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'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior' review: Forest Whitaker takes command
Overview: If you're a fan of CBS' "Criminal Minds," then this should fill your cup to the brim. Forest Whitaker makes some unique choices as the team's leader.
"Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" brings together a team of FBI crime investigators in Virginia headed by Sam Cooper, a very sensitive, bordering on clairvoyant, profiler played by Whitaker ("The Shield," "ER," and several films).
The next big player, as evidenced by her appearance after Whitaker and before the rest of the team (a hard rule in TV writing), is Janeane Garofalo ("24," and, again, several films). She plays Beth, a smart investigator with the knack for calling it how it is. The rest of the cast are easy on the eyes, but serve in a very functional way - at least for the pilot.
You met Sam's team last season on "Criminal Minds" when it joined those BAU agents in San Francisco to investigate several murders of homeless men. This kind of "backdoor pilot" has led to several of CBS' "CSI" spinoffs.
Spoiler alert!
The pilot starts off with the typical confusing murder scenario, which gets Sam's juices flowing. It's a fast-paced hour with the team's theories and the case facts flying at warp speed. At times, things can get confusing, but hold on a few minutes. The cast will repeat the pertinent details to keep the viewers clued in.
Along the way, it has the expected limited reveals of the suspect as the team builds its theory to a fine point and the necessary red herring suspect to throw us off a bit. Of course, they get their "man" and the over-the-top confession - which we have to say is always very enjoyable in a campy way.
We think if you are a fan of this franchise, then "Suspect Behavior" should please you. Whitaker gives us a nice twist on the team leader. He's pretty adverse to grandstanding and his knack for tapping into the suspect's mind gets highly emotional for him. His intensity is balanced by a solid performance by Garofalo and the team's quick wit. And we sense that their interest in Sam's talents will make for some good reveals for the character over the season.
"Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" premieres Wednesday, Feb. 16 at 10 p.m. ET on CBS.
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Photo/Video credit: CBS
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I will not watch the show as long as Janeane Garofalo in on. I love Whitaker but can not stand Garofalo. Her politics follow her and her outrageous views on the world make her sound and appear uneducated and one of Hollywoods loud mouths.
Sad that you can't differentiate art and reality. She is actually a quite talented actress. Your loss. I can honestly say she is the reason I will be watching.
I won't be watching either. With their decision to let go A.J. and Paget I won't be supporting the spin off. I think they have totally let the original go as they focused on the new one. There are enough spin off shows out there between Law & Order and CSI, didn't need another crime show to do the same. I'll continue to watch the original, I'm loyal to the show, even though I don't agree with changes certain people have made.
So what makes this show different again?
Will absolutely not be watching this. I didn't like the new team in the backdoor episode in the original, I hate that they've butchered the cast of the original to make way for this and while I can separate art from reality and agree she's a fine actress, I will not be supporting such an anti-American woman with my viewership. So really, there's no reason at all for me to watch this and all the hardcore CM fans will agree with at least two of my aforementioned points.
Nope, Garofalo is a hack comic who hasn't said anything intentionally funny in years. She plays the same "tell it like it is" character over and over with no emotion or inflection.
Throw in her crazy leftwinger politics and you end up with a big fat F.
CBS, I'll be watching NBC or ABC instead.
...for those who are commenting on Garofalo's politics and world views... How many hours of high school have you completed?
Leave the grown up stuff for grown ups...
We will miss A.J. but will still watch the new show. At least until we see if they can keep Janeane under control.
I'll be watching with a tub of popcorn and some soda pop.
I don't care about you morons and your stupid politics. If someone makes a good show, I'll watch it. Full stop.
The original CM is awesome and this spinoff might even be better. Save your political crybaby act for the cable news whine-fests.
To fault Janeane Garafalo for speaking her mind only shows how un-American YOU are -- freedom of speech is one of the fundamental principles of this nation.
I would be willing to bet that none of the people who hate Janeane Garafalo have any sort of higher education or knowledge of the basics of the U.S. Constitution.