The Mentalist: Headed to TNT?
Matt Richenthal
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The Mentalist is among many shows residing squarely on the bubble at the moment.
A few weeks back, CBS renewed 18 shows, yet left this long-running drama off the list, giving fans valid reason for concern over its future.
But Warner Bros TV is reportedly giving viewers reason to hope.
According to Deadline, the studio is shopping The Mentalist to other networks in case CBS does pull the plug. The series is an important property for WBTV, considering its cost per episode and its success overseas.
This sort of deal has been reached before: Law & Order: Criminal Intent was canceled by NBC after six seasons and then moved over to its cable sibling, USA.
WBTV is affiliated with The CW, but The Mentalist would be a poor fit for that network, making the more likely destination TNT, which already airs reruns of the Simon Baker-led drama.
Creator Bruno Heller, meanwhile, will leave after this season to run Gotham, but sources say one of his lieutenants is set to take over if The Mentalist if it were to continue.
That remains a big IF at the moment, but at least there's hope.
Matt Richenthal is the Editor in Chief of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Twitter and on Google+.
