# Psych - The Musical! **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 15, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408 "2013-12-15T20:44:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 15, 2013, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/1 "2013-12-15T20:44:02Z")
**Psych The Musical** airs tonight–it’s a two-hour special episode. The new season begins airing on January 8. [Promo from James Roday and Dule Hill.](http://www.usanetwork.com/psych/features/musicalcountdown) I know musical episodes are kind of played out, but I’ve been looking forward to this one. I hope they deliver. The cast is always breaking out into song during those “psych out moments” that they air during the closing credits, so this seems like a natural fit for them. I hope we get to see Henry singing and dancing. And Chief Vick, though the way they left things with her last season I’m not sure. Oh, and I’m sure they’ll have a special version of the opening theme–can’t wait for that! ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/2 "2013-12-16T00:20:42Z")
_Psych_ is one of my favourite shows. It’s a great shame that Season 8, which starts proper next month, is likely the last. ---
**Author:** ![Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a88e4f/32.png) [@Digital\_is\_the\_new\_Analog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Digital_is_the_new_Analog)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/3 "2013-12-16T02:10:11Z")
My DVR noticed it on my behalf. (good DVR…good job.) I’m a little torn about a two hour musical episode, but I’ll give it a shot. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/4 "2013-12-16T03:13:28Z")
How did they justify the singing in the realm of the show? ---
**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/5 "2013-12-16T04:39:39Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > How did they justify the singing in the realm of the show? It was all very silly. I’m torn - I had high hopes, but I left feeling a little let down. ---
**Author:** ![txtumbleweed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/278dde/32.png) [@txtumbleweed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/txtumbleweed)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/6 "2013-12-16T05:04:41Z")
The plotline held me, but the musical numbers felt forced and I don’t think they would be missed had they not been included. None of the songs are exactly memorable or really seem to capture the characters the way, say, “Guy Love” did. Will miss Yang, thought she was a good foil for Shawn Disappointed they didn’t work the theme in as one of the songs. Looking forward to seeing Bruce Campbell as a guest star this season. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/7 "2013-12-16T06:56:49Z")
> [@me](#): > > I hope we get to see Henry singing and dancing. “Yeah, not happening.” Aww, too bad, but that line made me :D. > [@](#): > > And Chief Vick, At least we got that 🙂 > [@](#): > > Oh, and I’m sure they’ll have a special version of the opening theme–can’t wait for that! Well, darn. They just played the normal theme after the opening musical number. I guess I’m 1 for 3. > [@txtumbleweed](#): > > The plotline held me, but the musical numbers felt forced and I don’t think they would be missed had they not been included. None of the songs are exactly memorable or really seem to capture the characters the way, say, “Guy Love” did. > > Will miss Yang, thought she was a good foil for Shawn > > Disappointed they didn’t work the theme in as one of the songs. I agree–the story was solid and Ally Sheedy was great again as Yang. I loved the scene where Woody the coroner was flirting with her. But the music was mostly forgettable. I did like the song early in the show that was mostly Shawn and Lassie–“_I’ve heard it both ways…_” ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/8 "2013-12-16T07:05:43Z")
Haven’t seen it yet, but it’s safely captured on the DVR. I love me some \*Psych \*with quite a passion, but I fear this musical foray will suck royally. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/9 "2013-12-16T07:09:40Z")
> [@Mahaloth](#): > > How did they justify the singing in the realm of the show? A few different ways 1 - Some of the singing was just unexplained–characters breaking out into song as they tend to do in musicals 2 - Yang (who’s crazy) had vital information about the case, but she made Shawn and Gus sing and dance before she would give them each clue. 3 - The case they were working revolved around the production of a musical about Jack The Ripper. Shawn and Gus make brief, impromptu appearances in one of the performances. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 12:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/10 "2013-12-16T12:34:16Z")
Barry Bostwick: “Janet.” “Audra!” “Damn it!” ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/11 "2013-12-16T16:41:58Z")
> [@GuanoLad](#): > > Barry Bostwick: “Janet.” “Audra!” “Damn it!” That was cute. My wife had to stop the DVR and back it up – “Did they just make a Rocky Horror reference??” I was a little disappointed that they didn’t give Kirsten Nelson more singing to do, as she seems to have the best voice of the cast. Yes, of course, it was highly silly and implausible. It’s Psych, for pete’s sake. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2013, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/12 "2013-12-16T19:22:08Z")
Yes, some good moments: the Rocky Horror reference; Henry’s demur; and I liked seeing Mary, again–St. Peter’s assistant, was he? I have a lot of goodwill for this show, but I suspect this episode didn’t get the same level of care that some of their other ‘theme’ shows have had. The fact that Franks didn’t want to imitate successful musical-episodes such as Buffy’s (by having a consistent rationale for the singing that explained all the bursting-into-song) was understandable. But I don’t think the ‘some songs are justified and some just happen’ result really worked. (Yes, supposedly they were all justified by the “frame device” shown at the end of the episode…but for me that fell a little flat.) The ep is definitely worth watching for fans. But I wouldn’t use it to introduce a newbie to the show. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/13 "2013-12-17T16:40:56Z")
Finally watched it. Didn’t suck as hard as I feared, but definitely forgettable. I did like Henry’s line. And I thought Woody’s number was the best of the musical interludes. What is it with Gus and the Jamaican thing? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/14 "2013-12-17T17:24:22Z")
> [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > What is it with Gus and the Jamaican thing? I’m going to guess it’s because Dulé Hill is of Jamaican ancestry (he was born in New Jersey, to Jamaican parents). ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/15 "2013-12-17T17:37:38Z")
It was better than I expected, mostly because they made sure there was plenty of “book” between the songs. No breakaway pop hits, but musically solid with decent lyrics. Not bad at all. And I was tickled to see Anthony Rapp, because just last month I saw him in the Washington DC premiere of a new Broadway-bound musical (_[If/Then](http://www.ifthenthemusical.com/)_). I was confused, though: didn’t Juliette find out about Shawn’s fake psychic-ism last season? Yet there was a reference in the beginning of the episode to him having not told her yet…? > [@Sherrerd](#): > > But I don’t think the ‘some songs are justified and some just happen’ result really worked. I kind of liked it. 🙂 > [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](#): > > What is it with Gus and the Jamaican thing? Wasn’t that what he came up with as a way to explain a black inspector being in 19th century London? ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tim_r.mortiss/32/142_2.png) [@Tim\_R.Mortiss](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_R.Mortiss)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/16 "2013-12-17T20:00:05Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > …Wasn’t that what he came up with as a way to explain a black inspector being in 19th century London? You are correct, in this particular episode. But he seems to have a standing “thing” about doing a Jamaican voice, so I assumed it was something deeper. \*\*Kenobi \*\*is probably correct. ---
**Author:** ![Achren](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/898d66/32.png) [@Achren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achren)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/17 "2013-12-17T20:06:05Z")
> [@Misnomer](#): > > I was confused, though: didn’t Juliette find out about Shawn’s fake psychic-ism last season? Yet there was a reference in the beginning of the episode to him having not told her yet…? IIRC, this was originally due to be aired in the midst of last season. Tried a quick Google search, but all I found was this from [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psych:_The_Musical): > [@](#): > > “Psych: The Musical” takes place before the events of the Psych episode ““Deez Nups””, putting this episode out of chronological order from the rest of season 7. Juliet does not know Shawn is not a psychic and Gus is not dating Rachel. ---
**Author:** ![Misnomer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/misnomer/32/14897_2.png) [@Misnomer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Misnomer)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2013, 9:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/18 "2013-12-17T21:16:38Z")
> [@Achren](#): > > IIRC, this was originally due to be aired in the midst of last season. Ahhh! Thanks. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/19 "2013-12-18T03:37:45Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > A few different ways > > 1 - Some of the singing was just unexplained–characters breaking out into song as they tend to do in musicals > > 2 - Yang (who’s crazy) had vital information about the case, but she made Shawn and Gus sing and dance before she would give them each clue. > > 3 - The case they were working revolved around the production of a musical about Jack The Ripper. Shawn and Gus make brief, impromptu appearances in one of the performances. 4 - The whole thing was just Shawn’s fictionalized account of events while trying to pitch a musical to the writer who they proved had been falsely accused while using an oddly Once Upon A Time like book (even titled Once Upon A Time) that chronicled the events. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2013, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408/20 "2013-12-18T04:13:28Z")
Here’s a weird thing. The [narrator](http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0155093/) of the storybook sequences was the Director of the Hannah Montana movie. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/psych-the-musical/676408.md?page=2)