“The Mentalist” Appears Unstoppable

The new CBS series “The Mentalist” is this new season of shows first bonafide consistent ratings hit. While all other new shows, including the successful Fox venture called “Fringe,” are fluctutaing week to week or downright tanking, the Simon Baker starrer has seen nothing but a steady climb in its ratings with each new episode.

Its sixth episode since premiere night was its best to date clocking in with an astounding 16.1 million viewers which equates to around a 3.9 rating — or — 9 share in TV-exec-speak. That’s an 8% rise over its showing just last week, which in itself was a head-turner.

CBS’ only competition this years seems to be coming from that little SF show created by the whiz known as J.J. Abrams — “Fringe,” which also improves week after week in the ratings, and, of course, Fox’s ratings dynamo “House.”

Thanks to “The Mentalist” and such long-time CBS staples like “Ghost Whisperer,” C.S.I. Crime Scene Investigation,” “Without a Trace” and “NCIS,” the Eye Network is proving to be the new king of the hill with Fox close behind, ABC in third and NBC, followed by the CW, both far behind.

Some think that lead will shift into Fox’s corner during the mid-season hiatus once the Joss Whedon series “Dollhouse” makes its debut on the Sly Channel.