There is plenty in store for the 8th (and maybe final) season of USA Network’s Psych including a James Roday directed episode and new and old guest stars. Plus the long-awaited Psych: The Musical will finally air on Sunday, Dec. 15. In all, this season showcases “the most inventive things we’ve done yet,” said Executive Producer Steve Franks.

The short clip of the musical shown during the panel is proof enough that Psych-Os are in for a good ol’ fashion song and dance from their favorite detectives. In fact, some lucky San Diego Comic-Con fans were treated to a special screening of the musical Wednesday night. “I am so excited to see it because these guys they know how to sing and dance,” said moderator and guest star Cary Elwes. “Forget acting; they’re the triple threat.”

Another big announcement is the results of the fan vote, which was held to determine what episode to add to the season. The winner is Dream Therapy, officially titled “Nightmare on State Street,” where Gus undergoes dream therapy to understand the cause of his night terrors. Making the episode extra special, Roday will be directing. “It’s the last episode that we’re shooting, so I want to go out with a bang no matter what,” he said, hinting that this season may indeed be the end.

As always, Psych received a warm welcome at San Diego Comic-Con, packing Ballroom 20 on Thursday. The show about fake psychics but real detectives is fast approaching its 100th episode and the cast and crew are just as excited as the fans.

Some of the tantalizing tidbits about season 7 of the USA Network show include an episode on internet dating, one set in Mexico, a two-part musical episode with all original music, and an episode inspired by Cirque du Soleil. Gus (Dule Hill) also gets a girlfriend this season, newcomer Parminder Nagra of ER and Bend It Like Beckham fame.

But what we really want to know about is that milestone 100th episode. While most of the details are being kept under wraps we do know that the plot will be an homage to the movie Clue. Plus several cast members will be returning including Christopher Lloyd, Lesley Ann Warren, and Garrett Morris. If that wasn’t enough, fans will be happy to hear that there’s no end in sight for Psych. “We’re producers that want to make this show forever,” said Executive Producer Steve Franks in an interview.

For those of who want something more than the basic TV networks, and if you don’t have a premium service like HBO, there’s always USA. In fact, there’s premieres for some of USA’s most popular shows, and some new ones, just around the corner.

USA Network has set summer premiere dates for its returning series Royal Pains, Necessary Roughness, Burn Notice, Suits, White Collar and Covert Affairs. First to come back are Season 4 of Royal Pains and Season 2 of Necessary Roughness, which will hit the air on June 6 and will be shown on Wednesday at 9 PM and 10 PM, respectively.

The following week, on June 14, Burn Notice returns for Season 6, leading into the second season of Suits, which will once again be paired on Thursdays. Also returning to their regular night, Tuesday, are White Collar Season 4 and Covert Affairs Season 3, which launch on July 10.

Of those shows, we’re most interested in Burn Notice. It’s still fun to watch, features some interesting twists and turns, has some nice scenery and has Bruce Campbell. What more could you want from a show?

We had the opportunity to sit down with the cast of USA’s hit show Psych about a police consultant with an uncanny ability to pick up clues, almost psychically, some would say.  This season the detectives have more on their minds then just solving wacky crimes and spotting pineapples.

With love blooming in the air for even the most skeptical (I’m talking to you Lassie), I decided to question the cast on their pursuit of romance.

The Flickcast: Can you tell us what your favorite episode to shoot was this season?

Timothy Omundson as Carlton “Lassie” Lassiter: We did an episode that James [Roday] directed, which he and Todd [Harthan, producer] wrote called, “This Episode Sucks”, it’s a vampire episode, but to me it’s important because it’s the Lassiter falls in love episode.

We recently had the opportunity to sit down with the cast of USA’s hit show about a police consultant with an uncanny ability to pick up clues, almost psychically, some would say.  Read below to hear what the cast had to say about next week’s vamp-themed episode, “This Episode Sucks” (pun intended), and the arrival of a former Starfleet Captain to beautiful Santa Barbara.

The Flickcast: What’s been your favorite episode to shoot for Season 6?

James Roday (Shawn Spencer): Probably our vampire episode [was my favorite to shoot this season], because it’s chock full of vampire fun for vampire fans but it’s also a love story for Lassiter’s character which is something we’ve never seen before. Any time we do something new, I get excited.

Steve Franks, creator: I really, really love the vampire episode. James directed it and put such a tremendous bit of magic on top of it, in such unexpected ways.  Yes, it’s vampires and it’s a little gory and it’s a little scary, but it also has such tremendous sweetness and heart.  It’s one of our nicest episodes and yet one of our darkest episodes at the same time.  So that one’s really fun.

I don’t think it’s much of a secret that TV is a tough business. For every one hit series there’s whole bunch of them that get killed after only a few episodes. Heck, there’s even some that are cancelled before they get on the air at all.

But no matter what, it all costs money. A lot of it.

Taking that into consideration, you can understand why networks seem to be doing more, cheaper, unscripted reality shows and fewer, more expensive, one hour scripted dramatic shows. It’s simple math.

However, one network at least (besides AMC) is bucking the trend and going for a lot more dramatic, scripted series. That network is USA, which has a Summer schedule filled with 8 hour dramas and comedies and only one reality series.

New series include Suits and Necessary Roughness and returning shows White Collar, Covert Affairs, Royal Pains, Burn Notice, In Plain Sight and the the final season of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

The network will use its biggest shows, Burn Notice and Royal Pains, to launch its new series, Suits and Necessary Roughness. Additionally, the network’s first reality series in 5 years, WWE Tough Enough, will continue to air on Monday, bringing the total of USA’s original summer series to 9.

Click through for USA’s Summer schedule with premiere dates (courtesy of the fine folks at Deadline):

Just this weekend, Saturday Night Live returned with its 36th season to a 15 percent ratings bump from last season’s premiere. Amy Pohler and Katy Perry were the guests, along with a whole slew of former cast members dropping by throughout the show.

The premiere had its funny moments. But one of the main things the episode also accomplished was to make the audience look back and fondly remember the classic episodes of the series over its rich 35 year lifespan. Fortunetely, we don’t have to scrounge YouTube or Hulu for old episodes as Netflix and NBC have signed a deal to get every episode of SNL available on Netflix’s streaming service.

But that’s not all as according to the press releasing announcing the deal, along with SNL, we’ll also be treated to tons of other NBC Universal properties coming to the service.

Episodes from every season of NBC’s signature comedy franchise “Saturday Night Live,” including day-after broadcast of the upcoming 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons plus hundreds of episodes from the first 35 years of “SNL.”

Every episode from the last season of the multiple Emmy® Award-winning series “30 Rock,” “The Office” and “Law & Order: SVU,” as well as earlier seasons of those shows renewed for streaming from Netflix under the current deal.

All prior seasons – and eventually next year’s final season – of “Friday Night Lights,” the small-town drama surrounding high-school football in Dillon, Tex.

Deep down, whether we admit to it or not, we dream about living the life of a spy. Going on adventurous missions, saving lives, living the high life in a different city every night, it all sounds pretty dreamy. Now, thanks to USA and Covert Affairs, you can get one step closer to that life. This awesome gift bag includes all the things anyone would need to live the secret life of an international spy.

USA Network has your Tuesdays covered with the best looking night on television with the new hit series Covert Affairs at 10pm.  COVERT AFFAIRS stars Piper Perabo, Christopher Gorham, Peter Gallagher , Kari Matchett, Anne Dudek and Sendhil Ramamurthy. Visit the official Covert Affairs website for games, photos and weekly prizes. Visit USA Network’s Character Arcade to play games, challenge friends and for more chances to win prizes!

ENTER TO WIN a COVERT AFFAIRS Gift Bag!

Covert Affairs Gift Bag includes:
-Tumi maps set
-Hard cover Spy book
-Covert Affairs Hat
-Covert Affairs T-Shirt

Check out how to win this super secret prize pack after the jump

USA’s Burn Notice has been sizzling the small screen all summer long, so The Flickcast braved the waves of fans at the San Diego Comic-Con to talk with its covert operatives.  We were right alongside geek god Bruce Campbell and the sprightly Tim Matheson to discuss living in the scorching heat of Miami. Although one plays the angel and the other the devil on Michael Weston’s shoulder, they have one thing in common: they both enjoy a cool Mojito at the end of a long shoot day.

With their plethora of credits both on and off screen, they are the quintessential “Jack of All Trades.” Campbell, of course, has been acting, directing, producing, and hamming it up in many a geeky film like Evil Dead. Matheson is no stranger to being behind the camera and directing an episode or two of many a USA show including White Collar, Psych, Covert Affairs, and of course his own killer schemes in Burn Notice. I guess being dead frees up your spare time. But, sorrow no more as it’s confirmed Larry Sizemore was (gasp) not really dead and will be returning next season.

Following the jump hear what these two spies have to say about surviving and thriving in the world of Jason Bourne meets Miami Vice and maybe even learn a thing or two.

Big news out of the Burn Notice panel, as the ever charismatic Bruce Campbell revealed he is set to star in a prequel story to the hit USA TV show Burn Notice. The prequel will follow the exploits of Campbell’s character Sam Axe on a mission in Latin America. The prequel will give some background into the sarcastic spy’s life before he became tied up in the events of the TV show.

The Burn Notice prequel will be co-produced by USA and Fox TV Studios.  Most of the filming will take place on location in Latin America and will be scheduled between the filming of seasons 4 and 5 of Burn Notice. It will be a one shot movie rather than a spin-off TV show.

When asked about the planned prequel star Bruce Campbell respond with his typical humor: “What do I have to say about that? I have to say that USA finally got their s#!t together.”

I for one can’t argue with that. With the explosive response from the audience in the panel one can only assume that other spin-offs can’t be far behind —  especially if this one is a success.  Are there any TV shows that you are currently watching that you would like to see a character spin-off of?

For more San Diego Comic-Con coverage, keep it here at The Flickcast.