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. 

How Dead is Cable TV? Part II

Which groups do we target next? Cable television still has its perks but it's not always in a good spot. How about some Disney and NBCUniversal channels? All of this courtesy of ctv.kwayisi.com by the way.

Disney has a lot of stuff given their acquisition of Fox a couple of years ago. Fox News has dropped a bit at 31 percent for a year's span, but is still a leading channel in ratings. They don't bow to the same things CNN does. Fox Sports 1 has had a one year drop of 26 percent. Eventually, Skip Bayless and Colin Cowherd get tiring for some and the sports aren't all that interesting when they do get them. The rest of that brand are very small, though Business has had struggles.

The FX brand is one of the more interesting ones. But title name for the channel has dropped in average views in years. While a 14 percent decline compared to last year is small, it's nearing an average 200 thousand. Too many of the same movies airing all the time if I had to guess. No syndicated stuff other than Mike and Molly (and even that gets monotonous) and not enough original stuff. A 13 percent decline for FXX and an average of nearly 100 thousand. Kind of the same situation, but with a few other shows for syndication. Their idea from eight years ago is slowly dropping real badly. And FX Movie Channel is really small, but suffering a bit at the moment. Can't comment too much on it.

It'll be hard to determine what Disney's number have that are truthful. But their Channel and Junior channels have not suffered greatly at 7 and 1 percent compared to where they were last year. XD has dropped a bit at 23 percent. Outside of Christmas stuff, Freeform keeps struggling. A 17 percent decline is not horrible, but not good. Maybe less Shrek airings (lots of other films, too) and having a few other shows in syndication would be beneficial.  I'm surprised they have National Geographic. It's at a 24 percent decline, but it fluctuates wildly. This could rebound just a little. It's Wild channel hasn't struggled at only 2 percent.

The sports ain't doing good. ESPN has done better, but a 300 plus percent increase isn't spectacular if they can't hold on to their audience. Fluctuation the key factor. Same with ESPN 2. Even for as small as the College Sports channel is, it's done better. I'd imagine it will do even stronger numbers this upcoming fall.

NBCUniversal has a bit of channels. CNBC had a huge boost last year, probably because of the pandemic. Compared to last year, it's at a 26 percent decline. Still, people will watch it for the stocks. MSNBC's decline is like Fox News, though numbers are just behind Fox. They must be doing something grand if they aren't reaching CNN's low numbers. In terms of entertainment, Bravo has seen fluctuation, but a downward slope now. Same with the E! channel. They both roughly air the same films and not enough original stuff they re-air (though less Kardashian crap is good. Need more Modern Family reruns and other syndicated shows.)

I didn't know they had Oxygen. Whatever the case,  an 18 percent decline with some fluctuation. That can also be applied to SyFy. I know standards are low for the channel in recent years, but if Harry Potter can't save them, what can?  USA Network does better than most cable channels, but has a 10 percent decline. They have stepped up in movies aired, something I haven't seen to this extent in at least 15 years or more. But they are very much the Dick Wolf network with Law and Order and whatever Chicago show they have airing constantly. Eventually, you burn out.

NBC Sports Network will be gone after this year. The 700 plus percent increase does not save the problems it had from last year. With ups and downs, Golf Channel has been getting an interest for now with over 60 percent of an uptick. As it stands, Disney has a lot more at stake with what they got from Fox. I know the Internet is used more, but the channels are suffering the most from them compared to NBCUniversal. Speaking of them, they can recover at any point. But I don't expect viewers to stick with them consistently. Who do you think would survive longer? 

Psych is Back: TV Movie for USA

Once a cable show is finished, odds are it's never going to get repeats unless you are obsessed with airing it like Chappelle's Show, which Comedy Central can't get over the cancellation in 2005 with 30 episodes. I feel the USA Network doesn't care about their original shows and acquired shows that aren't Law and Order and NCIS. That being said, they are going back to really the show that gave them more shows. Come December, there's going to be a new thing for Psych.

A summer show in July 2006, Psych followed the adventures and shenanigans of Shawn Spencer, played by James Roday. Shawn is a slacker who has a photographic memory thanks to police officer dad, Henry, who trained him to know every little detail in hopes of him being a cop. When he reports a crime and is believed to be the second criminal, he makes the fib that he is a psychic. With his buddy, Burton "Gus" Guster, the two work together, willingly or unwillingly, to help the Santa Barbara Police Department and outsmart bumbling lead detective Carlton Lassiter.

What makes Psych such a liked show is that it does the opposite. It's not your typical crime show where its ultra serious and there's no personality to anybody. For the show, it's filled with a lot of humor, wisecracks, and lots of 80s references. (though not as abusive about it like Family Guy) The characters all fit together in that sense of setting aside their differences and finding that criminal of the week while Shawn and Gus blunder their way through certain things. TVline put up a report last week that USA has given the green light for a television movie that will be set around the holidays.

The Christmas episodes were definitely some of the show's highlights. I'm expecting nothing less than a typical episode. The description that is mentioned is basically someone personal is being targeted. TVline reported that it is being written by Roday and the show's creator, Steve Franks. Roday will also reprise Shawn, as will Dule Hill as Gus. All six main cast members are slated for this project in the article. Timothy Omundson  and Corbin Bernsen are expected to be back as Lassiter and Henry. As will Maggie Lawson and Kirsten Nelson as Juliet O'Hara and Chief Karen Vick. Whether there's going to be some other big guest stars from the past returning is a matter of who was written into the script. Psych managed to get some big names to appear. That really came into full force when they got stars like Tim Curry and John Amos for their second season

The writers weren't afraid of pulling punches. All the main characters have had brushes with death almost. It's still a crime show, but ones that came very close were in the middle of the shows run. Case in point, watch the season finales from season three through six. That being said, it's nice USA hasn't completely forgotten about one of their shows. Especially at a time when their biggest shows prior to July 2006 were Monk and whatever WWE wrestling programs they had.

Even though the show has been off the air for over three years, it felt like Psych ended with an open ending that could lead to bringing it back for specials. In an era where everything is ultra serious with dull uninspired characters, it will feel like a breath of fresh air in December like it was when it debuted over a decade ago. Bring on the pineapples.