CBS Orders Full Season of 'The Mentalist'

CBS has made a full-season order for The Mentalist, a procedural drama on Tuesday nights that stars Simon Baker as an eccentric fake psychic who uses his keen powers of observation to fight crime.

The show has averaged 16.1 million viewers and a 3.8 rating/9 share in adults age 18-49, ranking as the top program in the Tuesday 9 p.m. time slot.

Mentalist joins two other freshman series picked up for a full season, the CW's 90210 and Fox's Fringe.

I thought this show was a goner, ranking it fourth on the Television Death Pool. The first two episodes of the show were passably entertaining, but how many quirky and damaged detectives can television support? We've already got Monk (flaws: obsessive/compulsive disorder, grief, germophobia), Saving Grace (alcoholism, Oklahoma City bombing grief, childhood sex abuse), Life (wrongful imprisonment, bad haircut), The Closer (Southern accent) and Psych (slacker), another series that stars a fake psychic who uses his keen powers of observation to fight crime.

Television · 2008/10/16 · 12 COMMENTS · Link

Comments

The Mentalist was on my list too because it's a total rip-off of the cable cult hit Psych, which was tried on network during the WGA strike and didn't catch on. Psych is a much better take on the fake-psychic idea being employed by The Mentalist.

But I wouldn't sweat the full-season pick-up if I were you. "Back To You" and "Studio 60," both received full-season pick-ups early in their maiden seasons. And both never lived to see a season 2.

#1 · Bourne · 2008/10/16

It's possible, but I've got more full season orders (2) than cancellations (0). That's not good.

#2 · Rogers Cadenhead · 2008/10/16

Bourne says, "Psych is a much better take on the fake-psychic idea being employed by The Mentalist."

Of course, you knew I would disagree, right?

James Roday has the look of someone who might be a fake, but not a psychic, and more like a conman; one without finesse. Simon Baker, on the other hand, looks the part of a suave conman and, or a 'fake' psychic (aren't they all?). However, in 'Patrick Janes' case, he declares he is not a psychic; a reversal of the 'Psychic' theme, and while some of the police moronically try to label him as one.

The other characters fit into the plot nicely, and the Tim Kang and Owain Yeoman characters are well played off against each other, and the boss, Robin Tunney, in a good-cop-bad-cop routine that doesn't really victimize the Mentalist, as they act-out their wonder at his success, and also their angst over the legality of his 'investigations'. I had a couple of chuckles.

With nothing else to watch, on my limited msm tv viewing (pbs for me), I caught a the show and enjoyed it; although I did surf away at the 1/2 hour to see what PBS had in store ... alas, nothing but the socialist news. I may even watch it again.

I caught 'Psych' a couple of times, but couldn't stand watching someone only a mother could love, and the two different scenes I did see were both examples of the 'evil' police harassing the 'poor' psychic ... legitimately :-) ... and which I could only stand for a few seocnds each time I came across it.

Simon Baker has an acting charisma something like Cary Grant's, and although with that less-tall look (or macho, if you prefer). Woman will watch because he is another attractive 'MacGyver' type, and because the producer is savvy enough to show application of true Mentalistic techniques in their interactions with other characters in interrogations and investigations; especially the hypnosis schtick, and which like a stage hypnotist's act, will never tire with the audience!

If I remember, from now on out, I'll try and watch this show to see if it lives up to the one I did see. Whatever the case on my part, this is a very good production, and producers:

Charles Goldstein .... producer (7 episodes, 2008)
Chris Long .... co-executive producer (4 episodes, 2008)
Bruno Heller .... executive producer (3 episodes, 2008)
Gary Glasberg .... co-executive producer (2 episodes, 2008)

deserve a lot of credit for an entertaining and well cast show.

#3 · tadowe · 2008/10/18

Don't you have some experience in your past that might suggest not all psychics are fake?

#4 · LoneStar JR · 2008/10/21

That's true -- I really should put in my bio that I'm a former psychic's assistant.

All the psychics on TV are fake because a real psychic detective would be the worst (and shortest) crime show ever.

#5 · Rogers Cadenhead · 2008/10/21

Lonestar Jr asks, "Don't you have some experience in your past that might suggest not all psychics are fake?"

Rogers confirms, "That's true ..."

You were a "real" psychic's assistant? What real psychic ability needs assitance, Rogers?

#6 · tadowe · 2008/10/21

I was a minion, collecting money and answering questions from potential customers at a DFW Airport convention room where several psychics were having readings. Bertie Marie Catchings and her son John, who was famous for being called in by the police on several unsolved cases in Dallas, were among those in attendance.

One of the people who came in for a reading was a drop-dead gorgeous flight attendant with some kind of relationship trouble. The psychic I was working for, to his credit, used his powers for good and not for evil.

#7 · Rogers Cadenhead · 2008/10/22

"The psychic I was working for, to his credit, used his powers for good and not for evil."

Maybe it is the tacit acceptance of chicanery as a valid "occupation" which inveterately attracts some into becoming Democrats? A sort of something-for-nothing attitude which overcomes their ability to reason outside the "box" of team loyalty they erect for themselves?

Anyway, I was disappointed in last night's show, and because the "real" talent of Mentalism wasn't really emphasized very much. The plot was strained, and writing seemed more towards indicating that the "hero" is "handsome" and attractive to male and female, alike!

I recommend that they not allow the "sensitive" crowd to take control of this show. If the next one is like the last, I will stick to PBS, even if it is the outdoor barbecue show (he's no Justin Wilson that's for sure!)

#8 · tadowe · 2008/10/22

Didn't the Reagans live and die by psychics? I forget if they were Republicans or Democrats.

#9 · happyandgay · 2008/10/22

"Didn't the Reagans live and die by psychics? I forget if they were Republicans or Democrats."

I think Nancy was interested in that aspect of mysticism, and along with quite a section of the world's population who have made the "Psychic" shows and movies so popular. Isn't all of Hollywood channeling this-or-that entity to guide their careers and to help them decide who to elect as the most powerful leader in the world?

Aren't they equally as mockable and apparently foolish for their interests?

I was always interested in psychic abilities, as a non-believer and reader of Science Fiction. This led to a casual study of Mentalism and hypnosis. Serendipitously at the time, I read A.E. Van Vogt's book, "Voyage of the Space Beagle", and where a "mentalist" (A.E. calls a "Generalist") solves many problems experienced on the maiden voyage of Earth's first faster than light space ship; the "Beagle" referring to Darwin's ship of discovery.

Still a great read!

Mentalism is scientific psychism ...

#10 · tadowe · 2008/10/23

I love the mentalist! It does seem like a bit if a spin-off but they have put their won twist on it and I love the way that they link his past experiences in with the story line. It is my favourite televison program,

Amelia, 15

#11 · Amelia · 2009/05/20

I LIKED THE MENTALIST I LIKED PATRICK JANE

#12 · JULIA TATTERSHALL · 2011/05/17