Criminal Minds: Edward Allen Bernero, Executive Producer of Criminal Minds, asked me to please post this message:
Dear Fanatic Family --
Christmas Eve, 2007, Hollywood, California.
For me, this is usually a time when I look back on a
year and check off the things I'm grateful for (so
much). But this year, the emotion I'm feeling is
mostly surprise. And I'll tell you why.
I never expected that this would be the way the year
ended. That Criminal Minds would be firmly in the top
five scripted series on television despite a focussed
effort by the other networks to aim their biggest new
guns against us at 9PM on Wednesday. I thought we
could wait them out but you fans didn't even let them
get that far.
I am also surprised that we would be making the show
just fine without Mandy Patinkin. I think Joe has
been a great addition to our family and am grateful
that you fans seem to feel the same way. Your
patience and support in the middle of all that
unexpected drama was incredible.
I am also surprised that we haven't been filming new
episodes for more than a month now. I believed in my
soul that this unfortunate work stoppage wouldn't last
very long. As I look at what's happened, I can't
believe that what I didn't appreciate was the AMPTP's
apparent desire to make the strike last as long as
possible. What we are asking for is not unreasonable.
I think everyone (even the companies themselves)
knows that what we are asking for is incredibly
reasonable. I even think a lot of people on the other
side of the issue agree with us. But, for some
reason, they are unable to get the AMPTP to actually
offer us something that would end this all.
I am also surprised that, due to the strike, I have a
whole new reason to be humbled by your support of our
show and in particular of the people who make it. The
people behind the scenes. Your gracious donations
have helped a number of the crew get through what
would have otherwise been a bleak Christmas. I will
never forget what you've all done. Never.
So, 2008? We'll see. What I'd like to see is a swift
end to this thing so we can all get back to making the
show we love so well. However, I am not the type to
wait for someone like Nick Counter at the AMPTP to
take are of my family and my crew. There are meetings
going on first of the year with companies that want to
fund programs themselves. To find a new way to make
these stories we tell. I'm excited about that. I
plan on getting our crew back to some sort of work as
soon as possible. When that happens, I will let you
all know what it is we're planning so you can share
the ride with us.
Until then, just know that your selflessness and
support has been incredible and humbly accepted.
Barbara, Amanda, Jason and Cris and I wish you all a
great holiday season and look forward to talking with
you all after the first of the year.
Ed
86 comments:
Dear Ed--
The fans remain behind the WGA one hundred percent.
And Criminal Minds remains a top show despite critical disinterest and network sharpshooting simply because it's the best and smartest show on television, and you, the crew and cast and writers, keep it that way. Quality builds loyalty.
Thanks again for everything you and the rest of the team do, and hang in tehre.
Ed- Merry Christmas to all of yours as well and know that our support will remain unwavering. We can't wait until you guys are back doing what every higher power in the universe intended you to be doing.
Thanks to entire cast and crew of CM. You guys are the best and we'll stand behind you until this resolves.
To Ed and the entire cast and crew.. I hope you all have a Merry Christmas and a safe holiday season. We all support you 100% I hope things go better in the new year.
Dear Ed,
You are an amazing man--to think of us during this holiday season.
I love CM, and everyone associated with it. And obviously, so do lots of others and I know that we all are thrilled that CM is doing so well--almost always in the top 10! It is my #1 show!
CM has weathered some storms this season and has come out the better for it. I can only hope, as do you, that the strike comes to an equitable close and everyone is back doing what they do best--creating such a smart, creative, and interesting show for the rest of us to enjoy.
All the best in 2008 for the cast and crew of Criminal Minds.
What a wonderful Christmas gift! Thank you Mr. Bernero for taking the time out of your own holiday to let us all know how things are going!
I've never known a show to be so involved with it's fans. "Discovering" CM has been one of the highlights of my year, and mostly because of the amazing fan base behind it.
I will continue to support the WGA completely, and I am praying for a swift and fair resolution in 2008!
Ed- All the best in 2008 for the cast and crew of Criminal Minds. We are all so lucky to have you at the helm of the CM ship. Your inclusion of us every step of the way this past year has been so incredibly respectful and honest. I can't thank you enough for the care you show to us and those who work along side you. God Bless You!
Dear Ed
You're more than welcome. Thank you for your time and efforts in keeping us in the loop.
Wishing you and yours, and the cast and crew a very happy holiday, and may 2008 bring a very swift end to the strike (and more fantastic eps of CM!!)
Jx
(UK)
Dear Ed~
Merry Christmas to your family and to your CM family. Thanks for making us apart of the CM family.
My best wishes to all the cast, crew and everyone who works on the best show on tv!
Merry Christmas, Ed!
You, and everyone else, have earned our loyalty time and time again. Don't ever doubt that.
Criminal Minds has been in the top ten for weeks in a row. It feels good, after being shafted so many times by critics.
Best wishes to all our families, both related and not. May 2008 be a year of continued success for Criminal Minds.
Hang in there, everybody. We can make it.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year Ed!
Ed, we all support you and the WGA.
I hope you and everyone working on Criminal Minds have a Merry Christmas and happy holidays and that you enjoy the time spent with your families and friends.
I have great hope for the New Year and a fair resolution for the writers. I think it is great that you took the time away from your family and holiday celebration to remember us. Thank you once again for being so wonderful to us fans. Finland loves you.
Merry Christmas Ed.
There is no show that ranks higher for me than CM, so there is no show I am fighting harder for than CM. From day one, this show has been a fantastic piece of work and has remained head and shoulders above the rest despite all storms. My Wednesday nights are planned!
So thank you, Ed, for everything you, the cast and crew do to make CM a standout. We remain behind you 110% as always. I hope all of you have lovely holidays and Santa brings a new year full of hope for all of us.
It's nice to know that you acknowledge that the fans care Ed. I don't think anyone thought the strike would last this long, but we just have to take it one day at a time.
I hope you all have the most enjoyable holiday possible and I will see you next year!
None of us ever doubted that CM was a winning show. It is amazing. The best writing on tv today. I remain 100% committed to the cause of the WGA.
I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and that you and your family can take a break from the stress of the strike to relax and enjoy each other.
Dear Ed-
We will continue to support you and your cause...because it's a just one.
I have no doubt that whatever medium or company the shows continues on through, it will remain a top show due to the top quality work that goes into it. Thank you for the work you have done so far, and the work to come.
I hope you and the cast and crew and their families all have a happy holiday, and a happy and healthy new year.
Wishing you and the cast and crew of Criminal Minds a Happy Holiday from Australia.
I really hope that this strike can be ended satisfactorily before New Year and that we can get back to having episodes of the best show on TV filmed.
Thank you Ed. Since you like quotes-here is one...
The Grand essentials of happiness are: something to do, something to love, and something to hope for. Allan K Chalmers
I wish you and the entire crew all three for the new year and beyond!
Dear Ed,
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year. Thank you for everything that you do all the time.
Contract in 2008. #1 ratings in 2008.
Have a great Xmas Ed.
Lee
Ed, CM is like the "Little Engine" that could! Even without any real network support or advertising CM found it's place in the top 5 by word of mouth and because it is a quality show. If you can get someone to watch it once then they are hooked. You all have given us a great show for the past 2 and a half seasons and we will hang tough with you until you can make more episodes.
Merry Christmas!
Ed, I'm amazed at the stubborn and callous way the AMPTP has treated not only the writers but the below the line people. My prayers are with all of you at this difficult time. Christmas should be full of joy and I hope that you all can manage to feel that even with this hanging over your heads. May G-d bless all of you and you have my unconditional support.
Merry Christmas to you and your whole family. I know Santa has you on his list. You have been very good to everyone this year and a role model to so many on how to treat fans and be honest. Coal for the AMPTP!
Ed,
Joe is great and while Mandy leaving was shocking & disturbing it seems to me that the ratings just went up after he left. Gain from pain?
Private Practice and the Bionic Woman were never a real threat to the show. Lost learned that lesson.
Criminal Minds is a quality show and quality always wins over hype.
Merry X-Mas!
'I plan on getting our crew back to some sort of work as soon as possible. When that happens, I will let you all know what it is we're planning so you can share
the ride with us.'
Count me in! Count us all in! 2008 can be great on CBS or someplace else for all I care at this point. I hope Les Moonves has nightmares tonight thinking about all the people he put out of work but I don't think he could care at all.
I hope you find your "bliss" in 2008 as Kirsten likes to say. You deserve it. You all deserve it.
Happy Holidays!
Ed, Merry Christmas to you and your family.
Ed et al -
Criminals Minds has been an odd sort of blessing for me. That such a dark show can bring people together in a rather warm and fuzzy sense is somewhat incongruous, but it's the truth.
For one thing, there's the online fandom, which is really a unique and marvellous thing. That the CMF blog and board are so inviting and respectful is pretty amazing in itself (many online fandoms are something like warzones, as you likely know), but the fact that the creators of our beloved show take the time to converse with us in so many ways - and with the same high degree of respect - is truly awesome.
On a more personal note - my family loves this show. We get together to watch and talk about this show. We giggle about Reid and get into truly intellectual discussions about the human mind, and I'm not sure we would spend the same kind of time together if we didn't have a common interest pulling us together.
So for the blessings you've brought me and mine, I wish you and yours a happy holiday season. I pray that everyone involved in creating the show is back to work as quickly as possible in the new year.
Thanks for everything. Have a wonderful holiday.
Merry Christmas to you, Ed and everyone involved with the show! I hope the strike is resolved soon so you guys can get back to work doing what you do so remarkably well.
One of the blessings I'm counting this season is being a fan of a show that is not only intelligent, well-written, and well-acted, but a show that has people like you involved, people who truly appreciate the fans! Thank you again for thinking of us!
You're a classy man, Mr. Bernero, and we're proud to support you and your fellow team, cast and crew.
Happy Holidays! :)
I am very thankful for all the friends here who put up with my bad english and make us all a good family of friends and to all who make the show. Thanks to you Ed and a blessed Christmas.
Ed-
Thank you for your kind words. I wish you and your family, as well as the cast and crew of CM and their families, a wonderful holiday and a better 2008. When the new episodes, start shooting, my oldest daughter and I will be there to savour each moment.
Kirsten, Gwendolyn, Aislinn, and Emma
Ed,
It has been one hell of a year. If the AMPTP thinks that the CM fandom is going to ever stop supporting their writers then they are crazier than we already think they are. We lived through Mandy's nutty, what seemed like an endless wait for his replacement to be named, numerous other shows trying to grab our ownership of Wed. nights and then the initial threat of a strike. Every time the show is thrown a curve ball we get stronger in our resolve. I have never watched any show before this one where I took the time to learn who the writers even in such depth. The writing is the heart of this show. I thank you so much for that. You have assembled a wonderful team and they have 100% of my support.
No reality tv for me. No movies. No dvd purchases. No going to the network's internet sites. No downloading. None of my money will go to supporting the AMPTP until you all are paid what you are worth!
On a personal note, I wish you and your family a wonderful Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. I thank you for your loyalty to the fans of the show and your total honesty with us even when it was the worst of days. I thank you for allowing our beloved writers to visit us in the chat room which has been such a joy and thrill to everyone. Lastly I thank you for understanding the occasional misstep on the blog and realizing that we have all learned together. Whatever happens in 2008 we all stand together with you.
Hi, Ed!
I love your show, and hate that its in limbo right now. I wish TPTB at the AMPTP would get off their collective butts and just offer the writers what they deserve!
Try to have a nice holiday. :)
All our love Ed! Merry Christmas and Peaceful resolutions in the New Year.
Ed, thank you for taking the time to acknowledge the fans during these busy and frantic days.
Happy Holidays to you and yours!!!I'm looking forward to more CM goodness when things get a little more settled in what should be a very interesting 2008.
Merry Christmas! Happy New Year to everyone!
Ed,
Solidarity in 2007 & 2008! Thank you for the show and Jill for the blog. Put together they make being a CM fan a really great thing!
Merry X-mas!
Leaving lurkdom to say thank you for the show and for your letters. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Merry Christmas to the crew who are out of work and to the writers.
PP & BW were doomed the minute they were scheduled to compete with CM. Did you doubt that for even a second? Mandy who? Barely remember him...what character did he play? Joe is great. 2008 is CM's year. Watch and wait. I have faith.
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Ed, Merry Christmas!
"When that happens, I will let you
all know what it is we're planning so you can share the ride with us"
This sounds cool. Something to look forward to if the strike drags on.
Merry Christmas.
We wish you all the best during this difficult season. I hope to see positive changes occur soon for all of you.
Blessings to all.
Ed-Merry Christmas
Thanks so much for keeping us informed.
Your kindness is much appreciated
Merry Christmas to Ed and all the CM family -- and to all the fans on this board, as well. May your holiday season be bright with beautiful surprises and see you safely home again.
God bless all of you. We keep you in our prayers. All of you. Merry Christmas to all and to my CM friends.
Ed,
Thank you again for being so sincere and open with us. I have an idea for a storyline. The BAU tries to profile a crazy network executive.
Ed, I wish you all the best now and in the future. It the strikes is going to last till the summer like some are forecasting then I hope you do start a new project. I would like to see the credits read: Created by Edward Allen Bernero. No offense and please do not be made but I do not like our present credits. I don't know who Jeff Davis even is. He has been gone since the beginning. I think the credits are misleading. I hope that I did not offend you and if so I am truly sorry.
Ed, you blow me away with your generous spirit. Please take this break from picketing to relax and enjoy your family. 2008 will bring good things.
Ed,
Pack up the crew, the writers and yourself and tell us where and when! I am so ready to be there! It makes me sick to my stomach that the Corps. fired the crews and are f-in the writers. I'm ready to make the move. We all worked with you to shoot CM up in the ratings and we can do the same thing for a new show! Damn straight. Screw CBS and Disney.
Merry Christmas and Thanks Ed.
Ed- Thanks for absolutely everything. Have a Merry Christmas with your family. We know that they are all really special but a special shout out to Amanda. She'll always be our Rebecca.
Merry Christmas Ed! Hope you have a great day with your family.
All the fans of Criminal Minds with you, your family, the cast and crew a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Thank you for the respect and honesty that you've given the fans. We all plan to return the same in the coming year... now if we can just get the AMPTP to do the same!
May next year open new doors and new opportunities for everyone to get back to doing the things they do best.
Have a safe and joyous holiday!
Merry Christmas and I know this will be the happiest New Year for CM and the fans! I feel so proud of being a fan of our show and love how every week, it's been in the top ten.
Thank you for including us and we support you to the end!
Rebecca
ed thankyou and merry christmas.to you and the rest of the writhers. hope this strike is over soon. so we came see more of our favorit show.
Merry Christmas from Germany to you, the cast , the crew and the writers.
You all the best and we´ll stand behind you.
I hope things go better in the next year.
I love CM and want new eps.
Blümchen
Merry Christmas to Ed, his family, cast, crew, all the bloggers and the yahoo cm group.
We really depend very much on american tv and Criminal Minds is my best show. Good luck with the amptp.
Ed B: French fans give you 100% support and loyalty. I send you best wishes for a spirtually satisfying holiday and a renewal of spirit.
Merry Christmas!
Ed,
Have a great holiday season and a I hope a new contract in 2008.
Revi
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year hopefully with more of your wonderful CM stories! I appreciate that you took the time to write that wonderful letter to us.
Unfortunately since I'm somewhere between studying and working and therefore pretty much unemployed, I can't support all of you as much as I would like to. But I'm trying and I'm wholeheartedly behind you! And I'm spreading the news over here in the German fandoms.
You're asking for so little and to me it also seems the AMPTP wants to temporize the strike. I really hope you'll find a way to continue the show next year!
Catharina
Blessings for all my CM friends and for you Mr. Bernero I wish many blessings. I thank you for being so nice to us and for being with fans. Merry Christmas from Poland.
Ed, Thanks for this wonderful Christmas update. Wow what a year it has been. Best wishes for everyone in 2008. I would love to see what you would do on the internet or cable. Go for it! Just please take the writers with you.
I am a season behind the rest of the world so the strike doesn't touch us yet. I feel so sorry for everything everyone is going through. So very unfair. My 2007 Christmas wish is for a new contract and peace in your industry. Merry Christmas to Ed, Jill and my CM friends.
Petra
I hope you and your family have a great Christmas and are able to take some time away from the crazy and focus on the important things in life that are often taken for granted.
I have my fingers crossed that those who are hindering an equitable end to the strike have some "Christmas Carol"-esk dreams and come to their senses.
Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to you, your wife and children.
The same to all my CM friends and everyone.
Ed,
Thank you for your beautiful letter. You blow me away with your loyalty to us fans. You deserve some peace without worry about your employees. I hope the strike ends soon.
Ed, thank you very much for these wonderful words.
Hope you have a wonderful X-mas and some kind of relaxing holiday.
"Frohe Weihnachten" from Germany.
CU sindee
Merry Christmas to ALL!
Ed- All good things for you and your family in the new year and have a great time with them during this holiday.
Ed,
Thank you for such a great show. Criminal Minds is the first show in my whole life that made me want to get to know more about the writers and producers. I think the writing is wonderful. I love everything about the show. You are wonderful and you have created a wonderful show. I love this blog for so many reasons and it makes it even more special when you visit. Thank you and Merry Christmas.
Ed, Nick Counter should be ashamed of himself. The man must have a heart of stone. I am so glad that you don't. Happy Holidays.
Merry to you Ed and to your whole family.
Merry Christmas to you and your family, Ed, and to all the writers, cast and crew. I hope you are able to enjoy your holiday in spite of the circumstances.
My son and I want to let you know support you wholeheartedly. We know that Criminal Minds is topping the ratings, because it's the best show out there.
The strike and consumer boycott were a topic of discussion over Christmas dinner at my house, and I'm proud to say I wasn't the only person there who was informed on the subject - word has spread outside of those here on the Net.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Lora and Lee
Mr Brennero, I'm in late for Christmas wishes, but who cares, CM is so great that I NEVER had a single slightest mycroscopic doubt that there could have been a problem even when Mandy left. And even now I am full of hope this madness will end soon and looking forward new eps as gorgeous as the previous.
so....best wishes from your craziest Italian fan in Paris,
and a TZUNAMI of good vibes to all cast and crew!!!!!
Sorry, I just read this today,(12/26/07). I hope everyone was able to enjoy there Christmas day. So I just would like to say to Ed, cast and crew to have a happy New Year. I hope that the new year will bring a resolution to the writers strike. I'm really interested in here about the new avenues the show could be produced, should they have to go that route. But hopefully the shows will resume soon.
God bless
Ed, Better late than never since we just got home from traveling. I hope you and your family had a great Christmas and have a wonderful New Year.
Thank you to the CM team for consistently giving us the best of the best. My support for the WGA is total and I hope there is resolution for them soon. I look forward to many more excellent episodes of this wonderful series.
Thanks again, all of you!
What a fantastic letter. Thank you to all the cast and crew for a wonderful show.
Dear Ed,
Thanks for taking the time to send a message. The fans appreciate it. We do support the WGA and hope this all gets resolved pretty quickly. This season has definitely been a very interesting and enjoyable one. Wishing the cast and crew a great new year.
Hm. I thought I'd posted but I hadn't. (Late as usual).
Anyhow, Ed, thanks so much for not only this letter, but for everything that you do. Not just for the fans but for your crew as well; they're lucky to have you as their leader.
I hope that your Christmas was a good one, even with everything else that's going on.
Here's hoping that 2008 sees a swift end to the strike so that everyone can get back to work on the CM set where they belong!
Know that the CM fans will continue to support you, the crew, cast and writers.
Best wishes to everyone in the CM family for the New Year.
Ed, Happy New Year to all of your family.
Very late, but wanted to say thanks so much for your letter and Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays to you and the whole Criminal Minds family. So glad to hear of your plans to find a way to get the crew back to work - You da man!
We love and appreciate you Ed. That's all there is to it. It takes some balls to keep us updated the way you do. My best to you and your family. Have a happy New Year's celebration!
I LOVE THIS SHOW. MY WEEKLY SCHEDULE IS ADJUSTED JUST SO I CAN WATCH CRIMINAL MINDS ON WEDNESDAYS. IF THIS SHOW WAS TO EVER BE CANCELED I WOULD BE HEARTBROKEN. I THINK THE PRODUCERS DO A VERY GOOD JOB WITH THIS SHOW. I EVEN LIKE ALL THE ACTORS. EVERY LAST ONE OF THEM. THEY ARE ALL MY FAVORITES. I COULD GO ON & ON ABOUT THIS SHOW. ITS JUST THAT GOOD!!!
BLESSED
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