‘Star Trek Into Darkness’ $22M Friday For Lower … 
Finally, Cannes Dealing! Radius-TWC Nabs Director’s … 
Hammond On Cannes: Wet Fest’s Official Competition … 
‘Vampire Academy’ Adds ‘Modern … 
RATINGS RAT RACE: ‘Shark Tank’ Finale Up, … 
Cannes: Worldview Options Andrew Dominik’s Marilyn … 
UPFRONTS 2013: The Overachievers 
‘Mike & Molly’ Creator Mark Roberts To … 
Carey Mulligan, Matthias Schoenaerts Set For … 
Hammond On Cannes: Weinstein Brings Out Stars For 2013 … 
Cannes: Fake Gunshots Interrupt Canal Plus Live Broadcast … 
‘The Great Gatsby’ Starts With $5.4M … 
Cannes: Music Box Snags Competition’s ‘Michael … 
UPDATE: Amazon Studios Begins Pilot Pickups; … 
Bruce Rosenblum Bids Classy Goodbye 
RATINGS RAT RACE UPDATE: ‘American Idol’ Hits … 
UPDATE: ‘Iron Man 3′ Box Office Crosses $1B … 
Upfront Market: Will Auto Makers Subsidize TV … 
Cannes: Thief Makes Off With $1M+ In Chopard Jewelry Meant … 
‘Scandal’ Finale On Small Screen And Onstage At … 
‘Modern Family’ Gets Cable Makeover For Launch … 
EXCLUSIVE: Quirky FBI computer technician Penelope Garcia may be pulling a double duty this coming season. I hear that CBS has approached Criminal Minds co-star Kirsten Vangsness to also appear on the upcoming Criminal Minds spinoff, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, on a regular or recurring basis. The network is already employing such cross-pollinating on NCIS and its spinoff NCIS: Los Angeles. Rocky Carroll, regular on the original series, also recurs on the spinoff, playing the same character, NCIS director Leon Vance.
With her multi-colored hair, sassy attitude and street smarts, Garcia is one of the standout characters on Criminal Minds with devoted following. The network no doubt hopes her popularity among Criminal Minds fans would give a boost to the new series, slated to launch in midseason. Because of the mostly stationary setup – her character spends most of her time behind her computer desk – I hear Vangsness usually works one day a week on the mothership series and could fit in filming scenes for the spinoff too. Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior stars Forest Whitaker as Cooper, a former star profiler in the Behavioral Analysis Unit who now runs a team that exists outside of FBI bureaucracy. Janeane Garofalo recently joined the cast of the series as a new female lead, a highly competent FBI agent on Cooper’s team.
Criminal Minds made headlines last month with the network’s decision not to pick up series regular A.J. Cook, who will wrap up her character’s storyline in two episodes this fall. The original series is planning to add a new female character sometime next season.
TV Editor Nellie Andreeva - tip her here.
Loading ...
Dear CBS,
Sorry – but no. Even for Garcia. I love her to bits, but this spin-off was part of the reason we’ve lost A.J. and possibly losing Paget.
Good luck to Kirsten, though.
http://twitter.com/JoeMantegna
Look at his second tweet.
According to Joe Mantegna’s twitter, the spin off and the loss of AJ and Paget are TOTALLY unrelated. They’re going because CBS execs are stupid, not because there’s a new spin off. The spin off has been in the works long before that decision was made.
I’m willing to give it a shot. I love Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo.
I agree with Aya, I’m still not watching the spin-off.
agreed. they shouldnt screw up the main show and take its characters. this suckss!
CBS is trying to prevent CM’s spinoff from failing on its first season. After all the crap they pulled on the original show, fans getting pissed off and blaming the spinoff for the dropping of AJ COOK and of PAGET B. by the end of next season, they want beloved VANGSNESS to save the spinoff from disaster, since a lot of original CM fans have vowed not to watch it. I really dont think it will work. And I really dont think they will hire some new female lead sometime next season. This is too vague to be true, it sounds more as an excuse to calm fans down – although fans have made it clear they do not want anyone new, they want the cast to remain as it is now. I believe they want original CM to be back to its original formation – four studs and a girl – so the costs will get to the network’s standards. The spinoff is getting all the attention right now because it has to appeal to the audience. But with or without Vangsness, I dont believe it will succeed.
They may ACTUALLY hire a new female lead, that’s how Paget came into the picture in the first place after Lola was off the show in the second season. I’m really upset about the loss of A.J. and the possible loss of Paget, but I will not stop watching the original show and if the spin-off is even close to it’s awesomeness, it’s worth a shot. I’m really glad Kirsten might be on it.
Why? All they did was rip off NCIS character Abbey. They need some new people I don’t really care for her character. I will have to pass on this series.
The Abbey character is f-ing hot!
Wow. That Abbey character is an annoying bitch. That show I don’t really care for, and she dresses like she’s some 16 year old goth. And how old is her character? Definetly older than 16. :/ I feel that Garcia is a better character and definetly not a rip off of that girl.
I like Garcia, but with all the changes CBS is making I doubt if I will be watching that station much longer. They removed some great shows for old shows with newer stars, i.e. The Defenders, Hawaii Five O come on get with the times. Ghost Whisper, Cold Case Numbers and removing Prentiss & A.J. get real. I’m already watching White Dollar, Covert Affair Royal Pains and Burn Notice and really like them alot so that will more than likely be my new station. I hope you learn CBS
White Dollar is terrific. I like the guy who plays Jamie Dimon especially.
Well done, Jimmy.
lol. Ya’got that right! Burn Notice, Royal Pains, White Collar, et al, have my attention! I am truly sad about the shake up…and downs at CBS. Criminal Minds was my “must see!” yet I am so very glad I now have options on another station.
Good bye “JJ”, c’ya later “Em”; All the best!
we love kirsten on anything and more power to her for getting extra dough but shouldn’t cbs let that spin off die already? no one cares…and it was baaaaad
Part of the reason why it was bad is because they were shoehorning a second team into the episode. If they are on their own and not being constantly compared to the team we know and love, then they might do okay.
As for the Garcia thing. I like it and I don’t. I like it because there’s a logic to the notion that she’s THE tech figure for the unit. But I also dislike it because they have shown that there are other ‘garcia’ figures (like Kevin) around and to me it makes more sense to have a tech agent for each team that is 100% focused on that teams stuff. Whether its the active field case or the pending consults on their desks or whatever.
So long as this crossover isn’t at a loss to the original show I suppose it’s not a huge deal. But if they cut Garcia from the original to do this, no way
I still don’t understand why the spin-off’s “Backdoor pilot” episode of CM was only a single episode…
NCIS:LA and NCIS both were presented as 2-part episodes of the show they were spinning off of.
wait so there was already a criminal minds spin off? this is all so confusing. CBS is messing up big time.
This is huge news. HUGE!
Wait, which show is this and who is this actress?
I’m confused.
pass… not gonna watch the spinoff.
can see Cbs wanting Kristianto go on the spin off if nothing else as a bridge by having fans see at least one familar face from the original even though given how fans seem to already hate the spin off mostly due to the way aj and paget were sent packing from the original. kristian efforts for the spin off may wind up back firing though cbs could just resurect aj and pagent for the new show. to try and make it a hit
As someone has already noted in another place, they have 13 opportunities to make an audience… What I don’t think they have realized yet it’s that the audience is not going to come from the CM fan-base, nope. Said fan-base at most it’s going to support the mothership for the remaining cast members, as said fan-base mostly wants the spin-off dead.
At the end of the day, if this goes through is going to be good for KV… a paycheck is a paycheck (several of them are even better).
PS. For those who think Garcia is a rip off of Abbey: Garcia was going to be a middle-aged, latino man. Garcia is Vangsness own creation.
It is no wonder they kept Kirsten the original. While no doubt she has a great following she only works one day a week while AJ and Paget worked more so get rid of those two and keep Kirsten and save a ton of $$$$. B/c that is what all this crap has come down to; $$$.
As for the spin off…this is a last ditch effort by CBS to get fans to watch something they don’t want to or have no interest in. And some might tune in b/c Kirsten is on but if it sucks, it sucks…there ain’t no changing that! This move screams copycat of Abby from NCIS…she has recurred several times on NCIS LA and in the beginning of that series it was done like this probable move was….to bring fans over.
The spin off is a joke. CBS should have saved their money and spent it on something else…something worth spending money on…like saving their beloved characters/actors on the shows that people actually want to watch
Clearly you don’t know Hollywood Economics. Pay ain’t tied just to how much actual work you do. Your casting (Star, guest star, recurring etc) and your past work history are major factors.
Those that are ‘stars’ are paid for every episode in a season even if they don’t appear in all of them. Because they aren’t contractually allowed to do other jobs just in case they are needed after all. This is why when they know they are barely going to use someone they will at least attempt a downgrade (Lost fans will remember this with the kid)
So, for example, when Gubler blew his knee out filming a movie and they had to shot Reid to cover it up and leave him back home for an ep or two (meaning he was in perhaps 5 scenes total) he still got the same pay as all the other eps. Because he’s a star of the show and his contract is set up to pay him for all eps produced in the season
He wasn’t filming a movie.
He wasn’t filming a movie. He was dancing! Hehe
He attempted some crazy dance move and ripped up his knee pretty gruesome-like 
Are CBS starting to get desperate now – they’ve realised what a mistake they made with AJ and Paget and that dedicated fans of the original are going to boycott the spin off in protest. Ha ha is all i can say CBS – it won’t matter what you do or who you have starring you’ve pissed fans off to the point that we want to see you suffer. Not only will the spin off suffer but i’m afraid the original most likely will too. They shouldn’t have tried to fix what wasn’t broken.
I whole heartedly agree with you. The Criminal Minds cast was perfect! The only episodes of season 6 I will be watching will be the ones with AJ, other than that I will not be tuning in. I am with you, at this point I just want the producers to suffer. Maybe then they’ll learn something….although probably not.
Yes, I completely agree with both of you. The Criminal Minds cast was perfect, everyone connected. (Although the new girl that replaced AJ wasn’t. AJ was better)
I just dont see the purpose of the spin-off
I had a feeling they were going to bring her over to the spinoff. Good for her! I LOVE her character. I didn’t know Janeane was in too. Interesting. I will watch the spinoff because CBS needs more diversity on its shows. All the news ones are NOT diverse at all. But they still need to put the original CM back the way it was with strong women.
Criminal Minds is one of my top shows but I am very excited to see the spin off and now hearing that Kirsten will be in it, I am that much more excited. I love her character. I do not compare it to Abbey, Abbey is Abbey and Penelope is Penelope, I love them both. I think it’s stupid for people to think that a show should always remain the same when nothing remains the same in life. I will be sad to see A.J. go, I really liked her character but times change and so do people. I love Forest Whitaker and can’t wait to see the chemistry between his character and the character to be played by Janeane Garofolo. I for one am looking at this as an addition to my television enjoyment.
This is ridiculous. This spin off is the reason we lost AJ and are possibly loosing Paget. I don’t understand why CBS doesn’t just cut the spin off and keep the original cast? I really like Garcia on Criminal Minds, but I will not be watching this spin off. It sounds like such a terrible idea and story line. I don’t believe this spin off is going to go anywhere. Criminal Minds fans are already so upset about AJ and Paget that they are not going to watch the original show, what makes the producers believe that the fans are going to watch a spin off?
I know it may seem that way, but as other people have pointed out, the spin-off is not related in any way to what is going on with A.J Cook. This is confirmed by Joe Mantegna’s twitter post, and I think its a reliable source seeing how strongly he felt about the situation with A.J.
I’m probably not going to watch the spinoff solely because I won’t have the time, but I will definitely still watch CM. JJ was a great character and one of my favorites, but I think its ridiculous to completely stop watching a show that has so many other great characters with so much to offer.
Sorry, Joe, but you can’t guilt trip me into watching something I don’t want to watch. If I enjoy something, I’ll watch it. If I don’t, I won’t. Simple as that. The spinoff was not enjoyable to me. Nor will “CM: 5 Left Standing” be once AJ and Paget are gone. No offense to the rest of the cast, but it just won’t be the show I loved anymore. It’s a dealbreaker for me.
What there was a spin off? Is that why Forrest Wittacre was on that one CM episode last season.
I love you Vangness but I’m devoted to CM.
No spinoff’s please CBS you’re killing a good thing.
?! No! Criminal Minds is going to end up just like Charlie’s Angels! You can’t get rid of A.J.!!
I agree!! I’d rather have A.J. than Paget!! Paget could never replace Lola so she has just been filling a spot. A.J. rocks and the BAU can’t survive without her. NBC, make it work!!!!
I agree, AJ was amazing. But Lola?? EWWW. She was a horrible actress!! I am so glad Paget replaced her!
I love Garcias character but im very upset they booted AJ and Pagdet just to save $. they were the heart of the team! but that aside if Garcia is gunna be on the spin off then i’ll watch it
CBS is messing up big time.
Sorry, Nothing can save the spin-off. It was horrible and unbelievable. It should have been on the syfy channel.
I didn’t know they already showed the spin off. When was this?
I’ve been a huge fan of this show, the writing is superb, the stories are interesting, and provocative. To me, it is one if not the best crime dramas on TV. Why mess with something that wasn’t broken? I love Forest, but not for this part. He just doesn’t have the proper chemistry for this team. It seems that you guys are trying to create a chemistry around Forest and not the other way around. Aj is gone and if Paget is also, youre going to lose out on your fans and most importantly the chemistry of the team that make these horrfic and suspenseful storyines work and remain watchable. What’s next removing Gibson, Moore, and Gubler? Now, I will stop watching
Love her (Kirsten) on Criminal Minds (the original). Hated the spin-off. Won’t watch the spin-off … even to see her.
Save money – cancel the spin-off – rehire the Criminal Minds cast (AJ and Paget). Have Paget come back – with relationship with Hotchner beginning. AJ can come back also – with baby being kidnapped and Criminal Minds unit doing their thing to recover the baby?
Shouldn’t be that difficult to incorporate two recognized members of the cast!
“Have Paget come back – with relationship with Hotchner beginning. AJ can come back also – with baby being kidnapped and Criminal Minds unit doing their thing to recover the baby?
Shouldn’t be that difficult to incorporate two recognized members of the cast!”
It’s even easier to incorporate them. How about they come back because their characters are two excellent FBI agents who like their jobs and are valuable to the team? JJ doesn’t need her baby kidnapped to justify her presence on the show. Neither does Prentiss need to be in a completely unethical relationship with her boss.
Of course discussion about these two is moot now. But, I do fear they’ll do something like that for a new character. That CBS will do some executive meddling and require them to create a character whose existence revolves completely around the men. I can see it now. They try to find someone they think has romantic chemistry with one of the male cast (because the only reason for her to even exist is to be in a relationship with a guy). I don’t want anyone new, but if they have to I hope it’s a woman who never gets involved with anyone else on the show. For 5 years this show has defied the crazy idea that a show can’t last unless two of the main characters are having some kind of sexual relationship with each other. I hope that at least doesn’t get tossed to the wolves.
Love Kirsten, love her character…are they hoping to save CM spin-off with her? That is a lot of pressure, the pilot (embedded into season 5) was really weak.
I ADORE Criminal Minds to bits, specially after Rossi & Prentiss on board. I LOVE the team, that means every one of them. but after what CBS did to JJ & Prentiss… I’m still not sure how I’m gonna take Season 6.
And now this???
WTF CBS!!! WTF!
Uh, no. Sticking a great character on a bad show doesn’t make the show great. It just means a great character slogging around on a bad show. It’s why I was never a fan of the idea of moving someone from the original to the spin off. Because I want to see the original characters in their natural habitat. Not with “Team Too Cool for the Rules” FBI.
It’s *because* I like Garcia that I don’t want to see her on the spin off. I’d rather see her with the remaining cast of Criminal Minds. Because if the backdoor pilot was any indication, if I watched her on the spin off, I’d have to watch her interact with cliched rebel characters and badly written stories. And, if they’re trying to gain a fanbase, why don’t they work on the writing and characterization of the spin off? Rather than assume that merely sticking Garcia in will suddenly make it appealing, regardless of how bad the show is overall?
is that Dame Edna?