'The Mentalist' to wrap after season 7

"The Mentalist," a reliable performer on CBS until such time as it was not (the sixth season, if we must be specific), will end next February, the network announced earlier Tuesday. 

"The seventh and final season" will begin Sunday, Nov. 30, at 9:30. It will remain there, as a "The Good Wife" placeholder, through December, until "Wife" returns Jan. 4 at 9.

At that point, "Mentalist" will head to Wednesdays at 8, where it will end its run in a two-hour wrap on Feb. 18.

Meanwhile, "Madam Secretary" will also take a break in December, for the return of "Undercover Boss" starting Dec. 14, at 8.

Complicated? Not at all: CBS is resting a hit and a successful newcomer through December, when "hits" and "successful newcomers" normally are rested. "The Mentalist" does not get that distinction however. 

The Simon Baker vehicle started strong back in 2008 (around 17 million viewers) and never really built from there, ending last season with around 11 million viewers.