James Roday portrayed Shawn Spencer, a fake psychic detective who periodically consults for the Santa Barbara police department.

Mel Damski directed three episodes for the season, while John Badham, Jason Ensler, Joanna Kerns, John Landis, Eric Laneuville, Paul Lazarus, Tim Matheson, Arlene Sanford, Oz Scott, Matt Shakman, Stephen Surjik, and Michael Zinberg directed one episode each.

Timothy Omundson returned as Head Detective Carlton "Lassie" Lassiter, while Maggie Lawson continued to portray Juliet "Jules" O'Hara.

This was the first season in which Kirsten Nelson received a star billing for her role as SBPD Interim Chief Karen Vick.

Other guest stars in the second season included John Amos, Curtis Armstrong, Obba Babatundé, Malcolm Barrett, W. Earl Brown, Matt Cedeno, Tim Curry, Cristián de la Fuente, Amanda Detmer, Gina Gershon, Ben Giroux, Philip Baker Hall, Howard Hesseman, Telma Hopkins, Katharine Isabelle, Christopher Jacot, Bianca Kajlich, Eric Keenleyside, Melanie Lynskey, Shane Meier, Alex Meneses, Brian Doyle-Murray, Dylan Neal, Amanda Pays, Lou Diamond Phillips, Saul Rubinek, Corey Sevier, Kevin Sorbo, Kerry Washington, and Calum Worthy.