The Mentalist‘s Amanda Righetti Confirms Exit, Teases ‘Surprise’ Send-Off For Van Pelt
With her departure from The Mentalist on the horizon, Amanda Righetti is finding comfort in a familiar refrain: change is good.
Speaking out for the first time about her spring exit, the actress concedes, “I feel like the time is probably right,” adding, “It’s the end of one thing but the beginning of something new.”
VIDEO | The Mentalist: Red John Finale Will Feature a Twist (or Two)
Righetti, who is leaving alongside leading man Owain Yeoman, admits that she’s still in the dark about how exactly Van Pelt and Rigsby will be written out of the CBS drama. “It keeps changing,” she explains. “It’s been a little bit of a fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants season. I think it was sort of an unexpected turn for the writers too, to have the show kind of be reworked this season. So everybody’s kind of trying to figure it out. And [they’re] probably keeping it close to the vest so it comes as a surprise to everyone that is watching.”
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In the meantime, Righetti confirms that Van Pelt and Rigsby will play a role in the show’s post-Red John era, which kicks off in the Dec. 1 episode (following a two-year time jump). “Basically, they have their own private security company,” she reveals. “So we sort of are outsourced and freelanced with the FBI, and that’s how we fit in.” (Reporting by Scott Huver)
So I guess this kills a lot of people’s theory that Van Pelt works for Red John. I was really hoping they would not go that way.
No it really does not kill it off. RJ never got to tell Jane how he got the list. Van Pelt makes perfect sense…their story is not done yet and both her and her boy are leaving…the producers are doing everything right now for us not to connect the dots, but it is looming on the air how he got the list.
Yes Bertram could have hacked her computer, but it makes so much more sense if she helped him. Also there was tension in the SUV when the two were arrested…and not just because they were arrested…
I agree-Why kill them off? They could at least come in and out of the show.
I still don’t like this decision. Rigsby & Van Pelt were the only reason I kept watching. Red John mystery doesn’t do it for me.
I feel you.
I’ll miss the two of them terribly, because right now I just can’t imagine how the show will work without them.
(Not to mention the fact that 2 original-cast members have to leave while 2 new persons were made regulars – change might be good, but it isn’t always for the best. It’s gonna be interesting to see, if the show will work after this “reboot”. But that’s just my opinion.)
Well, a security company has more leeway in the plotting, making it easier to have someone not bound by department regs help out. As long as they’re there, I’m happy.
Ya, I’m having a hard time with the ‘reboot’ in fact I’m still angry over the simpleton idea of who Red John was and how it ended. It was like straight out of Murder She Wrote. Now we are shifted, as is most of the team, to having Jane within the F.B.I. It’s just not believable. I see how they are going to kill off Rigsby & Van Pelt and I think it stinks. They were all like a family within a cop show and just needed better writing. The best episodes were the earlier ones, or at least when they all worked together to save Jane’s butt.
It is going to be like “Two and a half men” without Charlie Sheen. Something totally different from what it used to be.
The question is why?
totally agree
they were fun to watch, good characters, good interaction with PJ Lisbon and Cho
For me was one of the reason i was watching the show. Interesting characters, good team that support help and stood next PJ.
I agree. I don’t like the new location and the original characters, was one the he reasons I liked that show. Don’t care for the new format at all. The interaction between the original team made the show for me
I agree with you.I wish Righetti and yeoman, could some how be brought back. The show just doesn’t seem the same . Maybe the writers could figure something out.
Loved the show before.
Yes this was a favorite because of the team. Now it’s terrible. Remember criminal minds? That was an epic fail too.
Two years is a long time. I will miss those Cho and Rigsby talks, those were fantastic!
If Rigsby is around with his security firm, the talks with Cho can, too, right?
Totally agree, good characters created by Bruno heller
I will miss Cho and Rigsby together, they were fun
I’m very sad that they are leaving I hope they can stay until the very end of the season! In “TV Guide” it was also said that they have now two children together (don’t know if this number count in Ben).
And [they’re] probably keeping it close to the vest so it comes as a surprise to everyone that is watching.
This probably could’ve been more effective if it hadn’t even been announced they were leaving…
Ok, well, good on one hand that neither one will be killed off this weekend, and no one on the team was working for Red John. On the other hand, this means they’re still not safe. :( It does clear up some confusion that I had earlier though, because I had thought that the initial reports of them leaving talked about it happening in the spring, which this interview confirms. But then with the Red John storyline concluding now, there seemed to be a general assumption that they would be getting written out at the same time, which also made sense with the whole Mentalist 2.0/reboot thing going on. This though makes it seem like we’ll see them around for awhile yet. Which is good. I just still want them to leave alive and together.
They have their own Private Security firm and are freelanced out to the FBI. I smell a spin off
I don’t. No way will this show with low demos spin off!
Are we going to have to hear about this non-stop like when that Xena woman left NCICSI?
Go back to school.
Will you be my teacher?
Lol sure, first lesson: “You & the internet: who cares if you don’t care about something?”
Ziva. People might take you more seriously if you learn who’s who on a TV show. Otherwise, you just look like a fool.
Um, it wasn’t meant to be taken seriously and they were obviously making a joke by saying Xena and NCICSI. It wasn’t a funny joke… but it obviously wasn’t supposed to be a serious post.
Righetti was never much of an actress. She got started in the biz because she had big boobs.
Jealous much? Stop crying because your boobs are small!!
The only thing I’m jealous of is that they aren’t smothering my face right now.
Can you tell if it is a woman from the name?,
amazing instincts!
Amazingly bad instincts, actually.
Yeah I was being sarcastic, not to you, the person assuming your a woman based on a boob comment.
I dont think so, she was fantastic in the mentalist: my blood valentine, season 5
Righetti was fantastic. Love her job in my blood valentine season 4
don’t agree, she fit very well in the mentalist. Much better her than Kim. I think is a very tallented actress
Not too sure how I feel about the whole two year time jump thing. I knew that the actors were leaving but a two year time jump? As much as I’ve liked this show from the beginning, hope I didn’t end up jumping ship.
I know right! Will it be 2015 then!
This was in the TV Guide article 2 wks ago. I am so sad they are leaving just love those 2 after they leave i probably won’t watch either.
same thing, they dont need to change characters, but maybe writters….
they don’t leave the show its a producers, choice
I like their characters, but for me they were never much more than “likeable.” They fit comfortably within the show, sure, but I’m excited to see some new blood that might be more interesting or have very distinct personalities like Cho certainly does.
I heard that they would be leaving when this season started, so this had already been out there. The only thing new is their departure in the spring. But does this mean the season finale in May which is the spring?
This pushed me over to the “not watching anymore” side. My shows are quickly disappearing. Le sigh.
Or you could like… Grow up and get over it. Your shows aren’t disappearing, you’re just being a petulant viewer. Maybe try appreciating the story rather than watching a show for one or two (trivial) characters? Actors and actresses usually don’t want to be tied to a show forever and if they do, it’s because no other work is coming in.
Won’t be sorry to see them go, they are both a bit wishy washy, hopefully they get some decent actors/ actresses to replace them, for a change. Don’t know if it was their idea to leave, but I think they’ll both struggle to get other parts.
I’ve done a drama major, and I see their work as superb, he with his father and Cho and she in dealing with one of them having to give up their jobs. (as well as many other scenes) Don’t forget, the actors’ job is to follow the director’s lead and tolerate the editor’s eye.
No offence but a drama major doesn’t make an actor/actress superb. Yes they are fine but I did an archaeology degree and i don’t say mummies look well.
Apologies for that message, I didn’t read it right and sound like an ass. This is what reading drunk gets me.
I m watching the show from season 1, and i loved the main cast. I think they are good actors, they play their roles perfectly well
Granted I left the show after three seasons – plan to binge-watch the rest in the future – I always felt a Van Pelt / Red John connection. If she was a tomboy as a child with short red hair, considering her body type that works for her extremely well as an adult, probably not that well as a young girl – tall for her age, athletic with broad shoulders – kids could have teased her for looking like a boy…a boy with red hair…hence her ‘nickname’ she hated…Red John. Add in some brutal bully trauma that twisted an unstable personality to begin with and you might just have a serial killer. I assume a lot has gone down since that would make this crazy – and more importantly EARLY – theory impossible to execute.
Grace as Red John, that would’ve been a good twist. It doesn’t really make sense for a lot of reasons, but it still would have been a better twist than was seen in Heller’s “Red John” episode. For six years the show has been leading up to this and s06ep08 just seemed very anticlimactic. With this mediocre end to Red John and the departure of Van Pelt and Rigsby, it seems as though Heller is trying to get the show cancelled by getting viewers to jump ship en masse. Maybe he’s tired of the show and is ready for something else. I know the feeling.
The Sunday night slot after late-night NFL, combined with low demos in the 18-49 crowd, let alone the dragging out of Red John…leading to a kerplunk conclusion, does not warrant another season. Sad that the show increased by almost 3 million viewers this year, but not in the right age group. In other words, dumbed down shows like “The Big Bang Theory” appeal to advertisers…thus networks. CBS does not own “The Mentalist,” and another network picking it up is highly unlikely. I’m convinced Bruno Heller sees the handwriting on the wall and proved thus by presenting such a “boner” on Sunday! Besides, the fat lady is getting ready to sing and soon Bruno, like Judge Marilyn Milian, will say, “Stick a fork in it. I am done.”
Owain Yeoman is one of the most attractive men I have ever seen in my life — why oh why must he leave? :(
To be attractive elsewhere?
You should get out more.
brilliant comment, Lol!
And the perfect partner for CHo. I wish the show keeps the od crew.
Michael. why a two year time jump?
May I remind u of a little show called 24, that kept itself fresh with new cast members every year(other than Kiefer). Yeah, u can’t really compare the two, but retconning yourself after so long, especially after a story that pretty much defined the show, is necessary to allow it to grow and evolve. If u keep doing the same story line over and over, it gets boring and redundant. I look forward to this change, it is sad to see Amanda and Owan leave, great tal;ent they are. Besides, they could be back on our TV screens sooner than u think, it may not be the Mentalist, but I’m sure there are other projects they have their eye on
don’t like the sounds of two year time jump.
This is the last season, the show will be canceled, this is why they are wrapping things up and folks are jumping ship. Sunday nights @ 10pm is where CBS sends shows to die.
That Is awful, They both help Make The Show! Bad Bad MOVE On the Shows Part!
The writing has gone downhill since the first two seasons, so it may be time to take the show off the air. It’s only interesting when Jane has a worthy opponent and a clever twist to the plot.
I have always preferred the episodes that were NOT about Red John. I thought the show could go on better without that plot.
Thank you, thank you! I thought I was the only one! I also prefer the “non Red John” episodes. It gave the writers the much needed opportunity to come up with fresh storylines. I was honestly so sick of RJ I didn’t really care if they caught him or not. However, after watching the RJ saga unfold for 6 yrs and seeing the vast reach that RJ had, why assume that one of his followers would not take up his mantle and continue on in Red John’s name? It almost seems as tho when RJ was killed, his nationwide network of followers fell dead as well…….just a thought.
they need to bring back the main cast and the writers from the 1 and 2 season:andi bushell Asley Gable <bruno Heller etc
killing off characters stars just being written out makes for lousy tv
I agree
Amanda Righetti has a future in film so I am not surprised if she isn’t upset leaving a show close to ending it’s run where she was a supporting character