A.J. Cook rehired for 'Criminal Minds'

 

CBS made a bold move last summer to shake up its FBI-based hit “Criminal Minds,” ditching two popular actresses from the cast even though the ratings were strong and the characters were well-liked.

Now the network has taken an equally surprising step by rehiring one of the actresses, A.J. Cook, and potentially bringing back the other, Paget Brewster. As part of her new deal, Cook, who plays Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau, will appear on the criminal profiling series' May finale before rejoining as a full-time cast member in the fall. (She tweeted about the new deal earlier this month.)

Brewster, who since leaving the show found a starring role in a comedy pilot, may head back to “Criminal Minds” if her new show doesn't make NBC's next season schedule.

CBS executives, who launched “Criminal Minds” in 2005 and its spinoff, “Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior” this spring, were trying to keep the flagship series vibrant while it was still on top and thought mixing up the ensemble would do it, sources close to the production said.

Instead of waiting for the show to potentially fall from favor, as many longtime dramas have done, the network was making a preemptive strike, the sources said.

As it turns out, the most revolutionary change the network will make is to try to put the cast back the way it was before. “Criminal Minds” has consistently pulled in about 13.5 million viewers this season, beating all its network competition save for “American Idol.”

Cook doesn't fully understand why she was dumped in the first place, a decision that blindsided even the show's veteran producers. “I was told the network had made a creative decision to try something different with our show; it was nothing personal,” Cook said. “I kind of thought of it as a breakup when someone says, 'It's not you, it's me.'"

Cook, part of the “Criminal Minds” cast since its launch, saw her character promoted -- read: written off the show -- to a new job at the Pentagon at the end of last season.

CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler, speaking at a television critics gathering earlier this year, said it wasn't a money-saving measure to cut the two actresses. (The show added one new female cast member, Rachel Nichols, for the current sixth season). Instead, she called it “the nature of the evolution of any show.”

Actor comings and goings are common on TV, especially on procedural and crime shows with large ensemble casts. The “CSI” and “Law & Order” franchises have gone through a number of shakeups, and “Criminal Minds” itself had one of its charter stars, Mandy Patinkin, leave the show abruptly in summer 2007.

Various TV cast changes have come because stars wanted to leave, for movie roles and other opportunities. Sometimes they've been shown the door because their characters were played out or unpopular, or actors demanded fat raises and big perks. Producers often cite the need to cut costs when they fire or swap actors.

None of the above could explain the “Criminal Minds” flap, when Cook and Brewster learned last summer that their contracts wouldn't be renewed. Negotiations hadn't been contentious, and their two characters were considered fan favorites and pivotal female voices in "Criminal Minds'" gritty Behavioral Analysis Unit in Quantico, Va.

Cook was invited back for a few episodes this season, while Brewster was offered most of the season to wrap up her character's story. Brewster's last episode in mid-March, in which Cook also appeared, saw her special agent Emily Prentiss violently attacked by a lover-turned-nemesis. It ended with a did-she-die-or-didn't-she? cliffhanger.

Cook said she's going back to work this week, filming her part of the May 18 finale. But Brewster's “Criminal Minds” future is up in the air, dependent on what happens with the NBC sitcom pilot, “My Life as an Experiment.”

Vocal fans, who launched an online “Save the Actresses” petition that gathered nearly 60,000 signatures when Cook and Brewster were axed from the series, are absorbing the news.

“I'm gonna commend CBS [executives] for seeing the error of their ways,” said one blog commenter among thousands who've weighed in on the topic. “Apology enthusiastically accepted.”

For the record, CBS hasn't publicly or officially apologized.

-- T. L. Stanley

Photo credit: Ringo H.W. Chiu / For The Times

Comments

[Terry Martz]

I am so glad to hear JJ will be back and Emily should come back also. Criminal Minds is an AWESOME show and those two need to be back on!!

[Terry Martz]

criminal minds is an awesome show! JJ & Emily need to be put back on the show---PLEASE!

[Catia Rezende]

Yes, were committed many mistakes, very serious errors, almost unforgivable. Glad that the complaints from fans, force had and I hope the family is again as before without Rachel Nichols, she is very much like AJ and not want anything to disturb her turn.
I also hope that Paget will not quit. And that Criminal Minds fans who are sure they were heard and their wishes respected.
AJ did miss, much the same.

Catia Rezende

[Ayesha Saleem]

I am sooo happy to hear JJ will be back!!! This is like the best birthday present for me! haha!

BRING BACK EMILY TOO!!!

[Dawn cumberbatch]

I am very disappointed on the executives handled this problem. You have two women how are the heart of the show and you axes them because of how they look and the ages to bring a younger audience. The new addition to the show actually brought the ratings down to my point of view, cause the show is not good she doesn't have the sponk like the other two. I believe if you wanted to shake things up you should have gotting rid of one of the male characters. In my opinion CBS made a very very big mistake not renewing their contracts. You better fix this problem and real quick before the show gets axes instead of just the two characters.

[Johnny]

I'm really upset that the studio did this. JJ and Emily were my favorite characters. Yes, I love them all but they were the best. This is not step in the right direction for ratings because I'm now less interested in watching the show. I'm very happy and excited for JJ to come back but I want Emily too! Have the new girl leave the show, she did her training. Tell the audience that she is going to a different unit. Not this one. Bring back Emily with JJ! NOW!

[Emily]

JJ and Emily really need to come back... But I swear if they get rid of Reid I'm never watching this show again.

[Melissa]

I think the way this show handled these two actresses was absolutely unfair. It almost sound like they did it on purpose, just to later announce that they (the two characters) would be back. This manipulative method almost seem cruel to its many fans and also to its two actresses. I don't like it. And though I am a fan of the show, I am also curious about the number of actor's who have left this show. And I must admit the it's lost its rhythm. Or maybe it's just that CBS won't apologize that makes me be upset with the behind the scenes people in this show.

[Rhonda Clements]

Criminal Minds is my favorite show but it has not been the same without JJ, I think she is great, and to let her go and bring that new girl with the perpetually red eyes, was stupid. If it was for looks sorry CBS but AJ is so much prettier it is no contest and I am a female! Not to mention a better actress!! So stop messing with perfection, the cast is fine, the ratings are good, ever heard If it aint broke dont fix it?? Just keep the writing fresh and original as it has been from the start and try to find more great villians like C Thomas Howell and Robert Carradine those 2 were classic and everyone involved deserved Emmy recognition for those episodes! Anyway now do not do anything dumb like getting rid of Hotch Reed Or Morgan!!!!!! The cast is fine!!!

[zygion]

I think both Cook and Brewster are important parts of the show. I was bummed when they left. It just seems stupid when the ratings were high to get rid of two good characters. Glad Cook is back.

[Marita]

I am so glad that they are bringing JJ back and they need to bring Emily back as well. The cast needs to be as it was...this was a BAD shakeup.

[linda]

Hurry the ladies are back and I will watch again

[ruth tolley]

why why why!!!why would you take two awesome actresse off?it just isn`t the same without all of them.why????

[Angela]

The show is definitely not the same without JJ or Emily Prentiss and I am sooo glad that you are brining back JJ (who was and still is my favorite on the show, along with Prentiss). The show will now be better than ever and if you bring back EMILY, it will be the best it has ever been. Please really consider bringing back EMILY PRENTISS and this time don't let JJ go!

[JERRY AND GLORIA ROWAN]

Well I'm not going to criticize them for what they did, I will just say THANKS FOR BRINGING BACK A.J. AKA JJ AND FOR AT LEAST CONSIDERING BRINGING BACK PAGET BREWSTER AKA EMILY PRENTISS. I feel that is the real attitude, anger and frustration have proven fruitless in the past so lets all just enjoy a little victory and a positve attitude on winning another concession from the network. THANKS AGAIN CBS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING. GREAT SHOW.

[Scott Wilkinson]

I just watched the Criminal Minds where JJ leaves and was so pissed again that you made her leave. I haven't kept up on the show like I used to. So anyways I was pissed so I was going to log on here and give you a piece of my mind and here I see you did something right! You are bringing her back. so very awesome! Now bring Charlie back and it will be a complete wonderful evening

[rita stiger]

crimmal mindes is the most awesom show i have ever watched please bring back jj and emily back its just not the same with out them thank you cbs for the best show on tv

[Stacey St. Clair]

Dear Madam or Sir:

I want like to express my interest re. the rehiring of Ms. Cook and Ms. Brewster; two integral actresses in Criminal Minds. I hope that they will be able to do this show again.

I am a 48 year old traditional homemaker. I do not blog. I was disappointed not to see these characters in the later shows; though I hoped to see them again.

Criminal Minds has wonderful and interesting writing and the actors "click." When I found out that the writer was a former FBI agent, I was not surprised.

I look forward to watching many more shows.

Sincerely,

Stascey M. St. Clair

[Sabay]

I am so happy to hear that AJ Cook is coming back to Criminal Minds. I absolutely love her character. I really thought they did a great job making her character relevant the last 2 years. The episode when they had JJ reach out to an Unsub over the radio was terrific. Recently I found myself mad at the show every time I saw the new blond cast member and didn't understand how the change made the show better. I wish Paget Brewster luck with her new show but I absolutely love her character on Criminal Minds also and hope she returns.

[ella]

I am really excited to hear they're bringing AJ Cook back full time. I stopped watching as soon as she and Paget Brewster were cut - with the character of JJ back I'll start watching again - if they bring the character of Emily back I will DEFINITELY watch again. The two characters are strong female roles and I feel very positive role-models for young women who might be watching the show. Not to mention very talented actresses.