USA Network Upfront 2008: Tony Shalhoub and Corbin Bernsen
by Brian Tallerico

As we mentioned, USA Metwork has been steadily on the rise. Although Monk and Tony Shalhoub have played a huge part in the network's recent success, shows like Psych have also helped to elevate the USA profile and garner more loyal fans. Also, when a network enlists the help of a few recognizable names to help serve as relatable entry points into a series to help draw even more viewers, it can often have a positive ripple effect on several other shows across the network. Case in point is veteran TV actor Corbin Bernsen who has enjoyed renewed regular TV life on the popular USA hit Psych.

Although the writers' strike derailed the momentum of its season, Psych still managed to find life on NBC as an interim solution. If one positive thing came out of the strike, it's clear that such breaks can give actors more time with their families; time that otherwise would have been spent away from home. At this stage of his career, it's clear that Corbin Bernsen has more of a focus on family. However, when it was all said and done and the writers got back to work, it was back to work for Bernsen and his psychic co-stars.

While at this year's USA Upfront event in Chicago, we managed to snag a couple of brief minutes with Bernsen who talked about Psych, getting burned out, and why he appreciates having worked with so many great people on L.A. Law and beyond.

USA NETWORK UPFRONT 2008: CHICAGO

Corbin Bernsen of Psych

Corbin Bernsen on what will be different in the new season:

"Well, we start to find out more about my past, my wife. We'll be opening that can of worms."

Bernsen on the diversity of his resume:

"To me, the whole thing is a big experimentation. Try different things. The design of my career has been more 'try some of this, try some of that and not to see what sticks. The game show (How Much is Enough?) took two weeks out of my life and I got to have that experience. If I like something, then I'll go further. I experimented with horror with The Dentist movies and I really liked the horror genre - so I'll go a little further. The game show thing, it would have to be a really cool show. I like it but it would have to be something different.

On if he ever worried about getting burned out:

"A little bit. But, like in Psych, I'm not one of THE guys like James [Roday] or Dule [Hill]. As long as I can spend some time with my family. All that it's becoming is a little too much traveling here and there. In my great experimentation, there's been too short of a stop with each one and I might take longer. I'm getting into directing now, too.

Corbin Bernsen on who he'd love to work with:

"Many, many, many people. I did this movie Kiss Kiss Bang Bang a few years ago. I had SO much fun working with Robert [Downey Jr.]. To the credit of James, Dule, and the great people of L.A. Law that I worked with, there's some really great people that are really out-there actors. So, [I want to work with] more people like that. I have a feeling Johnny Depp would be kind of interesting. I think in the older category - Hal Holbrook, Meryl Streep - people that have experience. The experience with Robert - it just brings your whole game up."

For more on Psych, be sure to check out our recent interview with show stars Dule Hill and James Roday.