The Mentalist

An independent consultant for the California Bureau of Investigation, Patrick Jane (Simon Baker) solves murders his own way. Blithely disregarding police protocol, Jane instead uses his easygoing charm, razor-sharp skills of observation, and uncanny ability to read people, despite his insistence that his past career as a mind reader was all a sham. While creator Bruce Heller’s police drama never purports to dwell in the supernatural, part of its allure comes from the inexplicable nature of Jane’s powers of deduction, which make him, according to the show’s opening definition of its title, “a master manipulator of thoughts and behavior.”

Photo—CBS