Who Says Mystery Can't Be Funny?
By Yahoo! Shopping User Aug 8, 2008 | 0 out of 1 found this Psych - The Complete Second Season (2007) review helpful
Pros: The chemistry between Dule Hill and James Roday makes for plenty of laughs in every episode.
Cons: Some of the '80's references may go over the heads of some younger viewers.
Dick Wolf, and his company have dominated the airwaves for decades with their brand of drama/thrillers in the Law & Order franchise. Finally, in recent years, the USA Network came along and gave that franchise some competition with "Monk." ...Tony Shaloub is no stranger to the spotlight, as he made his big break in the Men in Black movies, alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Will Smith. Now, USA has scored yet again with another original crime comedy in Psych. This is one of those shows that is a big hit among its own fans, while flying just below the radar. There is an odd irony in the success of both "Monk" and "Psych." That irony lies in that in recent months, both shows were shipped over to NBC and aired on Sunday evenings, being that USA is part of the NBC/Universal conglomerate. Perhaps that temporary shift is what has helped "Psych" enter into its now third season. Fans who may be new to Psych need not worry about catching up, as the first two seasons are now out in stores on DVD boxset. The second season of this hit crime comedy shows just how much the show is growing. The front of the box reads, "All of the law, none of the order." That couldn't be more true, as there are more than enough laughs to go around, all while leaving audiences wondering whodunit. Some of the best laughs are subtle, as in the constant reference to 1980's entertainment. Whether he is using it to solve a case, or simply making some odd reference to the '80's, James Roday's timing is spot on every time. And his comedic timing with his partner, Dule Hill, makes for plenty of laughs. The comedy is not the only sign of this show's growth. There is also the inclusion of guest stars such as Tim Curry, Kevin Sorbo, Gina Gershon, and Curtis Armstrong, among others. When other such well known stars come out to help the budding career of a pair of young actors, that is a tribute to their hard work. Sorbo appears in one of Season 2's best episodes, "Gus's Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy." He (Sorbo) plays a bounty hunter. Hmmmmm, now where have we seen that before? He's competing with Sean and Gus, to get a $50,000 bounty for a wanted killer. All the while, Sean and Gus actually befriend one of the suspects, who is a criminal regardless of the situation. It makes for an odd, yet entertaining, combination. The season opener, "American Duos" is a parody of American Idol. Famed actor and thespian Tim Curry plays a talent judge a la Simon Cowell, who is being targeted for murder. This is a funy episode, but not the funniest of the season. If it were not for Curry guest starring, this episode may have suffered more than it did. In the show's defense, however, it does manage to hold its own even without guest stars. That is evident in later episodes such as "There's Something About Mira", "Lights, Camera...Homicidio", "The Old and The Restless", and "65 Million Years Off." "Monk" came first, yes. USA just released the sixth season of that now hit show to DVD. "Psych" is much younger. It is only in its third season right now. But in watching the second season of this outstanding show, one can only hope that it will be much like its counterpart, and make it to six seasons, or even more. Read more Less
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