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I'll admit, subsequent my
early review for "Psych," I decided to give the series
an agreeable shot in the dark, and lo and behold, in
spite of pretty bad reviews, it's a rather entertaining
series. In spite of a few episodes in the first season
which were considerably flat, "Psych" is still an
amusing quasi-detective series. In a world of dark and
grim series with dead bodies, and rapes, it's a slight
relief to watch a series where a man spends a few days
solving the mystery of the missing wedding ring. In
either case, the show was a hit for USA, and I've heard
it's because of the rave review from "Cinemusings." Hey,
a guy can dream, can't he? "Psych" is back for a second
season, and there's really not a beat missed. as usual,
Shawn Spencer, our resident slacker sleuth is on a
murder mystery coming across a childhood authority
figure, played by Kurtwood Smith, who is convinced
there's been a vicious murder, in spite of his
Alzheimer's. At risk of making himself look like the
fool, he decides to look into the case in spite of his
father's insistence that he give the "hunch" a rest.
Dule Hill is on hand yet
again as Gus, the foil to Shawn's shenanigan's, and
Corbin Bernsen is the moral center constantly
challenging Shawn. But the episode is disappointing in
its elements with many rather flat gags including Shawn
and Gus pretending to be African zoologists, and Gus
having to eventually deliver a Warthog baby. The writers
still can't seem to fix the problem "Psych" suffered in
the first season, meandering from the actual plot and
mystery progression in favor of goofy awfully
predictable gags and scenarios that are hardly ever
funny. While the season premiere is entertaining, the
writers still can't stop being so predictable. I look
forward to see what the rest of the season has to offer.
Meanwhile, "Monk" returns
for its fifth season on the USA Network, being teamed
with "Psych," and Monk is on the case of a murder of a
local woman, and restaurant owner. When a new friend
named Hal interrupts Monk's life, his friends attempt to
find out his motives, and Hal reveals he's not the nice
guy he makes himself out to be. Andy Richter is menacing
as the criminal who befriends Monk, and seeks to attempt
to rig his own case. Monk's obsession with having a
friend in him is an utter misfire with his quirky
obsession being nothing more than a rehashed plot device
we've seen in sitcoms long ago. Shalhoub and company are
entertaining, and the premiere is pleasing for what it
promises.
-
Felix Vasquez Jr.
1/18/07
Premiering on the USA Network January
19th. Check Local Listings. |
