CBS has cast it's first post-strike pilot, The Mentalist. Simon Baker (CBS' The Guardian) has signed up to head the cast, which will also feature The Nine's Owain Yeoman, The O.C.'s Amanda Righetti, Shaun Toub, and Tim Kang.

The Mentalist follows Baker's character who uses his "heightened power of observation" to help solve crimes. Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' David Nutter will direct the pilot from writer Bruno Heller.

But haven't I already seen this show? In fact I think I've already watched two season of the show and I'm looking forward to the third this summer on USA. That's right USA has been airing this exact show since 2006, it's called Psych.

In fact here's wikipedia's description of the show, notice any similarities?
"Psych is an American comedy-drama television series. The show stars James Roday as Shawn Spencer, a young police consultant for the Santa Barbara, California Police Department (SBPD) whose "heightened observational skills" and impressive detective instincts allow him to convince people that he is psychic. The program also stars Dulé Hill as Shawn's best friend, straight man and reluctant partner Gus, as well as Corbin Bernsen as Shawn's captious father, Henry."

I'm sure CBS' version will play up the dramatic a bit more than Psych does but still it seems a bit like a rip off. I guess we'll have to wait and see how it turns out. But I for one am not real excited about the prospects of this show.

Labels: Psych, The Mentalist