Who in their right mind would run out on this guy? He’s smart, he’s funny and I find no shame in admitting that he’s also the darlin’est thing on basic cable. Well, the one person we know did drop Shawn like a bad habit is is mother. She went AWOL at some point before the series ever started, so his only source of parental guidance comes from his prematurely codger-y dad. Psych writers kept Shawn’s mom as a bit of a don’t ask/don’t tell for much of the series, but the last couple of weeks have seen more and more references to her existence. We even caught a Peanuts-esque, headless cameo from her in one of the show’s less useless flashbacks. Well, now we know why. The final scene of the season finale (sort of) introduced us to her.

Since they didn’t actually show her, and the new season won’t bow until this summer, the actress chosen to play Mrs. Spencer is still up in the air. I’m sure they have a few ladies in mind, but before anyone signs any dotted lines, here are a few women Psych might want to consider for the role…

Brenda Strong - Narrating Desperate Housewives can’t be that time consuming - those scripts practically read themselves! Besides, I’m sick of the ridiculously awesome Strong being stuck as the invisible, omniscient housewife. It’s about time she stepped back in front of the camera and Psych is a perfect venue. And since Shawn’s mom definitely has a dose of nasty for being a big, fat baby-abandoner, Strong could play the character like she did Elaine’s evil, bra-less nemesis on Seinfeld.

Kristine Sutherland - If I was a TV orphan, I know who I’d want to adopt me, and it’s not Angelina. Before she met her heartbreaking end on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Sutherland played the slayer’s mother, Joyce, to the point of parental perfection. It wasn’t that she was sweet (she was a straight up badass when circumstances demanded it) - Joyce was just real. In the parallel universe where she starts acting again and nabs this role, I’d love to see her play it as a middle-aged tart - a la “Band Candy.”

Kate Jackson - Nothing beats a vintage hottie, and my favorite of Charlie’s Angels was always the understated and brainy Sabrina. Shawn’s dad may have taught him how to be crazy observant, but where did he learn the rest of his detectivin’ skills? I can just picture a flashback of Jackson teaching little Shawn how to jimmy car doors. Either way, this gal doesn’t make enough appearances! If she doesn’t join the Psych crew, can’t we at least find her a spot on Dancing With The Stars?

Phylicia Rashad - Who’s to say that woman at the door really is Shawn’s mother? She could be there to tell him that his real mother is actually… Mrs Burton! No, Shawn isn’t black, and sure, something like this would have probably come up, but come on! Rashad is the undisputed queen of TV moms, and her recent appearance as Gus’s on the Psych Christmas special was far too brief. Bringing her back would be really fun for the Shawn/Gus dynamic.

… or not.