Simon Baker is said to be finalizing a new deal with Warner Bros Television that will see him make more than $30 million for his work on the CBS drama, on top of his current earnings. Deadline is reporting that under the new deal The Mentalist star will extend his current six-year contract for another year and get a piece of the show’s backend profits.
In November 2009 the show scored a lucrative deal with TNT for syndication rights to air repeats from 2012 that will make Warner Bros close to $2.3 million an episode. Part of the new deal will also see Baker get a producer credit at the start of Season 5.
The Mentalist hit the airwaves in 2008 and has been a juggernaut ever since, airing in the 10pm timeslot on Thursdays and dominating the DVR viewing. Averaging almost 16 million viewers with a ‘ 3.5 rating among adults 18-49, down 6% and 15% from last year, respectively ‘.
Baker who stars as Patrick Jane, the wayward and at times uncontrollable but genius consultant to the California Bureau of Investigations, has made the show a big winner in the ratings. It ranks as one of the most recorded shows on DVR’s adding almost 3 million viewers with playbacks.
Created by Bruno Heller, the series has helped redefine the investigative police procedural in a similar vein to Sherlock Holmes and the classic TV detective Columbo.
The Mentalist also stars Robin Tunney, Tim Kang, Owain Yeoman and Amanda Righetti.
New episodes of Season 3 return January 6th, 2011.
via: Deadline
No comments yet.