The Mentalist ... Getting Stupid

I'm getting more and more disappointed with The Mentalist. I cheered the concept at the start, especially when Patrick Jayne said, in the first episode, "There are no such things as psychics." The problem is, the police work in the show is getting far too stupid.

Cases in point:

Case 1

In one episode, the dead victim is in a field, shot from a distance. But where did he stand? We hear Jayne call, "He stood here." Jayne is standing behind a scarecrow, waving its arms. Of course, Jayne would be standing right on top, and thus destroying, possible evidence.

Case 2

A couple of episodes ago (January or February, 2010), The Mentalist never realized that a person was lying to him. Kinda destroys the very concept of The Mentalist, doesn't it.

Case 3 (Last week, March 4)

A second victim dies, right in front of the head of the crime unit (Teresa Lisbon). She sees him drop, eyes open, not breathing, not talking. Does she start CPR? Does she check for a pulse. No. She holds her hand in front of his face and cries, "How many fingers am I holding up?"

Case 4 (Tonight, March 11)

A scientist in a bio lab became exposed to a virus and died. A few hours later, Jayne pulls a prank, admittedly clever, to catch the killer. But it involved announcing to at least 40 other people that they have now been exposed, that they should call their loved ones and say good-bye, and make their final arrangements. They only have an hour or so to live.

It was a fabrication, of course, but how many lives did he just hurt? How many people are going to sue him for pain and suffering.

Going back to Case 3. Where was an editor or consultant to say, "That's stupid. A supposedly experienced person is not going to say 'how many fingers?' to a dead person." Surely Robbin Tunney, if she really knew her role, would balk, and announce, "My character wouldn't say that."