Hot on the heels of buying “Southland,” TNT has struck another deal with Warner Bros. for the syndication rights to “The Mentalist.” The drama series, currently in its second season on CBS, will begin airing on TNT in 2012.
“The Mentalist is a terrific show that will be an ideal fit for TNT’s already strong lineup,” said Steve Koonin, President of Turner Entertainment Networks, in announcing the deal. “The early success of the series also indicates The Mentalist has a great future,” he added.
“Everyone recognized early on that The Mentalist was an A-tier drama, the kind of program that would have a profoundly positive effect on its cable licensee. As a result, the demand for the off-network rights began almost immediately following its debut on CBS last fall and has steadily increased as the show blossomed into a true broadcast hit,” said Ken Werner, President, Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution, hinting that TNT had to win a bidding war to snag the show.
The Mentalist stars Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Simon Baker as Patrick Jane, an independent consultant with the California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) who has a remarkable track record for solving serious crimes by using his razor-sharp skills of observation. Within the Bureau, Jane is notorious for his blatant lack of protocol and his semi-celebrity past as a psychic medium, whose paranormal abilities he now admits were feigned. Jane’s role in cracking a series of tough, high-profile cases is greatly valued by his fellow agents.
No-nonsense Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon (Robin Tunney) openly resists having Jane in her unit and alternates between reluctantly acknowledging Jane’s usefulness and blasting him for his theatrics, narcissism and dangerous lack of boundaries. Lisbon’s team includes agents Kimball Cho (Tim Kang), Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and rookie member Grace Van Pelt (Amanda Righetti), who all think Jane is a loose cannon but admire his charm and knack for clearing cases.
The Mentalist is from Warner Bros. Television and is executive-produced by Bruno Heller and Chris Long.
