SIMON BAKER interview post Red John airing:
Baker:You want to know something I've never talked about?
TV Guide Magazine: Hell, yeah!
Baker: All those times we heard the voice of Red John? That was me.
TV Guide Magazine: Seriously?
Baker:
Yes! In the Season 2 finale, when Jane was captured and Red John did
that "Tyger, Tyger" thing with the mask on? That was me. I played both
characters in that scene.
TV Guide Magazine: Wow. That's especially trippy considering there was a major theory going around that Jane was Red John. So in a way that turned out to be true!
Baker:
That was the reason I did that. There was a point where Bruno was
saying, "We don't know who we're going to cast to play [the masked Red
John]." I said, "Don't cast anyone! I'll do it." Bruno was, like, "I
love it! I love it!" So I put on a mask and did that funny, wispy little
voice. And for seasons after, whenever Red John spoke, I had to go
record the voice.
Link to full interview: http://www.tvguide.com/News/Mentalist-Simon-Baker-Red-John-1073837.aspx
So it seems we've all been duped guys. The story arc was never well thought out, nor planned beforehand. It was just a series of cliffhangers pulled out of a magician's hat (fitting?) designed to keep us glued to the show for the next "clue".
Just another average, run of the mill show, with some brilliant, well executed and memorable stand-alone moments. It dragged on way past its expiration date post season 3 finale, as most of us felt but couldn't bring ourselves to admit because of the potential redeeming feature of the Red John reveal.
I thoroughly enjoyed visiting this site all this time, and glad that I even took a small part in it. I believe it's time to leave this show behind us. It is now evident that the story has no answers, no potential wrap up. Even if it eventually gets one, we'll know now that said wrap up was thought out AFTER the story ended. Personally I wouldn't care for that, I prefer all your theories better.
All you guys have been wonderful, even the hotheaded ones. I attribute that animosity of some people towards others as merely passion for the show, which is acceptable.
