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Kirsten Vangsness on 'Criminal Minds' cast cuts: 'I hate it'
Kirsten Vangsness is about to play one character in two series, but she admits her professional happiness is tempered.As quirky techno-whiz Penelope Garcia, the actress has enjoyed a long run on CBS' crime drama "Criminal Minds," and she's carrying the part into the spinoff: "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior," which will team her with Oscar winner Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo when it premieres right after the parent show Wednesday, Feb. 16.
Vangsness landed the extra duty largely because of lobbying by co-star Paget Brewster, whose own "Criminal Minds" presence has been reduced this season. Also because of last year's dismissal of fellow cast member A.J, Cook, Vangsness maintains mixed feelings over currently being the franchise's representative full-time female.
"I hate it," she tells Zap2it. "That's the short answer. I can't even tell you it's bittersweet, though it is that in reality. It's like being a squatter in a house, since [the producers] have control over what they decide to do. The sweet part is that those women will rise like phoenixes.
"A.J. is going to be on [NBC's] 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' with Jeremy Irons tonight (Wednesday, Jan. 12), and I'm sure she's going to be amazing. She's great, and it's the same thing with Paget. I'm dear friends with both of them, so there is nothing shiny and sparkly to say other than ... I don't like it."
Vangsness has no worries about being so candid. "I can say 'no comment' about things, but I don't think there's anything wrong about speaking your truth about something like this. At the end of the day, it's going to work out fantastically for both those girls."
At least for now, "Criminal Minds" has a replacement in Rachel Nichols ("Alias"), playing an FBI cadet working with the Behavioral Analysis Unit. The third of her episodes was set to air this week, but it's been postponed by a last-minute shift that moves Paula Abdul's "Live to Dance" into the "Criminal" slot for one night.
"She's fantastic," Vangsness says of Nichols, "and I'm so glad she's here. It's so weird to have all these things happen. I'm still sore in my heart that A.J. isn't here, but so happy that Rachel is -- and they're entirely separate things. I can have both of those feelings. It's not like one person smashed out the other."
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"The third of her episodes was set to air this week, but it's been postponed by a last-minute shift that moves Paula Abdul's "Live to Dance" into the "Criminal" slot for one night."
No. Today was scheduled a rerun of "JJ", last episode with AJ Cook.
The show will never be as good as it once was. JJ is the heart of the show. Penelope gives us the humor you need. The producers are idiots. Why don't they ask the people who watch the show. The main reason for losing interest in a show is when they start eliminating people that we've come to know.
Mariellen, the producers didn't fire AJ, didn't want to. That's on CBS suits!
NOT broke don't fix it. The people who are on this show is what makes me not able to get enough. This is my favorite show I really wish they didn't mess a good thing up. Watching them deal with all that is wrong with the world and still be able to contain sanitity and compassion for each other. Helps me to realize that with as crazy as this world is, just try to remember you take nothing with you but your memories. It's up to us what we see as we leave the world. The characters are like a family I have never had. I am very dissapointed that someone thought it was a good ideal to mess with the show.
This article so just how much class kristen has.Not only does she talk about the love she has for A.J. but that she has room for Rachel too.Plus the fact she is not afraid to speak her mind to the producers.ROCK ON KRISTEN!!!!
I no longer watch Criminal Minds and won't watch the spin off... due to these hair brained, unnecessary, and show-ruining changes. I can't invest in ANY character on either show. So I won't watch. Sorry.
Why the producers feel they have change things up on something that is working so well for them makes no sense. They need to bring JJ back and leave the cast alone. They should just concentrate on making more good episodes.
I like shows like Crimminal Minds because they don't use the sex angle to make a good show.
where did the name Vangsness originate
I can see both sides of the coin. I understand all the emotions that are roiling around in the mix. Especially when a favorite shows cast and/or storyline changes. It's easy to get pissed.
But...the reason I like certain shows is "BECAUSE" of the cast members. And when a actor/actress leaves, I generally search for their new projects because I know they will ALWAYS give a great performance. As a society of viewers we tend to fall in love with shows & their casts, their entertainment providing the comfort of the familiar with the excitement of new episodes and the events that make them the hot product that they are. It's the turning of the leaf for both the person leaving and the ones who stay behind. Kudos all round.
I will refuse to watch the spinoff just because of Garafalo.