James and Dule talk Psych
Psych is coming back! Starting on July 18th, the comedy starring James Roday and Dule Hill will be returning to USA Network with all new episodes. The third season of this series looks to be a very interesting one, as viewers will finally get to meet Shawn Spencer’s long-lost mother as well as get to see a more dramatic side of the character … something we got a taste of during the last few episodes of last season.
The two stars of Psych got together with the press last week to touch on a number of subjects. Topics included a preview of the upcoming season, a discussion about the duo’s “Ebony & Ivory” commercial, Roday’s appearance on the NBC anthology Fear Itself, and the never-ending 1980s references that the two spout during each episode.
The “Ebony & Ivory” promotion for Psych: Doing the promo was a lot of fun, according to Dule Hill, who plays Burton ’Gus’ Guster on the show. They had very little time to memorize the song before shooting began, perhaps maybe fifteen minutes. Once the shoot began, Hill didn’t realize that the Stevie Wonder portion of the song was so high.
For James Roday, who plays Shawn Spencer on the show, his main concern was that they were going to be making fun of these two rock icons. However, after he and Hill watched the original video, they realized that they were just emulating what McCartney did on the video rather than mocking it. And, for the record, the song still lingers in their memories since the shooting ended.
Cybill Shepherd: Roday says Cybill Sheppard, who will portray Shawn’s mother in the season three premiere and will have a recurring role this season, was very professional and happy to be on the set with them. James was also impressed that Shepherd was able to anchor the episode in a dramatic way when she came in and really didn’t know anybody on the set. According to James, Sheppard stepped up, had fun, and accomplished what needed to be done in the opening scene.
The upcoming season: “Our self-imposed mandate for this season was 20% more of everything”, said Roday. “So, you’re going to get 20% more action, 20% more comedy, 20% more drama, 20% more emotional grounding.” James continued by saying that viewers will be seeing a few new layers peeled back on Shawn’s character that will reveal a bit more about his family history. He will also be more serious, especially during the season premiere.
In terms of episode conten,t there will be one that features more stunts than all of the other episodes combined, and another, directed by James himself, that will pay tribute to the Friday the 13th series of films. As to guest stars, in addition to the before mentioned Cybill Sheppard as Shawn’s mother, and Steven Weber as Shawn’s uncle, actors Rachael Leigh Cook, Ted Lange, Jeff Fahey, Gary Cole, and Christopher McDonald will also make appearances.
Shawn and Henry: When asked about Shawn and Henry Spencer’s relationship this season, Roday said that the appearance of Shawn’s mother will shine a new light on the their past and reveal that some truths may not be as accurate as he once thought. After that, the two will take their relationship one day at a time. James thinks that he and his father (played by Corbin Bernsen) will still have their problems, but they will be moving towards a mutual understanding of each other.
Will Gus’s parents be returning this season?: Hill doesn’t know if Ernie Hudson and Phylicia Rashad will be returning as Gus’s parents this season. However, there is a chance that viewers will be meeting one or two of his siblings this year.
Fears of messing with the current format of the show: When asked if there was a little fear when it came to some of the new stuff coming up this season, Hill believed that there wasn’t much. “I think with any long-running TV show, you have to continue to challenge yourself to improve on what you’ve done,” said Dule. “Otherwise, you’ll get stale.” Hill added that these changes were the only way to keep the show exciting for the audience as well as the actors.
The’ 80s references: The writers definitely add their own references, said Roday. But, he added, by the time it reaches him and Hill they have some additional ’80s references to throw in as well. In the end, they end up with a good mix of everyone’s favorite references. James concluded by saying that there is a bounty of ’80s references still available and they won’t be drying up any time soon.
Improvising Gus and Shawn’s conversations on Psych: While the shooting schedule is very intense, both Roday and Hill do have leeway as to how much improvisation goes into their dialogue. Roday says that this spontaneity is something that the fans appreciate and, if it’s not broke, don’t fix it. They will continue to take what is written on the script and mold it into the flavor that fans have come to expect of the show.
Shawn’s flirtation with Jules (Maggie Lawson): The continued flirtation between Shawn and Santa Barbara Police Detective Juliet O’Hara will still remain a part of the show. They’ll continue to dangle the question of “will they or won’t they” in front of viewers until the cast gets too uncomfortable with it. At that point they’ll pull back and see what happens.
Roday and Lawson on Fear Itself: “Fear Itself was just sort of a fun little gag that we did because John Landis directed it and he’s worked with us a couple times on Psych,” said Roday. “And, it was sort of an opportunity to do something that was very, very different than what we do on the show but still with John.” Roday added that the roles that he and Lawson played on Fear were as far from Shawn and Jules as you could go from these characters.
Dule moving from The West Wing to Psych: For Hill, it was a great change of pace. “After being in the White House and working on the drama for seven years, I didn’t really want to go do another drama. And Psych was exactly what I had wanted to do.”
Any crossover opportunities with other USA shows?: Hill certainly hopes so. He mentioned that their have been talks about crossing over with Monk, but there is nothing set in concrete yet. Roday added that Monk would be the obvious companion for them since both private investigators are based in the same state.
Finally,
Will the pineapple be showing up this season on Psych?: A resounding “absolutely” from both actors, with Hill adding, “We love our pineapple.”
Fear Itself: In Sickness and in Health
When I got the chance to review this week’s episode of Fear Itself, I was pretty excited. Firstly because I knew it starred James Roday and Maggie Lawson from Psych, and secondly because it was directed by John Landis.
While I admit that Landis’ directorial offerings in the theater have been less than stellar in recent years, he still holds a special place in my heart for being the man who brought us Trading Places, The Blues Brothers and Animal House. I was also excited to see how Landis, Roday and Lawson do with a different type of script than the one they worked together on with Psych.
I was hooked almost from the beginning. I almost fell asleep during the setup about the wedding being “too soon’ and all the bridesmaid junk, but once Lawson opened the note and the great theme music kicked in I was ready to go.
The only word I can use to describe the first fifteen minutes of the episode is uneven. I loved how Landis used the innate creepiness of the church and its decorations to weird me out, but seeing Roday deliver his lines the exact same way as Shawn Spencer made it hard to believe his character. Lawson, on the other hand, was emoting so little that I couldn’t figure out what her character was thinking at all. I never thought I would be in such a hurry to see the cigarette smoking man.
Another nice scene was between Lawson and her bridesmaids after the wedding. The way Landis used the angled mirror was very cool to see. Unfortunately, it completely overshadowed the lackluster storytelling. Between the phoned-in performances of the stars and the thick Canadian accents of the co-stars, I wasn’t sure which was making me more uninterested.
What’s worse is I had figured out the twist by the half-way point, so I didn’t even have that to keep me going. My only hope was that Landis had put in a “See you next Tuesday Wednesday” somewhere for me to find.
With ten minutes to go in the episode, I couldn’t have been more disappointed. If I wasn’t obligated to finish watching the episode, I most likely would have bailed right then and there. The whole situation is quite sad, really, because I wanted this show to be good.
In my many years of watching TV, I have noticed that anthology shows seem to be an undying staple of American television. I suppose it has something to do with the early days when it was a lot easier to get some writers and actors to work on one project for the week and then be done with it. As far as supernatural or horror anthology series go, it’s clear that The Twilight Zone is the standard by which all others are judged, but since the day TZ debuted, no other show has even come close.
There have been a few series with a decent episode here and there. Amazing Stories had its moments, and there are those that have a fondness for The Outer Limits, but shows like Darkroom, Monsters, Nightmares & Dreamscapes and both of the updated Twilight Zone abominations have all been supremely sub-par.
It’s clear to me that Fear Itself is no better. When the ending came and Lawson revealed that she was, in fact, the serial killer, I wasn’t surprised. I was, however, angry that none of the other questions got answered. Without going through the entire list, how about we just find out why Lawson’s character was so afraid of her groom when she knew all along that she was the killer and not her husband?
This episode was a failure to say the least, but the saddest part is that I will still watch next week in hopes that it gets better.
Lily Allen Steps Out After Miscarriage
Lily Allen Steps Out After Miscarriage
With the weight of her recent tragic miscarriage still looming, UK songstress Lily Allen decided it was time to emerge from her self-induced hiding and get some fresh air.
The “Smile” singer was spotted last night in London, England as she went out for a night on the town with a few pals. And her courage was inspiring as she tried her best to look positive.
They started with dinner at The Ivy, and Lily looked beautiful in a blue dress with stockings and matching strappy shoes.
After the meal, Allen and her entourage moved the festivities to the nearby Groucho Club. But rather than party the night away, she only stayed for fifteen minutes before saying her goodbyes and exiting quickly.
The cast of I Love Money speaks
So, you’ve seen this already if you watch VH1’s blog like a hawk (like I do!). I circle that website like a shark stalking a boogie boarder. Anyway, they have the entire cast of I Love Money giving interviews there now. They just added the last video yesterday.
In the interviews, the skanks and manks (translation: a male skank) of celebreality give their thoughts on their original shows, their strategies for this season of I Love Money and how much they love money.
I have some highlights for you after the jump. But, when you get a chance, check these videos out.
Here’s some of the more scandalous / entertaining things they said:
- 12 Pack hoped he finished second on I Love New York. He never wanted her; he only wanted to extend his fifteen minutes.
- Brandi C. from Rock of Love 1 had a short-lived career as a porn star post-Bret.
- If she wins, Megan Hausermann will build a room with a glass ceiling so that when it’s cold out, she can still tan.
- Real didn’t know the bachelorette he’d be competing for was New York. Neither did Mr. Boston, who thought it was going to be Hoopz.
- Nibblz will have a dungeon added to her home if she wins the money. I don’t want to know. I’m not asking.
I Love Money is coming this July to VH1.