Dec 28, 2010 10:32 GMT  ·  By

CBS’ “The Mentalist” is officially the most DVR-ed television drama ever, and it’s eventually showing in leading man Simon Baker’s paycheck. He’s officially become the highest paid actor in a TV drama, surpassing Hugh Laurie from “House M.D.”

Deadline reports Baker is in negotiations for a $30+ million contract for the upcoming 3 years (3 more seasons), which officially makes him the highest paid actor in a television drama at the moment.

Of course, that’s not to say that Baker was doing poorly before the new deal: not only was he already signed for more seasons, but he was also getting a cut of the syndication profits.

“I hear The Mentalist star Simon Baker is finalizing a new deal with the series producer Warner Bros Television that would net him more than $30 million for his services on the CBS drama, including money he is currently paid,” Deadline has learned.

“Under the pact, I hear Baker would add one additional year to his current six-year contract and would get an additional piece of the show’s backend,” the e-zine notes.

“The Mentalist was sold in off-network syndication in November 2009 in a rich deal with TNT that is fetching Warner Bros. $2.2 million-$2.3 million an episode,” the e-zine further says.

What the new deal brings as a bonus, aside from more money in Baker’s pocket, is a producer credit on the show starting with season 5, Deadline has also learned.

“The Mentalist launched as the top new series of the 2008-09 season. For the past 2 seasons, it has been airing on Thursday at 10 PM as one of very few dramas that perform solidly in the 10 PM hour dominated by DVR viewing,” the e-zine writes.

Speaking strictly numbers, “season to date, The Mentalist has averaged 16 million viewers and a 3.5 rating among adults 18-49, down 6% and 15% from last year, respectively,” says the same e-zine.

Playback viewing adds another 3 million views to these figures, it is being said, coming to consolidate the show’s appeal to the audiences – and thus Baker’s bigger paycheck.