‘The Mentalist’ Joins the TNT Family

TNT’s lineup just keeps getting better and better, I tell ya. Today (November 6), the network announced its acquisition of yet another first-rate crime procedural, the hit CBS drama The Mentalist.

Currently in its sophomore season, the series stars popular Australian actor Simon Baker (pictured above) as the title character, a remarkably perceptive but fake psychic whose proper name is Patrick Jane.

After giving up his successful career as a celebrity medium, Jane begins lending his impressive detecting and observational skills to the California Bureau of Investigation (also called the CBI) during difficult, high-profile cases. Baker’s fellow series regulars include Robin Tunney (Prison Break) as CBI Senior Agent Teresa Lisbon, Tim Kang (Third Watch) as CBI Agent Kimball Cho, Amanda Righetti (The O.C.) as rookie CBI Agent Grace Van Pelt, and Owain Yeoman (The Nine) as CBI Agent Wayne Rigsby.

The Mentalist will join TNT’s established stable of top-notch syndicated series, which currently includes proven crime dramas like Fox’s Bones, NBC’s Law & Order, and CBS’ Cold Case, CSI: NY, and Numb3rs. Obviously, the newcomer will fit right in.

The only downside to TNT’s exclusive syndication rights for The Mentalist is that viewers won’t get to see the show on the network until the fall of 2012, but the wait will definitely be worth it.

The Mentalist presently airs Thursdays on CBS at 10pm ET.