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Phantom of the Suck It. Review: Psych: The Musical

Air Date: Sunday, December 15, 2013, 9/8c on USA.

Rating: ★★★★★

You can read my spoiler free version HERE

I cringed when it was first announced Psych was doing a two-hour musical episode. As someone who hasn’t seen Les Miserables, an episode of Glee or any one of the seemingly endless music inspired television shows, I had little interest in a musical episode—especially one that is two hours long. As the air date got closer I started hearing Tim Curry’s voice as his character Nigel St. Nigel from the “American Duos” episode, mocking the cast for even considering doing a musical This feels like a desperate jumping the shark moment to get publicity for Psych.

I remained skeptical during the opening number, “Santa Barbara Skies” but then Shawn (James Roday) and Gus (Dule Hill) approach Henry (Corbin Bernsen) who gives my favorite line of the night (as they try to convince him to sing).

Henry: “Ya, not happening.”

While some would enjoy hearing Henry sing, it’s one of those lines that so perfectly fit his character, it works not having him sing. Right there I broke down laughing, let some of my guard down, and by the time I’ve Heard It Both Ways comes around I realized I was enjoying Psych: The Musical.

The success of Psych: The Musical hinges on Roday who carries the episode with a level of seriousness, giving it a legitimate feel without losing the familiar Psych humor. A lot of credit also goes to the show’s creator Steve Franks, who directed and wrote all of the songs. Franks is no stranger to music especially, since it’s his band Friendly Indians that perform the show’s theme song “I Know You Know.”

Music has always had a strong influence on the show and who can forget the “Don’t You Forget About Me” and “Ebony and Ivory” commercials staring Shawn and Gus. But my fear was the musical would be closer to a two-hour version of the less than stellar singing we saw from Shawn and Gus in “American Duo’s.” and I wasn’t sure the cast could pull it off. We knew Roday and Hill had it in them but I was impressed by the talents of Lassitor (Timothy Omundson) and Woody (Kurt Fuller). While the two won’t be going on tour any time soon, they seem to have fun and give it their best.

As a non-musical person, I appreciate how the episode has the right balance  of singing and acting. Instead of the music being stuffed down your throat it feels more like an added layer of scenery. The big production numbers in the beginning have a huge feel to them. Some are outdoors and involve several extras. By the second half, the songs become more scaled down in production which fits because the scenes are in a theater. This gives the numbers more of an intimate sense, also helping the writers to focus on the story. Either way, you feel like there is an orchestra just outside of the camera’s view.

Psych: The Musical does pose a few continuity issues for fans given the musical was filmed over a year ago. The biggest things that stand out are Vick (Kirsten Nelson) is still the Chief, and Juliet doesn’t know Shawn’s secret yet. Given some of the events in the musical, we know it takes place after season four but before Henry gets shot at the end of season six.

The only things that do not work are the cut-a-ways to the narrator and the book that is supposed to help drive the narrative. While I get the explanation at the end as to why this was done, it still doesn’t work because it has a silliness to it that does not fit the rest of the episode.

Psych: The Musical is a risk that pays off and could help revitalize not only the fans but the series. While I admit I approached the musical negatively, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed it. And weeks after first seeing it, songs are still stuck in my head, which for once is a good thing.

There are 16 songs listed in the soundtrack but several are continuations of a song while others are only one or two lines that are sung rather than spoken. My favorites in order were “I’ve Heard it Both Ways,” “Often it’s the Opposite,” and “Santa Barbara Skies”.

Random thoughts;

  • For a show that has done several versions of the theme song including a Christmas, Spanish, Bollywood, an homage to Twin Peaks, A Cappella, Tears for Fears, and Superhero versions of the theme song, how come nothing special for the Musical?
  • How fun is it to see the return of Mary (Jimmi Simpson)? The way and reasoning for bringing him back I found to be oddly touching.
  • Cybill Shepherd was noticeably missing despite having recorded 12 albums between 1974 and 2005
  • When Psych ends maybe Gus and the Jamaican Inspector can get a spin-off show of their own. Hopefully the writers will at least use him again on a case during season eight.

Tweet me @staffaroadtrip or leave a comment below to let me know what you think about Psych: The Musical and what was your favorite song.

 

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All photos © 2013 USA Network, a division of NBC Universal, Inc. All Rights Reserved

 


Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.

Greg Staffa

I provide testosterone to the site. You won’t be reading about how nice a actress looks in a dress or how much of a hunk Matt Bomer is in my reviews. I describe colors using words like brown, not taupe. My twitter name is @staffaroadtrip because I love road trips and have done two different 48-state road trips since 2008. My favorite show is White Collar.