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Psych is an American criminal comedy-drama mystery television series created by Steve Franks and broadcast on USA Network. It stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened observational skills"[1] and impressive detective instincts allow him to convince people that he solves cases with psychic abilities. The program also stars Dulé Hill as Shawn's best friend, straight man and reluctant partner Burton "Gus" Guster, as well as Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's captious father, Henry.
The series airs new episodes in the US on Wednesdays at 10PM ET/PT on USA Network. During the second season only, an animated segment was added to the series titled "The Big Adventures of Little Shawn and Gus". Psych debuted on Friday, July 7, 2006, immediately following the fifth season premiere of Monk, and continued to be paired with the series until its conclusion on December 4, 2009. It was the highest-rated US basic cable television premiere of 2006.[2] William Rabkin has written three books that tie in with the series.[3][4]Psych ended its fourth season on March 10, 2010. The first half of season 5, consisting of nine episodes, premiered on July 14, 2010 and will end on September 8, 2010 with a "mid-season" or "summer finale". The series will be replenished with the first of the final seven episodes of season 5 in early 2011.[5]
Flashbacks begin most episodes. These flashbacks show that Henry Spencer wished that his son would follow in his footsteps and become a law enforcement officer. In preparation, Henry helps Shawn hone his powers of observation and deduction, often using games and challenges to test him. Each flashback also sets the theme for the episode, based on the challenge Shawn's father presents him.
Shawn originally becomes known as a psychic when, after calling in a tip on a crime covered on the news, the police become suspicious of his knowledge. Theorizing that such knowledge could only come from the inside, they are going to arrest him as a suspect when he uses his observations to convince all present that he is psychic. 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, he becomes a psychic consultant to the police. Pretending to have psychic powers allows him to engage in strange and comic behavior as he turns real clues into hunches and otherworldly visitations. He enjoys teasing lifelong friend Gus, a pharmaceutical representative, over his eclectic interests.
Head detective Lassiter doubts Shawn's psychic abilities and is constantly exasperated by his antics. Contrarily, junior detective O'Hara and Chief Vick are more willing to go along with the charade to solve cases. Henry Spencer and Shawn have a difficult relationship. Despite this, Henry reluctantly helps Shawn on numerous occasions.
The first season comprised fifteen episodes and ran on USA Network from July 7, 2006 to March 2, 2007.
The second season, comprising sixteen episodes, began airing on July 13, 2007. The second half of season 2 began on January 11, 2008, with the season finale airing on February 15, 2008.
The third season, comprising sixteen episodes, began airing on July 19, 2008[10] with the mid-season break episode (which was Christmas themed) airing on November 28, 2008. The second half of the season 3 began on January 9, 2009, with the season finale airing February 20, 2009.[11]
Psych's fourth season, which was announced on October 10, 2008, premiered on August 7, 2009. The ninth episode, or "fall finale", aired on October 16, 2009. New episodes for season 4 resumed on January 27, 2010 and the entire season concluded on March 10, 2010.
Season 5 premiered on July 14, 2010 and will have its "mid-season" or "summer finale" on September 8, 2010.
The show uses White Rock, British Columbia, Canada for its arid Santa Barbara, California setting.[12]Psych also incorporates Vancouver and various locations around the Lower Mainland of British Columbia as a backdrop. Santa Barbara is on a mountainous coastline without bays and just has the few Channel Islands miles offshore. Many of the overlooking helicopter shots and set up shots (in which the exterior of the Santa Barbara Courthouse is shown) are actually filmed in Santa Barbara. The animated segments "The Big Adventures Of Little Shawn And Gus" were created by J.J. Sedelmaier Productions, Inc. The music, effects and sound design for "The Big Adventures Of Little Shawn And Gus" were created by Fred Weinberg. USA also offers a contest for each episode online in which you have to see the episode and find the "hidden pineapple" and submit your entry online.
Production for season 5 began on April 28, 2010 in Vancouver.
The theme song for Psych is "I Know You Know" by The Friendly Indians, series creator Steve Franks' band. Some episodes in Season 3 and 4 use the extended full-length version of "I Know You Know", but most episodes use the usual, shortened version.
Curt Smith of Tears for Fears will guest star in a Season 5 episode and rerecord the theme song.[13]
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.[14]
From the San Jose Mercury News:
From the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
William Rabkin has written and published three novels based on the series, with at least two more due to be published in the future. The novels are written in third person narrative style and are notable for retaining the original energy of the show.
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