Which Fictional Series/Movie Mentioned Sweepstakes?
The Mentalist, season 2 episode 15, titled "The Red Herring."
How Did Sweepstakes Feature in the Story's Plot?
The setting for The Mentalist's weekly mystery was a cooking contest sponsored by a (presumably fictitious) wine company. The contest was for professional chefs, and featured a grand prize of $100,000 cash. One of the competitors was murdered, casting suspicions on the other participants in the contest.
Lessons Learned
- Although most cook-offs don't end in murder, the basic premise of the contest seemed pretty realistic to me.
- Wine companies in California, where The Mentalist takes place, do sponsor cooking contests, some of which have large prizes.
- The contest was interrupted fairly early on by the murder, so there weren't many details about the judging or how the contest would be won.
