Criminal Minds: We are all looking forward to "Ashes & Dust" which airs on March 21st. My first day was the last day of shooting that episode. My second day on the set was the start of shooting for "Honor Among Theives" written by Aaron Zelman, pictured above who was also the Co-Executive Producer of the episode, and directed by Jesus Trevino. I read this script and it is brilliant. I know it will change a lot during the shooting but Aaron wrote an incredible episode which is no surprise since he has written some of the very best episodes of the series to date: "Poison", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Machismo" and "Psychodrama". Please trust me when I say that "Honor Among Theives" is even better. I think it is his best yet and meeting him was an honor. I had spoken a few words with him the day before but I had spent the night reading his script and it was a treat for me to gush just a bit about it to him. He is so down to earth and sweet. I remember wanting to run upstairs and thank Ed Bernero for assembling such an outstanding writing staff. In case you are wondering....I didn't....but I should have! :)
We'll all honor the writers here then. ;p The writing for this show is fantastic, it's what keeps me coming back week after week, even during re-runs!
ReplyDeleteOMG Psychodrama is my fav episode and you are telling me this new one is even better. Holy crap that is awesome. Can't wait.
ReplyDeleteI just looked him up on IMDB and he has really been involved in much more than I realized. Way to make us happy with a great new scipt AZ!
ReplyDeleteIsn't it amazing how the writers are so nice yet they can write such powerful (and sometimes dark) scripts.
ReplyDeleteI know actors have to "get into" character, as Mandy has mentioned, but do the writers have to do the same?
I wonder if it brings them to a dark place writing about such stories. They are wonderful but it has to take a toll.
ReplyDeleteI hope you told him how much we all really love the writing on the show and how much we know they make the show so great.
ReplyDeleteOh! Better than "Won't Get Fooled Again??!!!" I can't wait, I can't!
ReplyDeleteMy hero :)
Thank you Mr. Z for the great episodes. We appreciate it and keep them coming!
ReplyDeleteYou got to read a script ahead of time? How cool is THAT? Of course, I realize that there will be many revisions and you can't tell us anything, anyway. But it's still amazing that you got to hang out in your room perusing a new CM script. You're like, my hero! Again!!!
ReplyDeleteI met Aaron and talked to him briefly. He was super cool. I told him I knew you, Jill, and he was definitely impressed with you.
ReplyDeleteHe is great.
ReplyDeleteWell done and we want more please.
ReplyDeleteI loved all his episodes but Mach is one of real favs. So glad that you got to meet him.
ReplyDeleteI round of applause for Aaron Zelman and all the writers but like a few people have already said, would it kill you to give us some backstory on gideon, garcia and hotchner. Please. We are a faithful audience. We helped you beat Lost and we don't ask for much.
ReplyDeleteThe writers are great.
ReplyDeleteVery cool. Did they get my big box of Valetine's candy in the writers room? Oh, wait, that was only virtual ... well, anyhow, they deserve it.
ReplyDeleteWhen do we get to hear hints about that show based on what you read?
ReplyDeleteWe should have sent the writers presents when we sent Kirsten her pens.
ReplyDeleteWOW. He wrote two of my favorites. I am ashamed to say I never realized who the writers names were but that changes here and now. I feel like a fool.
ReplyDeletelove2teach: I will be happy to give you all the spoilers.....five minutes after the episode airs. I wish I could but I promised to be discreet. I should be able to tell you in a few days who the guest star is and what role she plays.
ReplyDeleteSorry! :)
holy cow, now that I know which episodes he wrote, I know that he is damn good! There is A LOT of dialogue in a one hour show. I've always wondered how these people can write whole shows!! I could never be tha creative in a million years.
ReplyDeleteWill Aaron be with this show for future seasons? I hope so!
Cool stuff. It's kinda neat to see the people who create your favorite show.
ReplyDeleteI was familar with his writing from another show that I will not name and he has always been a real serious player. He does have the "gift" someone else wrote about and he is very consistant which is what impresses me the most. Some writers are good half the time and not the other but he is always a step above and we can count on that. I am so jealous that you were able to meet the writers but very grateful that you have shared the experience with the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteI have only been watching the show since the super bowl and I have not seen some of these but I ordered the dvds and they should could in just a few days. I will catch up on his episodes. I am so excited.
ReplyDeleteIt really is a very good group of writers. We have had very few weak episodes.
ReplyDeleteWow, he has written some really good episodes.
ReplyDeleteI do think the standard of writing on CM is consistently high. There have been one or two eps that could have been better, but none that have been bad.
nebula
...and yet he looks so clean-cut in his shot on the memorial wall! ;-)
ReplyDeleteSeriously, I think CM has the best writing room in the business, currently. Their level of consistency and followthrough is so high, and they manage to surprise me, both with long term and immediate plot developments, and there's not a lot of television that leaves me staring at the set going, "Did they really just do that?"
Also, they're honest about a lot of things that Hollywood tends to glamorize or obscure, and that's a gutsy thing.
Yet another great writer amongst them all. Fabulous episodes he wrote (well, I've loved -all- the episodes thus far, so who am I to talk?), I love learning more about the people in the background to find out what other works they've done.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing!
I agree that these writers do take risks.
ReplyDeleteI would have be happy if only on the trip to meet Aaron Zelman or one of the other writers. We just started season two here.
ReplyDeleteSmashing that you got to meet the writers. Truly wonderful.
ReplyDeleteMuch love to all the writers.
ReplyDeleteGreat writers on CM for sure!
ReplyDeleteI looked him up on IMDB and he has done some great shows. Is he ours to keep or do they move from one show to the next?
ReplyDeleteIt' hard to imagine he can writer anything better than the episodes you mentioned!! All among my favorites (espcially "Psychodrama"). I'm anxious for the upcoming one!!
ReplyDeleteWhat a thrill that would have been for me had I gotten to meet the writers. They are the guts of the show.
ReplyDeleteIf I could meet just one person from the show it would be any one of the writers. I love the stars but this show is all about the writing.
ReplyDeletePschodrama was the episode that held me the most. I didn't even go to the bathroom during that episode.
ReplyDeleteA big thanks to all our great writers.
ReplyDeleteI hope you are going to talk more about the other writers as well. I find those posts to be the most interesting.
ReplyDeleteWonderful writers.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Jill, you definetely should have gone upstairs... ;-)
ReplyDeleteAll the writers are doing such a great work.
CU sindee
wow...I would so love to read one of the scripts before an episode is out. sweet.
ReplyDeletejacqui