Fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his pals finally return to TV when the new season of USA's "Psych" premieres at 10 p.m. Wednesday after a nearly 11- month absence. (Alan Zenuk |USA Network photo)
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While the midseason return of "The Walking Dead" on Feb. 10 was the highlight of my month, the Season 7 kickoff of "Psych" is a close second.
With "The Walking Dead," I only had to wait nine weeks for it to return. For "Psych," it's been 45. That's far too long to go between new Shawn & Gus adventures, but finally, the wait is over. The show returns to USA at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
If you are unfamiliar, "Pysch" follows the adventures of fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend, Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill). It's a buddy-cop comedy full of irreverent humor with plenty of '80s references (including its great guest stars) and goofy dancing.
Using Shawn's superior observational skills -- which he passes off as psychic visions -- they work as consultants to the Santa Barbara Police Department, collaborating with detectives Juliette O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) and Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson). They also get help from Shawn's dad, retired cop Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen) and police chief Karen Vick (Kristen Nelson).
One of the things I am most excited for this season is the show's 100th episode. It's an homage to one of my favorite movies, "Clue," including appearances by three of the movie's stars: Christopher Lloyd (Professor Plum), Martin Mull (Colonel Mustard) and Lesley Ann Warren (Miss Scarlet). Sadly, it seems that Tim Curry (Wadsworth), who appeared on the show in Season 2, is not involved.
I'm also looking forward to the musical episode. However, creator Steve Franks has said it will air as a special later in the year, as opposed to being part of the season.
"Psych" already has been renewed for an eighth season, which will tie it with "Monk" for the longest-running original series on the network. Right now, that season is only eight episodes, so there's speculation that it might be the last.
Even if it is, that gives us plenty of time before we have to say goodbye, and I don't need one of Shawn's visions to tell me that time will be full of fun.
•••
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- While the midseason return of "The Walking Dead" on Feb. 10 was the highlight of my month, the Season 7 kickoff of "Psych" is a close second.
With "The Walking Dead," I only had to wait nine weeks for it to return. For "Psych," it's been 45. That's far too long to go between new Shawn & Gus adventures, but finally, the wait is over. The show returns to USA at 10 p.m. Wednesday.
If you are unfamiliar, "Pysch" follows the adventures of fake psychic detective Shawn Spencer (James Roday) and his best friend, Burton "Gus" Guster (Dulé Hill). It's a buddy-cop comedy full of irreverent humor with plenty of '80s references (including its great guest stars) and goofy dancing.
Using Shawn's superior observational skills -- which he passes off as psychic visions -- they work as consultants to the Santa Barbara Police Department, collaborating with detectives Juliette O'Hara (Maggie Lawson) and Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson). They also get help from Shawn's dad, retired cop Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen) and police chief Karen Vick (Kristen Nelson).
One of the things I am most excited for this season is the show's 100th episode. It's an homage to one of my favorite movies, "Clue," including appearances by three of the movie's stars: Christopher Lloyd (Professor Plum), Martin Mull (Colonel Mustard) and Lesley Ann Warren (Miss Scarlet). Sadly, it seems that Tim Curry (Wadsworth), who appeared on the show in Season 2, is not involved.
I'm also looking forward to the musical episode. However, creator Steve Franks has said it will air as a special later in the year, as opposed to being part of the season.
"Psych" already has been renewed for an eighth season, which will tie it with "Monk" for the longest-running original series on the network. Right now, that season is only eight episodes, so there's speculation that it might be the last.
Even if it is, that gives us plenty of time before we have to say goodbye, and I don't need one of Shawn's visions to tell me that time will be full of fun.
•••
Scripted series premieres: "Burning Love," 10 p.m. Monday, E! (dating show parody); "Golden Boy," 10 p.m. Tuesday, CBS (unremarkable cop drama about a hotshot detective; watch the pilot at cbs.com now).
Other series premieres: "Upload with Shaquille O'Neal," 10:30 p.m. Thursday, TruTV (viral video and pop culture commentary); "Robot Combat League," 10 p.m. Tuesday, Syfy (shadow boxing humans control giant fighting robots); "Armed & Ready," 10 p.m. Tuesday, Travel (a double amputee's extreme adventures); "Boston's Finest," 9 p.m. Wednesday, TNT (the lives of Boston cops); "Stranded," 10 p.m. Wednesday (paranormal fans are left in haunted locales).
Season premieres: "Yukon Men," 10 p.m. Friday, Discovery; "Celebrity Wife Swap," 8 p.m. Tuesday, ABC; "Duck Dynasty," 10 p.m. Wednesday, A&E.
Season finales: "Suits," 10 p.m. Thursday, USA; "Gold Rush," 8 p.m. Friday, Discovery; "CSI: NY," 9 p.m. Friday, CBS (possible series finale); "Vanderpump Rules," 9 p.m. Monday, Bravo; "Bunheads," 9 p.m. Monday, ABC Family; "Top Chef," 10 p.m. Wednesday, Bravo.
Specials: "Glory Hounds," 8 p.m. Thursday, Animal Planet (spotlighting military dogs); "Sister Rosetta Tharpe: The Godmother of Rock & Roll," 9 p.m. Friday, PBS2 (gospel singer/guitar virtuoso who influenced many guitar greats); "Argo: Inside Story," 10 p.m. Saturday, Discovery; "Vanity Fair's Hollywood," 10 p.m. Saturday, CBS (with Tom Hanks, Ben Affleck and more); The Oscars, 8:30 p.m. Sunday, ABC (red carpet at 7 p.m. on NBC, 5:30 p.m. on E!); "Doctor Who: The Doctors Revisited," 8 p.m. Sunday, BBC America (highlights the second doctor); "Nick News: What the Frack?" 8 p.m. Monday, Nickelodeon (explaining hydraulic fracking).
Of note: Leslie and Ben get married on a one-hour "Parks and Recreation," 8:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC; Bruce Campbell on 1600 Penn," 9:30 p.m. Thursday, NBC, and Elizabeth Banks on "Modern Family," 9 p.m. Wednesday, ABC.
Pre-emption: University of Kentucky basketball pre-empts NBC primetime from 8 to 10 p.m. Wednesday.
Reach Amy Robinson at flips...@wvgazette.com.
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