Psych: 3.1 ‘The Ghost in You’ Advance Review

For two seasons now, viewers have been enjoying the best-buds schtick between Psych stars James Roday and Dulé Hill, tempered with insight into why Roday’s Shawn Spencer acts the way he does, courtesy of those very special moments (much sarcasm intended) between the crime-solving fake psychic and his stern ex-cop father Henry Spencer (Corbin Bernsen). Since most things get old at one point, however, especially on television, it’s time to give the show’s fans more. Thankfully, judging by the entertaining July 18 third-season premiere “The Ghost in You,” Psych intends to do just that.

More what, you ask? Well, for starters, more Burton “Gus” Guster (Hill), as in a better look at what Shawn’s best friend and fellow non-professional detective does when he’s not busy playing second banana. We’ve always known that, unlike his lazy childhood pal, industrious Gus is actually a working man with a successful, full-time corporate job at a pharmaceutical company.

Yet, that employment security is threatened on “The Ghost in You” when Gus’ boss, Mr. Haversham (ubiquitous Christopher MacDonald), gets a whiff of his employee’s extracurricular sleuthing. The boss is more interested in the supernatural-flavored cases that Gus and Shawn have tackled, specifically the museum mummy disappearance from last season’s finale, which has made local headlines. Eager to rid his own home of a spook so terrifying it forced his wife to flee, Mr. Haversham makes a demand Gus had better meet if he doesn’t want serious upheaval in his career soon.

The other “more” viewers get during the premiere has been widely reported, namely the arrival of Shawn’s never-before-seen mother at last in the form of Moonlighting icon Cybill Shepherd. A criminal psychologist named Madeline Spencer, mom is lending a hand to Santa Barbara law enforcement, a gig that leads to some very funny sessions with resident SBPD grouch Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter (Timothy Omundson).

Those scenes don’t rival the Spencer reunion, though, if only because it’s been so long in the making, we can barely believe it’s finally taking place with the matriarch present in the flesh. The dynamic between son and parents is interesting and enjoyable enough in itself; having so much Gus in the mix simply makes the episode twice as fun and funny.

Regardless of whether you think Psych is a worthy comedy with a touch of drama or just plain stupid, if you don’t laugh at the scene when Gus tries to kick Shawn off the premises of his job, you’re funny bone must be permanently broken. I know Shawn’s the star, but more than anything else, “The Ghost in You” leaves me hoping the series has much more Gus action planned for this season.

Psych airs Fridays on USA at 10pm EST.