Pysch: The Television Show

USA Network debuted the second season of Psych on Friday, January 19th. While I didn't watch it then, thanks to the gloriousness that is DVR, I still got to see it! and I had the ability to fast forward through the commercials. (Nothing like watching an hour show in 42 minutes)

I didn't really start watching the show until the first season was almost over... but had been anticipating the return ever since they closed the last episode by telling the female Police Chief that she shouldn't come back to work until January, as she had just delivered a baby. A very clever line, you have to see it for yourself.

The first episode didn't disappoint either. Guest starring Kurtwood Smith as a man suffering from early onset Alzheimer, Sean and Gus need to help him solve a murder that ties back twenty years. First, if you don't know who Kurtwood Smith is, I suggest checking him out as Red Forman in "That 70's Show" where he played the strict father of Eric, but not without his funny moments... a brownie eating session comes to mind.

But, as many of my posts are about, this time I urge you to watch the show because of the writing and the talented performances of the two leads, James Roday and Dule Hill. The two act as great contrast to one another. James playing the slick and bold Sean, and Dule playing the timid but rational Gus, and how a man pretending to be a psychic can get away with it.

The writing is both witty and clever, and while the premise seems far fetched it delivers in a funny and ultimately fitting way. While the CSIs and Cold Cases are solely dramas that make leaps of logic that baffle the viewer, they still take themselves seriously. Psych pokes fun at the others and itself by making leaps of logic in a strikingly bright and funny way.

I look forward to this season and anticipate that the stories and characters develop. I hope that the writers are up to the task, because if this show loses its fresh and interesting perspective it will lose its viewers... and that would be a shame. While Numbers is in repeats, Psych will be taking viewers, but it will be interesting to see who will win the smart "outside the box" crime shows will match up.

Once again, I thank the geniuses who came up with DVR so I can still watch both.