The fifth season of ''

Psych ''Psych'' is an American detective comedy-drama television series created by Steve Franks for USA Network. The series stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young crime consultant for the Santa Barbara Police Department whose "heightened o ...

'', consisting of 16 episodes, premiered on

USA Network USA Network (or simply USA) is an American basic cable television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of Comcast's NBCUniversal. It was launched in 1977 as Madison Square Garden Sports Network, one of the first national sports ...

in the United States on July 14, 2010 and concluded on December 22, 2010. A DVD of the season was released on May 31, 2011. Production officially started in

Vancouver, British Columbia Vancouver is a major city in Western Canada, located in the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia. As the List of cities in British Columbia, most populous city in the province, the 2021 Canadian census recorded 662,248 people in the cit ...

on April 28, 2010.

James Roday James Roday Rodriguez (born James David Rodriguez; April 4, 1976) is an American actor, director, and screenwriter. He is best known for portraying Shawn Spencer, a hyper-observant consultant detective and fake psychic, in USA Network series '' ...

Dulé Hill Karim Dulé Hill (; born May 3, 1975) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as personal presidential aide and Deputy Special Assistant to the Chief of Staff Charlie Young on the NBC drama television series ''The West Wing'', for wh ...

Timothy Omundson Timothy Michael Omundson (born July 29, 1969) is an American actor. He is notable for his supporting roles as Sean Potter on the CBS television series ''Judging Amy'', Eli on the syndicated series '' Xena: Warrior Princess'', Carlton Lassite ...

Maggie Lawson Maggie Lawson (born August 12, 1980) is an American actress who is best known for her role as Detective Juliet "Jules" O'Hara in the television series ''Psych'', and its subsequent film series. From 2018 to 2019, she held the recurring role of ...

Corbin Bernsen Corbin Dean Bernsen (born September 7, 1954) is an American actor and film director. He appeared as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series ''L.A. Law'',

and

Kirsten Nelson Kirsten Nelson (born October 3, 1970) is an American actress and director best known for her role as police chief Karen Vick on the TV series ''Psych''. Early life and education Kirsten Nelson was born in Enid, Oklahoma and raised in Chicag ...

all reprised their roles as the main characters.

Production

Steve Franks Steve Franks is an American screenwriter, director and musician based in Orange County, California. He is best known as the creator of the USA Network original series ''Psych''. Education Franks graduated from the University of California, Irv ...

continued in his role of

showrunner A showrunner is the top-level executive producer of a television series. The position outranks other creative and management personnel, including episode directors, in contrast to feature films, in which the director has creative control over th ...

. "I Know, You Know", performed by The Friendly Indians, continued to serve as the show's theme song, though the title sequence was changed four times. For the episode " Romeo and Juliet and Juliet", the main titles were translated into Chinese. For " Shawn 2.0", guest star

Curt Smith Curt Smith (born 24 June 1961) is an English singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist, and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland ...

recorded an interpretation of the theme, and

Julee Cruise Julee Ann Cruise (December 1, 1956 – June 9, 2022) was an American singer and actress, known for her collaborations with composer Angelo Badalamenti and film director David Lynch in the late 1980s and early 1990s. She released four albums beg ...

performed a slower extended version for "

Dual Spires "Dual Spires" is the 12th episode of the fifth season of the American comedy-drama television series ''Psych'', and the 75th episode overall. The episode was directed by Matt Shakman and written by Bill Callahan and series star James Roday Ro ...

". The theme song used originally for " Gus's Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy" in the second season was used once again for " The Polarizing Express". Curt Smith also recorded an original song, entitled "This is Christmas", for the episode.

Mel Damski Melvin Damski (born July 21, 1946 in New York, New York) is an American director and producer of film and television. Life and career Mel Damski (born in New York, New York) is an American film director and film producer. Damski has Northern Euro ...

directed four episodes for the season, while Steve Franks directed two.

John Badham John MacDonald Badham (born August 25, 1939) is an American film and television director, best known for directing the films ''Saturday Night Fever'' (1977), ''Dracula (1979 film), Dracula'' (1979), ''Blue Thunder'' (1983), ''WarGames'' (1983), ...

, Andrew Bernstein,

Jay Chandrasekhar Jayanth Jambulingam Chandrasekhar (born April 9, 1968) is an American comedian, film director, screenwriter, actor and editor. He is best known for his work with the sketch comedy group Broken Lizard and for directing and starring in the Broken ...

Tawnia McKiernan Tawnia McKiernan is an American television director and producer. Since the mid-1990s she has amassed a number of directorial credits. She is also the daughter of late television producer Stephen J. Cannell.

Matt Shakman Matt Shakman is an American director and former child actor. He produced and directed ''WandaVision'' and has directed episodes of '' The Great'', ''It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia'', '' Fargo'' and ''Game of Thrones''. He also directed the up ...

, and

Stephen Surjik Stephen Surjik (born 1960) is a film and television director, and producer. He is known for his work on the film ''Wayne's World 2'', the Marvel Television series '' Daredevil'' and ''The Punisher'', the Netflix series ''The Umbrella Academy'' ...

directed one episode each. David Crabtree and

Reginald Hudlin Reginald Alan Hudlin (born December 15, 1961) is an American director, screenwriter, and producer. Along with his older brother Warrington Hudlin, he is known as one of the Hudlin Brothers. From 2005 to 2008, Hudlin was President of Entertainmen ...

joined the series to direct one episode each.

Andy Berman Andrew Mark Berman (born February 24, 1968) is an American actor, director, producer, writer, and comedian. He is best known for his role as Dib Membrane in ''Invader Zim'', Dennis in '' The Jamie Foxx Show'' (1996-1997), Chuck in '' The Wonder ...

began his directing career with the episode "Dead Bear Walking". Berman also wrote four episodes for the season. Bill Callahan wrote four as well, while Steve Franks, Saladin K. Patterson, and James Roday wrote three. Kell Cahoon and Tim Meltreger wrote two episodes each.

Cast

continued to play fake psychic detective

Shawn Spencer Shawn Spencer is a fictional character and main protagonist on the American television comedy-drama ''Psych'' and the sequel film series of the same name played by American actor James Roday Rodriguez. Taking advantage of his eidetic memory a ...

. Burton "Gus" Guster returned, portrayed by

returned as Head Detective Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter, while

continued to portray Juliet "Jules" O'Hara.

Corbin Bernsen Corbin Dean Bernsen (born September 7, 1954) is an American actor and film director. He appeared as divorce attorney Arnold Becker on the NBC drama series ''L.A. Law'',

remained in his role as Henry Spencer, who, as of the first episode, had returned to the SBPD part-time.

continued to portray SBPD Chief

Karen Vick This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock streaming service. The principal cast o ...

Sage Brocklebank Sage Brocklebank (born January 14, 1978) is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Buzz McNab, a long-standing role on the comedy-drama ''Psych''. He also produces movies and writes for theatre and film. Career Actor Since 2001 Brockleban ...

returned as Officer

Buzz McNab This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock streaming service. The principal cast o ...

Kurt Fuller Kurt Fuller (born September 16, 1953) is an American character actor. He has appeared in a number of television, film, and stage projects. He is known for his roles in the films ''No Holds Barred'' and ''Ghostbusters II'' (both 1989), ''Wayne' ...

returned as Woody the Coroner, and

Liam James Liam James (born August 7, 1996) is a Canadian actor, known for his role as Noah Curtis in the 2009 film ''2012'', young Shawn Spencer on the USA Network television series ''Psych'', and the lead character, Duncan, in 2013's ''The Way, Way Back ...

and Carlos McCullers II reprised their roles as young Shawn and young Gus, respectively. Liam James was abruptly replaced midway through the season by

Skyler Gisondo Skyler Augustus Gisondo (born July 22, 1996) is an American actor. He is known for his roles in the films ''Licorice Pizza'', ''Booksmart'', and ''Vacation'', as well as the television programs ''Psych'', '' The Righteous Gemstones'', and ''Sant ...

Nestor Carbonell Nestor may refer to: * Nestor (mythology), King of Pylos in Greek mythology Arts and entertainment * "Nestor" (''Ulysses'' episode) an episode in James Joyce's novel ''Ulysses'' * Nestor Studios, first-ever motion picture studio in Hollywood, L ...

appeared in two episodes as Declan Rand, a criminal profiler who briefly dates Juliet. Jerry Shea appeared in two episodes as well, as Ken, an assistant for the ''Psych'' offices. In the mid-season premiere,

Cary Elwes Ivan Simon Cary Elwes (; born 26 October 1962) is an English actor. He starred as Westley in ''The Princess Bride (film), The Princess Bride'' (1987), and also had lead roles in films such as ''Robin Hood: Men in Tights'' (1993) and the Saw (fr ...

returned as Despereaux, and

Peter Oldring Peter James Edward Oldring (born August 25, 1971) is a Canadian actor and comedian. Early life Oldring was born on August 25, 1971, in Drayton Valley, Alberta. He graduated from Sir Winston Churchill High School in 1989 in Calgary, Alberta, ...

and

Ed Lauter Edward Matthew Lauter Jr. ( ; October 30, 1938 – October 16, 2013) was an American actor and stand-up comedian. He appeared in more than 200 films and TV series episodes in a career that spanned over 40 years. Early life Lauter was born and ...

returned as Canadian officers.

Ray Wise Raymond Herbert Wise (born August 29, 1947) is an American actor best known for his role as Leland Palmer in ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, Twin Peaks (season 3), 2017) and its prequel film ''Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me'' (1992). He has appeared ...

returned as Father Westley in a ''

Twin Peaks ''Twin Peaks'' is an American Surrealist cinema, surrealist Mystery film, mystery-Horror film, horror Drama (film and television), drama television series created by Mark Frost and David Lynch. It Pilot (Twin Peaks), premiered on American Broad ...

''-themed

episode An episode is a narrative unit within a larger dramatic work or documentary production, such as a serial (radio and television), series intended for radio, television or Streaming media, streaming consumption. Etymology The noun ''episode'' is ...

. In the

season finale A season finale (British English: series finale; Australian English: season final) is the final episode of a season of a television program. This is often the final episode to be produced for a few months or longer, and, as such, will attempt to ...

Ally Sheedy Alexandra Elizabeth Sheedy (born June 13, 1962) is an American actress. She made her feature film debut in '' Bad Boys'' (1983) and came to prominence as a member of the Brat Pack with roles in '' Oxford Blues'' (1984), '' The Breakfast Club'' ...

returned as

Mr. Yang This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series Psych (film series), of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock (streaming service) ...

and

Peter Weller Peter Francis Weller (born June 24, 1947) is an American actor and television director. He has appeared in more than 70 films and television series, including ''RoboCop'' (1987) and its sequel ''RoboCop 2'' (1990), in which he played RoboCop ( ...

appeared as

Mr. Yin This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock streaming service. The principal cast o ...

(and was revealed to be Yang's father), while

Cybill Shepherd Cybill Lynne Shepherd (born February 18, 1950) is an American actress, singer and former model. Her film debut and breakthrough role came as Jacy Farrow in Peter Bogdanovich's coming-of-age drama '' The Last Picture Show'' (1971) alongside Jef ...

returned as

Madeleine Spencer This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock streaming service. The principal cast o ...

and

Jimmi Simpson Jimmi Simpson (born November 21, 1975) is an American actor. Known for his work across film, television, and theatre, he is the recipient of BAFTA, Primetime Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. Simpson made his feature film debut ...

appeared in videotape footage of Yin/Yang expert profiler

Mary Lightly This is a list of characters in the USA Network original comedy-drama television series ''Psych'' and subsequent sequel film series of the same name, the majority of which have been released to the Peacock streaming service. The principal cast ...

(since Lightly had been killed in the previous season, this marked the first of several post-death appearances for the character). Other notable guest stars for the season included

Kevin Alejandro Kevin Michael Alejandro (born April 7, 1976) is an American actor and director. He has worked steadily in TV since 2003, with some film credits. He is best known to viewers for his roles as Nate Moretta in the TNT crime drama '' Southland'', For ...

Dana Ashbrook Dana Vernon Ashbrook (born May 24, 1967) is an American actor, best known for playing Bobby Briggs on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) and its 1992 prequel film '' Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me''. Early life Ashbrook was ...

, Doron Bell Jr.,

April Bowlby April Bowlby (born July 30, 1980) is an American actress and model. She is known for portraying Kandi on the CBS comedy series ''Two and a Half Men'' (2003–2015), Stacy Barrett on the Lifetime series ''Drop Dead Diva'' (2009–2014), and ...

, Catherine E. Coulson, Tony Cox,

John DeSantis John DeSantis, sometimes credited as John De Santis or John Desantis, (born November 13, 1973) is a Canadian character actor, best known as Lurch on the Fox Family show '' The New Addams Family''."A true rags to riches tale" ''Times Colonist'' ...

William Devane William Joseph Devane (born September 5, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his role as Greg Sumner on the primetime soap opera ''Knots Landing'' (1983–1993) and as James Heller on the Fox serial dramas '' 24'' (2001–2010) and '' ...

Nora Dunn Nora Dunn (born April 29, 1952) is an American actress and comedian. She first garnered popularity during her tenure as a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series ''Saturday Night Live'' from 1985 to 1990. Following her departure from ''SNL'' ...

Sherilyn Fenn Sherilyn Fenn (born Sheryl Ann Fenn; February 1, 1965) is an American actress. She played Audrey Horne on the television series ''Twin Peaks'' (1990–1991, 2017) for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and an Emmy Award. She als ...

Lee Garlington Ann Leslie "Lee" Garlington (born July 20, 1953) is an American actress. Early life Garlington was born in Teaneck, New Jersey on July 20, 1953. She spent her teenage years in Wilmington, Delaware. Career She has guest-starred in a number of not ...

Jon Gries Jonathan Gries ( '; born June 17, 1957) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Uncle Rico in '' Napoleon Dynamite '' (2004), for which he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, the recurring rol ...

, Michael Gross,

Danielle Harris Danielle Harris (born June 1, 1977) is an American actress. She is known as a "scream queen" for her roles in multiple horror films, including four entries in the ''Halloween (franchise), Halloween'' franchise: ''Halloween 4: The Return of Micha ...

John Michael Higgins John Michael Higgins (born February 12, 1963) is an American actor, comedian and game show host whose film credits include Christopher Guest's mockumentaries, the role of David Letterman in HBO's '' The Late Shift'', and a starring role in the ...

C. Thomas Howell Christopher Thomas Howell (born December 7, 1966) is an American actor and director. After making his film debut with a supporting role in ''E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'' (1982), Howell had his breakout with a lead role as Ponyboy Curtis in the c ...

Brian Klugman Brian Klugman (born September 15, 1975) is an American actor, screenwriter, and director. In 2012 he debuted as a co-director with Lee Sternthal on the film '' The Words'', which they both co-wrote as well. Early life Klugman was born and rais ...

, Rob LaBelle,

Don Lake Donald Lake (born November 26, 1956) is a Canadian actor, writer, and television producer. He is frequently cast by director Christopher Guest, and is also a close friend and frequent collaborator of Bonnie Hunt. He had a role in '' The Bonnie ...

Sheryl Lee Sheryl Lee (born April 22, 1967) is an American film, stage, and television actress. After studying acting in college, Lee relocated to Seattle, Washington to work in theater, where she was cast by David Lynch as Laura Palmer and Maddy Ferguso ...

Robyn Lively Robyn Elaine Lively Johnson (born February 7, 1972) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in the 1989 films '' Teen Witch'' and '' The Karate Kid Part III'', as well as the TV shows '' Doogie Howser, M.D.'', ''Twin Peaks'', '' Savanna ...

, Bruce Locke,

Ralph Macchio Ralph George Macchio Jr. ( , ; born November 4, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for portraying Daniel LaRusso in the ''Karate Kid'' films (1984–1989, 2025), a role he reprised in the martial arts series ''Cobra Kai'' (2018–2025). F ...

Angus Macfadyen Angus Macfadyen (born 1963) is a Scottish actor. His roles include Robert the Bruce, both in ''Braveheart'' and ''Robert the Bruce'', Komodo in '' Warriors of Virtue'', Vice-Counsel Dupont in ''Equilibrium'', Jeff Denlon in the ''Saw'' franch ...

April Matson April Matson is an American actress and singer. She is known for her portrayal of Lori Trager on the ABC Family cable television network series ''Kyle XY''. She was also featured on the Fox network television series ''Quintuplets'' alongside ...

Chi McBride Kenneth "Chi" McBride ( ; born September 23, 1961) is an American actor. He has appeared in films, where he is known primarily as a character actor, and in television, where he has had numerous starring roles. In film, he has played prominent ro ...

, Ryan McDonald,

Vanessa Minnillo Vanessa Joy Lachey (née Minnillo; born November 9, 1980) is an American television host, model and actress. She was named Miss Teen USA in 1998. She has been a New York–based correspondent for ''Entertainment Tonight'' and hosted ''Total Req ...

Meredith Monroe Meredith Leigh Monroe (born December 30, 1969) is an American actress best known for portraying Andie McPhee on ''Dawson's Creek'' from 1998 to 2003, her recurring role as Haley Hotchner on ''Criminal Minds'' and Carolyn Standall on ''13 Reasons ...

Becky O'Donohue Becky or Beckie is a feminine given name, often a short form (hypocorism) of Rebecca. It may refer to: People * Rebecca Allison (born 1946), American cardiologist and transgender activist * Becky Anderson (born 1967), British journalist and new ...

Franka Potente Franka Potente (; born 22 July 1974) is a German actress. She first appeared in the comedy film '' After Five in the Forest Primeval'' (1995), for which she won a Bavarian Film Award for Best Young Actress. Her breakthrough came in 1998, when s ...

, Freddie Prinze, Jr.,

Keshia Knight Pulliam Keshia Knight Pulliam (born April 9, 1979) is an American actress. She began her career as a child actress. She landed her breakthrough role as Rudy Huxtable, on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby Show'' (1984–1992), and became the youngest person to ...

, Brad Raider,

Adam Reid Adam Greydon Reid is a Canadian actor, writer, producer and director. Biography Reid attended Ryerson Polytechnical Institute's film program and won the 'Norman Jewison Filmmaker's Award' for his graduating short, ''Token for your Thoughts'', w ...

Adam Rodriguez Adam Michael Rodriguez (born April 2, 1975)"Adam Rodriguez" (2006). ''Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television''. Vol. 71. Detroit: Gale. Accessed via ''Biography in Context'' database, August 7, 2016. is an American actor, screenwriter and ...

Jean Smart Jean Elizabeth Smart (born September 13, 1951) is an American actress. Jean Smart filmography, Her work includes both comedy and drama, and List of awards and nominations received by Jean Smart, her accolades include six Primetime Emmy Awards a ...

Charles Martin Smith Charles Martin Smith (born October 30, 1953) is an American actor, director and writer based in British Columbia, Canada. His breakout role was as Terry "The Toad" Fields in George Lucas' film ''American Graffiti'' (1973), which he reprised ...

, Lauren Lee Smith,

Mena Suvari Mena Alexandra Suvari (; born February 13, 1979) is an American actress, producer, fashion designer and model. The accolades she has received include a Screen Actors Guild Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award, along with nominations for a Primetime ...

Jacob Vargas Jacob Vargas is a Mexican-American actor, producer, and dancer. Early life Vargas was born in Michoacán, and raised in Pacoima, Los Angeles. He was raised in a devout Roman Catholic family. He attended high school at San Fernando High School ...

Lenny Von Dohlen Leonard Harold Von Dohlen IV (December 22, 1958 – July 5, 2022) was an American television, film, and stage actor. With a 40-year career that primarily featured work in independent films and guest appearances on numerous prominent series, he w ...

, and

Carl Weathers Carl Weathers (January 14, 1948 – February 1, 2024) was an American actor, director and gridiron football player. His prominent roles included boxer Apollo Creed in the first four ''Rocky'' films (1976–1985), Colonel Al Dillon in ''Predat ...

Episodes

References

{{Psych Psych seasons 2010 American television seasons