CBS has another new cop show in their lineup. Like Psych on USA this show is about someone working with the police (in this case the California Bureau of Investigations) who at least has pretended to be a psychic. In the case of The Mentalist our main character Patrick Jane (played by Simon Baker) has given up a stage act after his family was killed by a serial killer. With that premise The Mentalist is certainly darker than Psych but by no means devoid of humor. I am finding the cast engaging and the scripts interesting. The Mentalist has made my list of shows to watch this season.

I was convinced that the CBI was something they had made up but it does really exists.

The California Bureau of Investigation (CBI) provides expert investigative services to assist local, state and federal agencies in major criminal investigations across the state.