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EXCLUSIVE: JJ fans can rejoice. After a week of negotiations, A.J. Cook just closed a two-year deal to return to CBS’ drama Criminal Minds as a regular. She will guest star in the series’ sixth season finale on May 18 before re-joining the show full-time in the fall.
Cook departed Criminal Minds after the end of last season when her option was not picked up, stirring outcry among fans of the show. She appeared in the first two episodes of this season to wrap the storyline of her character JJ, who was transferred from the BAU to a job at the Pentagon. Cook then returned for the last episode of the season for co-star Paget Brewster, which aired last month. If Brewster’s NBC comedy pilot My Life As An Experiment does not go to series, she will also likely return to Criminal Minds in the fall since series’ producer ABC Studios has an option on her. Cook’s return to Criminal Minds does not bode well for newly minted regular Rachel Nichols, who was brought in to fill the void left by Cook’s departure. Meanwhile, ABC Studios is yet to close new deals with original cast members Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore for next season, with negotiations continuing.
Paradigm-repped Cook was offered to return to Criminal Minds late last week after the series’ producers recently came up with ideas for JJ for next season. Despite her exit from the show, Cook and her character continued to be extremely popular among Criminal Minds fans. Heading into Season 7, Criminal Minds will be run solely by executive producer Erica Messer following the recent departures of executive producers Ed Bernero and Simon Mirren, who have served as co-showrunners with her this season.
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As a fan of the show, this news makes me happy. However, AJ Cook still deserves better after the way she was treated. It’s pretty obvious they are bringing her back because if Paget doesn’t return, the fans sure as hell don’t care about Seaver.
yes yes, JJ is back !!! Now bring Emily {Paget} and Gideon, {Thomas Gibson} back to complete the team. Sure I hope I didn’t BORE YOU. WITHOUT THEM, NO TEAM, NO VIEWING FROM THIS FAN !!
Carol Durrett
Thomas Gibson isn’t Gideon.
Am so with you there! Have soooo missed JJ and Prentiss – the kindergartn kid just doesn’t cut it in this company! Am well pleased to wait for it to be aired in the UK as long as one if not both are back!
Hello. Thomas Gibson is Hotch. He was not Gideon. Mandy won’t be back. He’s got other things to do, and the show is just fine without his —- oh, never mind.
Speak for yourself. I like Seaver!
Glad AJ/J is back and I hope Paget returns.
I agree 100%!
I do not like Seaver…boring and dull.
So right there, she acts like she owns the show. Not the lines they give her, her actions. You can tell by the way she delivers her lines and her expressions.
Fantastic news! AJ has been sorely missed. Now if the show can bring back all of the original 7, it can be restored to it’s previous awesome. This is a great step in the right direction!
i know what you mean…why change something that don’t need changing……LOVE THIS SHOW….
Blech. I wish she would have stayed away and I hope Brewster, whose true calling is comedy does the same. Criminal Minds, once my favorite show is going downhill quickly. With the departure of quality writers a few years ago, the cast shakeups and now Ed Bernero leaving, it’s just not the same.
How can you say it was once your favorite and that by bringing BACK the heart and soul of the BAU is making it go downhill? Are you on crack? I sure hope so to make a ridiculous comment like that.
Pretty sure they just meant it’s been going downhill for awhile and it could be too late to right the ship. Sometimes you can’t just put a bandaid on something and hope it gets better.
You make it sound like a relationship… it’s a tv show that’s only getting better!
I do agree.. This show continue’s on the weeks it airs New eps.. to bring only awesome writing and great talent. Having the orginal 7, well, I honestly wasn’t too upset when Elle Left the show.
Joe has done a pretty good job of replacing Mandy. Though I do miss him.. I am surprised that CM hasn’t brought Mandy back as some kind of deranged killer trying to get rid of serial killers. I don’t care for the way the writter have been changing the character of Reid, just let him have normal thoughts and not go nuts. I have watched ever show that CM has put out there, I will continue to do so as long as they air. Good luck CM’s you did a smart thing bringing J.J. back.
About time the producers of the show realize they dropped the ball by letting Cook and Brewster go. I hope the producers realize how lucky they are to correct at leadt half of their mistake. The story lines this year have been excellent especially the one with Brewster’s character.
:sigh: It was NOT the producers of the show’s decision to get rid of the ladies, that was solely on CBS. That is why the writers got approval from the show’s producers to put all those jabs at CBS in the episode where JJ first left the BAU.
The loss of Cook and Brewster really hurt the show. I’m not sure if its Rachel Nichols or the character she’s playing, but the addition of Seaver made a bad situation worse.
The writers didn’t help matters by (in some episodes) only giving her ~3 lines of dialogue.
Replacing Cook with someone who looks like her just seemed ridiculous and especially since they were supposedly cutting the cast because of cost. The producers very much misjudged AJ’s contribution to the show and her fans. I lost interest but I’m glad she’ll be back so I can watch again.
yes but as a recurring cast member your value goes higher every season. it was cheaper to cut 2 ppl who cost more and hire a fresh new blood whose contract would be cheaper. it’s always easier to fire someone and hire someone new and more willing to do that job at a cheaper price… im sure ashton kutcher isn’t making 1 mil per episode for his new gig in 2 1/2 men.
They must have lost more in the time they let go two actors that contributed to the popular ensemble atmosphere that Criminal Minds produced to want them back.
It’s one of the reasons I don’t watch a lot on CBS. They are quick to cancel and quick to make ludicrous changes so I just stopped investing in getting interested to begin with.
Rachel (Seaver) doesn’t look like JJ, doesn’t walk like JJ, and doesn’t talk or act like JJ. She’s not even close. The only similarity is that they are both blondes.
Your right.. Seavers was a stupid move.. If your going to cut two of your best characters at least bring in a KNOWN face not a newbie. She really doesn’t have the acting experience to pull off working on a show like C M. Sorry but the folks in hiring dropped the ball big time
I have to agree with you, I do not care for Rachel, the new entry.
If they follow the story line and there are budget cuts, then you know who will have to go, you got it, Rachel. If they keep to the story line that is. Won’t be sorry to see Rachel go and where did she come from anyway????
AJ should have never been let go in the first place. Major mistake. Ed Bernero hasn’t been involved with CM for years. This show will finally have a strong leader in Erica.
Seriously, everybody who is so worried about Bernero leaving, doesn’t realize that he’s been wanting out for quite some time.
First it was that Pilot Washington Fields, then the spin off and now that pilot about the sisters.
Better he go than he stays so unfocused.
Good luck, Erica.
And welcome back JJ!
Absolutely right! AJ’s character has always been a a big part of the main cast. Never liked the new girl. You can’t replace a great character with a different “blonde” and expect the fans to accept her.Hope Paget comes back too. Looking forward to the new season now that the gangs all here!!
Glad she has a job again, but without Paget, its still not the CM I will watch and support.
what kind of false info is this Rachel was not brought into replace AJ. AJ plays a press liason and Rachel plays a profiler in training. This cast change will have nothing to do with Rachels status. She is still on CM. And that would also be the best thing the last CBS needs is another scndal firing a actress again and to make it even more scandalous the actress that was brought in right after AJ left.
If you read the article, it says Rachel Nichols was brought in to fill the void left by AJ Cook, not to replace her character. Therefore their roles wouldn’t be the same. Which then allows for Nichols to stay. Who says they can’t have Nichols and Cook? And Paget Brewster for that matter? I think that CBS will consider keeping all of them on to, as you said, avoid a scandal. It would be the wisest move at this point.
Nichols DID replace Cook: the fact that one young blonde woman left and a few episodes later another young blonde woman came on was not a coincidence. The job descriptions were incidental. In fact, it probably would have been better if Seaver HAD been a press liaison because then she might have been useful to the team.
CBS can get away with letting Nichols go because (1) she hasn’t been on that long and a majority of fans either don’t like her or don’t care about her either way; and (2) she’s not really necessary now that Cook is coming back and she’s be even more redundant if they manage to get Brewster back too.
“The fact that one young blonde woman left and a few episodes later another young blonde woman came on was not a coincidence.”
Also no coincidence? The fact that Rachel Nichols was asked to go back to blond for this part.
Even if Paget is not coming back, I’d still prefer they let Seaver go. The character adds nothing, except when she is mouthing lines that she shouldn’t know, because she is a newbie, and the stiff acting from Nichols is not helping make her more likable.
Failed attempt by CBS. Good thing they admitted their mistake. Now, we will see if the CM writers and producers will admit their error in creating such an unfitting and generic character.
I think Seaver is a fine addition, I know some people are pissed about her, but if it was J.J. taking Seaver’s place we would be pissed too. I think everyone needs to give her a chance, I’m a guy who doesn’t like change, but Seaver’s a addition than any other TV show addition
Seavers isn’t a replacement for JJ as far JJ’s job went, but the team has less members when JJ left and needed another person on the team to balance things out. I think that’s what people are saying. Some people think that Seavers was an early replacement for Emily rather than an after the fact one for JJ. I don’t know what the intention was… but I don’t mind if Seavers stays on. I’m neutral on her. I’m just so freaking happy that JJ is coming back that I could do cartwheels lol.
I really hope Paget goes back to comedy and that they don’t try to stop her.
If Rachel stays, it will be strange. She looks almost exactly like A. J. I mean, sometime I had to do a double take to tell them apart. I wondered why they let A.J. go, if they just hired someone who looked so much like her. My favorite is Reid.
This is excellent news! Ms. Cook should never have been fired in the first place. So congrats to CBS for getting their head out of their butt and trying to fix things. Now we just need Ms. Brewster to come back as Agent Awesome! Order will then have been restored. They can always shuffle Ms. Nichols to the spin-off. I do feel terrible for her, being caught in the middle of this situation. Certainly this isn’t fair to her, but in my excitement over the restoration of my favourite show, I just can’t muster the appropriate sympathy.
Nice post, Lisa! I agree 100%.
My sentiments exactly, Lisa!
That would be cool to shuffle her to the spin-off, I mean Garcias on both why can’t she switch?
That way Criminal Minds can be the same as before, and Rachel still has a job.
You Go, Lisa, my sentiments exactly. This great group of actors are a family and you don’t mess with family. Bring on the girls and lets have another great 2011-2012 season……..Liz
I think moving Seavers to the spin-off is an excellent idea. Her and Gina don’t look alike, so it wouldn’t be a problem.
I totally agree with your comments as well, Lisa!!
Truly, we don’t think that the Seavers character
would be missed. And it’s an excellent idea to let
her go to Suspect Behavior… She just might fit in
with those characters???
completely agree – that’s a GREAT idea!!! As long as AJ is back as JJ I’m thrilled!
I consider myself pretty above decent as far as pop culture goes. But I was first amazed at the fact that DH was writing about a Criminal Minds contract negotiation like it was big news because I have absolutely no frame of reference for that show. When I think of Criminal Minds it is like I’m thinking of some just off-reality shows-within-shows that are just one level of production down from the movie you are actually watching because to have equal value would somehow make you question the authenticity/realness of what you were watching. Then I saw that people were commenting and were passionate about it. I’m not hating on the show or saying any of you are wrong. Its great that you love it. It is just very weird for me personally because I have absolutely no frame of reference for this show actually existing.
It’s weird for me personally to read your comments, what was the purpose? If you don’t watch, why waste your time and energy on writing snob riddled comments to people you look down on and maybe it’s DH’s job to report on all industry news.
Yeeeeeeeeesssss!!! Now all I need to hear is that, TG and SM have gotten what they want, Paget’s pilot isn’t going to picked up and that Nichols will be leaving, forever!! Yes! This has just made my week!
Great news! Now CBS has to sign Thomas Gibson, Criminal Minds is unacceptable without Hotch!
Tell me about it, that episode 25 to life without him was the worst, in a season that wasn’t so good already.
Can you imagine a whole show with hot-headed Morgan as the Unit Chief, Couldn’t Care Less, Am Only Here Cause I’m Bored-Rossi as second in command and Disappointment-Seaver still on it?
LORD, sign me up for American Idol!
PS: That doesn’t mean I don’t like Morgan, he is just not boss material.
dont be stupid! if u recall morgan was chosen by hotch himself to run the team when he stepped down. morgan is fine as a boss.
Now that A.J. is back on Criminal Minds, I’m sure that Thomas and Shemar will be too!!!
Not worried about The guys not yet signing deals for next season yet – as I’ve posted in the past – they can go right to the wire on these things…
…Which means I’ll be there will be one HECK of a cliffhanger if contracts are not signed yet, just in case!
Great news….
As much as I love Paget, I still thought Lola did a good job as well. If the show is going to be realistic, there have to be some team members that go…in the real FBI teams don’t stick together forever. I agree that the way they were let go was bad, but maybe they were trying to stay somewhat grounded in reality.
I suspect the motivation was not so noble as to inject a sense of reality into the series by demonstrating workplace turnover.
It was a financial move to reduce the series overhead. They eliminated two expensive cast members and replaced them with a less expensive newcomer…
…Which I guess is kind of like emulating real life, so you have a point.
This is GREAT news!!! Welcome back JJ! I never liked Seaver. Now if CBS wants to REALLY make my day, resign Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore to new contracts. No TG and I’m gone. Hotch is the man who holds the team together.
can’t agree more !
DITTO!!!!
Fantastic news!! The show hasn’t been the same without her. I’d love to see Paget back too. Now if Seaver can toddle off to some far off field office for a very, very long time and we get the old team back of Reid, Morgan, Hotch, Rossi, Garcia, JJ and Prentiss back for S7 I’ll be a very happy viewer.
I agree with Gwen, would love to see all of the old team back for season 7. I so much enjoy the show, and guess I’ve become attached to all of the characters. Would also like to see agent Gideon come back and join the forces.
Although they don’t confirm it, it makes no sense in my mind to bring AJ back and not signing TG and SM for next season. It’s obvious that their aim is to restore the team’s previous configuration. I’m very hopeful for good news on TG/SM within the next few days.
Unfortunately I’m not so hopeful about Paget. She has had the option to sign for next season ever since Emily’s storyline in S6 started to be wrapped up. Not only she didn’t give a definitive answer but also got a comedy pilot, something she confessed she had missed. So I guess if the pilot is picked up she’ll go for it. And honestly I don’t see how a pilot produced by Jack Black and starred by Brewster, Jon Dore and Donald Sutherland will not be picked up for at least one season.
Yes, the general consensus is that Brewster will stay with the new project if it is picked up to series, and only considers going back to “Criminal Minds” if it’s not.
Personally, I’m uncertain about Seaver. I like Rachel Nichols as an actress, and also like the fact that Seaver is a rookie, who is learning the ropes and gets guided by the more seasoned agents into this difficult but engaging job.
However, the fans who are so up in arms about her addition do have a point. You can’t for all this time sell this BAU team as an elite bunch, who only takes new members after many years of experience in that field (yes, Reid is different, but he certainly has proven his value countless times). That’s why Hotch was so cold against Prentiss in the beginning, as he believed she didn’t have what it takes to be on the team, but just used her family connections (IIRC) to be added.
So it doesn’t make much sense that he would just allow an agent fresh off the academy onto the team like that. Her experiences with her father don’t make her a profiler.
Like I said, I like Rachel Nichols and the rookie perspective her character brings in, so I can overlook the other stuff, as I generally don’t get too invested in characters on TV shows anyway. But if you’re a real fan and root and identify with the characters and their stories, I can easily see why you wouldn’t just accept an addition like Seaver. It goes against a lot the show has said about the elite status of this team.
I totally agree with you on that. My whole issue with the producers, is that they cancelled Cook’s and Brewster’s contracts because of budget cuts and to make room for the new spin off yet they bring in a whole new actor. That does not make any sense to me. I only began watching the show from the beginning recently, and if you have watched the show from the beginning, you realize that Nichol’s character does not add anything to this time, it would make sense if they transfer her to the spin off series, that would make sense and they save face as well.
The only problem is, i very much doubt that Brewster will return, as she was very vocal about not getting her contract renewed and might not go back due to pride. I know i wouldn’t.
I would like to see Gideon return, as he was such a great character and profiler.
Great news but I hope they keep Rachel too. She is the rookie here and that will allow the writers to put her in some situations she does not have the experience for, so that could be interesting.
I hope ms Brewsters new show will be a success but if not I like here to be back on CM. I think it would be a very interesting storyline when she comes back, explaining to the crew why Emily was pretended to be dead. They could even put up one whole episode just about here catching the guy who almost killed her (which would happen somewhere in washington and then the whole team gets involved and finds out she is still alive and that AJ Cooks character knew about it…
YEEEEEEEEEEEES!! Finally some good news. I’ll be able to watch CM again. Without her I had no reasons whatsoever to watch it!
JJ is the best character on that show ^^
Now they just need to bring back Emily and we’ll have our favorite pairing back together ^^
I agree 100%
Is that an official renewal notice?
I totally agree! I love JJ and am glad she is back. I thought I was doomed to reruns, but I will be tuning in again.
this is truly great news, but it doesn’t change the stupid way they treated her, by making her leave an amazing TV show and character;
her last episode was really sad and emotional and I am curious what will be the reason for her to come back
I really don’t understand what was the point with all this cheap show and suffering from the fans of CM [we didn't deserve this!] just so she can come back next season, like nothing has happened…
I hope Paget has a GREAT career, with or without CM