It is a major bummer because despite my distaste for the genre (musicals began and ended with Grease in this reviewers opinion), if there was one show that I thought would be able to pull this off it would be the USA network’s longest running program. This is a case of a great idea on paper turning into an absolute mess that meanders around without reason for two full hours. Instead of trying to incorporate the music into the usual jokes they reverse the formula making it feel awkward and completely out of place. A definite “A” for effort but a clear case of the “hot trend” in TV not working on an otherwise terrific show. Psych: The Musical is set against the Santa Barbara theater scene and a play called Ripper that went under because of a psychotic playwright named “Z” who was institutionalized for the murder of a critic that bashed his opus…or something to that effect. Like I said, it’s really murky just what exactly is happening because you are so focused on waiting for someone to break into song at any given moment. At one point the playwright is singing during a rehearsal of his musical…which makes things all the more confusing. Somehow, Z is put away with none other than Yang (played by Ally Sheedy) in years prior. She does her loopy best as usual but it is just not enough to lift the cloud that circles this production. Neither Jules or Lassie seem like they even want to be in the episode and are fine taking a back seat to Shawn & Gus’ tired numbers that try their very best to squeeze as many Psych-isms into the lyrics as possible. It just comes off as hacky. I have to admit that this is really tough for me to write because it isn’t every day that your favorite show royally disappoints you. It is as if the guys have finally confronted a situation that they just cannot charm their way out of…and that situation is musical theater. The halts from singing to dialogue and back and forth really prevent any continuity or momentum from being established. Basically it doesn’t really “pick a lane.” Is it a musical or a regular murder mystery? It doesn’t really commit to either. Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for all news updates related to the world of geek. And Google+, if that’s your thing!
