CBS' 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior' with Forest Whitaker hunts down strong ratings in premiere
Looks like CBS' new procedural "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior" has profiled a solid start for itself.
The natural question was whether the "Criminal Minds" franchise would prove worthy of spinoff, a la the more-popular "NCIS." But Wednesday night any doubt was answered with a 10 p.m. time slot victory for "Suspect Behavior," which stars Forest Whitaker as FBI profiler Sam Cooper. The premiere
(12.9 million total viewers) easily swept past NBC's "Law & Order: SVU" (7.2 million) and ABC's "Off the Map" (4.3 million), according to the Nielsen Co.
For CBS, "Suspect Behavior" delivered its best numbers in the time slot in more than a year. And it held on to 99% of the 9 p.m. audience from the original "Criminal Minds," which is a sign of strong viewer interest.
Fox's "American Idol" -- with a two-hour drama-filled episode devoted to the singers dividing into groups -- dominated the night with an impressive 22.8 million average viewers.
Show Trackers, what did you think of the premiere of "Suspect Behavior"?
-- Scott Collins
Photo: Forest Whitaker stars as FBI profiler Sam Cooper. Credit: Carolyn Cole / Los Angeles Times
I'm sorry Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior but I just cannot get into you. Let's face it, CM has a great cast with characters we like! SB, not so much. Forest Whitaker is just odd and over-acts. Jeaneane Garofalo is beyond annoying - mostly b/c I can't stand her as a person so any character she plays will suck a$$. The show is just a horrid attempt to capitalize on original greatness.
Posted by: Dawn | February 17, 2011 at 03:53 PM
Oh please take this show off the air. What did they cancel so this thing could be on? Horrible. Terrible cast, lame, gack, ick. Is this why they fired AJ from CM? To save money for this "show"? Cancel, cancel, cancel. Not watching anymore.
Posted by: nolikey | February 17, 2011 at 04:54 PM
This show was so horrible.
I have never seen a more horrid ridiculous soapbox from the left.
I expect it will be cancelled after less than 4 episodes.
True garbage.
Posted by: Jim | February 17, 2011 at 04:56 PM
People seriously need to separate private lives from those personal lives. All this Garafolo hate is like going back to high school and hearing the hate-banter on the overly opinionated girl. Ironic that all this she's-so-dislikeable talk is the argument for hating the show but you still have the time to post dislikeable comments. Isn't your argument the same actions you are taking? It's like not watching the original Criminal Minds because of Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia), sexual orientation. There's a huge difference from ignorant rants delivered because someone thinks different than you than just simply not liking the overall writing of the show.
Anyways, because a few of the collaborators of the original show are working on the spin-off, I'm definitely cheering them on - they did something right the first time around and I will trust their judgment on the spin-off.
Posted by: Melissa | February 17, 2011 at 05:13 PM
Can I just say that people don't/shouldn't watch shows based on people's political views but to be entertained. The pilot was interesting enough. The formula is the same as the original show (really, there is hardly a difference) and yes, the characters are different as well. I cannot base a true opinion on the glimpses of a show's first episode, especially when a show is the follow-up to Criminal Minds, where solving crime is primary to the personal lives of the team members. It takes time to develop characters in any crime-solving drama.
Posted by: John | February 17, 2011 at 05:21 PM
Please remove jennifer garofalo from this show so I can watch it!!! I have never missed an episode of Criminal Minds and was so looking forward to the new show-please replace her. Doesn't she think the FBI are terrorists?
Posted by: cindy | February 17, 2011 at 05:38 PM
I really cannot stand Forest Whitaker at all in this. If they got rid of him I think it would be alot better. New shows take a few episodes to work out the kinks and settle in, so we'll see.
Posted by: Karmen | February 17, 2011 at 05:39 PM
Janeane Garofalo is to far left and appears anti american. Get rid of her. The rest of the program is great and when they get rid of her I'll watch.
Posted by: Pedro Prince | February 17, 2011 at 05:47 PM
Laugh out loud: I just happened to read some of the comments here and was compelled to comment. The “we are the right” sentiment that seems popular is funny to me because, like previously mentioned, it is not very smart. I also agree that people do not watch popular crime shows because they (crime shows) align/verify some of their values and political beliefs. No! People don’t watch “Criminal Minds” because of a “we are the right” belief or "I hate that actress" or "she is a lefty in beliefs". We watch because we are fascinated (sometimes weirdly so) to crimes; and love the criminal units (teams depicted in TV) that capture them. That’s it. Not too much brain power. No brain power at all, actually.
Plus, popular television and movie industries are very, knowingly, ‘left’ oriented (politically). What, am I supposed to stop watching TV and movies because of that?! Hahaha. No way. I’ll watch what I want to watch if I find it interesting, regardless.
Posted by: Hanns | February 17, 2011 at 08:02 PM
What's beyond annoying is all the comments mentioned here seem to do nothing with the actual show itself, but one of its actors.
It sounds like a bunch of 12 year olds.
Keep on rocking "Criminal Minds"!! Congratulations on both shows :)
Posted by: JJ | February 17, 2011 at 10:25 PM
I watched Criminal Minds:SB, but they should drop the Criminal Minds because it is NOT! My husband hated it within the first 10 minutes. I tried to watch all of it but it kept loosing my attention. I don’t know all the character names nor do I ever want to. There is No personality other than our lead man, I like him. I love our Garcia in the original, but felt they left out her witty banter with this new show, but then look again at what she has to banter with.
This show is beyond horrible, I love the original Criminal Minds, I love each member of the cast. I have each and every single episode and I watch them over and over. I do have to admit the new blonde, I’m just not crazy about because again no personality. I wont stop watching it because of her due to the rest of the group who are wonderful. You know the little redhead who was killed because she was a student? She would be a great member of the team.
What do I think would improve the new show? Replace all the team and give them personalities, let our Garcia be herself or take her away before it taints her wonderful way to banter.
I will not watch the new show. I am a loyal to my Criminal Minds and will continue to watch it. I am seriously upset however they removed JJ.
They need to drop this new show because again it's lacking personality, good characters, and I do have to ask what the he** were they thinking??
I've read however where they are saying that this new show, CM:SB has strong ratings, Yes strong ratings in hating this new show!!
Posted by: R&B | February 18, 2011 at 02:29 AM
I will not watch this show as long as Janeane Garofalo is on it. Too bad, I really like the original. But I can't stand to watch someone who so publicly demeans my beliefs
Posted by: Steven | February 18, 2011 at 01:09 PM
I see many others share my opinion of that refuse that resides at the bottom of the Gene Pool Janeane Garofalo. When I saw her enter the scene I rushed to the BR and puke then came back and watched a rerun of Criminal Minds on ION. I might watch it if the producer has large enough attachments to broom her from the show.
Posted by: Ron | February 18, 2011 at 02:36 PM
I too was looking forward to the spin off of CM. I set my DVR to record every episode, but after a few minutes of watching the premiere I saw that Janeane Garofalo was in the cast and was very disappointed. I do not like being called a "racist tea bagger straight up". Her words, not mine.....
CBS has a good spin off, just bad casting....
Posted by: James | February 18, 2011 at 07:43 PM
The episode on CM where Sam Cooper was introduced looked promising but after watching this premier episode I found it disappointing leading into boredom. It turns out to be more Hollywood trash. First off, Janeane Garofalo didnt even play a character, she played herself, a left wing rabble rowser. Second, a British FBI agent, Really! The feds comb the U.S. colleges for the best and the brightest and then they conduct an unbelievable background-a Brit shows no reality here at all. Third off, every crime drama has done the "nobody searches for the black kid but the cavalry comes for white kid" episode. If thats your first episode then your creative talent pool absolutely sucks. Whats next the dream sequence episode or jumping the shark? Why fire AJ Cook from the other CM? You should have brought her to this team and added some depth to the team. Sorry CBS. This show blows. Garcia was the only thing good about it. One other thing, The FBI director meeting the team in a run down warehouse, please stop the pain. The Director of the FBI travels with an entourage at all times.
Posted by: Robert N. | February 19, 2011 at 11:05 AM
It is difficult for me to comprehend why people hate this show. It's by the same creators of the original. It is the same concept. Garafolo is an actress.. she is acting. Why would people base their opinions on the likability of the show on her? or boycott it for that matter? Would I boycott George Clooney for his personal and liberal views... that is an no. Or Clint Eastwood for his traditional ones? Again, no. Their opinions have nothing to do with whether I'll watch or not. It doesn't matter to me at all what actors believe or don't believe in. If the show or the movie is good... I'm watching.
If you were a true Criminal Mind, you wouldn't hate on it so much or wish for its failure.
Posted by: Ronnie | February 19, 2011 at 02:11 PM
I musn't pay attention to all the Hollywood news because I have no idea why Jeanene Garafalo has p*&sed off every poster on here or what Kristen Vangsness's sexual orientation is. I like the actress because she can act and has good chemistry with Shemar Moore. I have no idea what Jeanene has done but her character has the same deadpan attitude I've seen before. I'm not so sure that this show will last and if this is why AJ Cook got fired off the original, then when this is cancelled, they can give her her job back because she is excellent on CM and Paget Brewster is supposed to be leaving the show.
Posted by: leprecaun | February 19, 2011 at 04:45 PM
So I watched the first show and found it uneventful. Where was the climax? There doesn't seem to be any chemistry between agents and as much as I like Forrest Whittaker, this isn't the job for him. I can't really see it lasting...too bad
Posted by: leprecaun | February 19, 2011 at 05:01 PM
I like Jeneane Garafalo. She's one of the things I liked about the show. Forest Whitaker, while I think is a fantastic actor, seems unnatural in this position. Unfortunately the combination just didn't work. But, for all those that seem to hate Jeneane Garafalo, I like her and was glad to see her on the show.
Posted by: Crys | February 20, 2011 at 06:37 AM
I agree with the majority of the comments. I love the original Criminal Minds and watched because I was curious. The plot was lackluster. The characters were either utterly intolerable (Janeane Garofalo and Forest Whitaker) or completely forgettable (really, who else was there?). I guess that one blonde woman was OK. Maybe they should cancel this spin-off show and stick the blonde woman on the original.
I will not watch again. ...unless they totally recast the entire show and hire new writers. Also, can’t they get their own Penelope? She doesn't quite work without the rest of her usual team to banter with.
I should add: I have nothing against Garofalo outside of this show. I know nothing about her other than I liked "The Truth About Cats and Dogs" and "Reality Bites." But on this show, I can NOT stand her character. I didn't like the character before I even realized it was her. The character comes off as self-righteous and self-involved. It felt like she was helping that one mother, not because she actually cared about the mother and daughter (the feeling you get from a character like JJ), but because she wanted to be viewed as morally superior and enlightened. I got the impression it was all about herself. Yuck.
Posted by: Recast the whole show before I watch again | February 20, 2011 at 09:40 AM