This season of Psych may set a record for number of guest stars and remixes of the theme song, arguably two of the things I look forward to in each episode. Sometimes these additions to the episodes help to spice things up and for the most part in the most recent episode, “Hip Hop Fade Out” I think it helped or at the very least didn’t distract from watching. This week’s theme song was done a capella, fitting for the episode’s multiple occurrences of singing. As a special treat to some the song was performed by Boyz II Men, not necessarily one of my favorite groups but I’ll admit the theme was done really beautifully, well, considering it is a thirty second t.v. theme song.
As for guest stars today featured not one, but two. First up was Kenan Thompson who currently can be seen on Saturday Night Live although anyone who would have been young enough to watch Snick and Nickelodeon in the 90’s would recognize him from Kenan & Kelalong with All That. Probably more well known to some was Jaleel White best known for playing Urkel on Family Matters. I never really watched any of his shows so I personally wasn’t as excited to see him but I felt White did an especially good job with his role and fit right in on the show. Thompson was definitely less so but it may just have been the role of the less bright friend was not as interesting or original.
Both Thompson and White played old friends and bandmates of Gus into this episode. The action starts with what may be one of the best, and only, car-bike chases I have seen on tv in a long time. The man running in none other than the fourth member of the former a capella group, known to friends as Diddle. He has witnessed some sort of crime, although at the time what exactly it is not revealed and is on the run from the perpetrators. Diddle uploads the evidence into an email entitled “It’s so hard to say goodbye” and sends it out right before the viewers witness him being strangled to death.
We first meet up with Shawn and Gus who are entering the church funeral service. Here it is revealed that Gus along with his other former band mates will sing in memorial, much to the joy of Shawn who will spend the rest of the episode attempting to convince them to allow him to join their group. As usual for the show Shawn spots a few members in the audience who seem suspicious but as of yet we don’t know what is up.
After the service the band bickers, a constant throughout the episode and tries to hire Shawn and Gus to solve the case. Although the viewers know that Diddle was murdered the SBPD is convinced it was a hit and run as the autopsy seems to reveal. Shawn agrees to the case and follows the routine crime solving that is loved by fans of the show before the ending is revealed.
There were a few moments that were definitely good to see. First off, there was a lot of singing and luckily for the most part the entire cast seems to sing well. I would especially applaud Dule Hill and Jaleel White who both did great jobs considering they are known for acting and not professional singing. James Roday too was fine, not necessarily as good but he sure seems to have a high level of enthusiasm that helps even weak jokes bring a laugh.
I also saw a little character development, or at the very least some less nonsensical l reactions for the situations. Shawn and Gus had their normal joking moments but also a few times of actual caring where they revealed their fear they would lose their close connection like Gus did with his fellow members of ‘Blackapella‘. The police department acted more realistic when they put their foot down and did not allow Shawn and Gus on a dangerous case which makes a lot more sense than the usual procedure of anything goes. When it comes down to it unarmed citizens really should not be allowed to search nearly vacant warehouses in the middle of nowhere without some repercussions. Probably one of the more amusing scenes took place in the Spencer household where Shawn and Henry were able to do a little agreeing and bonding while watching everyone else argue over meaningless history. Watching those two guys on the couch enjoying the show reminds me of past arguments I’ve witnessed.
This was a great episode, probably not one of my favorites of all time but it had many moments that will be memorable for a long time to come. The extra use of music was nice and if the writers of Psych are able to create a legitimate reason for a musical episode I think after watching this I’d be willing to give it a shot. This episode is definitely a great step in the right direction and what fans love to see in the show.
