The New Season: Oh, Mandy! Patinkin quits 'Criminal Minds'

Today was NBC’s big day on the press tour, with the introduction of the company's dynamic new co-chairmen, Ben Silverman and Marc Graboff.

But elsewhere in Hollywood, things were going pitter-patter as CBS, the top network in viewers but last in buzz, announced something that made the Earth almost tremble.

At least that's how it felt at the Beverly Hilton when television reporters simultaneously received a news release via e-mail that said that Mandy Patinkin is leaving the top-rated “Criminal Minds” under mysterious circumstances that, according to the statement, have nothing to do with salary or contract negotiations.

Why then would the star of a hit show just up and leave? The news release cited “creative differences.”  But, according to show-runner Ed Bernero, no one knows. On criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com, Bernero wrote that “everyone involved in the show has for two years bent over backward to give him ANYTHING he wanted.”

Bernero wrote that the network and studio expected Patinkin to report for duty for the season premiere and simply never showed, leaving them in “the proverbial lurch” because the first episode was centered around his character. Patinkin played lead FBI profiler Jason Gideon.

“Even to this moment, we have no word from him,” Bernero added. “He gave us no advance notice that anything was wrong, no opportunity to make the loss of the character work, no indication that we should be looking for someone else, no warning that we might have to rewrite the first seven scripts.”

ABC Studios and CBS Paramount Network Television, which co-produce the crime drama, had this to say in their statement: “Last week, Mandy Patinkin asked to be released from his role on 'Criminal Minds.'  We have honored this request, which was not in any way connected to contract renegotiations or salary issues. His departure from the series will be explained to audiences in an episode to be filmed in the near future and broadcast early next season. We thank Mandy for helping to make 'Criminal Minds' a strong and successful series, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.” 

The studios also said a new character will be added to the series for next season.

This is the second time the actor has left CBS hanging. In 1995, he quit CBS' "Chicago Hope" after one season, then returned in 1999 for its last season.

But CBS should not take it personally. Patinkin was a no-show for a press tour PBS panel on which he was expected to participate last week.

-- Maria Elena Fernandez

(Photo: Vivian Zink / CBS)

Comments

[melissa]

What if there's something wrong with him? None of the stories say whether the actor fell down and had a heart attack -- they just say he didn't show up and no one's heard from him...

[sfrancis]

Just as long as I don't have to hear him sing again anytime too soon.

[Al]

Patinkin has a long history of this, so there's no surprise here. It comes with the territory.

[Dani]

I'm sorry, but this pisses me off. He did the same thing in Chicago Hope--that time stating he wanted to spend more time with his family. Since he is a lead character and both shows are/were somewhat dependent upon his characterization, this is terribly unprofessional of this prima dona.

[shannon]

Has no one in the tv business noticed that this is a pattern with Mandy?
Take a look at his history on tv shows. He quits tv shows-no matter how popular they are!
Listen to the commentary on the dvd of the show 'Dead Like Me' the man fusses and fusses about his role. Then he QUIT!
Why? Only Mandy and hopefully his agent knows that.

[LinuxRocks]

I started watching "Criminal Minds" specifically because Mandy was in it. While I hate to see him leave this show, it does open the door for him to return to his role as Rube when the "Dead Like Me" movie starts production. :)

[cody mccall]

Taken at face value it looks like Patinkin is a fink, a spoiled brat egomaniac, an over-demanding prima donna who complains his chilled Evian isn't chilled enough with a Marilyn Monroe complex who shows up only when he feels like it not when he's supposed to.

Or . . .

Is this just negative PR revenge by certain network types who didn't like the way Patinkin was conducting 'negotiations' and decided to get even? Two facts of life to remember: you can't trust anything coming out of the Bush White House or Hollywood. In Tinseltown or The West Wing, nothing is what it seems to be.

[Dr. Freud]

I believe I know the reason why Mr. Patinkin keeps taking gigs and then inexplicably leaving them....he's the poster child for Bipolar Disorder - which in the end, leaves him no time for acting jobs.

[Y]

Give the guy a break. Maybe he's ill. The show will go on.

[C-dog]

I briefly worked with him as guest star on "Criminal Minds." You can tell pretty quickly when you're new on a set where the tension is. He often stopped work for fairly long, whispered conferences with the director which usually ended up with the camera focusing even more attention on Patinkin. While I think it's important to fight for your character, he seemed volatile and deeply insecure. Plus, he didn't seem to be having a lot of fun. And working on a TV show and making $150,000 a week *should* be fun.

The show is about the concept. It will be as strong if not stronger without him. And, relieved of the tension of dealing with a very difficult person, the writing and the work could really get a lot better

[Linda]

I think the man is a creative genius. If he is off on another adventure, the better for us to enjoy something splendid in the future.

[Annette]

Mandy Patinkin had prostate cancer several years ago, as well as other health problems with his eyes. Did it occur to anyone that his cancer has returned or that he is ill in some other way? Yes, he's not being fair to his employers by just disappearing but that could be because something is very seriously wrong. In the end we will find out what the story is, we almost always do.

[Sharoney]

I agree with sfrancis. He probably wanted to sing on the show and was told, "You want to do WHAT?"

Ever since the Chicago Hope debacle I've made it a point NOT to watch any show this actor has anything to do with. Just seeing his face on the screen makes me want to reach for the remote.

The television industry is better off without him. There are lots of talented actors who can do the same type of characters who would be more appreciative of the opportunity and more willing to work as ensemble members.

Let Patinkin go back to Broadway and stay there, where he can sing his heart out, soak up the live adulation of paying audiences night after night and where he won't worry about being typecast. I think that's where he's happiest, anyway.