TNT continues to bolster it’s drama roster.
We have written about the ordering of pilots for DELTA BLUES and RIZZOLI, as well as the pick-up of SOUTHLAND. Now the cabler has announced it has purchased exclusive syndication rights for THE MENTALIST.
THE MENTALIST stars Golden Globe® and Emmy® nominee Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor-sharp skills of observation.

Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits were feigned. Jane’s role in cracking a series of tough, high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents. No-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney – Prison Break) openly resists having Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Jane’s usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries.

Lisbon’s team includes agents Kimball Cho (Tim Kang – Third Watch), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman – Generation Kill) and rookie member Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti – The O.C.), who all think Jane’s a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases.
Personally, I see THE MENTALIST as a mixed bag. Simon Baker is very charismatic and there is some fun chemistry between some of the characters, but it is also very formulaic with little real character evolution. Oh yeah, Cho rocks.
The show is only on their second season, so TNT won’t start airing it until 2012, at which time it should have four seasons under it’s belt.