Sage Brocklebank – Psych 2: Lassie Come Home

By: Jamie Steinberg

Q) Where do we pick up with Buzz when we return here to Psych 2?

A) Buzz is still married to Francine and this time around because he’s a detective. And he’s the familiar guy you’ve always known, but I guess he’s a little bit savvier, a little bit more seasoned. You could presume that he might have a couple of little ones at home. We could presume that he might do some gardening.

Q) What keeps you wanting to return to this franchise?

A) The people. There was a moment…I think I was shooting …I think I worked on the first day of the movie when we shot last year, it was actually May, just over a year ago. And we’re outside and we’re on the top of this kind of mountain top shooting this funny little scene and uh, and I realized that … We realized that it was fifteen years earlier that we’d all met. Like, it had been that long that we’ve been working together. And people have gotten married, people have got divorced, people have had kids, all of these crazy things. And I think it all really starts with Steve Franks, the creator of the show, because he’s- he’s like the 6’5 or 6’7, outgoing, gregarious just puddle of love and he’s so warm hearted and so generous. That kind of a vibe on the show is a remarkable experience for me. I’ve never had anything like it where I’ve been on a show for, I think, eight seasons and two movies now. It’s just wonderful. It’s really kind of returning to like a family, you know? It’s pretty special for sure.

Q) We loved getting to see Buzz appear with Jules. What did it mean for you to reunite on a case with her?

A) Oh, it was fun. It was fun and I felt like Buzz had like, upped his game now, right? Like, now he was a bit of a player and a little shakier. Now, I felt like I was a little bit more sophisticated, you know? To be tag teaming with Jules (Maggie Lawson) on the case was very exciting.

Q) Going into the movie, were you hoping to share a scene with anyone in particular or any ones in particular?

A) I didn’t work with Tim [Omundson] this time around. I saw him on set, but we went for drinks one night, but I’ve always had like …Tim’s kind of a mentor to me as an actor when I started out on the show and he was always so generous and giving. And so, I always look forward to seeing him. And being in scenes with everyone, these are always kind of the most fun I think, when Shawn and Gus (Dulé Hill) in like a big group scene. So, I got to do some of those, which was nice. You get the banter, right? They’re so witty. They’re so quick and witty.

Q) How much room is there then for improv when you are doing a scene and shooting?

A) I think there’s a general rule that you wanna give some solid takes of what was written the page. There’s a lot of room for collaboration. Like, a ton of room and there’s plenty of situations on the show where either James or Andy Berman or Steve are behind the monitor and I’m doing a scene and they’re yelling, “Oh! Say this. What if you did this?” And they just yell stuff out from behind the monitor and we try it again and try it again. “Do it like a giraffe! Do it like a dinosaur!” So, there’s lots of room for that kind of stuff

Q) Well, what were maybe some of your favorite moments from filming or even some lines that stand out to you from this particular Psych 2?

A) From this one? There was some really hilarious stuff in the script. I haven’t seen the movie yet. Uh, because I’m in Canada and I don’t even know if it’s streamable out here yet. There was some hilarious stuff that took place with Nils [Hognestad] and with his father (Christopher Heyerdahl) in the ice bar in the script. So, I haven’t seen it yet but I remember thinking when I read it, I was like, “This stuff is amazing.” All of the stuff that was happening in that location. So, I’m excited to see that stuff and I just really love how they incorporated Tim and made him feel included in this script. They threaded the storyline into work for us like that was just kind of genius. So, I’m looking forward to seeing all of that stuff.

Q) Who seems to have the most trouble keeping it together during scenes?

A) If you’re in a scene with James you’re trying to keep it together. Like, sometimes when they’re riffing the underpinnings of who can get someone else to crack…So, they’re deliberately trying to get other costars…So, you’re in a scene with them and they’re riffing and they’re saying all sorts of wacky things and you’re trying to keep a straight face and trying to hold the laughter by purse your lips so that you don’t burst out laughing. But it could be anyone who’s in a scene.

Q) What have been some of maybe your favorite episodes of “Psych” that stand out to you?

A) I like the one where they went to Canada. I really like Nine Lives in Season One because I got to do a lot of stuff. Although, it was like I was holding a cat and I am very allergic to cats. That was an interesting moment. Some funny moments I remember American Duos where I was going through a door. That was kind of funny. There have been a lot. The roller derby one was great. I like the musical. I just think it’s amazing that this show is willing to try out so many different genres. That always makes it fun to come to set to see what they’re experimenting with. So, it’s just a great environment to be a part of.

Q) What did it mean to you that Buzz has come such a long way in his journey, going from bumbling kind of officer and now he’s full-fledged detective?

A) I just think it goes to show that you try your best. If you keep on trying your best and you keep on working hard, then…Yeah, I don’t know. It was great. It was great. Oh, I think another funny thing, probably one of the most awkward bits that I ever worked on was that scene where Shawn gets married and the whole, like, stripper thing and the rosebush. That was quite hilarious. That episode was pretty funny. That was a big, big Buzz doing the whole like, naked dance because the songs that they chose was the most absurd song. “I’m Your Booty Man,” I think is what it was a fun one.

Q) Well, what makes now the right time for us to return here to Psych?

A) I mean, if you’re a fan of delicious flavor and you like to enjoy cooking a meal and you wanna have stuff on TV while you’re cooking, it’s there. It’s available to you. So, I mean, I would wager that some people have never left. The fans are quite strong.

Q) What have you personally taken away from your time working on this special series?

A) It’s just been a wonderful learning experience for me. And I guess it’s educated me on what a storytelling can be and what collaboration can look like. As the years went on, writing episodes and directing episodes and just seeing all of that develop. It is a really cool kind of family and we support each other in creative endeavors. I think it’s just rad. The show was done, but everyone was like, “Oh, you know, maybe we’ll just do a movie every couple of years.” Then we get to see everyone again, right? Just because. So, I think that as an artist, it’s always looking to create things…recognizing when you have a healthy, fun dynamic to return to.

Q) Well, is there anything else you would like to be sure we share with Psychos or fans of the work you’ve done on this beautiful series?

A) This might not have to do with “Psych,” but I just got to say we’re in a world where there’s some strange, funky stuff going on. And there may be a virus that’s going around the world and you may have the virus and I may have the virus and I think it’s more important now than ever to recognize that when you see someone on the street even if you’re wearing a mask or if you’re distanced away that there’s still a chance for acknowledgment and there’s still a chance to recognize that we’re all human beings and we’re all humans together. And that by acknowledging people and leading with empathy and compassion is the way that we’re actually going to get through this and solve these kinds of problems that we have with current issues like Black Lives Matter. I just think it’s really, really important for people to reason with others with compassion. And so, now is the time to stand for one another.