37] | 2009–2010 |
5
|
Wednesday 10:00 pm (July 14, 2010 – May 29, 2013)[b]
|
16 | July 14, 2010
|
3.69[38] | December 22, 2010
|
2.90[39] | 2010 |
6
|
16 | October 12, 2011
|
3.00[40] | April 11, 2012
|
2.71[41] | 2011–2012 | |
7
|
14 | February 27, 2013
|
2.94[42] | May 29, 2013[b]
|
2.18[43] | 2013 | |
8
|
Wednesday 9:00 pm (January 8, 2014 – March 26, 2014)
|
10 | January 8, 2014
|
2.28[44] | March 26, 2014
|
1.93[45] | 2014 |
Nominations and awards
Psych was the winner of the
Other media
Novels
Author | Title | ISBN | Publication date |
---|---|---|---|
William Rabkin | A Mind Is a Terrible Thing to Read | 0-451-22635-6 | January 6, 2009 |
Mind Over Magic | 0-451-22744-1 | July 7, 2009 | |
The Call of the Mild | 0-451-22876-6 | January 5, 2010 | |
A Fatal Frame of Mind | 0-451-23159-7 | August 3, 2010 | |
Mind-Altering Murder | 0-451-23252-6 | February 1, 2011 | |
Chad Gervich | Psych's Guide to Crime Fighting for the Totally Unqualified | 1-455-51286-9 | May 7, 2013 |