The Mentalist
Spoilers

It's been a year and a half of foreplay.

But The Mentalist viewers that have been waiting for Wayne Rigsby and Grace Van Pelt to get together will finally be rewarded for their patience next week, when this pair hit the sheets together.

In an interview with TV Guide Magazine, Owain Yeoman spoke about the evolution of their characters and their relationship. A few excerpts:

On the photo/scene above: "This is at the start of the episode. I hope this will give fans a taste of what they want. People seem to have a taste for blood and a taste for romance. If you’re in a vampire show, that normally unites the two, but for us this is the pay-off to a season and a half’s worth of teasing."

On Jane's reaction to the relationship: "I think he knew before even we did. Jane called it in the pilot when he turned around and said, ‘Why doesn’t Rigsby invite you to his bedroom?’ And then I proceeded to choke on a lobster. I think what you’re going to see over the next several episodes is Jane enjoying that leverage."

On professional vs. personal lives: "These people are cops first so there’s the responsibility that if you’ve got people out there focused on your well-being you want them to be focused on that. There is a situation in an upcoming episode where those loyalties are tested."

On tonight's new episode of The Mentalist, Patrick Jane goes to jail.

As for the next couple weeks? Creator Bruno Heller previewed upcoming storylines in a recent chat with TV Guide Magazine. Stop reading now if you prefer to be surprised...

November 12: Jane gets walloped on the head while working on a case at a baseball stadium. As a result, says Heller:

“We have a series of flashbacks showing how Jane was raised as this psychic boy wonder in the morally ambiguous world of traveling carnies. It’s like a Gypsy Rose Lee scenario. Fans will get some very interesting insight into Jane’s character.”

Later in the month: As Jane and the CBI team look into a dead body that’s been hidden for two years under the floorboards of a house, Bosco appears at the same resident, seeking a woman that’s been kidnapped.

The pair is forced to team up and, as Heller puts it: “Cue the fireworks.”

He's coming back.

Red John, the man that murdered Patrick Jane's family, is getting ready to kill again on The Mentalist. Viewers should circle November 19 on their calendars - and then possibly hide under a desk.

On the episode titled "His Red Right Hand," the CBI team finds a dead body in a cemetery.

"And then [the case] takes some twists and turns involving Red John,” producer Ashley Gable told TV Guide Magazine. “It is clear they are dealing with something much darker. And our [main cast] will be in jeopardy.”

Fans can look forward to another appearance of the mystery murderer’s signature red smiley face.

But what about the man himself? Will we learn his identity on November 19?

“I can tell you for sure we will not,” said Gable. “The answer is locked in the brain of [show creator] Mr. Bruno Heller, the keeper of the secret. Talk to me in Season 7.”

We're gonna take that as a no. Darn.

On Thursday's episode of The Mentalist, Teresa Lisbon is in trouble.

A pedophile she arrested, and who was recently paroled is found dead. Lison's fingerprints are on the gun's magazine and she's the prime suspect in the murder.

Naturally, Jane and the CBI team set out to prove their colleague's innocence. Watch the official CBS trailer for "Red Badge below," followed by a few episode stills from the hour:

On this week's episode of The Mentalist, the team investigates the murder of a senator's intern. Welcome to the really ugly side of politics.

Meanwhile, Jane attempts to discover what new information Bosco has turned up on the Red John case. Click on the photos below for an early look at scenes from "The Scarlet Letter."

Remember to check TV Fanatic each week for the latest The Mentalist quotes. For now, we've posted the official CBS preview for Thursday's episode below:

It was the top-rated new show of the 2008-2009 television season.

So, what does The Mentalist have in store for the fall? How about a romantic connection between two major characters?

Actress Amanda Righetti doesn't mince any words when she says that her character of Grace will get together with Wayne. She told TV Guide Magazine:

"It's probably not going to happen until a quarter of the way through the season. The audience has been expecting it so I think it's been inevitable... I think Wayne really adores [Grace]."

This fall, Terry Kinney joins the cast of The Mentalist as Sam Bosco, the head of the California Bureau of Investigation’s Serial Crimes Unit.

He comes in to assist the team with the Red John case, but soon clashes with Patrick Jane and tries to oust him from the CBI.

In a new interview, the former Oz stars speaks to TV Guide Magazine about the role. Here are a few excerpts from it:

On his character:  He's someone who had a former relationship, and was a mentor to, Robin Tunney's character. He doesn't really buy what Patrick Jane does. He doesn't really buy all the hocus pocus. So he's very much by the book, and he's a very well-trained and disciplined guy.

On Emmy Award nominee Simon Baker: He's so completely charming to me, and to have to pretend like he's not would be a lot of fun.

As previously reported, The Mentalist has cast Terry Kinney as new CBI agent, Sam Bosco.

The character is an ex-lover of Lisbon, will prove to be thorn in the side for Patrick Jane and, based on a new reports, appears to have an entourage.

According to recent casting notices, producers are currently casting the following two roles. They are:

• Melanie: Sam's female assistant. In her late 20s. Five-episode arc. Debuts in episode two.
• Agent Hicks:  A white male in his late 20s to mid 40s. Works under Sam at the CBI Serial Crimes Unit. Five-episode arc. Also debuts in episode two.

His role on The Unusuals may have ended when that series was canceled, but Terry Kinney has rebounded well.

The actor is joining The Mentalist; he'll portray an ex-boyfriend of Teresa Lisbon's, as well as a significant player in the Red John investigation.

According to Entertainment Weekly's Michael Ausiello, Kinney will play Sam Bosco, a California Bureau of Investigations agent that heads up the Red John case.

Formerly, the character acted as Lisbon's mentor... and occasional lover. Further complicating matters:

Bosco is not a fan of Patrick Jane's unorthdox methods, and shares a deep, dark secret with Lisbon!

The Mentalist is casting for a new, evidently key character.

Based on the notice sent around this week, his name will be Sam Glenn and the CBS drama is hoping a "name" actor lands the role, which ought to appear on at least seven episodes. It looks like he'll have a connection to Teresa, as well as a possible rivalry with Patrick.

Here's a look at the complete casting note:

40-49, masculine, attractive, a California Bureau of Investigation Agent. He was Detective Teresa Lisbon's mentor as she was coming up through the ranks - in fact, they even dated for a while at one time. He is the head of a division that has been given the Red John murder investigation.

He is the one person who doesn't fall for Patrick Jane's charming ways...APPROXIMATELY A 7-EPISODE ARC. WE ARE LOOKING FOR A "NAME" ACTOR IN THIS ROLE. PLEASE SUBMIT ALL ETHNICITIES.