'Entourage' gets sixth-season go; 'The Mentalist' closes in on full-season order

HBO has given the greenlight to a sixth season of "Entourage," while CBS is said to be close to ordering a full season of "The Mentalist," fall's most-watched new show.

"'Entourage' is that rare phenomenon in TV: a smart, sharp comedy series that continues to evolve," said HBO programming president Michael Lombardo. New episodes of "Entourage" will premiere next summer.

Cumulative ratings for the comedy, which now follows once-hot Vincent Chase as he tries to juice his career, have been on par with Season 4 numbers, a network rep said. During last month's Emmy ceremony, actor Jeremy Piven picked up his third Emmy for playing talent agent Ari Gold.

As for "The Mentalist," EW.com reports that CBS has ordered six additional scripts of the first-year drama -- a good indication that the show will live out an entire season.

Just two weeks into its run, the show, starring Simon Baker as a cocky cop with dead-on people-reading skills, has averaged a robust 15.4 million viewers.

-- Denise Martin

Photos of Simon Baker, left, and Jeremy Piven from Associated Press and HBO, respectively.