The Mentalist: Season Six Ratings

Last season, despite a move to Sunday nights and a big drop in the ratings, CBS renewed The Mentalist for a sixth season. Will the ratings continue to fall? Will CBS bring the show back for a seventh year? Stay tuned!

On The Mentalist, Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) continues to help the CBI solve cases while he seeks to bring his family’s killer to justice. Also starring in the show are Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman, Amanda Righetti, Emily Swallow, and Rockmond Dunbar.

The higher a show’s ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better its chances for survival. New ratings data will be added as it becomes available — typically around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.



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Last year comparison: The fifth season of The Mentalist averaged a 1.7 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.5 million total viewers.

Red John's Revenge, Patrick Jane's New Chapter, and Possible Series Ending (spoilers)

"The Mentalist" Season 6 returns with Episode 13 on CBS on Mar. 9. Red John's revenge is set in motion, as the Blake Association is out to kill Patrick Jane (Simon Baker), Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman), Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti), Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), and others. Jane's new chapter could be a short one. Fans are speculating this could be the final season of Bruno Heller's crime series.
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Actor Simon Baker watches the Boston Celtics play the Los Angeles Lakers during their NBA basketball game in Los Angeles, California March 11, 2012. (Credit: Reuters)

Spoiler alert: This feature contains spoilers on The Mentalist Season 6. Read at your own risk. Watch the "Black Helicopters" promo below.

Owain Yeoman has already made his final bow on Twitter. He is done filming Rigsby scenes. Amanda is also leaving The Mentalist. Season 6 could be the final season, fans suspect in online forum sites. After all, Bruno Heller will be busy with "Gotham City," a new series on FOX. But nothing is official yet. CBS has not announced a renewal or cancellation.

J.J. LaRoche (Pruitt Taylor Vince), an important recurring character in the Red John investigation, appears in The Mentalist Season 6, Episode 13. Rigsby and Van Pelt come to him for help with regards to the Blake Association kill chain.
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Jisbon (Jane and Lisbon) shippers are hoping for a happy ending. But Lisbon will be dating someone new in The Mentalist Season 6. His name is FBI Special Agent Marcus Pike, portrayed by Pedro Pascal. Bruno Heller said this relationship will allow Lisbon "to be able to step away from Jane and see herself for herself."

Heller had kept the Red John arc going for six years. Some mentalistas are having a hard time seeing Patrick Jane in a new chapter without chasing the big bad guy. But Heller had expressed in previous interviews the series is about Jane being a "mentalist." Yet, unless The Mentalist Season 7 is official, many fans are betting the end of Red John is the end of the series.

SRC: au.ibtimes.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/

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/

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/

Patrick Jane, Teresa Lisbon in Jisbon Triangle? 'Relationship Suspense' (s06 spoilers)

The Mentalist Season 6 spoilers include the capture of Red John. With that, many viewers believe it could be the last chapter of the series. Creator Bruno Heller himself couldn't say for sure that there will be a seventh season. But what about Jisbon (Patrick Jane and Teresa Lisbon)?

Fans and 'shippers are hoping to see a happy closure for Jisbon on a romantic level. But some new scoop says someone else will arrive for a love triangle. It seems another woman will have her eyes set on Patrick Jane!

Bruno Heller also dished the spoiler that The Mentalist Season 6 premiere will clear one Red John suspect. It means there will be only six of them so early into the new season. Who will Patrick Jane rule out first on his list?

The Mentalist Season 6: Jisbon Scoop

TV Line dished the scoop on the future for Jisbon (Jane and Lisbon). In response to a fan of The Mentalist, Michael Ausiello quoted Heller as saying the Jisbon "chemistry has always been there bubbling up."

"The conclusion of the Red John mystery later this fall will have a profound impact on (Jisbon's) relationship - for better or worse," Ausiello wrote.

"Up until now, they've been tied by this professional dynamic and this mission they're on," Heller said, adding, "And that held their personal relationship in suspense. Once the Red John saga is done, how do they find a new way to relate to each other? The chemistry has always been there bubbling up. But he now has other priorities and other agendas and other pressures."
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The Mentalist Season 6 Spoiler Complication

Viewers know Jane is very much aware Teresa Lisbon is in-love with him. That he is making clear to her that they are partners is proof positive she means a lot to him, too. We might see more of the deeper way they care for each other in The Mentalist Season 6 premiere. Not far into the season, Lisbon will be acting strange around Red John suspects, including her CBI boss.

Ausiello also teased that someone's arriving, "a new female character" and "a series regular."

"When you're as good a detective as Jane is, it's very hard to walk away even when you want to walk away," Heller said. "Some people won't let Jane walk away from what he's so good at. And our new female lead has something to do with that."

Did Bruno Heller just say The Mentalist Season 6 is not the final season of the show? He has earlier said ending the series will be like breaking a family. Perhaps it all depends on ratings. So we stand by.

SRC: au.ibtimes.com/

Robin Tunney's interview

She's previously appeared in Prison Break and even the pilot episode of House. But 41-year-old Robin Tunney is best known as Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon in the hit US police procedural series The Mentalist. This week marks a momentous episode in the long-running show, when Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) finally comes face-to-face with his nemesis, serial killer Red John, the man who murdered his wife and child. For Robin, it marks a turning point in the drama...

How did you feel when you realised the Red John case was finally going to be solved?
I've had such an amazing time making this show, so the fact that there's going to be some closure to that was really exciting. The idea that we're going to take these long story arcs to an end is so thrilling. People have been coming up to me in the grocery store saying, 'Get on with it. Who the hell is Red John?' Bruno [Heller, the creator] is a super-talented writer and he's really eloquently carried it on. But I think there's only so much you can do.

Did you guess who Red John was?
No – which shows you what kind of detective I am! I didn't guess, I really didn't. I don't think there's any way that I could have.

Before the shortlist of suspects, there were a lot of fans speculating that it was actually Jane. But Bruno denied that, didn't he?
Yes, and that would have been disappointing. The idea that the audience has fallen in love with and been charmed by this man and felt for him, and then turn him into a serial killer seems quite mean. I think that would be cheating and not good television.

There was also speculation it could be Lisbon!
My least favourite reaction to that gossip was that people were saying, 'Oh, come on, Red John would never be a woman!' I was like, 'OK, let's not make it sexist.' [Laughs] Women can be serial killers too, goddammit!

So what happens after the big reveal?
The show evolves into something that's different. It's not completely reinventing the wheel – it doesn't become like Twin Peaks or something. But that's pretty fun because for the past six years, I've known I was going to work on The Mentalist. So now I'm expecting to have this unknown quotient to my life. We'll continue shooting this series until April [2014], so we'll probably find out if we've got another series in May.

Do you think you've changed the way that you've played Lisbon since you first started? And do you think she's changed?
I think it's quite a slow change. When people go to the cinema, they expect the characters to really go somewhere in that 90 minutes. There's a proper character arc in a good film. But on TV, the characters evolve slowly. I don't think people want them to change within an episode. They wouldn't find it plausible, so it's been a slow change over the years. We've done some 100 or so episodes, and I think Lisbon's relationship with Jane has changed, as has my own relationship to Simon. I'm so much more comfortable with him and we work very closely. Those things kind of seep through. Plus, I think Lisbon has lightened up a bit over time. What Bruno created originally was a story of a guy who was free-spirited, with absolutely no respect for authority and who does nothing by the book. He's paired with this woman who really believes in the system and does everything by the book. And I think we've seen her beliefs go towards his. He's deeply affected who she is. If you have a boyfriend, their interests become your interests, and they really influence you. And it's like a close co-worker, too, and I think that's what Patrick's done to her. It's like couples who start looking alike and dressing alike.

That I'd like to see...
Yeah, I'd start wearing vests [waistcoats]!

A lot of people would still like to see them as a couple, and fandoms have already 'shipped' them as a couple called Jisbon...
I know. That's so crazy. I have had a lot of people asking about that. I feel like Lisbon definitely loves Jane. I don't think there's any question about that. But whether it's a romantic love or platonic love, I'm not sure. I'm also not sure if she's brave enough to act upon it. When somebody becomes your lifeline to the world and pretty much your only friend, I think the idea of acting on that is pretty terrifying!

It could ruin everything if it went wrong...
Exactly. I think the stakes get higher every year as far as how embarrassing that would be, or how lonely would she be if it went wrong. Those are very real things and I think everybody is insecure and she certainly is. [West Wing creator] Aaron Sorkin's formula for workplace dramas where you have characters who are really good at their jobs, but really bad at life certainly describes Lisbon.

When you first started filming the show, could you ever have envisaged that it would still be going strong, six seasons on?
I always thought that Simon's a really good actor and he has that thing where women fall in love with him and they're like, 'Oh, he's so adorable!' My parents came to visit and all they wanted to know was what Simon was doing. I was in the pilot for House playing a guest patient, and I did Prison Break for a year, so I only really had experience on successful shows, so I've been really lucky. I'm always surprised to hear how popular it is. We were in Monte Carlo last summer and it's apparently the most-watched show in the world. That's really shocking to me. Apparently there's a Russian version being made. I can't wait to see that!

Did you appreciate how far afield your fans are around the world?
We have such a loyal following. There are fans in places where I had no idea they'd be even vaguely interested in American shows. I was in an airport and there was a family from Pakistan, and they were so excited to see me. I had no idea the show was popular in places like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. They're not really into Americans or American culture, but they like The Mentalist.

The popularity of it has spawned a new phrase in the Urban Dictionary, as there's an entry about your character's shoes – they're known as Lisbon Loafers...
What? I didn't know that. That's so funny! [Laughs] Lisbon Loafers. You have on those unsexy Lisbon Loafers. Oh, but I do have a story. One night I'd gone to see a movie and I was in the car park, which is scary if you're a woman alone at night. I was over by my car and a man popped up behind me and said, 'Excuse me!' And I screamed. I screamed like I was being attacked. He wanted to know where Simon got his shoes on the show. I was like, 'Seriously, you cannot come up behind somebody like that! And to find out where Simon's shoes are from? They're really not that great.'

And congratulations on your engagement to interior designer Nicky Marmet. With your filming commitments, will it be difficult to plan your wedding and honeymoon?
It's really crazy because one minute I'll be saying that I want a big wedding with all our friends there to share our day. But the idea of having it and doing it is just so hard. When you have a full-time schedule, I think we're going to have to hire somebody to do it.

Channel 5, Tuesday

Elaine Penn

SRC: tvchoicemagazine.co.uk/