The Mentalist
Casting News

There's no new episode of The Mentalist this week, but there is news for fans to contemplate.

According to a CBS casting notice, the drama will add a new regular to the CBI unit in early 2010.

The character, Agent Beth Scott, is described as a forty-something, authoritative African American woman. She's a veteran in the California Bureau of Investigations headquarters and may remain on the show beyond this season.

The scoop raises two questions:

1. Is someone leaving the team?
2. Who should play the new character?

We await your answers and suggestions.

The Mentalist viewers should prepare to meet the father of Patrick Jane, courtesy of a flashback.

On the November 12 episode of this hit drama, Nick Chinlund - who has guest-starred on Desperate Housewives and The Sopranos - will appear as Alex, the dad of Simon Baker's character, in an installment that takes fans back to the 1980s.

During the hour, we'll learn that a young Patrick worked as a psychic at various carnivals, with his showman father keeping an eye on his unique offspring.

For now, Chinlund is only booked for this single episode.