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Report: 'The Mentalist's' Simon Baker signs $30 million deal
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Looks like it's going to be a very happy New Year for Simon Baker. The 41-year-old actor, who leads CBS's "The Mentalist" as title character Patrick Jane, has signed a $30 million deal with Warner Bros. TV, according to reports from Deadline. The series, in its third season and already sold into syndication, performs well in a tricky 10 p.m. spot on Thursday nights. The syndication deal with TNT reportedly nets WBTV over $2.2 million per episode, so its no surprise that they'd want to make sure Baker sticks around as long as possible.
According to the deal, Baker has extended his current six-year-contract with "The Mentalist" to seven years. He'll also receive a cut of the back end profits, and beginning in Season 5, we'll start to see Baker's name alongside a producer credit on the show.
Baker has been honored by Emmy, Golden Globe, and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for his role as Patrick Jane. "The Mentalist" won a People's Choice Award for Favorite TV Drama in 2009.
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Photo/Video credit: CBS
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And after ten years of teaching, I'm barely making over $20000.
So you're both making over $20,000. He just pulling more weight than you.
Or should that have been "You're EACH making over $20,000", Teach?
I love this guy. I've been following his work since L.A. Confidential. Really amazing actor. I'm guessing they've amped up the Red John storyline and had to ensure he'd stick around.
Kudos to Zap2it for keeping up with the interesting news!
Teachers start at something like $50,000 per year, with free health care, in Canada. Think about it.
Teachers make a lot more than $20k a year in America, too. I think this guy isn't being honest with us. Perhaps that's why we NEED more people like Mr. Jane!
It depends on where you teach. I teach in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The starting salary in a public school is around $30,000, but if you're teaching in a private (religious) school, you only start at $20,000. Public school teachers make greater increases quicker, but they also have a top end that their salary can be frozen at no matter how many years they've been teaching. I've been teaching for over 30 years, have my master's degree plus more credits beyond that, and I'm barely making over $40,000. REAL teachers aren't in it for the money!
Teacher have the highest respect on this planet, kudos to the teachers who teach with a passion and not in for the money! Salute
"Real Teachers" are in it for the 4 months of vacation each year. $50K isn't too bad for what is essentially a part time job.
I love watching the Mentalist, one of the most intelligent shows on television. The show really wouldn't work without Simon Baker. Ultimately, he is an entertainer and the show is engaging for millions. It does sound like a lot of money but who knows what his journey has been like getting there.