'Lie to Me' panel: 'The Mentalist' is a 'scam'

Now we're talking.

When asked the inevitable question of how Fox's "Lie to Me" compares to CBS' similarly themed freshman hit "The Mentalist," producers aren't shy.

"Go at it boys," says Tim Roth.

"The difference between the two shows is that our show is based on actual science, while 'Mentalist' is, I think, more of a scam," says actor Brendan Hines.

"And it's based on the most cutting-edge research used by the TSA and homeland security," adds creator Samuel Baum. "What you see on the show is based on real science and techniques that are simple and visible to the naked eye that people can bring into their real life."

Adds Roth, "I haven’t seen 'The Mentalist.' But I’ve heard about it because [the other panel members] talk about it. I don’t think we need to get too worried about it really."

Producers say "Lie" will also distinguish itself by not having a murder every week. Roth's lie-detection expert will be hired by a range of clients, in addition to helping the police. 

More superficially, Tim Roth kept his British accent -- unlike transplanted Brits such Hugh Laurie. 

Executive producer David Nevins pointed out that two of the biggest stars on TV, Simon Cowell and Gordon Ramsay, have British accents.

"Americans think a British accent makes you smarter, and [Roth's character] is a scientist," he says. 

"I don’t know how Hugh does it," adds Roth. "This character has to be flexible, light on his feet. So adding an accent to think about for me was a deal-breaker."

PREVIOUS: A look at the "Lie to Me" pilot. How does it compare to "The Mentalist"?

Comments

[roa]

Ehm.. BOTH are scams of Psych.

[Brian]

I think decades of research by Paul Ekman shows your comment ignorant to the utmost.

[Dee Camrot]

There is also David Matsumoto, expert about facial expression analaysis who publishes papers on the subject. http://languageandstress.wordpress.com/2009/01/29/guest-speaker-david-matsumoto/