Crime Drama TV

The Mentalist ends its season run this week going back to the story of Red John, a storyline that has been very significant to Simon Baker’s character, Patrick Jane, this season.

But as producers notes, the end will present no cliffhanger for the freshman series.

Says Ashley Gable, the show’s co-executive producer: "Cliffhangers can be problematic. They can be gimmicky. I think what [series creator] Bruno Heller has done is the right move to tantalize the audience but give the audience a little satisfaction. We’re learning more things about Red John … and going deeper into that mythology. Because the tone of our show is so much lighter, it would be jarring to have sawed-off heads and all that stuff. We’re not about the forensics. You’ll never see a ‘Mentalist’ episode that revolves around the bug found in the dead guy’s stomach and what the bug ate for breakfast and how that tells us who the murderer is. It’s always going to be Jane and the Sherlock Holmes thing. It’s also about the way he likes to poke at people. If Sherlock Holmes was the world’s first consulting detective, Jane is the world’s first trickster detective."

The show has been attributed to the lightness and cleverness of an early detective TV series, Columbo.

Via Tuned In

Pitted against American Idol which has been a ratings powerhouse for use, The Mentalist still holds its own and has remained the most popular and most unexpected hit of the season.

According to LA Times, the show is widely popular among female viewers, owing 60% of its audience share to this demographic. The Mentalist decidedly lacks edgier fashion, well-known celebrities or a cool soundtrack, so what makes it work? Network executives believe it’s thanks to Simon Baker. His “easy and relaxed” performance is quite appealing and easily relatable.

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The star of this season’s biggest crime procedural freshman hit, Simon Baker (The Mentalist) has been named this year’s sexiest man on television by TV Guide. He eclipses Patrick Dempsey from the throne, when the actor has already been voted twice for the recognition in recent past.

Details after the cut….

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Amanda Righetti, formerly of The OC, is now playing Grace Van Pelt, a rookie investigator for the CBI in The Mentalist. She talks to TV Guide about her new character, co-star Simon Baker’s Patrick Jane and her character’s developing relationship with Rigsby  —- is their “courtship” going to improve in time?

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The comparison can’t be help because these two shows operate in a similar manner. The show focuses on finding out when someone is lying based on behavioral patterns and body languages.

Except that Lie To Me appears to be more scientifically based, with the main character,  Dr. Cal Lightman, a very distinguished expert on his field, with degrees and academic backings to support his credence.

The Mentalist on the other hand, simply relies on Patrick Jane’s expertise to read people. If I remember correctly, his character was even a former scam artist, wasn’t he?

Before the Lie To Me panel last month these are what its actors and series creators have said of their “rival” program:

• When asked the inevitable question of how Fox’s “Lie to Me” compares to CBS’ similarly themed freshman hit “The Mentalist,” producers aren’t shy. “Go at it boys,” says Tim Roth. “The difference between the two shows is that our show is based on actual science, while ‘Mentalist’ is, I think, more of a scam,” says actor Brendan Hines. “And it’s based on the most cutting-edge research used by the TSA and homeland security,” adds creator Samuel Baum. “What you see on the show is based on real science and techniques that are simple and visible to the naked eye that people can bring into their real life.” Adds Roth, “I haven’t seen ‘The Mentalist.’ But I’ve heard about it because [the other panel members] talk about it. I don’t think we need to get too worried about it really.”

So, which one do you like better?

Lie To Me airs on Fox, Wednesdays. The Mentalist airs on CBS, Tuesdays.

PATRICK JANE AND THE TEAM INVESTIGATE WHEN THE “QUEEN BEE” OF A COUNTRY CLUB IS MURDERED AT A COCKTAIL PARTY IN HER HOME, ON “THE MENTALIST,” TUESDAY, FEB. 17

“Scarlett Fever” - As Jane and the team investigate the poisoning death of the “queen bee” in a country club, they discover that the community is full of secrets, including love affairs and drug abuse, on THE MENTALIST, Tuesday, Feb. 17 (9:00-10:01 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

SERIES REGULARS:
Patrick Jane…………………………… Simon Baker
Teresa Lisbon……………………….. Robin Tunney
Kendall Cho………………………………. Tim Kang
Wayne Rigsby……………………. Owain Yeoman
Grace Van Pelt………………….. Amanda Righetti
GUEST CAST:
Heather Prentiss…………. Marguerite MacIntyre
Patience Broadbent………………. Andrea Bogart
Victor Castillo……………………….. Yancey Arias
Oscar Castillo……………………. Brandon Waters
Mandy Riljek………………………….. Jolie Jenkins
Asra Hadami……………………….. Meera Simhan
Jackie Shaper…………………………… Lisa Arturo
Gangster……………………………….. Mark Weiler
Lawyer………………………………….. Eamon Hunt
Wardell Suggs…………………. Michael Stoyanov
Dolores…………………………….. Jessica Pariseau

WRITTEN BY: Erika Green
DIRECTED BY: Paul Holahan

Source: CBS via SpoilerTV

Last Sunday night’s special airing of The Mentalist drew its biggest number to date. The episode earned 16.4 Million viewers, benefiting from its AFC Championship Game lead in.

From the Live Feed

With last night’s Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh game seen by about 40.6 million and had a 14.7 rating, the network was likely hoping for “The Mentalist” to gain a greater overall viewership bump. While falling short of a new record among total viewers, the adult demo rating edges out the freshman procedural hit’s previous high. “Mentalist” was down slightly compared with the “Without a Trace” episode that aired after 2007’s AFC nail-biter between Patriots and the Colts.

Chief competitor ABC aired “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” (8.6 million, 2.9/7), a series-low 100th episode of “Desperate Housewives” (13 million, 4.6/10) and “Brothers & Sisters” (8.9 million, 2.8/7).

Where does the strength of this year’s biggest network hit lie? Does it have something to do with Simon Baker, lead star of The Mentalist, and his smile?

Speaking during the Winter TCA Press conference, here is what Bruno Heller, creator of the series, said — “I don’t want to quantify it too much because the magic might disappear.But it’s a combination of on the surface, a great, kind of Cary Grant-ish charm, but underlying it is real steel and menace. I was interested in seeing him smile.I think that’s one of those, kind of, simple values that’s again what people turn their TV on for:  They want to see people smile.  They want to see people be happy.  Let’s be happy.”

Cary Grant-ish charm it is.

Of all the people I know who are watching this show, Baker’s smile seem to have left a very vivid impression. When he smiles, his eyes speak too, which makes him such an effective actor for being able to communicate non-verbally.