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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.
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We’re never watching this sexist lame show or its lame spinoff. It’s a write off. Never watching CBS either, but that’s partly because there’s nothing worth watching anyhow. Until you have fair employment practices, and practices that reflect what your audience wants to see (women want to see women on tv/movies), you don’t get women viewer money. Simple equation
I am not surprised that Criminal Minds was planning to eliminate Paget’s character, after all, CBS is known for killing off/destroying brunette lead roles. I thought AJ’s role was safe since she is a beautiful blonde. Apparently CBS is of the opinion they need only appeal to female audiences. Without the heart of the show, the sensitivity of female characters by the very nature of nurturing, they will make the show as clinical and sterile as Gubler’s character was initially. AJ & Gub’s interactions have really made his role much more interesting.
That being said, I think Kirsten is a GENIUS and any way that fans can get more of her, I vote for it. The character of Penelope brings humanity to the show, as she seems sheltered in her role from the horrors the others are almost numbed by. She is the perfect blend of blonde, geek, and every woman!
Quote:Apparently CBS is of the opinion they need only appeal to female audiences.
How does destroying the strong women make a show appealing to women?
“How does destroying the strong women make a show appealing to women?”
I *think* it means people only watch tv if they’re sexually attracted to the cast of the shows.
Oh, and my decision not to watch the spin off has nothing to do with the appalling and completely unnecessary and *totally* indefensible treatment of AJ Cook and Paget Brewster. I don’t want to watch the spin off for the same reason I don’t watch a ton of other shows. Because it looks like a bad show. It bored me. The entire cast of Criminal Minds could have stayed intact until the very last episode of the series, and I still wouldn’t have watched the spin off. Not without some drastic changes from the sewage I saw in the backdoor pilot.
I completely agree. There is only room for one Criminal Minds. The spin-off is gonna totally bomb, CBS know it and are trying to throw it a lifeline with this latest stunt. I wonder what’ll air in it’s place when they pull it? Oh CBS, you’re gonna be sooo sorry you let Freddie Rodrieguz and ‘Chaos’ (this was supposed to be the other mid-season drama) slip through your fingers……
Hear, hear.
CBS dream, i’ll not watch the spin-off. This is my decision, after their scandalous decision with 2 actress. No respect of fans=no watching stupid spin-off.
Sorry, but even for Garcia I can’t bring myself to watch this ill-conceived spin off.
“Operating outside of the FBI bureaucracy” – uh, no. Just not really believable for me.
I’ll miss AJ and hope that CBS keeps Paget, but I think there will something else on when the spin-off airs.
O fcourse, the cast will say that the firing of AJ Cook and demoting Paget Brewster has nothing to do with the spinoff. They are contracted to say that and not bash the spinoff. I don’t believe a word of it even if it was coming from Joe Mantegna. They are putting VK on the spinoff because they have read and heard loudly that Criminal Minds fans won’t be watching the spinoff. And now theyw ant to make sure that people do because they are afraid of how much money they will lsoe when the ratings aren’t what they expected and it gets cancelled.
Oh, CBS, first you fire one of the actresses from the original, than make sure the other one will be in it less and gone by next year and now you are trying to steal the only one left for sure to the second and until proven wrong, awful new show?
Criminal Minds is soooo damaged goods by now, if it wasn’t for Thomas Gibson and Matthew Gray Gubler, I would just give up on it.
If CBS wants me watch the spin-off, they are going to have to take Reid there.
Until then, I hope this disappoiting new team of childish rebels is gone by next mid-season.
Then we can all laugh at them for ruining the original and trowing money at the one we ALL hated when it first aired.
You know, the “reasons AJ and Paget are getting cut” are “creative reasons.” Sorry but -when- did the show itself become so about the characters that their storyline needed to be involved they Foyet storyline was only fantastic at it’s end. I remember Criminal Minds when it was about the murders and solving them. Go back to that, keep the cast you had during season 5.
Have the spin-off but don’t force it because die-hard fans of AJ and Paget have already rejected it as have most general CM fans. Of all CM episodes the The Fight… ‘intro’ to the spin-off was the worst episode to date. Reusing an actor they used in season 2 episode 4 who was an unsub. I like Forrest Whitaker don’t get me wrong just not in this. I disliked the FBI team made of ex convicts that freestyle their way through a case and yet fail so miserably at it. I’m sorry there is simply no draw to want to watch it.
I will stop watching the moment Paget is kicked out, I’m upset AJ got the boot, Paget is my last straw. I love Criminal Minds, I hate to see it get so incredibly ruined.
Smart move I guess to make the new series pop a bit more.
If Paget’s gone from CM so am I and with Janeane Gargoylo in the new one I may sell my TV—If I can find a buyer…
I agree 100%. I never connected with Lola, so I’m glad she’s gone. I really feel the team in season 5 was perfect. I liked Gideon, but the character David Rossi is just as good. These characters are perfect as they are and how they interact with each other. I look forward to the interactions of the characters as much as the crime solving. I, too, thought maybe Emily and Aaron would start some sort of relationship; even if platonic I felt they had ended up depending on each other and giving each other something they both needed, if only as friends. This show will end up like CSI for me if any more characters leave. I have never watched another CSI episode after my two favorites left. I also have no interest in a spin-off. I do not watch NCIS-LA. The original is still as good as the 1st episode. I will add, in my opinion, if they want to get rid of someone they can get rid of that wretched director. I dislike that character so much. Give me someone I can respect (JJ?) that woman is the devil. Her “politics” are evil and to what end I don’t know. They better not mess with Hotch anymore – he doesn’t deserve it. Just my opinions.
Better her than Janeane Garofalo, that’s for sure.
“Better her than Janeane Garofalo, that’s for sure.”
Actually it’s both of them. Janeane Garofalo is still one of the regular cast members. Kirsten is simply going to going to be a recurring character while still being on Criminal Minds.
I guess. If I had the power to tune JG out, then I would only have to put up with the rest of the baby bunch they presented us with during the back door pilot.
I guess, I’ll pass.
I know when AJ Cook was on maternity leave it just wasn’t the same until she came back. Paget is so funny with some of her one line zingers. CM is seriously one of my favorite shows and it makes me sad that CBS would do this, just to save some money. I do not know what the chemistry on the set is but in front of the camera it is awesome. CBS, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!!!! It is bonehead moves like this that gets a series cancelled. Next thing you know its going to be moving to a new night, then in 2 weeks it will move to another night and so forth. Before long, we the viewers, will not give a flying flip. If either of these ladies did a Mandy Patinkin, it would be different. To my knowledge this was not the case.
I had no idea that there was going to be a spin-off! I love Garcia and the spunk she brings to CM, so good for her. However I petitioned against Cook and Paget being taken off CM before I even knew about this spin-off. If they release these two brilliant actresses from the original CM, it will not be the same show. CM was the show that started me watching CBS in the first place. I then started watching most every other show on CBS, all due to the wonderfully written and awesome team chemistry of all the actors. I will no longer watch CM if Cook and Paget are removed from the show, and even though I love the character Garcia, I will not watch that spin-off or any other shows on CBS. I think CBS execs are total idiots and that they are ruining the best drama ever shown on t.v. CBS execs need to remove their heads from each others butts, listen to THE FANS, or lose more money than they were “trying to save” in the first place. Way to go CBS, screw up an awesome show by trying to fix what was never broken, and now trying to con us into watching a spin-off thats already broken before it has started. CBS get some smarter people to run your network because doing what ya’ll are to the original CM’s is the dumbest move in t.v. history that I know of. I was a die-hard NBC fan and watched nothing else when friends and E.R. was on and CM is what made me a die-hard CBS fan. Now you have screwed up CM so I will try the USA or TNT networks as I understand that they both have wonderful new hot shows, with awesome new characters, like White Collar, Royal Pains and Burn Notice on USA and Hawthorne, The Closer, Leverage and their new shows Memphis Beat and Rizzoli and Isles on TNT. So in closing and a goodbye to CBS. CBS execs remember this comment when you no longer have any ratings beause everyone else has followed my lead and found better shows on networks that dont descriminate against awesome actresses “to save money”. Maybe Cook and Paget can find work on one of the USA or TNT networks new and exciting shows. CBS execs once again you need to help each other pull ya’lls heads out of each others butts. So long CM I will miss the show or the way it use to be.
Once again the small group of “rabid” vocal fans think that they can hurt the spin-off if they don’t watch it.
CBS has an average of 14 Million viewers weekly for Criminal Minds, those matter, NOT the 42,000+ die-hard obsessed fans who were vocal about Paget and AJ,etc.
Then there’s the fans who STILL DON’T GET IT THROUGH THEIR THICK HEADS THAT THE SPIN-OFF HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PAGET AND AJ’S SITUATION – EVEN AFTER IT’S BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN.
I’d like to think CM fans (I’m a viewer,I enjoy the show – seen every episode atleast 2 or 3 times) are a little better than those Crazy “kool-aid” drinking obsessed fans. YOu know, like the JERICHO fans who still hold out for a mythical film version from CBS Films. (Bad enough THEY ruined it for fans of all future CBS shows as now CBS thinks all the fans are like them – JERICHO fans are BEYOND RABID!)
Why hate a network or boycott a show? In the end, you’re just spiting yourself – if you don’t have a Nielson Box, it doesn’t make a difference. Look,it’s only television – give the spin-off a chance for a couple of episodes, all you have to lose is 2 hours of your time. Sure the pilot was a little week,but they were craming 2 shows into one episode. NCIS:LA was better than their pilot,too.
Since one of CM’s main writers is leaving to produce the new show, I firmly believe the spin-off has an impact on the original. If that backdoor pilot had had any redeeming characters instead of Forest Whitaker and the three least believable FBI agents ever — two of them could not legally hold a job with the FBI — I would watch it. But it was horrible AND it’s taking a writer away from the mothership.
How am I spiting myself by not watching a show I have absolutely zero interest in? I’m sorry, but I’m not obligated to watch anything that doesn’t interest me, even if it is connected some way to a show that I (have) enjoy(ed). The episode that served as the backdoor pilot was the worst episode in the history of the show. I didn’t believe any of the characters, there was none of the chemistry of the original team, and I was constantly rolling my eyes at how the writing “subtly” tried to make me think this new team was too cool for school. Far from spiting myself, I’m doing myself a favor by refusing to subject myself to this drivel any further. And to be honest, all these attempts to try to get me to do so are just alienating me even further.
And for that matter, how am I spiting myself if I decide to give up on the original if it’s no longer the show I loved in the first place? Now, I’m not saying I’m going to quit the mothership yet, but I’m not gonna lie, a big part of CM’s appeal to me has been the strong female characters, the chemistry of the current team, and (probably most importantly) the emphasis placed on the fact that these seven people aren’t just coworkers, they’re a family. And the sad fact is, all of those assets have been gutted by CBS’ decisions as of late. There’s a very real chance that with those things gone or reduced, I’m not going to enjoy it any more, and I think that’s what so many of the “REAL fans would stick with the show AND watch the spinoff” people don’t understand. Good on you if you want to support the spinoff and defend the changes to the mothership, but don’t diss me if I can’t get on the bandwagon.
“How am I spiting myself by not watching a show I have absolutely zero interest in? I’m sorry, but I’m not obligated to watch anything that doesn’t interest me, even if it is connected some way to a show that I (have) enjoy(ed).”
I agree with you. I really don’t understand loyalty to a show just because it’s a spin off of another show. I treat spin offs as separate entities from the original. How much I like Criminal Minds (and hope, in spite of the changes to still like it) has no bearing whatsoever on whether I’ll like the spin off or whether I’m willing to give it a chance. This show gets the same chance that any new show does. Having Criminal Minds in front of its name doesn’t give it any more of a foothold than any other new show coming in the fall.
“I’m not going to enjoy it any more, and I think that’s what so many of the “REAL fans would stick with the show AND watch the spinoff” people don’t understand.”
Like I said, I still hope to like the show. I’m planning to watch next season and for as long as I still find something to like about it. But, I’ve also never understood the REAL fans thing. So I understand your feelings on it. I’m an incredibly selfish tv viewer. If a show doesn’t provide me with some enjoyment, forget loyalty. I’ll drop it like a hot potato. And why not? It’s my leisure time. And even if I do stick with the original all the way to the end (and I’m pretty fanatical about the show) I don’t see what the spin off has to do with my status as a REAL Criminal Minds fan.
Er, not necessarily. You think number of viewers matter? Well MY all time favorite show Cold Case had a minimum of 10 million viewers per week and they canceled it claiming first that it didnt appeal to the all important 18 to 40 yr old viewers and then that they couldnt afford to do the show because with the original music it cost too much to produce.
At least CM fans can buy DVD’s, watch bloopers, star interviews, etc. We Cold Case fans just get SCREWED!
Dont get me wrong, my other favorite show is Criminal Minds, but people are right..the audience can tell when cast members get along in real life or not and there was a special chemistry amoung AJ, Paget, Kirsten, Joe, Thomas, Shemar and Matthew that WILL affect the show whether people want to admit it or not.
“Then there’s the fans who STILL DON’T GET IT THROUGH THEIR THICK HEADS THAT THE SPIN-OFF HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH PAGET AND AJ’S SITUATION – EVEN AFTER IT’S BEEN SAID TIME AND TIME AGAIN.”
Lol, why is it some people believe EXACTLY as they’ve been told? Ever considered the fact that yes, while it may have nothing to do with it, as they keep saying, it COULD ACTUALLY HAVE HAD A GREAT IMPACT ON THEIR DECISION MAKING. It’s just not logical to say that the spin off has had ABSOLUTELY NO EFFECT on the original series, when CBS kicks off two actresses due to BUDGET PROBLEMS, then provide more funding to put a regular actress of the original show to save the spin off, and also if anyone else has noticed they have been hiring actors who probably work for higher rates in both the spin off and the season finale(e.g. Forest Whittaker and Tim Curry). THere’s no logic in their excuses, which I think is what makes the majority of fans so damn mad.
And hey, as one of the previous commenters mentioned, the rest of the cast are paid to not say shit about the spin off, could be their one way ticket to getting reduced screentime I’d say.
Point is, given the excuses CBS has given regarding their reasons for kicking off AJ and giving PAget less screentime (and eventually kicking her off at the end of the season), it seems almost IMPOSSIBLE that the SPIN OFF DID NOT HAVE at least EVEN A LITTLE BIT to do with the decision. Just sayin’, given the several illogical excuses CBS has given – what they’re saying and doing are not in sync at all.
Don’t get me wrong, it’s great that Kirsten’s getting more time, she’s a great actres, I just hate how fans are fobbing this situation off with the whole ‘JOE AND KIRSTEN SAID IT SO IT MUST BE TRUE’. Not saying they’re lying of course, since sure, that might be what they’ve been told by CBS. Plus as mentioned before, even if they did feel as if the spin off was part of the reason why their mates were kicked off the cast, they probably can’t rick voicing it openly given their contracts.
And regarding the spin off, I’ve tried to keep an open mind about it, but with CBS seeming to spin off (lol) lies with every single decision they make (along with some decisions that contradict their excuse) it’s been hard to be excited about it. Since they did have the short time of 40 minutes to reveal very little about the new characters, and given that, it’s obvious that we’d only be able to gain a very stereotypical view of them even if with a bit of character development, they might not have been (That said though, there is also the possibility that the characters ARE as cliche as portrayed in episode 18).
Don’t know, I think CBS has made some extremely crap decisions regarding Criminal Minds, which is pretty much the only series I follow devotedly – might change though, given the upcoming situation. The cast has a sense of connectedness and great chemistry, with each of them playing an individual character. And for me, Emily was one of my favourite characters and I do think I’ll find the show difficult to watch since the end of both JJ and her character also means the end of their interaction with the fellow team members (which I believe is also one of the primary attractions of the series). I can’t believe they’d sacrifice that for the sake of ‘refreshing the show’, ‘to save money’, ‘for the spin off’, whatever other excuses/reasons CBS has mentioned/will come up with. The moment I had heard the 6th season of such a great show was going to be released, I immediately felt afraid because it almost seemed to good to be true – unfortunately days later I found out it was.
Fuck you CBS.
I think your post is the first of all of them that I have read that is rational. I am a major CM fan and never miss an episode. I am glad that CBS will not take Penelope from the original but rather she will be on both. Outside of that, I will watch this new spin-off and hope it turns out great. I would love to have a new CM show to add to my must-see-tv. I enjoy all three CSI’s and have no reason to believe this can’t happen with CM also. Thank you for your voice of reason.
I wish Kirsten luck and all the money she can get from the producers.
The spinoff doesn’t work because it’s illegal to have an ex-felon in the FBI. It’s illegal to hire a non-US citizen, and a sniper makes no sense on any type of field team. He got to sit up high and watch while Prentiss was being hit by a car chasing down the suspect he’d fingered (who turned out not to be the right person). Revolting.
That was the worst episode of a weak season. Whether or not the money for the spin-off is related to AJ and Paget’s departures, I’m too disgusted with the bland woman they cast in the episode to care about anyone on the new show.
CBS has created a debacle for itself. I hope they treat Vangsness and the character of Garcia with more respect than they’ve shown the other women on their shows.
“The spinoff doesn’t work because it’s illegal to have an ex-felon in the FBI. It’s illegal to hire a non-US citizen, and a sniper makes no sense on any type of field team. He got to sit up high and watch while Prentiss was being hit by a car chasing down the suspect he’d fingered (who turned out not to be the right person). Revolting.”
Exactly. Well, for me, it’s not simply that it’s not realistic. I’m willing to suspend my disbelief in extreme ways if it makes sense for the show. But, this show takes place in the same universe as Criminal Minds. It’s the same FBI that the original team works for. I can believe a lot of completely unrealistic things on tv-even in shows that are meant to be realistic. But, I can’t believe that the FBI that the original works for would allow this new team to exist. I can believe in *a* fictional world, the FBI might hire an ex-con or a non citizen. Can’t say I’d watch, but I could buy it. But, not *this* fictional world. Not to mention all the new characters bored me. When they weren’t irritating me.
“That was the worst episode of a weak season.”
I feel like I’m the only person who enjoyed season 5. But, I can certainly agree that it was the worst episode of the season.
Even with Kirsten on it I wouldnt watch the spinoff. The major appeal with Kirstens character is the banter between her and Morgan and that just wont happen with the spinoff characters (at least I hope not — ewww)
I believe that is CBS grew a brain they could save AJ Cook’s job and Pagets job yet. Because most of the fall 2010 shows look like something I wouldnt be interested in watching. HFiveO – hell no….S*%T My Dad Says (a lame attempt to revive an Archie Bunker like character in an age of political correctness – yeah right that will work –NOT).
Season 5 was good – every season will have high points and low points.
The only problem I have with the back-door pilot was it wasn’t a two-parter. Just the fact it got a mid-season pick up shows they knew they had to tweek it a bit. It suffered by only being one-episode – we barely got to know the new team – so it was week. it was like you were looking into a window half-open.
When NCIS:Legend (pts 1&2)aired, they gave the new LA characters enought screen time. I like it,and was glad it was picked up – and they tweeked it as well – and it was the #1 new scripted show on TV – Network or otherwise.
I’m not saying CM:Suspect Behavior will be the #1 new show of the mid-season 2010-2011 , but if they tweek it right,it’ll do well.
I was all in until I read that J. Barfafalo was on the show. She ruined 24 when she was on it.
I’ve never understood why CBS (or any network) has wanted to have multiple versions of the SAME show airing each week.
It burned me out on “CSI”, but that’s not the only reason I stopped watching “CSI” in any version… it’s because I prefer a cop show to have different kinds of cases each week. “Criminal Minds” might focus on murders too, but at least theirs are pulled off with better style and quality.
Back to my point… why the “spin-offs”? A real spin-off gives you a show that differs from the original, like “Mork & Mindy” did from “Happy Days” and “The Jefferson’s” from “All in the Family”. What CBS does with “CSI” and now “Criminal Minds” is churn out the exact same show 2 or 3 times a week, the only difference being a new cast and location.
Doesn’t this burn through the story ideas quicker?? When you have a hit on your hands wouldn’t you rather it hang around longer? Run out of ideas by using them all up faster on 2 or 3 versions of the show and the series run is cut short. Instead of running for say 12 seasons (or more) the original might end in about 9.
OK maybe that won’t happen, but it could and runs the risk of burn out for the fans… get too much of a show and you may tire of it, like I did with “CSI”.
For the same reason they have several parts of movies…if an idea works they capitalize on it to ad nauseum. I HATE CSI Miami, the New York one is marginally tolerable and the original was fine till Fox and Patterson were gone. CBS actually has a long history (30 yrs at least) of screwing up or totally removing popular shows.
“and now “Criminal Minds” is churn out the exact same show 2 or 3 times a week, the only difference being a new cast and location.”
But, haven’t you heard? The spin off is going to be different because its edgier with a team of hip rebels who operate outside the bureaucracy. You have to own three leather jackets and had two fights before age 15 before you can even join that team.
And they’ll never set foot in an FBI building. Cooper (Forest Whitaker’s character) is allergic to them, don’t you know? Instead all their briefings will take place at different abandoned buildings and crack houses. And when the mighty Coop breaks the rules, the FBI director will simply giggle like a school girl and say, “Oh, Cooper, you’re so SEXY! Do it again! Break those rules, baby! Break them all over!”
This show is going to be so different from the original.
Television could really do so much good but yet they use the medium to show kids that rules/laws are made to be broken and then wonder why the crime rate is up…DUH!
As for why no one wants to give the spinoff a chance is because it sounds lame and the pilot was boring as heck. Like I said, the appeal with Garcia is the banter between her and Morgan so having her on the new show isnt going to help it.
Grow a brain before its too late CBS…rehire AJ and keep Paget at the very least at the same level they were in season five and shove the spinoff where the sun dont shine. If FW is that hard up for a job then cast him in something else.
None of the excuses that CBS used make sense. They claimed they had to ditch Cold Case because the original music was too expensive. Thats also why they wont release any DVD’s. Well I notice all the endings of all the Cold Case episodes are on you tube but CBS wont even release shows bloopers? Strange since all the other CBS shows have at least one DVD and bloopers, star interviews, etc. Then they fire AJ and are going to fire Paget (not renewing contracts = fire) to save money. If stars are paid by prior experience and awards then AJ Cook and Paget Brewster… Paget Brewster has 53 jobs on her resume since 1997 while AJ Cook has only 30 on her resume also since 1997. So they are letting the “cheaper” actress go now and keeping the more expensive one for almost another year. That is if I am correctly understanding what one poster was trying to explain. Something is WRONG!
I do have an idea for AJ and Paget though…remember the show Unsolved Mysteries? Bring it back with new episodes and let the ladies co-host it. The show helped a lot of people and with a few adjustments could do so again. They revived it once with a new host but reran the same old stories which was silly. Well just a suggestion to keep two great ladies working.
CBS isn’t using excuses – COLD CASE’s situation is more than just the music situation – which has been an issue since day one.(TV on DVD wasn’t as big in 2003 as it is now, so using non-clearable music wasn’t an issue.)
COLD CASE was produced by Warner Brothers Television, so CBS had no control of what could or could not be released on other platforms. (They could use clips on line to promote the show,but the cost of music as well as the usual licening costs for a non-CBS owned show kept it from being on demand,on-line for full episodes. Just like with “Criminal Minds” and “The Big Bang Theory”,etc.)
Being Produced “in association” with CBS, they see very little of any back-end revenue (unlike a co-production such as “Criminal Minds” with ABC Studios which they have a sweet deal – they handle syndication,they handle home-video,etc.).
As a show that would be going into the 8 season,The majority of the COLD CASE cast would require contract renewals which would kick-in raises. (The cast got no raises for season 7, and they stoped doing location shooting in philly to cut costs to get picked up for that season) The show also have more guest players on shows requiering 2 sets of actors – past and now. Add to the additional costs of make-up and costuming. Plus almost every episode was a “period piece” requiring costumes,sets and props from the past – alot more costly than being able toget “off the rack” costumes and props and set pieces. Not since “Quantum Leap” did a series do different time-periods every episode.
Add that the fact music clearance costs keeps the show from DVD releases, the only back-end revenue for WB (and CBS’s piddly share) is syndication. They have airrings on TNT and weekend broadcasts.
With the raiting droping,CBS had a great bunch of pilots (Most owned By CBS), CBS did the best thing for the network – They cut shows that were being coming costly vs. the viewership vs. ownership. COLD CASE just wasn’t worth keeping when they had a show they owned they could put in the slot to bring more viewers (CSI:Miami) and put a new show (Hawaii 5-0) into CSI:M’s Slot.
Network television since 1946,and radio before it, IS A BUSINESS TO SELL ADVERTISING AND MAKE MONEY. No matter how much we love a show, economic factors,or age will end a show.
Stars are NOT paid based on prior experiance and awards unless they are a MAJOR star. It doesn’t matter how many credits and awards an actor has as long as they are good for the part. There is no such thing as a “cheaper” or “more expensive” actor/actress based on eperiance,but on contacts at the time.
AJ Cook was signed for CRIMINAL MINDS at the begining of Season One – a standard contact is one year,with an option for 5 More (Except back in the 1990′s where Paramount Locked Down actors on the STAR TREK spin-offs for 7 years) Her contract was up, and it was cost effective to let her go and bring in a fresh character. Paget’s contract – having joined in season 2 – was up end of this year – they were already intending to drop her at the end of this upcoming season.
Mr Finn I thank you for explaining the situation to me. If indeed the idea is to make money I was wondering if you could contact me privately at lonewolf634@live.com as I have an idea that would be rather inexpensive to produce and bring in the viewers.
I can’t believe how much hatred there is for the spin off show!!!
Don’t get me wrong I’d rather not see AJ Cook leave or Paget Brewsters role reduced but I’m not going to let it stop me giving the spinoff show a chance or stop me watching the original.
I appreciate that money needs to be saved and I am just happy that we are not losing characters like Hotch, Reid, Morgan or Garcia, who’s absence would be significantly more detrimental to the show.
While die-hard fans hate to hear it,they are the two expendable characters – They can bring in another female SSA (Paget was the second),and another Media Liaison (Which they did when AJ was on leave)
I personally hate to see Paget leave, her character has an interesting back story,and was a good addition. Adding Emily was in some ways similar to when they added Ziza to NCIS – A new character who brought change and conflict to some degree. (Hopefully when they write Emily off it will either be to teach at the FBI Accademy or her mother gets another ambassidoral posting and she joins her as head of security.)
AJ’s character is just dull and uninteresting. Maybe becuase she’s the only normal person on the team – Hotch is a workaholic and lost his wife to a criminal,Morgan had abuse in his youth,Spencer is Spencer and might end up like his mother,Rossi was hunted by an unsolved case for 20 years,and Garcia is a computer expert with strong research skills who’s a bit excentric.
You could argue that any of them are expendable. They can just hire another female SSA? True. And if they got rid of one of the men, they could just hire another male SSA. Unless I missed the news where the men on Criminal Minds are the only men left in the entire world and getting rid of them means that there’s no possibility of replacing them. Not that I’m saying they should have gotten rid of one of the men, but I don’t understand the logic of you can easily replace a woman with another women if that same reasoning doesn’t apply to a man. In fact, they already did it. Rossi came in after Gideon. So that just doesn’t wash. Not in the slightest. And as far as they could bring in another media liaison, sure. They could also get rid of any profiler and replace them with another profiler. As they’ve done – twice. Male and female. So if being the most expendable is defined by “they can get another one” then the entire team is tied in that department. Regardless of job or gender.
As far as whether a character is interesting, well, that’s completely subjective. What’s dull and interesting to one person is very interesting to another. And vice versa.
“While die-hard fans hate to hear it,they are the two expendable characters – They can bring in another female SSA (Paget was the second),and another Media Liaison (Which they did when AJ was on leave)”
To be honest, I reckon whether a character is expendable or not OFTEN depends on who you favour the most within the team. While yes, you can bring another media liason or female SSA in, it will not be the same as they are not the two original characters (if that makes sense). Though understandably, for those who feel JJ is a rather minor character, or that Emily was simply a replacement for Elle, could argue that they wouldn’t be missed.
But despite JJ’s ‘small role’ (according to some fans), for those who watch the show for JJ or those who favour JJ’s character could see her loss as something huge(same for Emily, but I do think Emily gains more recognition since she’s the only female profiler, which often grants her longer screentime) I mean, on some of the forums I’ve been to Garcia was the least favourite character – since screentime wise and also arguably, in terms of the role she plays for the team, is just as small as JJ’s. (Though of course, there has been muich debate between Garcia fans and JJ fans regarding whose role is more significant; personally I believe both have their own roles and neither can be spared, one are just as essential as the other as are the two characters).
The CM cast/BAU team can spare no one in that sense, I reckon, though I’d have to say that if Paget wasn’t getting kicked off (eventually) from the series, I’d feel less frustrated than I do now. But I still feel that the cast members feed off each other, and no matter who it was that was kicked off the team, the series wouldn’t be the same. The only difference I think may be the degree of emotion felt by fans around the world depending on who it was.
And the big question is – why kick anyone off at all?
They are going to be paying Charlie Sheen 2 million per episode..save money my arsh.
Wait….will Criminal Minds still going to be on CBS during and after its spin-off????
I think I know why the threats and appeals to CBS execs didnt work though. Figure the number of different groups or people who may feel hurt/angry with CBS for something or another and how often they must hear threats to boycott sponsers products etc. Not just for taking good shows or actors off the air but maybe for a character in a show that is making fun or fat people or gays (still permitted in our politically correct society) or for some other percieved infraction. I bet they hear threats from one group or another so often it doesnt phase them anymore. Its just obvious that its not important what viewers like or want anymore so keep that in mind once the fall season starts.
Okay, now I’m worried. Reading other reports and taking a closer look at this article, it sounds like there’s a possibility that Kirsten might at some point leave Criminal Minds completely and be a full fledged spin off cast member. I know it says her schedule could allow her time to do both shows, but other articles say that CBS may at some point decide to take her off Criminal Minds altogether, once they know the spin off is going to last. I don’t want that. We’ve already lost two important (*equally* as important as anyone else in the cast) cast members. I don’t want to lose another one. My reaction when I first heard she was going to work on the spin off was good for her if she wants to do it, still doesn’t make me want to watch it, but I can still enjoy her the same way I’ve always done on Criminal Minds. I really hope I’m not wrong.
That’s exactly what they are planning to do from the article I read. They are testing it out before they switch her over. Why dont they just undo the damage instead of doing more damage?
Hey, @Herbie
It’s not a “small group,” nobody is “rabid” actually quite rational and clear headed, and your silly rhetoric “you’re just spiting yourself” is hilarious. People will survive quite healthily not watching bad tv shows, especially those that thrive off sadistic violence against women. Hopefully the spin off and the original FAIL. This is the creator who said tv should star men and have a singular male hero, and ensembles are girlie. Seems the compromise is maintain the ensemble but get rid of women. Enough under representation of women in movies and tv, enough unequal pay, enough hyper-sexualization of and sadistic violence against women in movies and tv.
You’re right, Herbie couldn’t be more wrong if he tried.
You’re wrong too, CM doesn’t “thrive off sadistic violence against women”, CM reflects some of the worst of society (that violence in RL is worst) and the work and life of the people that hunt those monsters.
You’re wrong also because Ed Bernero is not the creator of CM (it was Jeff Davis), he was hired as showrunner after the pilot was picked to go to series and he said that in his opinion, to most men there would be a great appeal in a TV show with a lone man hero, and that ensembles tend to attract more to female viewers. Even being as opposed to those decisions as any fan, Bernero works for ABC Studios and sadly has no say in the actors contracts, which are owned by CBS.
its riduculous that you are taking AJ off I and half of my family are going to stop watching and that’s considerable every time you get interested you mess up with changes for once leave a show alone and you can forget us supporting a spinoff you hearld the team as family what family keep leaving glad I am not a member of yours