A longer look at ‘White Lines’ (6x11 promo)

Is Patrick Jane really going to destroy your shipper heart on “The Mentalist” a week from Sunday? You can consider it a possibility, but we still figure the odds of his being in a long-term relationship with anyone other than Lisbon right now are unlikely.

In “White Lines,” though, you will see Simon Baker’s character go on a date, and this picture is made even clearer in the new extended promo than it was in the first clip that was put out there by CBS. The one mystery that does still remain is whether or not there is a significant ulterior motive for what he is up to. Personally, we feel like there is in the sense that this woman is involved in the case. Even if Jane is actually interested in her in some sort of romantic way, we really cannot see this ending in a way that has everyone happy in the end.

The rest of this promo is somewhat predictable: Now that Jane and Lisbon are with the FBI, the cases are bigger! No kidding! Seeing the footage of the team trying to solve elaborate murders or complicated cases isn’t really that interesting, mostly because we already get that on a weekly basis with “Criminal Minds,” or “CSI,” or “NCIS,” or really any other crime show out there. CBS is still littered with these. What has always made “The Mentalist” stand out to us over all of the others is the character development, and how we have really come to root for some of these people over the years.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x12 'Golden Hammer' promotional photos + Ardiles reappearance

When The Mentalist returns, Lisbon will officially sign on to the FBI, while Kimball Cho and Jane will all get to work together once again.

But as the team investigate whether a high end cartographer stumbled onto a conspiracy on The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 12, Rigsby and Van Pelt will uncover something unsettling in their own separate investigation.


Meanwhile Teresa is sharing dinner with in Osvaldo 'Oscar' Ardiles (David Norona) from DA office, who already appeared in former seasons of 'The Mentalist'.

For more photos click below.

SRC: tvfanatic.com/

6x11 ‘White Lines’ (promo video)

While the first video promo for “The Mentalist’s” return to TV may not be the best video quality ever (sadly, it’s the only one online right now following last night’s repeat airing), it does at least give you an impression that while the show seems to be settling back into procedural territory, there are still going to be some reasons to watch.

The first big hook for the show’s “new beginning” is now that Jane and Lisbon are with the FBI, the cases are much larger and more complex than they ever were with the CBI. This may be true, but Jane is still Jane. He’s not a guy who can be counted on all of the time to stay out of trouble, or use shootouts as perfect opportunities for him to call up women who could end up becoming his date.

The first big hook for the show’s “new beginning” is now that Jane and Lisbon are with the FBI, the cases are much larger and more complex than they ever were with the CBI. This may be true, but Jane is still Jane. He’s not a guy who can be counted on all of the time to stay out of trouble, or use shootouts as perfect opportunities for him to call up women who could end up becoming his date.

As you may or may not know based on some past scoops that we’ve shared here, this episode in “White Lines” (we’ll let you interpret that one) is going to be the chance to see Simon Baker’s character put himself back on the market after so many years of trying to avenge his wife. Are there ulterior motives for what he is doing here? You better believe it, since this is Jane that we’re talking about. In the end, don’t let this serve as some sort of substantial distraction if you are a passionate Jane / Lisbon shipper. There may still be hope for you yet. At least we’ll get a better chance to see as the weeks develop just what sort of relationship that the two can have now that the tremendous 800-pound gorilla known as Red John is off of his back.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

Matt's Inside Line: reappearance of Rigsby’s son

Hey Matt, got any Mentalist scoop for us? – Tea
Here’s a little one — meaning, literally, a little one. As in the reappearance of Rigsby’s son. The show is currently scouting 4 to 5-year old lads to take over the role in Episode 15.

SRC: tvline.com/

The Mentalist at Midseason: Grade It!

After five seasons of hunting the notorious serial killer, The Mentalist Season 6 saw Patrick Jane not only find Red John but do exactly what he said he'd do when he found him.

He killed the man with his bare hands.

Since we have to wait until January 5 for The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 11, we thought we'd recap some of our favorite - and not so favorite moments - of the season so far in the following TV Fanatic Report Card.

Scroll down and jump in to the debate now...

  Green Thumb Scene

Best Episode: Surprisingly, The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 10 ("Green Thumb") turned out to be our favorite of the season so far. Patrick Jane was back to his antics and the FBI scrambled in their attempts to wrangle him. But best of all was when Lisbon told Jane off for taking her for granted and not consulting her before demanding she work for the FBI. It was the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship and we look forward to seeing where it leads.

Worst Episode: "Red Listed" Bob Kirkland was certainly creepy enough to be on the final list of Red John suspects but it was no real surprise to learn the rogue agent had his own agenda. But having him torture and kill others on the list in order to find the serial killer himself seemed over the top. And the story about his twin brother deserved some follow up. Unfortunately, when Reede Smith shoot him in the back at the end of The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 4 that was probably ended this story line for good.

Happiest Moment: Jane walking into the FBI and finding Teresa Lisbon waiting for him. After two years without her, Jane's smile shone as bright as we've ever seen…and it was completely infectious.

Most Pivotal Episode: A decade after his wife and child were brutally murdered, Patrick Jane not only found Red John, but put an end to his terror when he killed him. "Red John" left some fans thrilled with the closure while others were dissatisfied that several plot threads were left dangling. Still others debated whether Jane had the right to murder his arch nemesis at all. No matter how you feel, no one can argue that The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 8 may very well be the most pivotal of the entire series.

Biggest Dangling Thread: What was the trick? Red John knew Jane's list of seven suspects before Jane ever wrote it. How? Jane swore it was some kind of a trick. Red John claimed it was his psychic abilities. Now that Red John is dead, it appears we'll never know.

Most Intriguing New Twist: A whole new world for The Mentalist. The angst and darkness of hunting Red John is over. There's a lightness to Patrick Jane that we've never seen before and thankfully he can now look at the the people close to him and not worry about finding them dead with a bloody red smiley face painted over their bodies. It opens up a world of possibilities.

Hopes for 2014:

1. Patrick Jane reassessing his relationships. Without having to play cat and mouse with a serial killer, we look forward to watching Jane look at the people closest to him with new eyes.
2. As Teresa told him herself, she's tired of playing sidekick to Patrick Jane. We can't wait to see how Teresa Lisbon fits in at the FBI and what her new life is like in Texas.
3. More of Kimball Cho. As much as we've always liked Cho, We think his deadpan humor works even better at the FBI.
4. A Jane / Lisbon romance. Yes, we're shippers here at TV Fanatic and although we want them to take their time, we'd like to see Teresa and Patrick get to know one another in a whole new way this season.

Overall Grade: A+

Okay, TV Fanatics. What grade would you give The Mentalist Season 6 so far? Vote HERE.

SRC: tvfanatic.com/

Season 6 - 4 Behind the Scenes Featurettes [VIDEO]

CLICK HERE

Jane and Lisbon Go on Separate Dates. Kim Fischer A 'Complicating Factor' In Their Relationship (video)

The Mentalist's Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon are trying to recover from rocky spell in their friendship and any potential movement on the romantic front may hit a roadblock in upcoming episodes.

When the CBS drama returns in January with "White Lines," the FBI will be tracking down the murderer of several DEA agents but Jane will be busy asking a woman named Krystal Markham (Brianna Brown) out on a date, according to TV Line. Although it is unclear if the faux psychic is merely going out to gain information for the case, Lisbon will also be getting a boyfriend in episode 15 or 16, according to Entertainment Weekly.

"In order for her to fulfill herself - even if she eventually fulfills herself with Jane, which she may or may not do - she has to find other relationships, other perspectives, other people who love her, just to feel fully who she is," said series creator Bruno Heller in regards to Lisbon's future beau, according to the site. "It's very important for her to be able to step away from Jane and see herself for herself."

However, these two dalliances won't be the only thing putting Jisbon on the blocks.

"Now that Red John is gone, Lisbon and Jane have to really refigure and reform their relationship and work out what it is they mean to each other," Heller recently stated in a behind-the-scenes featurette. "That is going to be complicated by the fact that they are now working at the FBI where there are a number of other agents involved, including Agent Kim Fischer who is - I don't want to give too much away - but who is going to be a very complicating factor in the relationship between Jane and Lisbon."

The post-Red John world seems to have a lot of potential combined with a lot of complications for the former CBI duo. Click through the gallery above to see Spoiler TV's stills from "White Lines."

The Mentalist airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.



SRC: enstarz.com/

See Patrick Jane out on a date! (6x11)

Are you ready to see Patrick Jane showing off some of his romantic side? Well when “The Mentalist” returns with new episodes on January 5, you will have an opportunity to see that very thing … even if there is a pretty big ulterior motive in there to go along with it.

Knowing that this is a guy who is a master of persuasion among other things, Jane will be convinced to try to use his Ph.D from charm school to woo a woman who is tied to a case (played by Brianna Brown) in an effort to potentially win her over. This is probably the sort of standard stuff that the FBI will be having Jane do. He’s not physically strong enough to be a tank, but he is mentally shrewd. Plus, this may be a time in his life when he actually wants to consider being romantic again. He’s been able to move forward after the end of the Red John case, and there were brief sparks between him and Kim Fischer prior to the whole lie coming out about who she really was.

Oh, and there is also still Lisbon, the woman that almost all “Mentalist” fans still want to see Patrick with at the end of the day. The endgame for the Jane character feels like it has to be her at this point, especially since there isn’t really too much else to watch for not unless you really just love the weekly cases. But at least the date will give us an opportunity to see more of Patrick’s fun, flirtatious side, and set the stage for some other pretty great stuff in terms of romance in the years to come.

SRC: cartermatt.com

A Date for Jane? (6x11 promotional photos)

Patrick Jane is dating...sort of.

With The Menatlist Season 6 Episode 11 set to air on January 5, Patrick Jane will definitely be heading out on the town with a beautiful woman... but apparently it's as much business as pleasure.
Will the stunning Krystal give Jane the insight he needs to catch a killer targeting DEA agents?
Check out these photos for the upcoming installment and decide how much of Jane's "date" is all business when this CBS hit finally returns with a new installment in early 2014:

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And remember you can watch The Mentalist online for any episodes you've missed. Enjoy!

SRC: www.tvfanatic.com/

Rigsby And Van Pelt Return In 'The Golden Hammer,' Amanda Righetti Unsure How Character Ends (6x12 spoiler)

The Mentalist is currently on a brief midseason hiatus, but when it returns in January, Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt will make an appearance once more.

Jane (Simon Baker) and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) will return on Jan. 5 with their news post-Red John team in "White Lines," but once the faux psychic puts to bed the murder of several DEA agents and heads off on a date, Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) will pop up with their own case in "The Golden Hammer."

As the FBI tries to solve the death of a cartographer who may have uncovered a spy ring before his death, the married couple will be hard on the heels of a conspiracy.

The last time viewers saw the former CBI agents was during "My Blue Heaven." In a very brief clip, Rigsby and Van Pelt quickly explained that, in the two years since the dissolution of the CBI, they had started their own private security company and were town the proud parents of a young baby.

However, the pair is slated to depart the series sometime this season. Now that FBI Agents Dennis Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) and Kim Fischer (Emily Swallow) have essentially replaced them, the only remaining mystery is to how the duo will exit the show.

"I have not shot the final episode yet, there's a few episodes that I'm not filming, like partway through the season," Righetti told PopSugar at the end of November. "They haven't really decided yet what episode they're going to exit the character or, if they have, they haven't shared it with me...I don't know if they really know to be honest. I think they're still trying to figuring out the best exit strategy for the character."

The Mentalist airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.

6x12 'Golden Hammer' (Promotional Photos)

"The Golden Hammer" is the title for the January 12 episode of The Mentalist, and CBS has released some images and an official description to promote it.

The Golden HammerHere's how they describe it:

JANE AND THE FBI INVESTIGATE THE DEATH OF A HIGH-TECH CARTOGRAPHER WHO MAY HAVE UNEARTHED A SPY RING BEFORE HE DIED, ON "THE MENTALIST," SUNDAY, JAN. 12

Navid Negahban ("Homeland") Guest Stars as Hassan Zarif, A Man With Information About The Cartographer's Death

"The Golden Hammer" - Jane and the FBI investigate the murder of a high-tech cartographer who may have unearthed a spy ring before his death. Meanwhile, Rigsby and Van Pelt find themselves on the trail of an alarming conspiracy, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Jan. 12 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Navid Negahban ("Homeland") guest stars as Hassan Zarif, a man with information about the cartographer's death.

SERIES REGULARS: Simon Baker (Patrick Jane), Robin Tunney (Teresa Lisbon), Tim Kang (Kimball Cho), Owain Yeoman (Wayne Rigsby), Amanda Righetti (Grace Van Pelt), Rockmond Dunbar (FBI Agent Dennis Abbott), Emily Swallow (Kim Fischer)

GUEST CAST: Joe Adler (Jason Wylie), Erin Way (Avery Schultz), Wayne Bastrup (Charles Whitaker), Travis Schuldt (Curtis Whitaker), Devon Gummersall (Gabriel Quinn), Michael Mantell (Leo Drembelas), Brian Patrick Wade (Martin Hagen), Pat Skipper (Mitch Daniels), David Norona (Osvaldo Ardiles), Navid Negahban (Hassan Zarif), Mark Saul (Sergei Sokolov), Greg Fitzpatrick (Bike Cop), Barbara Kerford (Lady In Elevator)

WRITTEN BY: Mike Weiss

DIRECTED BY: Jim Hayman

More details on ‘Homeland’ alum’s appearance (6x12 spoilers)

“The Mentalist” may be off the air right now for the fall, but on January 5, the show returns with some of Patrick Jane’s first adventures now as a full member of the FBI. This is a chance to really see what the “new beginning” is for the show away from some of the serialized plots, which is something that we are both very nervous and very excited about at the same time.

The first episode back is entitled “White Lines,” and you can read more about that at the link here. The focus of this article is instead on “The Golden Hammer,” the episode airing on January 12 that includes everything from map-makers to spies. It also has a fantastic guest star in Navid Negahban, who you otherwise know for playing the ruthless villain Abu Nazir on two seasons of “Homeland.” Just be sure to check out the full synopsis for this episode below:

“Jane and the FBI investigate the murder of a high-tech cartographer who may have unearthed a spy ring before his death. Meanwhile, Rigsby and Van Pelt find themselves on the trail of an alarming conspiracy, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Jan. 12 (10:00–11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Navid Negahban (‘Homeland’) guest stars as Hassan Zarif, a man with information about the cartographer’s death.”

This certainly sounds like a pretty fun case, but it does not really do much to assuage our concerns that the show is going to become stale and somewhat predictable once it becomes extremely procedural again. The only way for it to really avoid such a fate at this point would be for it to establish another lingering long-term story, which we hope will be the relationship between Jane and Lisbon. We’re just not far enough in the process yet to know for sure that this will happen.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x12 'Golden Hammer' (synopsis)

"The Golden Hammer" - Jane and the FBI investigate the murder of a high-tech cartographer who may have unearthed a spy ring before his death. Meanwhile, Rigsby and Van Pelt find themselves on the trail of an alarming conspiracy, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Jan. 12 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Navid Negahban ("Homeland") guest stars as Hassan Zarif, a man with information about the cartographer's death.

From CBI to FBI (video)

Check out a timelapse of the deconstruction of the old CBI set into the building of the brand new FBI set.

To watch the video click here/

Did you know that Simon Baker is...

... on Intagram?

Best of 2013: ‘The Mentalist' up for Best Fanbase (vote)

Over the course of the past few years that we’ve done year-end honors at CarterMatt, we have mostly kept the focus on the individual people behind the scenes at your favorite show. But why not take a few minutes here to try and honor something a little bit different in yourselves? The Best Fanbase is an award that we’re breaking down into two subcategories, and we’re focusing today on answering the following: What show has the most enthusiastic fans?

The way we settled on the following nominees was mostly just the end result of us sitting down and looking at some of the shows that drew the biggest reaction from readers here at the site all year long, especially in terms of discussion. These have also been the shows that we’ve been the most excited to cover for that same reason.

Big Brother (CBS) – “Big Brother” fans are some of our most loyal here, and they proved it this summer by sticking with what was a terrible season at times with all the racist remarks and the bad gameplay. But even still, they found fun things to talk about in terms of strategy. In our mind, this is a base that most people out there are probably the most ignorant about; no one realizes that the diehard fans watch for the gameplay and the intelligence of it, and not for the unitards or for people diving into gross stuff.

Doctor Who (BBC) – The most popular science fiction show to ever come out of Britain by our estimation, it has sense gone global. We’ve had a great international response this year to much of what Steven Moffat and company put on the screen, in between “The Name of the Doctor,” “The Day of the Doctor,” and everything else earlier on during season 7. Now, you just have to wonder what sort of response the new Doctor Peter Capaldi will have.

Glee (Fox) – Probably one of the most passionate followings for years running, and a group that, despite smaller ratings is still very loyal. Most of the popular subjects for Gleeks over the past year have been Kurt and Blaine getting back together, whether or not the show will shift fully to New York, and the unfortunate and sad passing of Cory Monteith.

The Mentalist (CBS) – Following “The Mentalist” this season especially has been more entertaining than perhaps any other, thanks mostly to the Red John mystery and all of the speculation surrounding that. We’ve just had a great time reading all of the conspiracy theories and pleas from the Jane / Lisbon shippers. You know you’ve got a devoted following when there are people willing to wait around until 10:50 to watch a new episode … and these people are.

NCIS (CBS) – No show has been more vocal on a controversial subject this year than “NCIS” fans following the exit of Cote de Pablo. We understand the anger that most of them have, largely because the show did such a great job over the years of making the team into a giant family. The “NCIS” fandom is a global one, and with around 20 million viewers just in America alone, it’s also one of the largest on all TV.

Sons of Anarchy (FX) – Easily the most violent show on this list, “Sons of Anarchy” fans are as loyal to the show as loyal can be. There are strong opinions that we’ve seen on the website all year long, but one of the most impressive things about these particular fans is that they don’t just stop when the season is over. They continue to follow the show year-round, which is a credit in part to some of what Showrunner of the Year candidate Kurt Sutter does to keep people informed.

Supernatural (The CW) – To us, there are few fanbases anywhere that are so passionate about a show that was for so long forgotten by any publication. People not only love “Supernatural,” but they love every aspect of it, from the characters to the stories to the little references sprinkled throughout. The reason we feel for the show’s popular, in addition to Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles’ performances, is that like “Doctor Who” and some other sci-fi / fantasy greats, this show tells you that imagination is okay.

As always with our Best of 2013 series, be sure to vote for your favorite! The official results will be unveiled come December 20, and if you click here, you can see all of the other categories out there.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x11 'White Lines' (Promotional Photo & synopsis)

“White Lines” — The FBI is tasked with finding the killer of several DEA agents, and Jane goes on a date with a beautiful woman associated with the case, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Jan. 5 (10:00–11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.


CHEAT TWEET: Things really have changed! Jane is going on a date! Where will it lead? #TheMentalist 1/5 10PM #CBS

SERIES REGULARS:

Simon Baker (Patrick Jane)
Robin Tunney (Teresa Lisbon)
Tim Kang (Kimball Cho)
Owain Yeoman (Wayne Rigsby)
Amanda Righetti (Grace Van Pelt)
Rockmond Dunbar (FBI Agent Dennis Abbott)

GUEST CAST
Emily Swallow (Kim Fischer)
Joe Adler (Jason Wylie)
Brianna Brown (Krystal Markham)
Mark Adair-Rios (Francisco "Paco" Perez)
Sterling K. Brown (DEA Agent Higgins)
Gareth Williams (DEA Supervising Agent Maloney)
A.J. Tannen (Mike)
Brian Konowal (Dale)
Michael Charles Vaccaro (Coroner)
Sammy Busby (Corpus Christi PD Officer)
Curtis Taylor (Krystal's Bodyman)
Sylvia Brindis (Cocktail Waitress)

WRITTEN BY: Ken Woodruff
DIRECTED BY: Guy Ferland

No Romance In The Air Between Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon; Both Dating Somebody Else

When the season 6 of "The Mentalist" airs again in January, the spectre of serial killer Red John will no longer hound Patrick Jane.

Jane, played by Simon Baker, seems to be moving along fine as it's revealed that he's going out on a date, and it's not with partner Teresa Lisbon, who's getting a boyfriend of her own in succeeding episodes.

In the first episode "White Lines," Jane will get romantically involved with Krystal Markham (Brianne Brown of "Devious Maids"), who is later revealed to be crucial for the resolution of the case the FBI is investigating.

Both Jane and Lisbon is again thrust into the middle of trouble as the newest members of the FBI after they are tapped to investigate the deaths of DEA agents.

So is that the end of romance for the two?

Not so fast, said "The Mentalist" creator Bruno Heller published in Entertainment Weekly: "In order for her to fulfill herself - even if she eventually fulfills herself with Jane, which she may or may not do - she has to find other relationships, other perspectives, other people who love her, just to feel fully who she is."

"It's very important for her to be able to step away from Jane and see herself for herself."

He said they haven't closed the door on the possibility of Jane and Lisbon ending up together.

One thing is clear, however, Red John will never be back. Heller said that that chapter in the life of Jane has already closed.

Heller told Hollywood Reporter last month that the post-John Red environment might prove to be more liberating not just for Jane but for the producers of "The Mentalist" as well.

"A weight has been taken off his shoulders, and to that degree, a weight has been taken off the show. Jane has more freedom and more of a sense of possibility and liberty. ... We'll return to crime-solving," Heller said.

SRC: kpopstarz.com/

TV Ratings Sunday (8.XII.'13)

On CBS, 60 Minutes earned a 2.2 adults 18-49 rating down from last week's football inflated 3.9 adults 18-49 rating.The two hour season finale of The Amazing Race matched last week's 2.1 adults 18-49 rating, which is an all-time low for a finale. The Mentalist was even with last week's 1.7 adults 18-49 rating when the show aired after primetime.

Broadcast primetime ratings for Sunday, December 8, 2013:

Time	Net	Show	18-49 Rating	18-49 Share	Viewers Live+SD (million)
7:00PM	FOX	Football Overrun	6.0	16	18.27
	CBS	60 Minutes	2.2	6	11.44
	NBC	Football Night in America	1.9	5	6.16
	ABC	America's Funniest Home Videos	1.5	4	6.97
7:30PM	NBC	Football Night in America	2.9	8	8.17
	FOX	The OT	4.2	11	11.90
8:00 PM	NBC	Football Night in America/ Pre-Kick	4.5	11	13.45
	FOX	The Simpsons	3.0	8	6.82
	ABC	Once Upon A Time	2.2	5	6.88
	CBS	The Amazing Race (8-10PM)	2.1	6	9.21
8:30PM	NBC	Sunday Night Football (8:30-11PM)	6.0	15	16.57
	FOX	Bob's Burgers	2.1	5	4.58
9:00PM	FOX	Family Guy	2.6	6	5.23
	ABC	Revenge	1.5	4	5.98
9:30PM	FOX	American Dad	2.1	5	4.27
10:00PM	CBS	The Mentalist	1.7	4	9.64
	ABC	Betrayal	0.8	2	3.10

- - Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2013 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved.

SRC: tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/

Ask Matt: Mentalist to be cancelled?

Question: I've just heard that two of my favorite shows might well be cancelled, and they're The Mentalist and Hawaii Five-0. I've often looked at what shows were "on the bubble" but the appropriateness of that term just struck me since I now realize these shows may very well either burst or float on, so I really hope it will be the latter! I think The Mentalist was bothered by too many late showings due to football (and maybe the Red John saga hanging on so long turned people off — not me), and Hawaii Five-0 is on a tough night where many shows, except for Blue Bloods —another on my "must watch" list — don't appear to do that well. Have you heard anything about the outcome of these shows, or do you have an opinion one way or another? — Dorothy

Matt Roush: Not sure where you're hearing these things, but the fact is that CBS has a tradition of cycling out many of its long-running procedurals over time (Cold Case, Without a Trace, the CSI spin-offs) so as to keep the schedule fresh, and one of the warning signs that a show's expiration time is near is when CBS moves it from its original night to trouble spots like Sundays at 10/9c or Fridays. But your fears may be a wee bit premature. CBS is no doubt looking closely at The Mentalist to see how viewers respond to the show's new format post-Red John (the denouement of which spiked the ratings), but the football overruns aren't really a factor. CBS has been dealing with that problem for ages, and they know the show in the 10/9c time slot tends to suffer. The real issue here is that when a show is moved into that time period, that's usually a sign the clock is ticking. But CBS tends to let shows of this sort run for at least seven seasons, and I wouldn't be surprised if The Mentalist gets one more lap, although if fans don't embrace Mentalist 2.0, that could hasten the end. With Hawaii, it's clear this reboot is unlikely to have the staying power of the '60s original (which ran 12 seasons), but it's doing well enough on a tough night that I'm betting they'll stick with the Hawaii-Blue Bloods combo for at least another season if not more.

SRC: tvguide.com/

Midseason report card: ‘The Mentalist’ season 6′s Red John reveal, and the ‘New Beginning’

For a show that is in its sixth season, it’s amazing just how much stuff that “The Mentalist” has been forced to contend with this year. Not only was the show constantly delayed, shoved around, and even at one point preempted thanks to NFL football, but it became a guessing game for DVR users who were not even trying to watch the show live. Add to that the big reveal of Red John and moving forward into what is almost a brand-new show with some of the new characters, and there were so many ways in which to get it wrong.

When it comes to that Red John story, where Thomas McAllister was revealed to be the name behind the murder of Jane’s whole family, fan reaction was mixed. Personally, it was a somewhat-stronger story than most of the media was giving them credit for. It almost had a nice cinematic vibe to it in now forcing us to get some sort of hollow explanation as to why McAllister did what it did. There was not going to be a satisfying reason beyond “the man is a psychopath,” and the show was right to not really offer anything at all.

As a matter of fact, the only thing that we would have loved to see more of is Patrick’s life immediately after the murder of Red John happened, since there were some fascinating things that were completely glossed over before we found him living the life of a beach bum. The premise of “My Blue Heaven” was fun enough, even if the entire “Kim Fischer is an agent” story was obvious to everyone but the supposed smartest guy in the room all of the time.

We’re only two episodes in to the reboot, and that’s why it is so hard to judge. But while we’re happy to see Jane and Lisbon back together, we’re still not sold on the Kim character, and we worry that we’re not going to have another sort of long-term mystery like Red John that is worth pondering about. When it comes to that, it was almost all about the investigation rather than the reveal.

But we like “The Mentalist” season 6 overall. We had to change the format of this particular Midseason Report Card compared to what we typically do, but that is largely because we’re almost looking at different shows here molded into one. Some things that were great about the first part of the season (the intensity) just don’t apply to the second part. The major common thread is that Jane is still a captivating character, and while we wish the show was permanently less serialized, this is one of the better CBS crime dramas on the schedule. Just imagine that it wouldn’t feel like such a ratings pain in the backside if it actually aired at 10:00 p.m. Eastern every week. Grade: B.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

Round Table: "Green Thumb" (6x10 review)

Things haven't gone exactly according to plan for Patrick Jane…unless his plan was to spend three months in a Federal detention suite.

Below, TV Fanatic Christine Orlando is joined by The Mentalist fans Entwife, Neha, and Foresti Purge to discuss their thoughts on Agent Kim Fischer and whether or not they'd get a psychic reading from Patrick Jane.

Ready to jump in and discuss The Mentalist Season 6 Episode 10?

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Were you surprised by the three month time jump with Jane in detention and Lisbon back in Washington state?

Entwife: I have to say I was completely shocked by this! Two years and now three months. And in isolation? Not allowed to get Lisbon's letters? I was more than surprised. I was angry. I thought it was cruel. Abbott and Fischer were trying to make his life as painful as possible in order to get him to accept indentured servitude with the FBI. I thought it was sickening.

Neha:  I was surprised, yes. I was expecting the episode to begin with them fighting Abbott on his 'list'. It does go to show how much he wanted to work with Lisbon though, if he is willing to wait that long and not break out.

Foresti Purge: Nope. It would have been too unrealistic if the FBI changes its mind overnight.

Christine: I wasn't expecting it but it does show that Abbott's no push over. He just didn't know who he was dealing with. Isolation doesn't bother Jane if he can have a comfy place to sit and his tea. 

What are your thoughts so far on Agent Kim Fischer?

Entwife: I thoroughly dislike her. She is a cold manipulator and has no feeling for Jane except how to turn him into a tool for the FBI, her tool. She is a bully, in my opinion, harsh, and the end seems to perfectly justify the means to her. That FBI scene is full of cold, grim people!

Neha:  Agent Fisher is a good character and I like the chemistry between Jane and her, but I don't know what the point of introducing her as a regular is. Maybe we'll find out later in the season. So far though she's just like a side act for me, like it really wouldn't matter if she wasn't around.

Foresti Purge:  Poor woman. She thought she had Jane under control, when of course all of us know she didn't. I look forward to seeing how she manages Jane from now on, though. Managing Jane isn't impossible; Hightower once had succeeded at forcing Jane to respect her terms. I want to see how Fischer and Abbott deal with him.

Christine: Jane needs a foil and now he has two in Abbott and Fischer. Jane is obviously nothing she expected and he's enjoying toying with her. I also like how Cho put her in her place when he berated a team member for losing Jane. I'm not attached to her yet but it could be entertaining to see how they all interact going forward.

Did you think Jane had really broken Bertram's code?

Entwife: I thought he had for sure. And, I thought Abbott really reacted to Jane telling him he had names of corrupt law enforcement all over the country. It made me think he might be dirty himself. How awful would that be, for them to be working under yet another corrupt boss? Well, I'm sure that plot development is waaaaaay down the road. But interesting.

Neha:  No, I knew there was a fair chance he was bluffing, but you never know with Jane anymore. When he told Lisbon though, it gave me this great feeling I used to get in the earlier seasons when he put up an act like that.

Foresti Purge: I did. This is Jane, after all. Patrick Jane never tells the truth when a lie will do. If he said he hadn't, it can only mean he had.

Christine: I really thought he'd done it. I can only imagine what Abbott's reaction will be when he realizes he's been played but maybe by then Jane will have really cracked the code.

Would you want a psychic reading from Patrick Jane?

Entwife: Sure! It would be fun! I'm sure he would blow my mind! And I'd already know it was a fake psychic reading, so I could just enjoy the fun.

Neha:  Of course I would, even if I don't believe in psychics. It would be so entertaining!

Foresti Purge: Me? Nah. Like Jane, I don't believe in such things.

Christine: I don't believe but I'm fascinated by the con when it's done well and it would be such fun to see how well Jane could pull it off. I'm all in.

 

Weigh in on Jane's beard. Keep it or shave it?

Entwife: I love the way it looks in the sunlight, so bright and pretty with his hair. The way he is now, it sort of makes him look more scruffy than anything. I'd kind of like him to shave it off and see his pretty smooth skin instead. I think it would make him look younger, and more ruggedly handsome even with the weathering.

Neha:  I would say, keep the beard, loose the wrinkled suit. I mean, haven't we had enough of his hobo look already? I mean, it's hot and all In a "I am trying to figure my life out" kinda way, but I think I miss his vest.

Foresti Purge: Absolutely keep it. He looks rougher like that. You know, more like a free man.

Christine: I usually don't like beards but I'm a fan of this scruffy look on Jane. I keep waiting for Lisbon to reach out and touch it!

 

What was your favorite scene?

Entwife: The conversation between them on the airplane where Lisbon stood up for herself that she wouldn't allow Jane to take over her life at his whim. Her words about him not being in her life for two years really cut him and she felt bad for it, especially in light of his letters. But letters are not being there. She curbed and cuffed him and he accepted it. It was sad and hurt to watch, but it's the deepening of their relationship that I've been looking for, and I can't wait to see more!

Neha: I am a Lisbon fan, so the airplane scene where she finally tells him how self absorbed he has been, has to be my favorite. I think, that is the only real conversation they have had since his return. There was also that conversation between Cho and Fisher, about Jane. And that Cho scene about the road runner, I love Cho!

Foresti Purge: In hindsight, my favorite scene is when Jane asked $20 from Lisbon. Think: Who needs $20 for a hot dog? That's when I realized he's been planning his escape all along. He needs that much money to buy pen, stamp, envelope, and spray paint. When I rewatched the scene, I was absolutely impressed--this man is a genius!

Christine: As much as I loved Lisbon finally telling him off on the plane, my favorite scene was at the end. Jane just radiated joy when Lisbon told him she'd be taking the job with the FBI and they'd work together. And his reaction to the socks was incredibly sweet. It just had me wishing we didn't have to wait until January 5th to see more.

SRC: tvfanatic.com/

6x12 'Golden Hammer' (spoiler)

Heller tells EW.com the show will look into "a new side of the relationship between Jane and Lisbon," during the "Golden Hammer" episode which may air Jan. 12.

SRC: hngn.com/

Ratings: Did Brian Griffin’s death help ‘Family Guy’? Also, ‘The Mentalist’ gains ground

When “Family Guy” made the controversial move earlier this season and killed off one of their most-iconic characters in Brian Griffin, it was pretty easy to form a conspiracy theory that this was all a massive ratings ploy to get people interested in a show more than a decade old.

While we still do believe that the family dog is going to somehow magically resurface on the show by the end of the season (heck, it could even happen this coming weekend), this has proven itself to be somewhat of a ratings winner for Fox. The new episode on Sunday drew a 2.6 rating in the 18-49 demographic (what matters more to advertisers than total viewer counts), which is an increase of .4 from the last new episode two weeks ago featuring Brian’s death.

Now, you could make the argument here that it was the lack of a new “Walking Dead” episode tonight, which shares some audience with “Family Guy,” that played a role more so than the Brian buzz; but, this is the sort of thing that is really hard to measure one way or another. “Revenge” fans, for example, were blaming zombies for their lack of good ratings this year, and they stayed steady at a 1.5 even without “The Walking Dead” on the air.

What we are probably the most impressed about right now is the steady performance of “The Mentalist” on CBS, despite being saddled with probably the worst timeslot on TV right now. While a 1.7 rating isn’t great, remember that the Red John case is over, and that this show has been bumped as late as 10:50 p.m. Eastern on some nights. It’s kind of a marvel that the show’s ratings have not deteriorated more than they have over the past several months; they’re just as good as they were during the Red John case itself.

Also worth noting is that “Once Upon a Time” (2.2) recovered from some of its recent ratings woes on Sunday night, and nobody is still watching “Betrayal” (0.8). ABC is just letting that show wrap its 13 episodes before kicking it to the curb.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

Actor Simon Baker keeps his cool as The Mentalist explores new territory

Reports suggest Baker has a deal with producers of The Mentalist that will net him a staggering $30 million, but he's so amiable it's hard to believe he's a big TV power player.

There's no better measure of the regard in which he's held than his workmates Robin Tunney and Owain Yeoman.

Tunney, who plays detective Teresa Lisbon opposite Baker's Patrick Jane, says, "When they published how much money he's making, I sent him a text asking if I could borrow $3000.

"Let's face it, most actors aren't rocket scientists and are really fragile. The idea that I'm working with somebody who makes my day so much shorter ... he just makes me better."

Yeoman (agent Wayne Rigsby) adds: "Simon is such a down-to-earth guy. He was joking the other day and said, 'I've bought a Lamborghini'. He's not at all flashy. It turns out he bought a Lamborghini tractor for his farm."

Baker, 44, was born in Launceston. His local profile was boosted when, as star of E Street, he won the 1992 Logie for most popular new talent.

He relocated to Los Angeles with wife Rebecca Rigg, making an impression alongside Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce and Kim Basinger in the acclaimed 1997 movie L.A. Confidential.

His only real stumble came after filming The Devil Wears Prada, when he signed on for TV series Smith, which co-starred Ray Liotta and was canned after just three episodes.

Baker is now approaching the most critical point in the six-season history of The Mentalist.

For 10 years, Patrick Jane has been traumatised by the murder of his wife and daughter and unable to nail the killer, known as Red John. CBS made it known early this year that season six would reveal the identity of Red John.

The million-dollar question is will bringing the mystery to a close kill viewer interest in the show?

The show's creator and producer Bruno Heller says, "It's gonna be a great show after Red John. It's up to the audience to decide if they like it. I'm not really concerned. It felt to all of us that chapter was done.

"Frankly, I think the great value of the show is in Baker's head and what he does. In terms of moment by moment pleasures of the show, those are delivered by Simon Baker and his people, not by Red John".

Baker confesses, "I did feel a sense of pressure, because we've been working toward this for so many years and it was something that had pushed the character from the very beginning. Somehow I had to live up to that in that one moment - the one moment in the life of the character where he's stepping into the unknown.

"Just the challenge of trying to keep it interesting for myself is the goal. I've got a really good relationship with the crew and the other cast, we're kind of a little family now. It cooks along.

"We have a pretty open dialogue about the direction it goes in. It'll get infinitely more interesting for me when we have an end date; when we know, OK, it's only going to be one more year so we ought to close up all the stories.

"The other thing that keeps it interesting for me is directing episodes. It's exhausting, but it keeps me stimulated. I will do more of it (directing) eventually. I'm just using this now as an opportunity to fail, practise, make mistakes."

As yet, there has been no confirmation of a seventh season of The Mentalist. But Baker confirms there is a plan to wrap up the show: "There is an end in sight, but I'm not allowed to reveal it."

Another great challenge for Baker is maintaining balance in life.

While he slaved away for years in Hollywood before his big break with The Guardian, his wife Rebecca Rigg gave up her career to play housewife and supporter. Asked how he manages long hours on the set of The Mentalist and his role as a dad to Stella, Claude and Harry, Baker offers a simple response.

"She's been amazing,'' Baker says of Rigg. "If it weren't for her, I probably wouldn't be able to be in this situation.

"The idea of happiness is a lot simpler to me now than what it ever was when I was younger, before I had a family.''

Baker continues to look for projects to stretch his wings outside of The Mentalist and was seen earlier this year in UK movie comedy I Give it a Year.

"The success of the show worldwide has given me more opportunities. I have a limited amount of time and I'm also always looking to do something that feels a bit different so that I get a bit of a break," he says.

"I also look for something that's not going to take up my whole time off, because I do like to have a bit of a play and a rest.

"The Killer Inside Me was a Michael Winterbottom thing, a real departure and a supporting role so I didn't have to work the whole run. Margin Call, it was a very different character again.

"I've got opportunities, it's really just how badly I wanna do it. I'm not a snob, I don't mind commercial films, but I like it when they have a new take."

The Mentalist, Channel 9, Sunday, 9pm

Lisbon Gets A Boyfriend, Patrick Jane Goes On A Date. Series To Keep Exploring Jisbon Relationship

The Mentalist's Patrick Jane is going on a date and Teresa Lisbon is getting a boyfriend when the CBS drama returns form its midseason hiatus.

After a bit of reluctance on both their parts, the former CBI consultant and Agent have now relocated to the FBI. As Jane (Simon Baker) and Lisbon (robin Tunney) navigate their new post-Red John world, it looks like they each will be courting romance.

In Jan. 5's "White Lines," the new team will be investigating the death of several DEA (something to do with cocaine, perhaps?). While working the case, Jane will find himself on a date with Krystal Markham, played by Devious Maids' Brianne Brown. However, Markham is somehow related to the current investigation and it is unclear if this is one of Jane's clever ploys to suss out information.

Meanwhile, Lisbon will be getting a boyfriend later in the season. Although the part has not yet been cast, Entertainment Weekly says that the new character will pop up in episode 15 or 16.

"In order for her to fulfill herself - even if she eventually fulfills herself with Jane, which she may or may not do - she has to find other relationships, other perspectives, other people who love her, just to feel fully who she is," said series creator Bruno Heller, according to Entertainment Weekly. "It's very important for her to be able to step away from Jane and see herself for herself."

As a collective grown can be heard from Jisbon shippers, Heller is quick to assure viewers that the Jane-Lisbon dynamic has not been forgotten and new relationships for the main characters does not preclude the possibility of something between the two coworkers in the future.

"That's an arc that we're going to be watching develop through the back end of this season. Now that Red John is gone, both Jane and Lisbon are sort of psychically free to wake up and look around and what they see when they wake up from that nightmare is each other," Heller told Entertainment Weekly. "And how that relationship develops and how they sort of start working out who they are to each other is a big part of how the rest of this season unfolds."

SRC: enstarz.com/

More information on Patrick Jane’s new ‘date’ (6x11 spoiler)

Fans of “The Mentalist,” it appears as though Patrick Jane’s romantic life may be buzzing again very soon when the show returns to television on January 5 … but not exactly in the way that you would think.

Earlier this month, you probably heard the casting news that there was going to be a guest star that Patrick asks on a date, and this in some way marks one of his first real attempts that he makes since the end of the Red John case. But, as the synopsis for “White Lines” so perfectly teases, there is going to be something more at play here when it comes to him trying to help out the case:

“The FBI is tasked with finding the killer of several DEA agents, and Jane goes on a date with a beautiful woman associated with the case.”

We have a hard time imagining that this date is strictly for romantic purposes, and if it is, it is going to have a hard time ending well. At this point, everyone associated with the show is well aware of the affection that is out there for Jane and Lisbon, and they are not trying at all to ignore it. This is why there were a few hints dropped in “Green Thumb” about something down the road. This is just going to be a slow burn before the subject is really ever addressed; while Jane may be ready for romance now, he does have to switch that part of his brain off that originally saw Lisbon as a partner, and switch fully over to the one that could see her as something more. There may have been flickers in the past, but now it has to be permanent.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x11 'White Lines' (official synopsis)

"White Lines" - The FBI is tasked with finding the killer of several DEA agents, and Jane goes on a date with a beautiful woman associated with the case, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Jan. 5 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

'The Mentalist': Lisbon's getting a... new boyfriend?

If you thought The Mentalist 2.0 was done with the introductions, think again. EW has learned that the second half of the season, which kicks off Jan. 5, will see the introduction of a new boyfriend for Lisbon (Robin Tunney)!

“In order for her to fulfill herself — even if she eventually fulfills herself with Jane, which she may or may not do — she has to find other relationships, other perspectives, other people who love her, just to feel fully who she is,” executive producer Bruno Heller says. “It’s very important for her to be able to step away from Jane and see herself for herself.”

Lisbon’s new beau, who is not currently cast, is set to appear in episode 15 or 16.

The news surely comes to the sadness of some fans who are eager to see Lisbon and Jane (Simon Baker) take their friendship to more, um, official levels. But Heller says they’re far from done exploring those two characters as a pair. In fact, the episode “Golden Hammer,” tentatively set to air Jan. 12, will show “a new side of the relationship between Jane and Lisbon.”

“That’s an arc that we’re going to be watching develop through the back end of this season. Now that Red John is gone, both Jane and Lisbon are sort of psychically free to wake up and look around and what they see when they wake up from that nightmare is each other,” he says. “And how that relationship develops and how they sort of start working out who they are to each other is a big part of how the rest of this season unfolds.”

On Sunday, The Mentalist aired its final new episode of 2013, a year that saw the conclusion of the series’ Red John arc and the addition of series regulars Emily Swallow and Rockmond Dunbar. ”The response has been great, as far as I can tell,” Heller said of reaction to what’s been called a new era of the show. “I think what I’m excited about is that we’ve got the whole rest of the run to stretch out in this new way, and it’s been such fun for everyone involved in doing it. … It’s much lighter and even joyful, perhaps.”

As part of the campaign around the post-Red John era of The Mentalist, in October, Warner Bros. began releasing a series of posters to promote the rebirth. An exclusive GIF of those is presented below:

SRC: insidetv.ew.com/

Insider's Blog: Green Thumb (6x10)

How is the re-boot of The Mentalist going to be different? Daniel Cerone takes you inside production of "Green Thumb".

Well, it should come as no surprise by now that after five and a half seasons, we're re-booting The Mentalist. Three episodes ago, the CBI was shut down. Two episodes ago, Patrick Jane obtained his long-awaited revenge on Red John. And last episode, we found Jane hiding from authorities on a tropical island. What viewers may not be aware of is that while those three episodes were shooting, our production designer, Mike Novotny, was hard at work dismantling the old CBI standing set and building a shiny, new, and permanent FBI set.

That new set was revealed this week in "Green Thumb". In essence, the episode was like writing a series pilot. A new universe is introduced, a new team of personalities set in motion (with some familiar pieces intact), and a new world of stories begins. We didn't want to see Jane consulting for the CBI without Red John out there, because that's the reason Jane joined the CBI in the first place. Working for the FBI gives Jane access to bigger stories with higher stakes and loftier figures to poke at -- which is ultimately the fun of The Mentalist. For the first time we can now enjoy Jane without the weight of his family's murder hanging over his head.

In addition to introducing all the new elements, the storytelling in "Green Thumb" was challenging because we wanted to set the FBI paradigm in motion, but we didn't want to throw too many changes at viewers at once. So we gave Jane a murder to solve this week, which mixes the old with the new. In fact, most of the stories this season will continue to revolve around a dead body on the floor, but the cases will often have national implications.

What was the most rewarding part of this episode for me was watching the transformation of Lisbon. Last week's episode was focused on the FBI finding Jane and extracting him to the United States. Jane arguably has a strong reason to join the FBI -- it will keep him out of jail for murder. But Lisbon now has an established home and career, so what's in it for her to upend her life? In many ways, this is Lisbon's episode and it's great watching Robin Tunney play a character who's no longer the boss. The new sides of her character feel revelatory and fresh, and that, after all, was the goal of the re-boot.

Hope you enjoy.

Written by

Producer Daniel Cerone

SRC: cbs.com/

Jane Gets His Groove Back (review)

It's been three months that Patrick Jane's (Simon Baker) been in (isolated) detention on The Mentalist — during which time he apparently couldn't find a decent razor — and Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) and Fisher (Emily Swallow) are growing impatient, champing at the bit to have Jane join their ranks at the FBI. But there's only one problem: he won't work for them unless all his demands are met, and Lisbon (Robin Tunney) is the final holdout. Fisher takes a trip to Washington to personally recruit Lisbon, who's getting increasingly frustrated with the office politics at her desk job, and convinces her to at least hear Jane out.

Despite the case Jane makes, Lisbon stands firm. "I have a home and a respected career. You're locked up for murder," she notes — and has a point. But she sticks around, and the FBI enlists Jane's help on the case of a man who has been reported missing/possibly kidnapped in Brooklyn. (Oh, and by the way, he has enough information to bring down the entire financial system.) As they start looking into the case, Jane's flippancy isn't sitting well with the straitlaced Fisher, and he's not thrilled with her no-nonsense approach either. He wonders aloud which version of her is the real one — the uptight FBI agent or the laid-back woman he bonded with back on the beach.

Despite his lengthy hiatus, Jane hasn't lost his touch. Eventually (after briefly going MIA in Brooklyn), he deduces that the missing man caught his wife's psychic breaking into their home, accidentally killed him during the struggle that ensued, and was spotted by a neighbor when he was trying to bury the body. The neighbor — who we find out at the end of the episode is a former gang member — decided to hold the man for ransom, knowing that he was a valuable asset.

Of course, Jane explains all of this only after Fisher reaches her breaking point. Officially fed up with Jane's games, she says she's prepared to cart him back to Texas and formally charge him with the murder of Thomas McAllister (a.k.a. Red John). But once he tips her off as to where she can find the psychic's body, she's forced to reconsider. Cho (Tim Kang) wisely advises her that she'll never be able to rein Jane in and should probably just stop trying.

On the plane back to Texas, Lisbon and Jane have a touching conversation where Lisbon reiterates that she's ready to move on. She accuses her partner of never taking her feelings into consideration and tells him she was scared he had decided to disappear again when he ran away in Brooklyn. "You haven't been part of my life for two years, so let's get this case wrapped up so I can go home," Lisbon tells Jane, who looks genuinely hurt. And she's not the only one who won't let Jane have his way. Abbott is still not ready to budge either and tells Jane he looks forward to following his murder trial on TV.

If anything could change Lisbon's mind, however, it's a classic power play by Jane. During his impromptu tour of Brooklyn, we see Jane postmark a letter to Abbott, and later learn that it's a list of all the members of the Blake Association that he (supposedly) pulled off of the hard drive Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti) found in Bertram's wine cellar back in Episode 7. Most have been arrested, but in the version that Jane sent to Abbott, some of the names are blacked out — and Jane says he'll only divulge them when his contract with the FBI is up. Abbott has no choice to agree.

But it's a bait-and-switch. In a subsequent conversation between Jane and Lisbon, we learn that they never actually cracked the code on Bertram's hard drive, and Jane manufactured the list —blacked-out names and all — during his Brooklyn jaunt. Lisbon finally agrees to come back and work with Jane and presents him with a pair of socks to mark the occasion. (Aww.)

Other key moments from the episode:

-Lisbon and Fisher have a female bonding moment about trying to "figure him out." Fisher asks Lisbon if they were ever involved romantically, and Lisbon gets a little flustered. Is "Will they or won't they?" going to be the new "Who is Red John?"?

-We also meet the meek, slightly creepy(?) Analyst Wiley — a.k.a. "Coyote," even though he doesn't get the Looney Tunes reference — who finds Jane while perusing satellite footage of the streets of Brooklyn on his lunch break.

-Loved Jane's repeated requests for a new couch as part of his terms.

-Despite the two-year time jump, this "rebooted" version of The Mentalist feels a lot like putting on an old glove, no?

What did you think? Are you glad Jane's back in the saddle with Lisbon by his side? Do you think Fisher has the hots for him? Did you miss Rigsby and Van Pelt in this episode? Leave your thoughts on "Green Thumb" in the comments below!

The Mentalist airs Sundays at 10/9c on CBS.

SRC: tvguide.com/

Jane's Fun Side Returns Post Dark Red John Chapter, Hints of Jisbon-Fischer Love Triangle (6x10 review)

Sunday's (8 December) episode of The Mentalist took the show back to basics, much to fans' delight. The episode titled Green Thumb was rooted in the "crime-solving" essence of the show. It also reintroduced the mischievous side of Patrick Jane, something that went missing over the last few episodes understandably due to the dark factors leading to Red John’s killing.

That naturally pushed aside any playful elements in the relationship between Jane and Lisbon or anyone else. But now, as shown in the last episode, My Blue Heaven, since over two years have passed in the show's timeline, and Jane is living in the most comfortable prison cell ever, he is back to being at least a semblance of the guy he was for most part of the series, reports Zap2it.

Green Thumb comes across almost like a superbly executed pilot episode. It is the perfect way to reboot and refresh the series while playing to all its strengths. Jane gets his first case working with the FBI while Abbott and the rest of the FBI team get to be exasperated at Jane's methods and his smarter-than-you smirk just the way Lisbon and her CBI colleagues once were.

There's the hint of a romantic angle (or love triangle!) in the works when Fischer awkwardly queries Lisbon about her relationship with Jane.

Jane even gets to play at being a psychic again, since the case involves the disappearance of a man who is dating a Romany woman.

There is also good news for Jisbon fans as the episode ends with Lisbon being offered and taking a job with the FBI.

Rockmond Dunbar has been an interesting addition to the cast, as his Abbott character is proving to be anti-Jane. Emily Swallow is being all nice and attractive to Jane as Kim.

The Mentalist Season 6, Episode 10, Green Thumb, appears to be the final 2013 installment of the show, which could go into a long winter break before running its second half.

"We're going to have some fun putting Jane into an entirely different work environment," Simon Baker told TV Guide. "He'll not only find his spark again - he'll have a whole lot of new people to rub the wrong way!"

Fans of the show loved the new episode, Green Thumb. Here are some of their tweets:

“One of the best #TheMentalist episodes ever! Jane is taking the power back! @Mentalist_CBS”

“This episode was perfection!!! How am I suppose to wait until January?! #TheMentalist”

“Loving the new take on #TheMentalist. The new storyline is pretty great @Mentalist_CBS”

SRC: ibtimes.co.uk/

Who was in Blake Association? New surprising name revealed

Known members of Blake Assosciation from the Jane's (Bertram's) fake list (they are already arrested by FBI according to Abbott - but mostly long time dead):


- Gale Bertram
- Brett Partridge
- Timothy Carter
- Rebecca...
- Judge...




and... Rosalind Harker. Yes, the blind one (was she even blind?). Interesting, isn't it?

6x11 'White Lines' contains intense Jisbon scenes? (Heller Teases...) (spoiler)

Bruno Heller has revealed that this episode may have some intense scenes between Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon.

However, this is just a rumor and has not been confirmed.

SRC: thementalist.wikia.com/

Robin Tunney on the Red John reveal: 'It's time'

Zap2it: What do you think of the show finally revealing the identity of Patrick Jane's nemesis, Red John?

Robin Tunney: I feel like, it's time. There's only so many circles you can go in with it, and I feel like we owe it to our audience. They've been so loyal, that you can only lead them down that road for so long. It's almost like you have to close that door so another can open -- and I think it will.

Zap2it: Will solving the murder of Red John cause fans to lose interest?

Robin Tunney: I don't think people watch the show because they want to know who Red John is. They watch the show because they enjoy watching Patrick Jane solve crimes in the way that he does. When the show's at its finest, it does have a sense of humor about it.

It's not a gory, violent crime show, and the crimes are cerebral, obtuse, weird. I actually think that's what's different about it.

Zap2it: What's it going to be like for you someday, post-"Mentalist"?

Robin Tunney: I think I'm going to feel like, "What am I going to do?" All of my time is completely commandeered. I am never bored. I have not been bored in six years. You're memorizing lines; you're working; you're working out; you're getting your eyebrows done; you're getting your hair dyed; you've got to do situps to fit in your crime-fighting outfits.

It's full-on. But the idea of that stopping -- I think I'm going to feel panicked, because I always have this weird attachment.

SRC: blog.zap2it.com/

The Mentalist (review)

Some of us are unconvinced about the way the whole Red John thing is spinning. In an effort to maintain that long story arc the man's unearthly powers and the complexity of his machinations have reached Lost-like proportions. But this sixth season did open last week with an intriguing development: our faux-psychic, Patrick Jane, is quite sure there's nothing even slightly psychic about the uber-villain, while his sceptical colleague Teresa Lisbon is beginning to believe that some kind of supernatural ability is the only explanation for Red John's omnipresence. It's not much of a spoiler to say any paranormal speculation is laid to rest in this instalment, but the conspiracy theory side of things continues to burgeon.

Meanwhile, of course, there's a crime of the day to get sorted and as tends to be the case with The Mentalist, that crime is pretty ludicrous, but intriguing all the same. It only has one obvious flaw, and that's more to do with this network hoarding episodes of its top series (this played in the States in early October); while a rival network is fast-tracking its shows. The result is a recent episode of Castle built around a similar framework. This particular plotline isn't the only traits the two shows share. The odd-couple partnership between Jane and Lisbon around which this is built is not dissimilar to that between Castle and Beckett.

Likewise the relationship between the grunt detectives (here, Cho and Rigsby; in Castle, Espo and Ryan) is a central part of the fun. But that's not a criticism. It's merely that these shows offer the same pleasures and, if the goofy heart of Castle is Nathan Fillion in the titular role, then undoubtedly Simon Baker's Patrick Jane is the magnetic north of The Mentalist. This is a pretty lightweight vehicle but he's an actor who continues to impress, and not just because of his twinkling blue eyes. Indeed, he transcends his pretty-boy looks.

He wears his forty-something years comfortably and is completely credible as a grown-up, intelligent man. What's also always enjoyable about Baker's performance is that Jane may be relatively unflappable but he's not a tough guy and tonight's more satisfying moments are when we see him reacting like an ordinary, frail human being.

SRC: theage.com.au/

6x10 'Green Thumb' (sneak peek #2 - Lisbon visiting Jane)

Will The Mentalist's Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) ever get out of detention?

On Sunday's episode, Jane has been locked up for three months because he and FBI boss Frank Abbott (Rockmond Dunbar) are at a standoff. Abbott won't let Jane out unless he agrees to work for the FBI, and Jane won't work for the agency unless all his requests are met — and that includes having Lisbon (Robin Tunney) as his partner again.

The Mentalist: Has Jane found peace after Red John?

"If I can't live on my terms, I'm in prison anyway," Jane tells Lisbon, who visits him in detention to explain why she's not thrilled about the idea of working with him again. But hey, judging from the exclusive clip below, at least he's getting that tea he asked for!)

Check out an exclusive sneak peek from "Green Thumb" here. Do you think Jane will end up getting his way?



SRC: tvguide.com/

Is Simon Baker’s Jane back in action?

Sunday night’s new episode of “The Mentalist” is at least going to represent an opportunity for things to become business as usual again for Patrick Jane and company. Whether or not that happens is going to be entirely up to the writers, but it looks like we are on the way to much more stable territory after spending the past four episodes dealing with both the end of Red John and the start of Jane’s new chapter.

In the sneak peek video below, the first obvious thing that you notice is that Jane has somehow been convinced by the FBI to go back to work with them. There is no more of the sitting around and wondering whether or not this is the right move, or Jane negotiating with him. Whatever sort of negotiations that needed to be done are done by the time that the clip begins. You have Jane working with the bureau, both Lisbon and Kim Fischer at his side trying to help, and a woman who is very reluctant to help them out in finding her husband. She doesn’t trust them. This is where Simon Baker’s character comes into play.

The obvious benefit that comes with having Jane as a part of the FBI team is that he’s someone that people in need can relate to. He may not be psychic per se, but he possesses the gift of relating to them, and tapping into something in their brain that they may not even be aware of. He can help people who don’t realize that they need help, and convince them that the FBI are in some instances worthy of being trusted.

What do you think is going to happen on “The Mentalist” Sunday, and are you excited to see the Patrick Jane of old return? Personally, we’re skeptical; we’ve enjoyed the past month or so to the point that we’re almost nervous to go back to seeing the show as a weekly procedural yet again.


SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x10: "Green Thumb" First Look (new synopsis)

A computer programmer who helped write the code that protects the Federal Reserve has gone missing, and the FBI fears the worst.

SRC: cbs.com/

How much more of Rigsby and Van Pelt will you see?

Were you worried at all that “My Blue Heaven” was going to be the end for Rigsby and Van Pelt on “The Mentalist” this season? Based on the news out there that the two are leaving the show this year, we certainly understand that.

However, we do come now bearing some big news for those of you who want to see at least a little bit more of the couple: They are not going anywhere quite yet. According to a new report from TVLine, there is still quite a bit more to come from the characters when the characters return in the new year. As for how they turn up, that will be a little more of an interesting question. These two for the time being are running a private business, and aren’t anywhere close to where Patrick Jane is currently located with the FBI.

Then again, you cannot rule out the possibility that Jane could find a way still to use them. He has found a way to rope in Lisbon already, and some details that are out there now suggest that he is going to convince the bureau to use her in a significant way. We have a feeling that he succeeds, given that there are currently no plans for her to leave the show at all.

But where does us leave the show’s married couple? Basically, they are on a trajectory to wrap up their story, but find a way to do it that does them justice. That seems to be the most important thing right now even above finding some sort of specific date in which the two are going to be filming their last episode.

SRC: cartermatt.com/

6x10: Patrick Jane Is Back In The Field With Lisbon

The Mentalist and Lisbon are official back in the field during this week's "Green Thumb."

After Patrick Jane's (Simon Baker) two-year vacation in South America, the FBI is getting the former CBI consultant back into the world of crime solving. Although Jane will be spending three months behind bars, according to TV Guide, the faux psychic still won't miss a beat.

As the FBI searches for a computer programmer, Jane must use his use his knowledge vast knowledge of different types of cultures, like that of the Armani Gypsy, along with his expertise on psychics to gain the trust of the programmer's wife (see video below).

While The Mentalist reorients its plot back to a crime of the week format, series creator Bruno Heller cautions fans that upcoming investigations won't be of the same variety as those in the Red John era.

"We will be returning, eventually, to crime solving," Heller said, according to Collider. "Not necessarily the same kind of crime solving, but yeah. We could make it a weekly elimination dance contest. Simon Baker would be really good at that. He wouldn't win the singing contest because I would win that, but he would definitely win the dancing."



SRC: enstarz.com/

6x10 'Green Thumb' (Sneak peek video)

6x10 Green Thumb (12x Promotional Photos)

THE MENTALIST Season 6 Episode 10 : “Green Thumb” — The FBI reluctantly enlists Jane’s help to find a missing computer programmer, but he won’t help unless Lisbon is brought on board as well, on THE MENTALIST, Sunday, Dec. 8 (10:00–11:00 PM, ET, 10:00 – 11:00, PT) on the CBS Television Network.

SRC: seat42f.com/