USA Change: Psych at 15

I do miss when the USA Network wasn't the Dick Wolf network.  They aired their share of movies (they're getting better now, but don't hold your breath on that) and showed respect for a number of original shows. There was WWE, The 4400, and Monk. A couple others but that was it. Kind of falling on the wayside given their past of having tons of original programming. But then you get to Psych, which celebrated 15 years on July 7th. It was a breath of fresh air and a quality show that was like Monk, but with their own takes. Without it, you don't see USA take chances on other pilots.

Created by Steve Franks (his only other credit is Big Daddy), it helped the network. The series focused on Shawn Spencer, a very intelligent man with a photographic memory thanks to his policeman father to look for the very fine details. He reports a crime and unfortunately taken to custody because it involved two criminals. To get out of it, he fakes that he is a psychic. Cue eight years of solving many crimes and going along for the ride. It's comedy enough for the pilot. But it grew and grew. Why did it get the following that it wound up getting?

Part of it I think is that it's not ultra serious. Look at prime time TV. Everyone wanted the next Law and Order or CSI show. There are serious crimes in Psych, but it's much more lighter toned. You get comfortable with the main characters and their pros and cons. Development is seen throughout it and the writers were able to cobble out many humorous moments. But it's not all being a joke. It picked and chose when to be serious, when to crack out the joke. Not 100 percent accuracy, but it landed more than splat. It didn't go overboard with references compared to some shows (cough Family Guy cough)

There is a charm to the show, which is why it has continued on since ending the last episode in 2014. Two films with a third one on the way. Universal knows it owes a lot to the cast and crew of Psych and the cult fanbase that has welcomed it in open arms. It is very much like a Twin Peaks in terms of love, which is fitting given they did an episode in tribute of it. I could go on about more, but I'd like to do a favorite seasons blog of it. Give it some credit at the very least. It made USA more lively and exciting when it wasn't bombarded with Law and Order reruns.