Once upon a time -- from 2004 to 2008, actually, there was a totally cool Canadian TV show called
Regenesis. (Yes, we are well aware: using the words "cool," "Canadian," and "TV show" in close proximity is a rare and often erroneous thing, unless, of course, you're talking about
Corner Gas. Still, it's true.) The hour-long drama starred the remarkably intelligent and intense
Peter Outerbridge as a brilliant viral investigator with an unlikeable, almost House-like temperament, running NorBAC, an international team of equally brilliant viral investigators who try to keep nightmarish outbreaks from occurring throughout the Americas. The show lasted for four seasons; the first two are particularly absorbing and complex, in no small part because of some creative and unexpected characterizations. (And best of all the first three seasons are available for free on
Hulu. Start with Episode 1, Season 1. You won't regret it.)
Chief among the fascinating characters: Bob Melnikoff, Outerbridge's right-hand man and probably the only scientist on staff who was actually smarter than Outerbridge's David Sandstrom. Unfortunately, Bob had a fairly serious case of Aspberger's Syndrome, and though he was thoroughly off-putting at first, fans of the show -- and there were plenty -- quickly warmed to the quirky but charming work of Dmitry Chepovetsky as Bob himself.
The show ended rather abruptly and unceremoniously, and one can't help but wonder whatever became of poor Bob, a great scientist but -- outside of this fictional facility -- completely unemployable.
Well, good news! Chepovetsky may not have landed another series -- yet! --, but Bob lives on! Under the obvious and embarrassing pseudonym of "James," Bob somehow made it all the way into the U.S. and over to California, where he apparently found a gig with an ill-fated biotech company outside Santa Barbara. That's where Sean and Gus of Psych caught up with him, in a recent episode called "Death Is In The Air." (Also available on Hulu, as it happens.)
It really is kind of odd. It's the same actor playing essentially the same role, in an entirely different context. But it almost makes you feel like you're dropping in on an old friend, and it's nice to see that Bob's still lhanging in there (though, as you'll see from the clip, his muted delight at the prospect of the company "coming back" is particularly poignant with the backstory.
Anyway: here's a shout-out from The Rush to Bob Melnikov: HEY, BOB!
