PulseTUBE – The New “It” Actor

An interview with ‘Psych’ star James Roday
By Robert Newton

As Shawn Spencer, the fake psychic who solves crimes on USA’s new hit mystery series “Psych,” 30-year-old Texas-born actor James Roday cracks wise weekly. However, he studied to become a Serious Actor at New York University’s Experiment Theater Wing before gathering a string of New York theatre credits. Maybe it was his boyish good looks, his youthful energy or his considerable comic skills, but the life comedic eventually became his focus.

“The best training ground was the jobs themselves,” he explains. “It’s not like we did a whole lot of comedy in school, but I found that five, six, seven jobs in a row were comedy, and they helped me gain confidence. If ‘Psych’ had come along five or six years ago, I couldn’t have done it as well as I do now.”

And well he does. His smart pairing with co-star Dulé Hill (“The West Wing”) is part of the chemistry of the show, which airs Fridays at 10:00pm on USA (following “Monk”).
“We cut up pretty much from the second we show up to second we leave,” Roday says. “It’s the best set I’ve ever worked on by far. There’s a great loose energy, and everyone generally appreciates working and each other. Not a day goes by when we don’t say, ‘Can you believe this?’ and it’s part of what drives the whole ship.”

While too many series cast each role individually, “Psych” played things a little differently.

“It’s pretty interesting,” Roday notes. “I came on board first, and got to participate in the casting of all the other roles. Steve Franks [series creator] did a good job of at least pretending that I was helping put together our ensemble.”

Part of that ensemble is veteran TV actor Corbin Bernsen, who plays Shawn’s ex-cop father who taught him his “supernatural” powers of observation.

“Corbin and I as actors haven’t bonded, and that helps our characters,” Roday offers on the estranged father-and-son dynamic on the show. “In that regard, I marvel at his ability, and he’s a great presence to have around. Outside of that, I think we have more fun busting each other’s chops.”

Roday’s investment in the series is growing beyond just looking forward to the fun, acclaim and regular paychecks.

“On every series I’ve worked on up until now, I’ve had very little control over the creative process,” he says. “I’d sit home and cross my fingers while waiting for a script every week, knowing that if the script was not good that there was not a lot I could do. After all, you’re just an actor for hire, and the next thing you know, you’ve done three subpar episodes in a row in which your character is not served, and the fire in your belly starts to go out. That problem has not existed on this show, though.”

A werewolf story that Roday and writing partner Todd Harthan penned called Skinwalkers (to be released this year by Lionsgate) led to Roday being asked to write a horror-themed episode of the show.

“Steve greeted me the writer with open arms,” he recalls warmly. “Once the script was ready to go, our kismet moment came when [American Werewolf In London director] John Landis ~ who has never done episodic TV before ~ agreed to direct. It’s pretty sweet.”

As the show continues to build its fan base, Roday remains acutely aware of why he is where he is, summing up with his characteristic humble brevity, “We love all of our fans. This is the most fun I’ve ever had in front of a camera, and I’d like to go on for as long as it can.”