The Mentalist
is an American crime procedural television series which debuted on September 23, 2008 on CBS. [1]
On May 20, 2009, CBS renewed The Mentalist
for a second season. CBS will also move it to Thursdays at 10pm ET, following CSI
. [2] The first episode of the second season will air on September 24, 2009 in the US. [3]. No date has been announced for other regions.
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Premise
The Mentalist
follows
Simon Baker as
Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the now-fictional California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) based in Sacramento, California (the real-life CBI merged with another agency to become the
Bureau of Investigation and Intelligence in 2007, before the show debuted). He has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his amazing skills of observation. Jane also makes frequent use of his
mentalist abilities and his semi-celebrity past as a
psychic medium using paranormal abilities he now admits he feigned. He abandoned his pretense out of remorse when his attention-seeking behavior attracted the attention of a
serial killer who killed his wife and daughter.
Reception
The pilot episode had an audience of 15.6 million viewers in its first airing, and 7.8 million in a re-airing three days later.
[4] It also introduced some of Jane's
backstory, indicating that his wife and daughter had been murdered five years before the series began by a
serial killer known as "
Red John".
On October 15, 2008, CBS ordered a full season of
The Mentalist
.
[5] The December 2, 2008 episode ("Flame Red") was the highest-rated television show of the week, marking the first time a program in its first season had achieved that distinction since
Desperate Housewives
four years earlier.
[6]
Awards
On January 7, 2009, the show won the award for "Favorite New TV Drama" at the
35th People's Choice Awards.
2009 Emmy Awards Simon Baker received a nomination for
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.
Concept
Due to the main character's ability to profile people, the show has drawn comparison to other television shows, most notably
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
,
Life
,
Monk
,
Profiler
, and
Psych
.
[7] [8] [9] However, it has been noted that all these shows use a concept that was initially used by
Arthur Conan Doyle in his
Sherlock Homes novels.
[7] [11] Whilst it has been acknowledged that the concept is not a new one, the show has been praised for its "thoughtful execution".
[12]
The program
Psych
launched a commercial for a new series in autumn 2009, in which they implied that
The Mentalist
was a "carbon copy".
[13] However, Kona Gallagher of
TV Squad
suggested that the accusation is unfounded:
Psych's
assertion is kind of like Scrubs
saying that Grey's Anatomy
ripped them off because they're both shows that follow hospital interns who transition into residents. Granted, the "fake psychic" genre is slightly more specific, but other than that, Psych
and The Mentalist
don't have a whole lot in common. [13]
Wayne Friedman of
TV Watch
went as far as to suggest that the commercial benefited
The Mentalist
more than it did
Psych
, saying "One thing for sure: If
Psych
makes another network run, NBC's marketing chiefs won't air the current promo, which givies CBS a bit of free marketing spin."
[15]
Characters
Patrick Jane
(
Simon Baker)
The series protagonist and the Mentalist of the show. He had earned a living as a psychic but after series antagonist Red John murders his wife and daughter in retaliation for Jane's mocking, Jane admits he was a fraud and works as a police consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation. Though a bit eccentric, he is very perceptive and much of what he finds helps solve the cases they are investigating. He is very brilliant and in-tuned to what is around him, but is often cocky, playful, and annoyingly right, all characteristics that earn him friendship in each of his colleagues. However, he has shown a much more sinister side concerning Red John, a serial killer who murdered his family. When dealing with him, Jane becomes intense, focused, and willing to sacrifice anything, including his life, to catch him.
Teresa Lisbon
(
Robin Tunney)
Though Patrick often annoys her with his unusual behavior and going behind her back, she views him as an invaluable member of the team and will back him up on some of his most unusual theories. Her mother was killed in a drunk driving accident, leaving her to take care of her brothers and her alcoholic father. She is also the only member of the team he trusts with details of his past and they work well together, despite his attitude often causing her problems with local law enforcement. Her team was responsible for the Red John case until Agent Sam Bosco became director of the new Serial Crimes Unit, which took over the responsibility for catching Red John. She and agent Bosco, who was Lisbon's mentor when she was a junior agent, dated a long time ago and they both share a dark secret.
Kimball Cho
(
Tim Kang)
Often portrayed as Jane's "right-hand man" he seems the closest to Jane, often requesting help regarding finding evidence, though he does get annoyed with Jane's habit of not telling him everything he knows concerning a case. He has a dry sense of humor and is shown to be friends with Rigsby. Probably the most down-to-earth of the group, he is often the one who sees through Jane's parlor tricks. When Jane tells Van Pelt that he was moving a toothpick across the table with telekinesis, Cho simply says, "He's blowing on it." He was in juvenile hall prior to serving in the military and then joining the CBI.
Wayne Rigsby
(
Owain Yeoman)
Arson specialist, he develops strong feelings for Grace Van Pelt, causing him to be overprotective of her, though he does not act on them as it is against regulations. He is a good friend to Jane, though, like the others, is often annoyed by his ways. He is shown to have a good friendship with Cho.
Grace Van Pelt
(
Amanda Righetti)
The newest member to the CBI. She has a deep belief in religion and psychics and will butt heads with Patrick every time he dismisses it or does something she sees as morally or religiously inappropriate. Certain episodes have shown her returning Rigsby's feelings but she too, will not act on them due to regulations. She is very strict, organized and somewhat highly strung, but is overall a very valuable addition to the team.
Recurring Characters
Red John
The unseen antagonist of the series. Jane has stated that "Red John" sees himself as a "showman", as he always makes sure that his trademark, the smiley face drawn with the victim's blood, is the first thing one sees before one sees the body. The trademark face is created by using the index, middle and ring fingers of his right hand together in one motion, Red John wears rubber gloves for this act. After Jane mocked Red John on a talk show, Red John retaliated by killing Patrick's wife and daughter. Though only focused on three times during the first season, he is portrayed to be very intelligent. For instance, Red John hacked into the CBI's computer system and has been using the system to monitor them for some time. So far he has been known to have two accomplices, a man that has been mentioned to have died in prison and that man's son, who held Red John in high regard. However, Jane states Red John doesn't have partners but tools.
Virgil Minelli
(
Gregory Itzin)
Minelli is the Administrator of the CBI.
Main crew
- Chris Long
- David Nutter
- Bruno Heller
- Ashley Gable
- Gary Glasberg
- Charles Goldstein
- Andi Bushell
- Eoghan Mahony
- Leanne Moore
Episode list
Ratings
| Season
| Timeslot (EST)
| Season Premiere
| Season Finale
| TV Season
| Ranking
| Viewers
(in millions)
|
| 1st
| Tuesday 9:00pm/8c
| September 23, 2008
| May 19, 2009
| 2008–2009
| #6
| 17.47
[16]
|
| 2nd
| Thursday 10:00pm/9c
| September 24, 2009
| Spring 2010
| 2009–2010
| TBA
| TBA
[17]
|
US Ratings
Season 1 (2008–09)
| #
| Episode
| Air Date
| Timeslot (EST)
| Rating
| Share
| 18-49 (Rating/Share)
| Viewers (m)
| Weekly Rank (#)
|
| 1
| "Pilot"
| September 23, 2008
| Tuesday
9:00 P.M.
| 9.5
| 15
| 3.5/9
| 15.6
| #10
|
| 2
| "Red Hair and Silver Tape"
| September 30, 2008
| 9.7
| 15
| 3.6/9
| 15.5
| #6
|
| 3
| "Red Tide"
| October 14, 2008
| 9.4
| 14
| 3.4/8
| 14.9
| #7
|
| 4
| "Ladies in Red"
| October 21, 2008
| 9.7
| 15
| 3.5/9
| 15.3
| #6
|
| 5
| "Redwood"
| October 28, 2008
| 10.1
| 16
| 3.9/9
| 16.1
| #7
|
| 6
| "Red Handed"
| November 11, 2008
| 10.1
| 15
| 4.0/10
| 16.5
| #8
|
| 7
| "Seeing Red"
| November 18, 2008
| 9.9
| 15
| 3.5/8
| 15.8
| #7
|
| 8
| "The Thin Red Line"
| November 25, 2008
| 9.7
| 15
| 3.7/9
| 15.9
| #5
|
| 9
| "Flame Red"
| December 2, 2008
| 11.7
| 18
| 3.8/9
| 18.8
| #1
|
| 10
| "Red Brick and Ivy"
| December 16, 2008
| 11.6
| 18
| 4.2/11
| 19.3
| #2
|
| 11
| "Red John's Friends"2
| January 6, 2009
| 12.2
| 18
| 4.0/10
| 19.5
| #4
|
| 12
| "Red Rum"
| January 13, 2009
| 11.2
| 16
| 3.8/9
| 18.1
| #7
|
| 13
| "Paint It Red"
| January 18, 2009
| Sunday
10:00 P.M.1
| 10.0
| 17
| 4.6/12
| 16.4
| #10
|
| 14
| "Crimson Casanova"
| February 10, 2009
| Tuesday
9:00 P.M.
| 12.0
| 18
| 4.2/10
| 19.7
| #3
|
| 15
| "Scarlett Fever"
| February 17, 2009
| 11.3
| 17
| 3.8/9
| 18.3
| #5
|
| 16
| "Bloodshot"
| March 17, 2009
| 9.8
| 16
| 3.2/8
| 15.5
| #6
|
| 17
| "Carnelian, Inc."
| March 24, 2009
| Tuesday
10:00 P.M.3
| 11.2
| 18
| 3.2/9
| 17.8
| #4
|
| 18
| "Russet Potatoes"
| March 31, 2009
| Tuesday
9:00 P.M.
| 10.5
| 16
| 3.8/9
| 16.9
| #6
|
| 19
| "A Dozen Red Roses"
| April 7, 2009
| 10.3
| 16
| 3.6/9
| 16.8
| #6
|
| 20
| "Red Sauce"
| April 28, 2009
| 10.5
| 16
| 3.7/9
| 16.9
| #4
|
| 21
| "Miss Red"
| May 5, 2009
| 10.4
| 16
| 3.6/9
| 16.7
| #5
|
| 22
| "Blood Brothers"
| May 12, 2009
| 10.2
| 16
| 3.3/8
| 16.2
| #5
|
| 23
| "Red John's Footsteps"
| May 19, 2009
| 10.4
| 16
| 3.7/10
| 17.2
| #5
|
Note 1: January 18's episode followed the
AFC Championship Game
- 6:44-10:21pm ET: 40.64 million viewers, 14.7 (18-49 demo rating), household peak: 25.5 rating (10-10:15)
- 10:21-10:34pm: AFC Championship Post Game
- 25.44 million viewers, 9.0, household peak: 15.0 rating
- 10:34-11:34pm: The Mentalist
16.39, 4.6, household peak: 10.6 rating
The
NFC Championship peaked at 6:00-6:15pm with a 25.4 household rating.
Note 2: Now airs Sundays on
CTV in Canada.
Note 3: March 24's episode was pushed back following a Presidential news conference.
UK ratings
Season 1 (2009)
The Mentalist airs on Thursday nights at 9pm on
Five. The first season will be released on DVD November 2, 2009.
| Episode Number
| Episode
| Air Date
| Viewers (million) [18]
| Ranka
|
| 1
| Pilot
| March 26, 2009
| 4.21
| #1
|
| 2
| Red Hair and Silver Tape
| April 2, 2009
| 3.80
| #1
|
| 3
| Red Tide
| April 9, 2009
| 3.45
| #1
|
| 4
| Ladies in Red
| April 16, 2009
| 2.91
| #2
|
| 5
| Redwood
| April 23, 2009
| 3.03
| #2
|
| 6
| Red Handed
| April 30, 2009
| 2.87
| #2
|
| 7
| Seeing Red
| May 7, 2009
| 2.57
| #5
|
| 8
| The Thin Red Line
| May 14, 2009
| 3.00
| #2
|
| 9
| Flame Red
| May 21, 2009
| 2.89
| #2
|
| 10
| Red Brick and Ivy
| May 28, 2009
| 2.08
| #3
|
| 11
| Red John's Friends
| June 4, 2009
| 3.03
| #1
|
| 12
| Red Rum
| June 11, 2009
| 3.16
| #2
|
| 13
| Paint it Red
| June 18, 2009
| 3.12
| #2
|
| 14
| Crimson Casanova
| June 25, 2009
| 2.85
| #2
|
| 15
| Scarlett Fever
| July 2, 2009
| 2.90
| #2
|
| 16
| Bloodshot
| July 9, 2009
| 2.52
| #2
|
| 17
| Carnelian, Inc.
| July 16, 2009
| 2.34
| #2
|
| 18
| Russet Potatoes
| July 23, 2009
| 2.19
| #2
|
| 19
| A Dozen Red Roses
| July 30, 2009
| 2.19
| #2
|
| 20
| Red Sauce
| August 6, 2009
| 2.24
| #3
|
| 21
| Miss Red
| August 13, 2009
| 2.19
| #3
|
| 22
| Blood Brothers
| August 20, 2009
| 2.85
| #3
|
| 23
| Red John's Footsteps
| 2.87
| #2
|
a Ranks are for FIVE weekly, not for overall TV.
* Overnight ratings.
On August 20, 2009, the night of the double-bill season finale,
FIVE aired two half-hour specials at 8pm and 8.30pm. The first "The Mentalist: Revealed" was watched by 1.22 million and was the 22nd most watched broadcast on
FIVE for the week and the second "Inside The Mentalist" was watched by 1.31 million and was the 17th most watched broadcast on
FIVE for the week.
DVD Releases
The Mentalist: The Complete First Season
has a release date of September 22, 2009 in the US and September 2, 2009 in Australia and November 2nd 2009 in the UK
[19].
International broadcast
| Country
| Network
| Start date
|
| Canada
| A Channel/CTV
| September 23, 2008/January 9, 2009
|
| Australia
| Nine Network
| October 5, 2008
|
| Austria
| ORF 1
| March 1, 2009
|
| Belgium Dutch
| VT4
| February 4, 2009
|
| Denmark
| TV3
| February 2, 2009
|
| Latin America
| Warner Channel
| November 2008
|
| Poland
| N
| December 3, 2008
|
| Poland
| Canal+ Poland
| April 16, 2009
|
| Germany
| Sat.1
| March 1, 2009
|
| South Africa
| M-Net
| January 14, 2009
|
| The Netherlands
| SBS 6
| January 1, 2009
|
| United Kingdom
| Five/Five USA
| March 26, 2009
|
| Ireland
| RTE One
| April 16, 2009
|
| Spain
| La Sexta/TNT
| January, 2009
|
| Norway
| TV3 Norway
| January 7, 2009
|
| Hungary
| RTL Klub
| February 2, 2009
|
| Turkey
| Dizimax - Digiturk
| February, 2009
|
| Sweden
| TV3 Sweden
| February 17, 2009
|
| Greece
| Nova Cinema
| February 4, 2009
|
| Croatia
| RTL Televizija
| March 4, 2009
|
| Italy
| Joi (TV channel)/Italia 1
| April 28, 2009/September 2, 2009
|
| Middle east
| MBC Action
| April 2009
|
| Portugal
| RTP2
| May 12, 2009
|
| Brazil
| Warner Channel
| November 6, 2008
|
| France
| TPS Star/TF1
| April 20, 2009/September 2009
|
| Belgium French
| Be TV/RTBF
| May 18, 2009/September 2009
|
| Philippines
| C/S Origin
| June 15, 2009(?)
|
| Israel
| Yes Stars
| June (?)
|
| Finland
| MTV3
| September 3, 2009
|
| Hong Kong
| TVB Pearl
| July 15, 2009
|
| Thailand
| True Series
| July 9, 2009
|
| Slovakia
| TV Markíza
|
| Malaysia
| NTV7
| July 11, 2009
|
| Singapore
| Channel 5
| July 28, 2009
|
| New Zealand
| TVNZ TV2
| August 10, 2009
|
Reviews
References
- Michael Schneider, "CBS sets premieres after debates" ''Variety'' June 26, 2008
- http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i7ee3d207fbb1fda38f1f752f7055bcfb
- Fall TV: CBS Announces Premiere Dates
- http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20080924cbs01
- http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news.aspx?id=20081015cbs03
- http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2008/12/cbs-takes-weekl.html
- Sepinwall on TV: 'The Mentalist' review
- Obsessive Influence
- The Mentalist: Series Premiere
- Sepinwall on TV: 'The Mentalist' review
- Obsessive Influence
- 'The Mentalist' is among fall's best new offerings
- Psych totally disses The Mentalist
- Psych totally disses The Mentalist
- New Way To Market TV Program: It's Like This Other Show
- http://abcmedianet.com/web/dnr/dispDNR.aspx?id=051909_05
- http://tvlistings.zap2it.com/ratings/season.html
- Weekly Top 30 Programmes. Broadcasters' Audience Research Board. Retrieved on June 17 2009.
- http://www.ezydvd.com.au/item.zml/807660 The Mentalist DVD R4 release