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EXCLUSIVE: A decade ago, Criminal Minds executive producer/ showrunner Erica Messer landed her first staff writing job on the ABC spy drama Alias. During her two-season stint on the show, she wrote three episodes, all of them directed by Alias executive producer/director Ken Olin. Now the two get 
to work together again on an episode of a primetime drama written by Messer, this time with Olin in front of the camera: Actor-turned-director Olin is set to guest star in an upcoming episode of CBS’ Criminal Minds, which will shoot in January and air in February. Fittingly, the episode will mark the drama directing debut of another actor venturing behind the camera, Criminal Minds star Thomas Gibson.
In the episode, the BAU travels to the Eastern Shore of Maryland to investigate the disappearance of two teenage girls. All roads lead to their father, Bruce (Olin), who despite his professed innocence looks more and more guilty with each turn. With time running out, the team uncovers a dark family secret that leads to a shocking conclusion. “I am beyond thrilled to have Ken Olin bring this character to life and can’t wait for Thomas to have a shot behind the camera,” Messer said.
This marks the first episodic gig for Olin since his role on ABC’s Brothers & Sisters, which he also executive produced and directed. He will now be in the hands of Gibson, who also directed two episodes of his previous hit series, multicamera comedy Dharma & Greg. “I look forward to working with Ken Olin whose work as an actor and director I have always admired,” Gibson said. As for his new gig as a Criminal Minds director, “it’s exciting to work with everyone on the show in this new capacity,” he said. “We have the greatest crew in the world and while my goal is to direct the best hour of television ever, I also look forward to getting our crew home to their families in time for dinner…!” On the directing front, Gibson, repped by Paradigm and Frontline Management, also is working on a short film based on a Tobias Wolff story.
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Criminal Minds, under the helm of Messer, has really gone downhill. The quality of the writing is awful, and that includes the scripts written my Messer herself.
Wow Really Ed Bernero?
At least post under a different name
I think you need to check the weekly rating’s. Criminal Minds, is the #1 show on Wednesday ‘s And as far as the writing goes you don’t know what you are talking about..
I think that the writing Is different. But,I also think 2012 Is the best year for Criminal Minds. I have been watching from day one. Erica,you are a great writer!
I agree that season 8 has not been as good as the first 7 seasons. After watching reruns daily on ION and A&E it is easy to say that. But I keep waiting, and Mr. Gibson do your best. Your fans know you can do it and we are excited that you have this assignment.
Messer CO-WROTE those three episodes of Alias. She did not receive sole credit.
If anyone thinks I would actually say (or think) something like that about Erica, they sure as hell don’t know me. I think she is doing an amazing job and am grateful that a cast, crew and show that I still love very much is in such capable hands.
Edward Allen Bernero
Ed, they have really brought the show BACK this season and I’m loving it. 8 is the best since 5 and I’m feeling the old-school quality Criminal Minds. Looking forward to what Jason will bring to the mix – wondering if talent is genetic! Missing Paget but Jeanne is doing great so far. Glad to see you still keep an eye out.
They haven’t given Jeanne much to say or even to use her talent. Last week JJ got most of the lines.
I stopped watching Criminal Minds after Paget Brewster left anyway, when she left, this show died. Season 8 is so horrible. I wish Criminal Minds was dying in the ratings (I don’t see why it’s not), I’d rather CBS cancel Criminal Minds and bring in another drama, a medical drama.
Your statement does not resemble our Earth logic.
Seriously, s8 is wonderful so far, and a welcome return to a lot of the things we’ve been missing. I for one am grateful that so many fan concerns are being addressed, even lovingly so, and that the level of storytelling this season is on par with… well I started to say 2 and 3, but the fact is that 1, 4, and 5 also have many examples of what is the very best of Criminal Minds.
I find it hard to believe that there is any true fan out there who is complaining about this season after we suffered through 6 and 7. Really? We are swimming in fried gold right now, imo, and I for one am delighted.
I can’t wait to see this episode but it won’t be Thomas’ directing debut. He directed two episodes of Dharma and Greg.
It’s Thomas’s directing debut for Criminal Minds. Matthew Gray Gubler has directed 4 now, and 8×20 will be his fifth.
8×15 will be Thomas’s first CM episode.
I’m excited to see this episode. It looks creepily amazing and I can’t wait to see Gibson’s directing work. The writing may not be what we are used to from previous seasons and may not be what we want, but we still have an amazing show, cast, and crew. Paget Brewster was on the show for six years. It’s an adjustment that we as an audience have to make and we need to give the writers some slack. The show hasn’t been what I may have wanted this season, but I still want Paget on the show. I miss her character.
The writing has gone downhill since mid-season 5. This season is more interesting than last season, but it is no longer Criminal Minds. It’s more like The Unsub Show. I’m glad Thomas Gibson is getting a chance to direct since we barely get to see him on-screen anymore. I’ll probably watch ’til the bitter end, unless he leaves, but there’s barely an episode from the past few seasons that I care to watch again, whereas the first 4 seasons I can watch over and over. The current writers don’t know how to write for the team. They’re only interested in trying to come up with more bizarre killers and they seem to focus primarily on the unsubs and their victims. Ed Bernero, your vision for this show disappeared when you left. What a shame. It was once unique and intellectually stimulating. Now it’s just another crime show.
I could not have said it better. This season is a little more entertaining than the last two. But there has been far too little screen for Thomas Gibson , too much focus on the unsub and ways too mangle victims. Paget is dearly missed; bringing her back periodically would be a major shot in the arm. I’m not sure why Gibson’s presence has dwindled on screen and publicly, but if he’s preparing to leave or CBS is strong-arming him; if he goes, he’ll take a lot of us with him.
I look forward to his directial debut. I do agree with some, the story lines have not been up to par. Just because this show used to scare me, and now it doesn’t. It gives up the bad guy in the first five minutes and there is no guessing along with the charactor’s who is the bad guy. It is my favorite show, and I will always watch it.
I am very happy for Thomas to be getting this opportunity to direct. It isn’t new for him but his first with CM. I’m also interested in the other project he is doing. Season 8 is the best that Criminal Minds has been since season 5. Contrary to some belief, Paget Brewster hasn’t been missed by everyone. She is popular but the rest of the cast has more than their share of fans to keep the show going for seasons to come. IMO, it’s her absence that gave the show the shot in the arm that it needed. Since Hotch’s divorce, there were few episodes that didn’t have scenes of Prentiss following on Hotch’s heels. Or those “moments” that Erica Messer and Paget Brewster mentioned in interviews. Pushing a relationship that most viewers didn’t want. CBS didn’t want it either. It’s very refreshing to be able to sit down and watch CM these days. If they bring Paget Brewster back, it won’t take ratings higher. The ratings are doing well without her. And so is the show.
I’m looking forward to watching Thomas Gibson flex his “behind the camera” muscles. The entire cast is vibrant and will do the show proud. The seasons come and go and Criminal Minds has known its peaks and valleys; but I plan on remaining a fan until the end. The lowest point for me came in Season 7 when they introduced Beth. I’ve resigned myself to the character if she makes Hotch happy, but the actress (Bellamy Young)just doesn’t cut it. She has no on screen chemistry with Thomas. It’s actually painful to watch them together. Can’t you Showrunner Geniuses do something about this? It would certainly make this love interest business easier to swallow in what might be the last season for a great series.
I’m willing to bet bringing Paget Brewster back would be a major plus for Criminal Minds and CBS; and fans would be thrilled to have her as a recurring character if we not a regular. I would also wager that we’d see a spike in the ratings with her appearances. And the Hotch and Prentiss characters together on screen are magic. Paget and Thomas have great chemistry and it shows in their scenes together, which are sorely missed this season.
Thomas is amazing no matter who he has a scene with and there was nothing remarkable about his scenes with Paget. As Hotch, he has always maintained the same level of caring and concern for all the team members and IRL, the actors who portray them. But rather than debating it, I’ll just say this. The ratings are the bottom line for TPTB. If they thought it would help ratings, that’s what they will do. But the ratings aren’t even an issue now. Right now, I am thrilled and anticipating that episode that Thomas is going to direct.
I love Beth and I think Thomas and Bellamy have great chemistry. It’s amazing to see how Hotch’s story developing in terms of his love life from the premiere. That’s just my opinion and I know there’re always different opinions. I just want to say some people really like the storyline with Beth. Though I hope we will get to see more of other side of Hotch (his backstory, his professional skill) too.
On the topic, I’m really looking forward to see Thomas behind the camera and its episode! I hope its going to be really good one.
The show sucks this season and season 6. Ever since the firing then rehiring of Paget and AJ, the show has gone downhill.
Erica Messer only seems focused on Hotch, his romance storyline with Beth then hiring Jeanne Tripplehorn to replace Paget. She had promised that she wouldn’t bring someone on too soon to fill Prentiss’ shoes. LIE!
I don’t hate Jeanne Tripplehorn, I’ve seen a few of her movies, but she’s better on the big screen the primetime tv. It’s similar to what they did with Rachel Nichols, some actor/actresses aren’t fit for ensemble television.
Erica Messer has brought the show down ever since she took control of the show and she was the one that needed to be let go. Not AJ or Paget.
I can see why Paget jumped ship this time, she doesn’t want to be part of Messer’s train wreck.
I can see why some fans here think that this 8th season is better, thats because the last two have been junk, so you can only move up from there. After season 5 the show lost something, this season is just a recovery from the disaster the execs and producers created in seasons 6 & 7, So of course its better, regardless of casting. The cast had great chemistry and the powers that be had to mess that up, the experiment failed then they expected everyone to go back to normal as if nothing happened. I think most CM fans want the elements of the show that made it popular and would like some stability maybe we might get that, and yes a guest appearance or two by Paget would be nice as well. I am looking forward to TG directing I think that will be exciting to see, the cast has to expand their horizons and this is a good opportunity. CM will not be production forever.
They shipped Beth off to New York. Do us all a favor and don’t ever bring her back and STOP Mentioning her! She is a major factor in what was wrong with season 7; and the devastating loss of Paget Brewster makes this woman’s presence on the show stomach-churning.
I’m thrilled Thomas Gibson will be directing. I just hope he gets more screen time under his own direction; he’s been sorely missed in most of the episodes this season. I also hope we get to see some of the magical performance he gave in 100 in 8×15 and upcoming episodes. Hotch’s only existence in the last few seasons has been tied to that stalker, Beth.
And yes, a reappearance by Paget Brewster as a recurring character would be quite special for fans and Criminal Minds.
Maybe it is TG’s choice to scale back his on screen time so he can get back to SA and be with his family more readily. I do admire him for putting family first. He and his wife have made an excellent choice for their children’s well being but surely with a good deal of personal sacrifice on their part.
I do look forward to seeing what he can do in the director’s seat.
Just saw post about Criminal Minds possibly not coming back. I love that show as well as NCIS, NCIS LA, and Hawaii Five-O, unfortunately if you get rid of CM, I may not go back to CBS for any other shows. Those are the best shows on TV these days. And by the way, I hate those stupid reality shows and most of the cheap made sitcoms. Mor business going Netflix way if that’s the best the stations can do.
I agree with others that season 8 has not been the greatest. It is not living up to the previous seasons. If they don’t come up with something spectacular for season 9 then the ratings may actually start to decline.