PSYCH Brings the Funny at Comic Con {PHOTOS}

What better way to start off the first day of Comic Con 2012 than by spending an afternoon with the wacky, loveable cast of and creative team for the hit USA Network series Psych, right? That was my experience Thursday at the annual fete in San Diego – a convention that I have been avidly attending for the past 11 years.

The cast – which included Kirsten Nelson, Maggie Lawson, James Roday and Dule Hill – was in high spirits, led by none other than cast member Timothy Omundsen, who acted as the panel’s moderator. As he introduced each cast member, he added a unique moniker for each of them, eliciting big laughs from the packed ballroom. The creative minds in attendance included Executive Producers Steve Franks, Kelly Kulchak and Chris Henze.

The first order of business was a great teaser reel for what to expect when the show returns for its 8th season. Fans can anticipate even more crazy antics from Shawn and Gus as well as seeing a new attitude for Shawn as he works to track down who shot his dad (Corbin Bernsen, who showed up to the “party” a little late, walking onto the stage like a zombie).

While the panel seemed to move by at super-speed, it was jam-packed with jokes, singing (mostly from James and Dule, of course) and hilarious one-liners. Some of the scoops that were provided by the panelists included:

• Jeffrey Tambor (of Arrested Development) will be playing Juliet’s step-dad;
• There will finally be a 2-hour musical movie to air in October, written by series creator Steve Franks;
• Shawn may (or may not) mature a little this season due to his dad being shot and the fact that he has marriage to Juliet on his mind; and,
• A book written by Shawn and Gus entitled “Psych: A Guide to Crimefighting for the Unqualified” will be hitting bookstores soon.

Sadly, the panel had to come to an end, but before we were bid adieu by the cast and creative minds we recorded a “Welcome Home” message for Tim’s cousin whose military brigade was coming home from Afghanistan; and then, a special clip was aired entitled “100 Episodes of Psych in 200 Seconds” that simply brought down the house.

Psych will be back on USA Network soon so make sure you tune in and don’t miss a moment of what will assuredly be a fantastic, laugh-filled season.

Photos: Sarah Girdzius