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'Criminal Minds': A.J. Cook returning full-time
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It looks like JJ's absence from the BAU team on "Criminal Minds" will only be a temporary one.A.J. Cook, whose character was cut from the show this season (save for a couple of guest appearances), will be back on the CBS drama next season. She'll guest-star on the season finale in May then return as a regular in the fall, Deadline reports.
Cook's departure stirred an outrcy among "Minds" fans. In the story, JJ left the BAU for a job at the Pentagon; she appeared in the first two episodes of the season and guested one more time last month in Paget Brewster's last episode (for now, anyway) of the series.
Brewster could still return next season as well. She stars in an NBC comedy pilot called "My Life as an Experiment," but if it doesn't get picked up, she's a good bet to continue on "Criminal Minds," as the show's producer, ABC Studios, still has a contract option on her services.
It's been a busy couple of weeks behind the scenes of the show: Executive producers Ed Bernero and Simon Mirren left the series last week (Mirren has a new deal at Sony, and Bernero has a pilot, "Partners," in contention at ABC). Erica Messer, who had been serving as a co-showrunner with them, will be the sole person in charge next season. Deadline also notes that ABC Studios is still in negotiations with regulars Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson for next season.
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Photo/Video credit: CBS
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Best News of the day. Yeah, I'm that sad.
Not sad at all lol! I'm STOKED about this! Smart move for the show. You can't take 2 strong females from a show full of men and not expect viewers to feel like its making the show weak!!! Rachel nichols character isn't strong enough to replace JJ and Prentiss.
Sounds like I will have to put Criminal Minds back on my watch list. I had watched from the start until this season.
Smart move, I like how they forget to mention they're the reason she's gone in the first place. But I guess that doesn't matter to them. Hopefully Paget can come back as well, not sure about the pilot but at least she knows she'll be working somewhere.
Thank you very much! I was about ready to stop watching, I was so distressed at first AJ, then Emily leaving. Sorry, but new blond on show is taking up air. Adds absolutely nothing to the show. Seriously, cannot convey what she doesn't bring to the show. WTF they let AJ go? Emily, I understand if she's on a new show. Producers need to quit fixing shows that don't need fixing.
Yay! So happy AJ Cook is coming back! The new girl sucks- her attempts at acting "intense," looks like constipation to me.
I agree with "Spare Me. Why do they feel the need to mess around with a successful show in the first place? If you have a winning comb - leave it alone! Unless they were trying to free up money for the 2 men who's contracts are coming up? And then promply trying to replace the women with a "faux" JJ-type. How stupid. Keep tinkering and watch your fans disappear CBS.
I'm sure the men are way over paid and the difference has to come from somewhere. The womens salary, of course. So rather than give them a raise like the men, just let them go and hire a nobody that gets paid minimum.
I'm fine with Paget Brewster's returning as well as A.J. -- but didn't Paget's character die? Of course, this has never stopped TV.
Rachel also need to stay on. She is great and she was really good in The stranger. Love to see this character develop. It will be the right thing to keep them all considering all the mess that went on behind the scenes