ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did it feel stepping back onto the set?
TIMOTHY OMUNDSON:It’s pretty complicated.
I mean, mostly, it was overwhelmingly wonderful.
Credit: James Dittinger/USA Network
So there was a pretty steep learning curve.
The lines always changed sort of on the day.
We just punch up jokes and figure out new funny stuff, so it’s hard to memorize sometimes.
James Dittinger/USA Network
So they came over.
We kind of punched up the same amount of times.
Did that added challenge make it harder for you to get back into character as Lassiter again?
Timothy Omundson as Carlton Lassiter, Maggie Lawson as Juliet O’Hara, and James Roday Rodriguez as Shawn Spencer on ‘Psych’.Alan Zenuk/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images
It came pretty easily, although there was something that was missing.
And so, I mean, I can tell the difference, but hopefully nobody else will.
But the lines were so strong.
That fell right back into place, sort of lockstep with where we left off.
How did it feel to be involved in the writing process?
It felt much more secure that way, because they knew my physical limitations.
Or, I didn’t want to pretend that my left arm works, because it doesn’t.
Weve never seen Lassie in such a vulnerable position before.
Did you feel like you were discovering something new about the character?
But yeah, so I really had kind of rely more on [and] go much more emotional.
So, its really true life in that regard.
[I] actually got quite emotional last night watching the movie.
Most kids go through periods of being the outsider in the group.
So luckily, I hadnt had to play that before.
The movie also gives us some insight into Lassiters relationship with his father [Joel McHale].
So yeah, what happens in the movie was right on track.
Did they tell you the story of how Joel came to the movie?
Oh no, they didnt.
I just remember reading they surprised you with him.
Oh, its amazing.
So Joel and I have been pals for a while.
Our kids went to school together down in L.A., and we became friends.
and so Maggie asked Joel, and Joel was all for it.
Once we got to set, I kept asking everybody, Whos playing my dad?
Steve and [executive producer] Chris Henze wouldnt tell me.
They were like, Oh no, we got somebody great.
We got a local guy.
All [they] would say is that he nailed it in the audition.
They even came up with a fake name for the call sheet.
And I was like, Son of a b—-!
I said, Yeah.
It was like the biggest belly laugh I think Id had since I had the stroke.
It was just incredible.
We had an amazing time together.
Joel immediately felt like hed been with us forever.
Did having Joel in the role end up helping with the emotional material?
Yeah absolutely…And Joel was actually really integral to my recovery and my stroke.
The day I had my stroke, I was in a Tampa, Fla., ICU.
That went back and forth for weeks.
He would just send me texts like, Hey, Tim, you want to go for a run?
Oh, thats right, you cant.
You had a stroke.
Just totally irreverent stuff to make me laugh.
I would narrate my breakfast [for him], just anything to keep myself amused.
So, he was always a big part of my recovery right from the get-go.
Then to have him play that role in the movie was more than I could have hoped for.
If Peacock wants to make another movie, are you interested in returning?
I’d like to see them try and stop me.
I will do as many of these movies as they could possibly come up with.
And speaking of the emotional anchors of my cast on the show, there’s also the crew.
A lot of our original crew from the series came back.
So it couldn’t have been a more comfortable environment to start working again.
We have this tradition on our show.
So they drove me out to set of the Hershel House.
It was one of the most emotional moments I’ve ever had on a set.
Psych 2: Lassie Come Homesarrives July 15 on Peacock.
