Burton Guster

Infobox character | name = Burton "Gus" Guster
series = "Psych"


caption = Dulé Hill as Burton Guster
first = Pilot
last =
cause =
alias = Magic Head, Peter Panic, Gus T.T. Showbiz, Ovaltine Jenkins, Schoonie "U-Turn" Singleton, Ernest Lamberg Watkins, Bud (from "The Cosby Show"), Nick Nack, Bruton Gaster, Lavender Gooms, Lemongrass Gogulope, Squirts MacIntosh, Galileo Humpkins, Gus "Silly-Pants" Jackson, Shmuel Cohen, Methuselah Honeysuckle, Shutterfly Simmons, Paddy Simcox, Chesterfield McMillan, Felicia Fancybottom, Tan, Longbranch Pennywhistle
species =
gender = Male
age = Late 20s-Early 30s
occupation = Pharmaceutical Rep, Private Detective
nickname = Gus, Bighead Burton, Fingers, Homeskillet, Big Baby Burton, Blackstar, Chocolate Columbo
family = Bill Guster (father)
Winnie Guster (mother)
Burton Guster (uncle)
Brother (mentioned in blog)
Mira Gaffney (ex-wife)
children =
relatives =
portrayer = Dulé Hill
Isaah Brown (Young Gus, season 1)
Carlos McCullers II (Young Gus, season 2)
creator = Steve Franks and Andy Berman

Burton "Gus" Guster is a character on the USA Network television dramedy "Psych" played by American actor Dulé Hill. He functions as the straight man for Shawn Spencer's antics, and provides sobering advice and steady support.

Characterization

Although early in the series Gus is reluctant to get involved in Shawn's adventures, James Roday (who portrays Shawn) says he feels the partnership has developed into a much more equal one, with Gus taking a larger role in their cases as opposed to constantly being " [dragged] around by the collar against his will". [Roday, James. [http://video.usanetwork.com/player/?id=131043 Video Interview: Shawn's Evolution] . "USA Network". Retrieved on 2007-12-23.] Actor Dulé Hill says that Gus has become more relaxed as the show has progressed, and more capable of standing his ground against Shawn: "I think in the pilot he was more of a receiver, and he gives it back a little bit more now." The change in his clothing is reflective of his more relaxed approach. Whereas early in the series, Gus is often seen wearing a suit and tie, by the second season he is dressing more casually. [Hill, Dulé. [http://video.usanetwork.com/player/?id=133693 Gus' Evolution] . "USA Network". Retrieved on 2007-12-25.]

Fictional biography

Gus has been Shawn Spencer's best friend since childhood, and co-owns the detective agency "Psych" with him, after Shawn was able to forge Gus' name on the lease. Gus tends to be straight-laced and more cautious, although he has been friends with Shawn for long enough that he understands that Shawn cannot be stopped once his mind has been made.

Gus is often shown to be academically advanced. As a child, he applied for and was accepted into the Meitner School for gifted students; however, his parents turned down the placement, later telling Gus that it was too far to drive. ["Psych", Episode 2.07: "If You're So Smart, Then Why Are You Dead?" Original airdate: August 24, 2007.] In high school, he was involved in spelling bees until 1989, when he lost a competition by accepting covert advice from Shawn on the spelling of " [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/aggiornamento aggiornamento] ." He continues to follow the American Spelling Bee meticulously, and tapes the yearly championship."Psych", Episode 1.02: "Spellingg Bee." Original airdate: July 14, 2006.]

Gus' parents, Bill and Winnie Guster, are shown to be overly protective of their son and still regard him as a child who needs looking after. They long disapproved of his friendship with Shawn, whom they regarded as a bad influence. After Shawn and Gus solve a murder for which Bill and Winnie had been wrongfully arrested, they mellow towards Shawn and admit that perhaps they do not need to baby Gus so much. (However, immediately after Gus leaves, they offer Shawn cash with a stern order to look after their son.) A brother has been referenced in Gus' blog on the official USA Network website, but has received no mention in the show to date. [ [http://www.usanetwork.com/series/psych/blogs/gus26.html Meet the Gusters] . "USA Network". Retrieved on 2008-01-06.] In the deleted scenes for "Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy" on the Season 2 DVD, Gus' mom mentions a brother who lives in Connecticut. While in Mexico on Spring Break in 1997, Gus met Mira Gaffney and married her on a drunken binge. He broke off the relationship soon after and the two lost contact until 2008, when the marriage was annulled in anticipation of Mira's upcoming wedding. ["Psych", Episode 2.11: "There's Something About Mira." Original airdate: January 11, 2008.] He also has an uncle named "Burton Guster," nicknamed "Burt" for short.

Gus has a job in pharmaceutical sales and with his vast knowledge of drugs, he helps to identify poisons and other drugs, used in crimes to help solve cases.

Gus has a very refined sense of smell, and nicknames his nose "the Super Smeller". He is able to recognize the base component of perfume by smelling it, and can perform the same trick with food. The talent seems to be hereditary, as it has been displayed by both of his parents, and has led to the uncovering of crucial evidence in several cases."Psych", Episode 2.10: "Gus' Dad May Have Killed an Old Guy." Original airdate: December 7, 2007.] He has been shown to have a fear of dead people, having run away from a scene where a dead person is present on more than one occasion. He is also well-versed in high-tech locks or safes, as demonstrated by his ability to crack an electronic lock on his first try.

References