TV - psych
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Scraps: Once in a great while a drama comes along that’s entertaining, funny, smart, and just downright well written. USA’s new drama ‘psych’ is in the dreaded 10pm Friday night slot, but I’ll tell you what, it’s better than most of the prime-time midweek fluff from this season. I’m sold on this gem.

Rufus: I couldn’t agree more Scraps. Seeing the commercials I decided to give it a shot. What I found was a perfect follower to Monk. While quite different in their characters; the humor, mystery and the “ah-HA!” moments are just as strong. Why don’t you give our Bums a set up of the show Scraps. You tend to do this much better than myself. What is psych?

Scraps: Shawn has an amazing eye for detail, and an incredible memory. While these facets would make for a great police officer, like his overbearing father (played by the always great Corben Bernsen), Shawn instead drifts from job to job, helping out the police when he can and collecting reward money. All this changes one day when he helps by providing information on a robbery, and while at the police station collecting his reward, he’s cornered by a detective that thinks his ‘inside’ information is a little too close to be that of an innocent bystander.
Being a quick thinking guy, Shawn explains that he’s psychic. The acting chief brings him on to help with a kidnapping case, and Shawn (with help from his partner and terrific straight-man Gus) are soon hunting down clues to find a missing young man. The pilot leaves us with Shawn starting his own private detective company, and dragging Gus along for the ride.

Potential? Tons. With the twist of a fake psychic, and his amazing perceptive abilities, ‘psych’ can rehash/refresh oodles of old detective stories and make them fun again.

Rufus: Again I agree. This does have much potential. If the following episodes are anything like the premiere then I am hooked.

One of the great things about this show is the characters. We get Corben Bernsen as Shawn’s father playing the role of the disappointed kind. You know that he is proud of Shawn, but he would never admit it. Watching Corben Bernsen and Shawn’s James Roday go back in forth was great chemistry and could bring engaging future moments.

Speaking of chemistry Shawn’s straight man partner Gus is another great highlight of the show. Seeing him run out of a room screaming in a high pitch nature due to his anxiety issues was priceless.

Scraps: Classic stuff. Now, granted, we’re only one episode into the season, but this promises to be some great drama this summer. It’s got a great hook, some terrific characters, and the possibilities for stories are endless. You can count me in for future viewings.

I’d be willing to say that this is a solid 4 ½ can show, and recommend it to fans of Monk (who will be on USA anyways) and police drama fans that are getting a little tired of the Law & Order machine.

Rufus: Amen Scraps. I don’t want to rate this as perfect, because it is only the first episode and it could go downhill, so I will also give it a solid 4 ½ cans. Good thing I have no social life, because now I have something to watch on Fridays.

Added:  Tuesday, July 11, 2006

Related Link:  USA's psych page
Language: eng[ Did you find this review helpful?  Yes  No ]
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