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/