On the Set: The Mentalist'
What do you get when you cross Simon Baker's devastatingly charming smile with a vengeful serial killer on the loose? Ratings gold for CBS, or as you probably know it, 'The Mentalist.'
The biggest (OK, only) breakout hit of the fall TV season, 'The Mentalist' has already garnered the People's Choice Award for "Favorite New TV Drama" and reached heights of close to 20 million viewers -- becoming the only freshman series to top Nielsen's weekly primetime ratings since 'Desperate Housewives' first debuted in 2005.
AOL TV visited the set at Stage 14 of the Warner Bros. lot in L.A. to interview the show's stars Simon Baker, Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti and creator Bruno Heller. Keep reading to see what they think makes the show so successful and to find out more about the CBI offices. -- By Maggie Furlong
CBS
Secrets, Secrets
We'll never know if Patrick Jane actually has psychic powers, according to Simon Baker and Bruno Heller. They'll also hold out on Red John's identity for as long as possible: "I'm certainly not going to tell anyone this season, put it that way," Heller laughs.
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CBS
Going to the Dogs
While we haven't seen much of the characters outside of work -- save Patrick Jane's murdered family and time in an insane asylum, of course -- we did pick up a few clues about Teresa Lisbon's (Robin Tunney) work ethic and home life on set. Just as her character's by-the-book nature would indicate, Lisbon's office is very sterile and organized. The one personal touch: multiple pictures of some pretty adorable dogs.
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CBS
Standard Procedure
Simon Baker has a theory about why people love procedural shows: "It's kind of ridiculous how well procedural shows do, and I think there's a greater social thing at the moment. I'm theorizing, but I think that we are in a time where people are looking for closure, and it's as simple as that. With a procedural show, you do get closure at the end of the episode. There's a beginning, a middle and the end."
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Warner Bros.
Getting the Message
The office is peppered with knick-knacks, gadgets, crime scene photos and even some funny Post-It notes to add to the workplace realism. One that stood out? Kimball Cho's (Tim Kang) computer monitor had a phone message on it, fit for any mama's boy: Cho - Call Mom, Dinner at 6:30. Awww.
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CBS
Character Development
We've seen Wayne Rigsby (Owain Yeoman) and Grace Van Pelt's (Amanda Righetti) flirtations all season, but will we be seeing more of the team dynamic? Yeoman says, "I heard CBS describe it as a dysfunctional family ... I think there's a lot to be said for that. And I think, as we've grown together as friends and colleagues, that feeds an interesting dynamic between us."
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CBS
Small Screen Bonus
How does doing TV differ from movies? Robin Tunney explained it best: "When you do a movie, and you see the movie and you felt like you made the wrong choice in the scene, it's up there forever. And I'm really critical of myself. On television, you can see it and go, 'Next time I'm going to try, in that situation, to handle it differently.' As an actor, you are constantly given the opportunity to hone a character and to make the right decisions."
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CBS
G'Day 'Mentalist'
Like many of the most popular shows on American television, 'The Mentalist' is already being broadcast in 17 other countries around the world, including Simon Baker's home continent, Australia. Our bet is he looks just as good in any country.
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CBS
A Killer Storyline
How much serial killer is too much? "With the Red John storyline, we will go to that world occasionally, and that's always part of his journey, but we'll go there sparingly," Heller reveals. "This is a procedural detective show, so there's a really delicate balance we have to keep, walking between telling that story and telling the week-by-week stories that are really the meat of the thing."
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CBS
Guessing Game
The writers of 'The Mentalist' don't want you to know whodunit before it's revealed ... or do they? "It's like magic tricks," Bruno Heller explains. "You have to keep changing the trick you're doing, otherwise it becomes predictable. With whodunits, sometimes the fun is in seeing an obvious villain and sometimes it's in really playing the whodunit mystery angle."
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Reader Comments (19)
sally miller at 11:09AM on Feb 18th 2009
The first time I saw this show I knew it was a hit. Patrick James is the Star everyone and there are no substitutes. The others on the show need to get it over it. He is special. The Character is unique and heh, what a lovable guy.
We want to see some Romance in his life, even if its just a fling. Spice it up people.
elena d. husinko at 2:01PM on Feb 18th 2009
Simon Baker has the qualities of a full gentleman.
You never hear anything bad about him and his previous show about 2 years was wonderful. Hope they keep this show on forever.
Good luck to all of the actors on this wonderful show.
Elaine at 2:00PM on Feb 18th 2009
By far this is one of the best shows on TV today. Simon Baker is one of the most wonderful actors on TV today. He is a gentleman and you never hear anything negative about him in the press. Hope the show goes on forever. Good luck to all the other actors on the show also.
Also lover his other show where he played a lawyer with his Dad. Forget the name though, sorry.
Keep it up Simon. Good luck to you and your lovely family.
Homairaamin at 2:13PM on Feb 18th 2009
He is cute and his smile is just irresistable. Can't get enough of him.
tomw at 2:26PM on Feb 18th 2009
This show is an incredible rip off of a USA network show called Psych..there is virtually no difference in the show's premise except that Psych does it better and with some humor. The world of television is the least creative place in entertainment, just ripping off any idea that comes along. There is another rip off called Lie to Me or something that is the same thing. Watch Psych, its a better show.
Jackie at 2:57PM on Feb 18th 2009
I saw Simon Baker in "Something New" and I knew that he was special right away.
John at 6:56PM on Feb 18th 2009
Psych is Stupid.and anyone that thinks it is funny has a warped scence of humor.
txlolly at 7:45PM on Feb 18th 2009
Please don't let Simon Baker cute his great hair.
Wow!!
johndunbar44 at 7:58PM on Feb 18th 2009
If you want to see another side of Simon Baker's acting abilities. Rent 'The Lodger'....chilling.
Diana at 8:43PM on Feb 18th 2009
Love Simon Baker. When I saw he had a new show, could not wait to see it. Loved him in the Guardian. His calm cool manner is quite refreshing. Watching him makes me smile.