USA Network Picks Up Hit Series 'Psych' for Third Season
Network Orders 16 Original Episodes of Friday Night Ratings Phenomenon
NEW YORK, Sept. 19 -- USA Network has placed a third
season order for 16 episodes of its character-driven hit series, PSYCH. The
one-hour light hearted drama, starring James Roday, Dule Hill, Corbin
Bernsen, Maggie Lawson, Timothy Omundson and Kirsten Nelson, is executive
produced by Steve Franks ("Big Daddy"), in association with Tagline
Pictures' Kelly Kulchak and Chris Henze and Universal Media Studios. The
announcement was made today by Jeff Wachtel, USA's executive vice
president, original programming.
"We are thrilled to bring PSYCH back for a third season," said Wachtel.
"The series has been a critical and ratings sensation since it premiered
last summer and continues to gain new viewers and grow its fan-base."
PSYCH has been a ratings success since its debut in the summer of 2006,
becoming last year's #1 new show in all of cable. The ratings
accomplishments have continued through this summer. Along with its Friday
night companion series MONK, PSYCH led USA to win the summer on Friday
nights in P25-54 and P18-49. PSYCH is currently averaging 4.6 million total
viewers, 2.3 million in P25-54 and 2.1 million in P18-49, with a 3.4
household coverage rating in the first half of the show's second season.
PSYCH has been the #1 series on cable in its timeslot for the summer,
beating its competition by 126% in P18- 49 and 120% in P25-54 as well.
PSYCH made USA the #2 network in all of television second only to ABC
during its time slot.
PSYCH centers on Shawn Spencer (Roday), who possesses uncanny powers of
observation honed by his police officer father, Henry (Bernsen), who
drilled young Shawn to note even the smallest details of his surroundings.
When Shawn is accused of committing the crime that he actually solved for
the police department (by calling in a tip), he finally convinces the cops
that he's a psychic. With the reluctant assistance of his best-friend Gus
(Hill), Shawn starts solving cases for an ever-skeptical - but grudgingly
impressed - police force. The series also stars Timothy Omundson, Maggie
Lawson and Kirsten Nelson.
USA NETWORK is cable television's leading provider of original series
and feature movies, sports and entertainment events, off-net television
shows, and blockbuster theatrical films. The #1 network in basic cable, USA
Network is seen in nearly 94 million U.S. homes. The USA Network Web site
is located at http://www.usanetwork.com. Characters Welcome.
USA Network is a program service of NBC Universal Cable a division of
NBC Universal, one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies
in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and
information to a global audience.
SOURCE USA Network
http://www.usanetwork.com/
