I ain't afraid of no ghost! But this haunting episode of Psych really did have me a bit scared! Psych returns this Friday, July 18th with it's third season premiere and it's up there with the first season episode "Scary Sherry: Bianca's Toast" in terms of combination of mystery, laughs, and genuine scares.

The episode picks up where last season ended, with the return of Shawn's (James Roday) mother Madeline (Cybill Shepherd) and Shawn doesn't seem to excited about it. While Madeline and Henry (Shawn's dad) relax downstairs with a bottle of wine Shawn is hiding in his old bedroom talking on the phone to Gus (Dule Hill). We soon learn Henry has known of his ex's return of some time, but never managed to inform Shawn of this information, and Shawn seems none to happy that his dad is trying to monopolize his mother's time. Madeline has been brought back to Santa Barbara to evaluate some of the city's finest. She's a psychologist and one of her charges is the wonderful Carlton Lassiter (Timothy Omundson) which provides for some hilarious therapy sessions.

Meanwhile, Gus is going through some problems of his own, as his bosses at the pharmaceutical company he works for have recently found out about his side job, teaming with Shawn to run Psych, which is of course the name of their (fake) psychic detective agency. His bosses point to the clause in his contract which says that he's not entitled to work anywhere else while employed by them. Gus is given an ultimatum: quit Psych or get fired from his job.

Fortunately for Gus his boss' boss (Shooter McGavin himself, Christopher McDonald), conveniently has a mystery to be solved. It seems his wife thinks their house is haunted and has moved in with her mother until something can be done about it. But the real challenge may be for Gus (a renowned scaredy cat) , who must keep his boss thinking he lives up to his work nickname, "fearless."

The episode reminded me how much I love Psych. Roday and Hill are brilliant as always and the shows mix of comedy and mystery is pitch perfect. My only complaint with this episode is the lack of Maggie Lawson's Juliet, who was seriously underused here. I realize the plots really didn't have a place of her, but she was still missed.

Can Shawn and Gus find out whose behind the haunting, and can Gus do so without showing his true colors? What exactly is Shawn's problem with his dad wanting to spend time with his mom? For these answers and more tune in this Friday on USA at 10/9c.

And for your viewing pleasure the wonderful "Ebony & Ivory" video featuring Shawn and Gus.

Labels: Psych, TV Reviews