"The Scarlet Letter" Minelli (Gregory Itzen, far left, with guest star Paul Michael Glaser) greets Lisbon (Robin Tunney, center) and Jane (Simon Baker, far right) as they work on the case of a State Senator's murdered intern, on THE MENTALIST, Thursday Oct 1 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Richard Foreman/Warner Bros. ©2009 Warner Bros. Television. All Rights Reserved.

"Redemption" -- Jane (Simon Baker) learns that the Red John case has been reassigned to a new CBI team led by the straight-shooting officer Sam Bosco, on the second season premiere of THE MENTALIST, Thursday, September 24 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Cliff Lipson/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Terry Kinney will join the cast of THE MENTALIST in a recurring role this fall on the CBS Television Network.

Kinney will play Agent Sam Bosco, a seemingly flat-footed policeman with a deceptively sharp intelligence. He leads the CBI Serial Crimes Unit and is brought in to oversee the Red John case. His by-the-book approach serves as a constant irritation to Patrick Jane. In turn, his hatred of Jane's unorthodox methods and his determination to oust Jane from the CBI make him a truly worthy adversary. Earlier in his career he also served as Lisbon's boss and a dark secret from their shared past clouds their current relationship.

Terry Kinney was most recently seen on the television drama "The Unusuals." He is best known for his role as Tim McManus on the ground-breaking series "Oz." Other television credits include "Cantebury's Law," "Law and Order" and "CSI: NY," on the Network.

THE MENTALIST begins its second season on Thursday, Sept. 24 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

THE MENTALIST delivered its largest audience ever, 19.7 million viewers, leading CBS to its most competitive finish in viewers ever on an "American Idol" Tuesday, according to Nielsen preliminary live plus same day ratings for Feb. 10.