The Mentalist

JP Liz

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_mentalist/

Is this show any good?

I'm a fan of Psych and this is similar and also Simon Baker is hot

Any UK or Irish Channels picking it up?

Mr E

Yeah its very good. Its pretty low key and not as in-your-face as Psych. Not played for laughs either - its pretty straight stuff. Very good though.... no idea when its coming here, but its a ratings juggernaut in the States (one of the highest rated new shows this year) so its only a matter of time.

ziggy

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Ivan

I only caught the pilot, but I liked it alot and I'm pretty worn from other crime shows *cough CSI*

Quite good in any case.

JP Liz

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2008/oct/01/ustelevision.channelfive

Channel Five has won the rights to new American procedural crime drama The Mentalist.
The drama, which airs on CBS in the US, stars The Devil Wears Prada's Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation. Jane has a track record for solving serious crimes by using his skills of observation.
The 13-part series was created by executive producer Bruno Heller, whose credits include the BBC and HBO co-production Rome. It will air on Five and its digital channel Five US next year.
A deal between Five and Warner Bros International Television Distribution, which holds the rights for the Warner Bros Television-produced series, is bringing the show to the UK.
Five's deputy controller of acquisitions, Katie Keenan, said: "Top-notch storytelling combined with a charismatic lead made The Mentalist the best show by far of the LA screenings."
Jeffrey R Schlesinger, the president of Warner Bros International Television, described the show as featuring the "best elements of a procedural coupled with character-based drama focused on a charming yet haunted protagonist".
"We feel that Five, which is home to some of the best-produced procedural dramas from the US, is the natural place for a show like The Mentalist," he added.
Five already has a large slate of US crime dramas, including CSI and Law and Order and their spin-offs.
It is also understood that the Hallmark channel is in negotiations to buy the secondary rights to the show.

kmurph

I think the show has now been picked up for a full 22 episode season. And it is really good.

ronnie3585

When I saw the title of this thread I thought that it could be the title for the new Alan Partridge film.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u3YUlcyPXLo

Alas, I was wrong:(

jor el

ziggy wrote: »

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I was a little worried about this when it started, as it was somewhat similar to Psych, but it's so much better. In Psych, Shawn comes across as a complete asshole, most of the time. He treats his friend Gus like shit. I stopped watching it after season 1, because he's simply not likable.

The Mentalist is much better, and Jane is very likable. The show is not a comedy, but has some very funny moments, especially when Jane is doing his thing, or showing off. I'm waiting for the serious under-story, with Red John, to re-surface now, as I'm sure it'll play a big part later on.

Full_Circle

Loving it so far, its real easy to watch, but I must say I'm still surprised at the crazy high viewing figures its getting in the States! Hope it can keep it up

Mr E

Caught up with this over Christmas. The best new show of this season, hands down. Brilliant stuff.

Anyone notice in the asylum flashbacks in the latest episode that there was a

Red John smiley face on the wall of Patrick's cell?

What was that about?

Full_Circle

Mr E wrote: »

Caught up with this over Christmas. The best new show of this season, hands down. Brilliant stuff.

Anyone notice in the asylum flashbacks in the latest episode that there was a

Red John smiley face on the wall of Patrick's cell?

What was that about?

Oh I didnt notice that actually! Thought the last ep was the weakest of the lot, but on the whole, I'm really enjoying it. Its so easy to watch!

ziggy

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ziggy

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J-blk

Yep - I normally hate "procedurals/crime of the week" kind of shows but started watching this over Christmas based on the high praise it's received from others here and I haven't regretted it. It's great stuff and easily stands out of the crowd of other similar (in concept at least) shows.

Mr E

The latest episode was excellent.... great display of Red John's reach and resources.

ScumLord

kmurph wrote: »

I think the show has now been picked up for a full 22 episode season. And it is really good.

Oh no! Does this mean we'll have another prime time US show cutting into Euronews time?

smares

Mr E wrote: »

The latest episode was excellent.... great display of Red John's reach and resources.

I think it was the best episode so far. It has me hooked now,really want to know more about Red John.

JP Liz

ScumLord wrote: »

Oh no! Does this mean we'll have another prime time US show cutting into Euronews time?

probably :mad:

crustyjuggler

ronnie3585 wrote: »

When I saw the title of this thread I thought that it could be the title for the new Alan Partridge film.



Alas, I was wrong:(

' Your a Mentalist '

J-blk

Another solid episode last night, with "Red Rum" - though this has to be the first episode where I can't see any connection between the title and what happened in the episode ...

Jane on the pink bike and messing with Cho's head were hilarious... As was the exchange with the kid's parents:

"How can you be so cold"?
"Practice"

ziggy

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Bondvillain

Also, the guy was hung like a horse.



(although the Red rum in the mirror spells murder thing is probably more accurate. You should watch The Shining. It's a good movie. )

jor el

Mr E wrote: »

Anyone notice in the asylum flashbacks in the latest episode that there was a

Red John smiley face on the wall of Patrick's cell?

What was that about?

Yep, noticed that.

I assumed that Patrick put it there himself, since he had cracked and all.

Good episode this week. Loved it when he was messing with Cho, and then giving him the jar in the end. Strange the lion on the van though, was it really a magic spell....?

J-blk

ziggy wrote: »

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"Redrum" - one word is "Murder" backwards, not two words... apparently CSI already did an episode called "Redrum" based on that. Can't see what else the title could relate to though, so you're probably right and that's what they were going for...

There's a murder in every episode, that's why the call in the CBI, so I'd hardly call that a reason for naming an episode after "murder" but oh well...

ziggy

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smares

It was a good episode but wasnt great.Usually I have no idea who the murderer is and its a big twist at the end but this episode it was easy to figure out it was one of the parents.
I thought Jane giving Cho the jar at the end was so nice to stop him worrying.

JP Liz

RTÉ has acquired the rights

ziggy

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Bondvillain

....It'll première at 2 a.m. After the repeat of the National lottery farce and before Euronews... Prime time for vampires and trucker's mates.

ziggy

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Mr E

Or last Sunday night if you live in Canada, eh.
Good episode.

ixoy

Mr E wrote: »

Or last Sunday night if you live in Canada, eh.
Good episode.

'Twas! I was expecting

Jane to reveal he had gotten his sight back halfway through but decided to fake being blind

but I'm glad they didn't go there.
Who else also thought

"Red John" when he got his text message? Although I think how the killer managed to track down him, his phone, his colleague and date her stretched credibility a bit. Thankfully the show's humour and characters meant it didn't matter too much.

J-blk

Yep, another solid entry - I never thought (even up to a few months ago) that a "procedural" would be on my list of must-see shows, but "The Mentalist" has managed to do just that . I wonder if they will resolve

the Red John storyline

this season or keep it as an overarching series plot line? I'd like to see a resolution to it, but on the other hand, wouldn't that take away Jane's main reason for doing what he does?

Does anyone know how many episodes are in the first season? I'm guessing the standard 22-23 but I've only seen up to 19 listed on most sites currently...

JP Liz

Starts on RTE 1 on 16th April 09 at 22.10

Mr E

Not a bad time.... I'm surprised!

Basq

Due to all the good reviews on here, have all of season 1 to catch up on over the next few weeks.

A 22 episode season I assume?

ziggy

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InisMor

JP Liz wrote: »

http://www.cbs.com/primetime/the_mentalist/

Is this show any good?

I'm a fan of Psych and this is similar and also Simon Baker is hot


Any UK or Irish Channels picking it up?

I've heard it's a blantant rip off of PSYCH (which is awesome) with some major plot holes each week
I'll give it a look. it's on RTE on Thursday I think, but is any channel here going to pick up LIE TO ME

Mr E

Its so much better than psych. Like I said earlier in this thread, its played straight (not totally for laughs). Not sure about plot holes either... can't say I've noticed any (not saying they aren't there, just that I haven't noticed them). Give it a shot - just don't expect psych v2.0 (The Mentalist is good enough to stand on its own two feet).

Basq

It's so much better than Psych.

About 12 episodes in and I think it's utterly fantastic!

Simon Baker MAKES the show.

ixoy

Oh I quite like 'Psych' but it's a completely different show - 'Psych' is a comedy with a mix of drama whereas 'The Mentalist' is a drama with a dash of humour.

Simon Baker is easily the best thing about it - normally when a lead has had a dark moment in his past, he'll become the clichéd brooding cop. Jane flips this on his head - Baker brings a character that laughs and smiles instead, and it's a very refreshing approach. He's extremely likeable and it does extend to the cast. It's a lighter show for it without ever being farcical. Sure there's a few duff episodes but it's one of the few procedural shows able to get by on its characters.

Basq

ixoy wrote: »

Oh I quite like 'Psych' but it's a completely different show - 'Psych' is a comedy with a mix of drama whereas 'The Mentalist' is a drama with a dash of humour.

Simon Baker is easily the best thing about it - normally when a lead has had a dark moment in his past, he'll become the clichéd brooding cop. Jane flips this on his head - Baker brings a character that laughs and smiles instead, and it's a very refreshing approach. He's extremely likeable and it does extend to the cast. It's a lighter show for it without ever being farcical. Sure there's a few duff episodes but it's one of the few procedural shows able to get by on its characters.

Yep, every procedural show has it's fair share of duff episodes in a season (the "witch" episode, most notably, being a complete dud) but like you said.. for every poor episode, you always get a top-notch refreshing performance by Baker. I think that's where the characters appeal comes through - he comes across as instantly likeable and xis his character is very much multi-dimentional.

Currently watching episode 15. Should have gotten into this show sooner but thought the pilot was fairly weak when I first watched it last Summer.

The cast are all welcome additions bar Van Pelt.. who I get the impression is there to sex up the show and look purty.

Quick bit of trivia: after a bit of poking around IMDb, Owain Yeoman who plays Rigsby is Welsh and is married to Lucy Davis (Dawn from The Office).

InisMor

Mr E wrote: »

8The Mentalist is good enough to stand on its own two feet).

but doesn't the Mentalist have the exact shame abilities as Shawn from PSYCH.
how did they get away with that?

NBC killed THE 4400 before putting HEROES on TV because both shows had super powers (???) - I know that sounds crazy but this how they think, take FIREFLY, DOLLHOUSE and TERMINATOR for other examples, they spend all that money making and advertising them and then give them a death slot in the hopes they'll die in agony

I'll watch but I don't like the cut of simon baker's jib.
takes more than pretty people to make a show. that counts for men and women. I'd take T-Bag over Seven-Of-Nine any day.

ziggy

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Basq

InisMor wrote: »

but doesn't the Mentalist have the exact shame abilities as Shawn from PSYCH.
how did they get away with that?

Because they're two very different shows.. if 'The Mentalist' was a carbon copy of 'Psych', then fair enough. But the two show's couldn't be any more different!

Fox's 'Dollhouse' and NBC's 'My Own Worst Enemy' have their own share of similarities - you don't see the two network's up in arms over that!

InisMor wrote: »

NBC killed THE 4400 before putting HEROES on TV because both shows had super powers (???)

Not correct.. the last episode of The 4400 aired on 16th September 2007. Heroes was on TV for almost a year at that stage and was about to start airing it's second season.

InisMor wrote: »

I know that sounds crazy but this how they think, take FIREFLY, DOLLHOUSE and TERMINATOR for other examples, they spend all that money making and advertising them and then give them a death slot in the hopes they'll die in agony

Whoa whoa whoa.. Conspiracy Theories forum is that way!

I don't think any company who spend millions and millions promoting a show wants it to fail.

The "Friday Night Death Slot" is well documented but there's more than a number of exceptions to the rule: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Friday_night_death_slot#2.

Elmo

JP Liz wrote: »

Starts on RTE 1 on 16th April 09 at 22.10

They may push it to Sunday Nights at 9:30 as a replacement for ER.

InisMor

basquille wrote: »

Fox's 'Dollhouse' and NBC's 'My Own Worst Enemy' have their own share of similarities - you don't see the two network's up in arms over that!

not really. but enemy was dead from the start. whedon has a large fan base.

basquille wrote: »

Not correct.. the last episode of The 4400 aired on 16th September 2007. Heroes was on TV for almost a year at that stage and was about to start airing it's second season.

you are right. but nbc did kill 4400 because of superpowers

basquille wrote: »

I don't think any company who spend millions and millions promoting a show wants it to fail.

dude, this is Fox we talking about.:rolleyes:

JP Liz

Elmo wrote: »

They may push it to Sunday Nights at 9:30 as a replacement for ER.

I'm shocked RTE have given it a really late night/early morning slot as they usually do

Elmo

JP Liz wrote: »

I'm shocked RTE have given it a really late night/early morning slot as they usually do

Either they move it to Sunday or it gets pushed back due to low viewing figures. Thursday Night isn't great slot for RTE ONE remember what they did with West Wing at that time.

I didn't catch it, will try for next week. Getting a bit sick of US Detective Dramas they are all the same.

Basq

JP Liz wrote: »

I'm shocked RTE have given it a really late night/early morning slot as they usually do

The Mentalist has had very strong ratings from the start though.

WENTY07

I thought the pilot Ep on RTE was only ok,it'll have to improve a lot In next ep or 2 for me to stay tuned like i do with "Damages", "Criminal Minds" & "ER".