Psych: 10 Best Gus Nicknames, Ranked

One of the most memorable and endearing parts of Psych was the ever-shifting nicknames for Burton ‘Gus’ Guster (Dule Hill). The tradition started in season 1, episode 2 where Gus was dubbed the “Super Sniffer” for his incredible sense of smell but didn’t begin in earnest until episode 5 when an ad-lib from James Roday brought out the name “Gus ‘Sillypants’ Jackson” and the rest is glorious, goofy history.

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Even Gus tried to get in on the fun a few times, dubbing himself John Slade or A Playa Named Gus, in an effort to seem cool but none of those had the same ring as Shawn’s best work. In total, Gus racked up over a hundred different nicknames in the show’s eight-season-and-one-movie-run (so far). These are the very best of them.

10 Imhotep Or He Cometh in Peace

“Go ahead, show her your Cometh-in-Peace face.”

This nickname pops up in “Viagara Falls” (season 5, episode 6) when Shawn and Gus are interviewing a woman at a churro stand and like many of the best Gus nicknames, it’s enhanced by Gus’ willingness to play along. It also doesn’t hurt that Gus’ “Cometh-in-Peace face” is surprisingly accurate.

“Viagara Falls” is a strong nickname episode all around since it also gave us Ctrl Alt Delete which narrowly missed this list and is another top tier example of Gus playing along as he mimes hitting the aforementioned keys. Still, Imhotep earns its place on this list for the sheer commitment to the bit alone by both halves of the titular detective agency.

9 Hummingbird Saltalamacchia

Shawn gives his partner, or in this case first mate, one of his silliest monikers in “Six Feet Under the Sea” (season 3, episode 10) as the duo searches restricted waters for evidence that will lead them to the murderers of a recently released sea lion. Hummingbird Saltalamacchia gains points for Shawn’s willingness to get that silly when confronted with potential danger and for its reference to the hexasyllabic former MLB catcher.

8 Jonathan Jacob Jingly Smith

“You’re saying his name is John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt?”

“That’s correct, sir. We used to share the name. I changed mine on account of all the people shouting when I went out.”

Here’s a name that tested the limits of Gus’ ability to let Shawn ramble. As the duo gets caught up in a case involving rival Triad gangs, season five’s premiere episode “Romeo and Juliet and Juliet,” Shawn attempts to reference a classic children’s song but like many of his bits he (intentionally?) miffs it a little bit. Gus’ looks of surprise, disappointment, and eventual acceptance in the background of the exchange elevate this particular nickname to its position in the top 10.

7 MC Clap Yo Handz

“With a Z.”

It speaks to the quality of this nickname that it remains so memorable while being stuffed into an extremely nickname heavy episode. “Shawn and Gus in Drag (Racing)” (season 5, episode 5) also gave life to Chocolate Einstein, Road Rash, Mellowrush, Miss Whittlebury, Crankshaft, G-Force, and Sher-Black-Lock. It’s also notable for its combination of committed-to-the-bit Gus, as he claps his confirmation, and horny Gus, as he completely turns his attitude around to try and woo the beautiful mechanic Shawn’s led them to.

6 Sh’Dynasty

“It is spelled S, H, comma to the top, dynasty.”

“Comma to the top?”

“That’s God’s comma.”

The season 6 finale “Santabarbaratown” was one of the show’s most shocking and emotional episodes but like all great episodes of Psych, it made room for some zany comedy along the way. Sh’Dynasty is Gus’ best example of commitment as he’s able to hold back the voice in his head screaming to correct Shawn’s description of an apostrophe and instead doubles down on the approach. God’s comma indeed.

5 Ghee Buttersnaps A.K.A. “The Heater”

“This is his partner, Ghee Buttersnaps… That’s not your real name.”

One of Shawn’s very best pieces of nicknaming comes in “You Can’t Handle This Episode” (season 4, episode 10) when Shawn and co. attempt to gain access to a military base to investigate the apparent suicide of a soldier. Shawn dubs himself the Paraguayan ambassador and Gus his curiously named attache to no avail. Luckily, their group includes Juliet’s brother Ewan (John Cena in his first comedic performance) whose military clearance gets them inside. The name, excellent as it is, is even more notable for its apparent believability as Ewan repeats it when introducing Gus to a soldier and is immediately mortified.

4 Gus T.T. Showbiz

“The extra T is for extra talent.”

One of the best nicknames fittingly comes in the show’s best episode, “American Duos” (season 2, episode 1). The name comes alongside a nickname for Shawn, Shawn Spenstar, as the two of them pose as contestants on duet singing competition show in order to protect one of the judges, Nigel St. Nigel (a brilliantly cast Tim Curry).

It turns out the extra T is for extra talent because once the case is solved, the episode closes with a rendition of Tears for Fears’ “Shout” with Shawn and Gus performing excellent impressions of Curth Smith and Michael Jackson.

3 Jazz Hands

While Psych searches for the culprit behind a billionaire’s murder, Shawn utters the nickname bronze medalist, Jazz Hands. It’s the least believable name ever ascribed to Gus but his game performance sells it the point it’s never questioned. It also gives Gus a chance to let out his love of dance a little, making it one of the most fitting choices Shawn ever made.

2 Dr. Mc (*Clicking Noises*) Tock

“My colleague only speaks the English at a very pre-school level and he is very forgiving of others. For instance, yesterday I pour a hot cocoa all over his genitals and I say, ‘I’m sorry,’ and it’s fine.”

The runner-up Gus nickname comes during “Forget Me Not” (season 1, episode 9) and reaches these heights because it came with a whole character attached to it. While trying to investigate a supposedly man-eating mountain lion, Shawn and Gus are caught and forced to pass themselves off as real veterinary professionals, Dr. Hans Jorgenson and Dr. McTock. This starts a series of events that create the character of the clicking doctor and end with Gus delivering a newborn warthog.

1 Magic Head

Psych‘s best nickname for Gus is the iconic Magic Head. The name is created while Shawn and Gus attend Comic-Con in “Shawn vs The Red Phantom” (season 1, episode 8) and perfectly signifies what Gus brings to the table. Shawn may have the “powers” and the hair, but the whole enterprise doesn’t work without a little Gus magic.

Magic Head also inspires a comic book alongside Shawn’s Psych-Man and is one of the few names to appear in multiple episodes, resurfacing in season 2’s “Meat is Murder, But Murder is also Murder.”

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