Criminal Minds spoiler thread for "Sense Memory" written by Randy Huggins and starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness.
**Beware! There will be spoilers in the comments :)
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
270 comments:
«Oldest ‹Older 201 – 270 of 270Here’s an idea for the seventh season:
Bring AJ and Paget back as JJ and Emily, renew everyone’s contracts for one final season, git rid of Seaver or at least make or recurring or throw her onto Suspect Behavior cuz she doesnt fit on the original.
Ideally, the seventh season could be the final season starring Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Mathew Gray Gubler, paget Brewster, AJ Cook,, Kirste Vangness and Joe Mantegna.
Focus on everyone’s background stories,everyone should get an arc and fans should get closure. We should learn more about thier secrets and how they ended up in the BAU and why they wanted to be there. Also, I am a JJ and Spence fan, so they should get together somehow because in my mind, they are perfect together.Provide better writing and some more long term unsubs, and everyone gets closure. Fans and CM cast alike. ANd everyone else should get love interests that are in the background and dont take up to much time of the main storylines. But they all deserve to be happy. I still want a JJ and Spence coupling. That is the only CM work couple that should happen.
Also, Mandy Patinkin and Lola Glaudini should return for guest star arcs and proper goodbyes.
Send Seaver far away for a while at least, then bring her back for the eighth season as a redeemed and more experienced character who is also less annoying and less Mary Sue-ish. The Eighth season should have a new cast then with Seaver as the media liason. That way, in can work and a nw audience can come in. CBS should consider that.
Otherwise, I refuse to accept Seaver as part of the BAU family and i feel seriously miffed about the current cast changes. But since everyone needs to move on at some point, the season 5 cast lineup should return for one final season and get what they deserve. Good storylines and all, the whole nine yards. CBS should shake things up with a new cast for the eighth season. Less uproar and everything. It’ll work better that way in my opinion.
That is how you give a show a successful makeover.
I love the cast how it was, pre- Seaver.If this doesnt happen, then… THomas Gibson, Shemar Moore and Paget Brewster should leave and I will stop watching the show because it all went to hell.
Any contributing thoughts? I am going to copy and paste this post at other places so if anyone reads this, maybe they will agree, and hopefully people like my ideas.
I love AJ Cook and paget Brewster and Thomas Gibson!
And I am posting this anywhere I can. I know...I am weird.
Um, not a fan of any type of relationships between the BAU team members. I think the show has worked well without that type of focus and to add that on now, in my opinion, would be a huge mistake. The BAU has always worked well because of that family element to it. The structure would just be off in my opinion if now they start sleeping with one another. Without a Trace did that and it was nasty, not to mention, a distraction. Shows become all soap operaish when you start developing relationships between characters.
I do hope that somehow, someway, CBS sees the light (I know, I am fooling myself, but let me go with this). I hope that they realize that this show is an ensemble show, that each character wasn't "just there," but rather played an important role that made everything click. In an ideal world where CBS wasn't full of morons, I would love to see Hotch, Reid, Morgan, Garcia, Prentiss, Rossi, and JJ back on the screen for season 7. Seaver should not return for season 7, 8, 9, or however many seasons are left for this show. I suspect that if stuff with TG, SM and PB are not worked out, season 7 may be the show's last. But even if things are worked out with TG and SM, which I hope they are, and PB decides not to come back (which I hope she will decide to come back even though I know that CBS jerked her so bad that the best thing to do would probably be to leave, but I want her to stay), Seaver should not come back. She adds nothing to the show and will just further the downward spiral the show is on. The character is just not a good one which is not the actresses fault, it is just the way that it is.
Another thing to add to the "dream list" besides AJ coming back, would be to get Andrew Wilder back. Yes, I know that is probably a dream, but let me dream.
Cindy: You are right about MGG and deserving more $$; he is so versatile and doing DIRECTING now, too, he has a super strong fan base (not just the HS crowd but us older ones, too who would love to adopt him and help him with his hair, too...:O)
Maybe CBS is listening? About Paget and how highly we regard her? Are they having second thoughts? Wouldn't you LOVE to be in the know with these ninny decision-makers with all the power? Actually, there's been a few times in recent months I seriously thought they were needing a good smack...you know, knock some sense into them?
Maybe they are coming around and finding their sense...better late than never...Let's hold our collective breaths and continue to envision our beloved team in its entirely (minus newcomer) on the promos for Season 7, what do you think? Power of positive thinking, magnified by our numbers? Can't hurt...
And Paget, if you are reading this: WE LOVE YOU AND WANT YOU TO STAY! So do it for US even if they don't deserve you, WE DO!
Well the JJ and Spence thing is just my own thought and I completely understand why no one else would want it.
But I hold to what I said before in my previous post. Seaver definitely has to go.
I dont mind if the show ends but the cast and the fans deserve it to end with a strong ending with the dream team of Hotch, Reid, Prentiss,Rossi, Garcia, Morgon and JJ.
It should go out with a bang, like Buffy did.
trueCMfan: this is already the SIXTH season this year, sweetie, and we are musing about players/prospects
for season 7.
I for one, fo NOT want to see JJ together with Reid because she is married to a good guy and that would seriously upset the premise that these people are good, moral, ethical and respectable people. ALso, too soap opera-ish.
Another love for Reid? I think he needs it more than any of them because he has never had it; it could do wonders for his psyche and confidence. I would love to see our boy LOVED. (By a worthy female cast member, not on the team, and not just his totally infatuated followers who want to squeeze that beautiful baby face and tell him just how wonderful we think he is, you know? Just MHO.
We love you, too, MGG, and think you an amazing director as well as artist and actor, whether you are working on CM epi's or your buds, The Killers. Good job all around, buddy!
trueCMfan: sorry, in re-reading your post, I realize you may have meant the FIFTH season cast, without Seaver and that's why you said that. Pardon me, I was skimming and that is the part that caught my eye.
If so, I am in agreement: Let's go Seaver-less. Even if Garcia and Morgan are sharing the JJ duties and we don't get her back, I could live with that.
PLEASEEEEEE, no relationships between team members. Wanda, "Without a Trace" is a perfect example of how a show can get degraded and quickly when you start adding relationships between team members. After a while, I was like, am I watching a crime drama or a soap opera???? The relationship stuff is fine for fan fiction if people want to take it there, but please don't ruin Criminal Minds even more than it is now with relationships between team members, please!
CBS better get on it and start recognizing the talent, hard work, and dedication of the cast. I am sure they get paid nothing to what they should be getting paid considering the popularity of the show. So, they better show them the money! I would love it if Paget would stay, I really, really would, but that is her decision and I am going to support whatever she decides to do. But again, I hope she comes back.
Seaver, yeah, she needs not to come back for season 7 regardless of what happens. The character is beyond repair and the show needs to move on from that as soon as possible before more damage is done. Also, if CBS would stop being stupid and admit they made a mistake in firing AJ, and if somehow she would get asked to come back and she'd agree to come back, OMG, that would just be awesome!
Okok... a girl can dream. Although gubegirl, I think you just want Reid for yourself lol, but I see your point too. Its just a thought and I highly doubt it would happen.
I have to say, Thomas Gibson may come back but Shemar Moore was pretty candid about how wasnt happy with all the changes. And I doubt that paget Brewster would come back if AJ Cook isnt part of the deal. i heard they were best friends... props to AJ for coming back at all though. She must have done it for the fans and for Paget. And props to Paget for sticking it to CBS because they deserve it.
That said, I really hope they come back.
I'm really worried about TG. 25-to-Life showed that CBS and Ed are willing to have CM without Hotch (and we saw how much it sucked), so although contract negotiations may be normal at this time of year, I think there is more to it. I want to make it perfectly clear how fast I will leave CM in my rear view mirror if Hotch is no longer on the show in S7! Talk about an under-appreciated actor! Geez.
Given the crap we've been dealt this year, with AJ and PB leaving against all of our wishes, I'm taking nothing for granted. If CM thinks they can hide taking another character away in all the mess of the new character, then think again. When is all this going to end??? Leave our show alone!!!
Easy solution: give Seaver's salary to TG, PB and SM. We don't need another new character. We don't want a new character. We love our team as it is now (+JJ). Start listening to the fans! I can't believe how angry I am right now. TG and SM are INTEGRAL to the show.
What kills me, what really kills me, is that there was nothing wrong with the show!!!! It wasn't until Tassler and company came in with their wrecking ball and stupid new character addition that they show flew to hell. Why couldn't they leave things as they were? It was so good before; strong writing, kick ass cast, what the hell more do they want?????
Jane, perfect idea!!! Stop messing with the show!!!!
gubegirl said...
"And Paget, if you are reading this: WE LOVE YOU AND WANT YOU TO STAY! So do it for US even if they don't deserve you, WE DO!"
My sentiments exactly! This has never been about CBS, but about the fans who love Paget and love CM; and took the time and effort to write, sign petitions, call and email on her behalf. As I've said before, there are very few owner/bosses who work to make their employees happy. It just doesn't happen. They only care about the bottom-line, with a few providing more fringe benefits than other. But most people go thru life doing their 9 to 5 because it pays the bills, not because we expect the bosses to treat us the way we want to be treated. Most of them don't. CBS is no different. But guess what, we can't quit or move on so readily because jobs are hard to find, and they pay the bills.
Most people stay at a job for the intangibles: the benefits, the relationships, the environment, the security, etc. We can't afford to leave because the boss hurt our feelings or disrespected us, which happens almost daily for some.
I hope Paget gives more weight to the intangibles: the fans who love her, the wonderful cast and crew, and the fact that CM is a hit show with a winning history. New shows don't have a high success rate; and most pilots don't get off the ground. Although I wish Paget much success, I hope she decides that success is with CM and the fans, cast and crew who love her.
This episode was really well done. It had the freaky unsub going crazy and abducting people and it also balanced the dynamics that the team has. It's really an amazing episode and really well done. The very last scene was my favorite. It creeped me out! The conversation Prentiss was having with Reid was really funny though. I loved this episode so much and it shows that Prentiss has the capability to hold out her own against her Interpol nemesis. I just loved it! I'm lost for words!
OMG, I really can't believe this. WTH!!! Does someone at CBS hate Criminal Minds? They have done absolutely everything possible to ruin this show, now this crap!!!
It's simple, start treating the actors with respect CBS, get more writers on board like the one who wrote "Sense Memory," would be fantastic if you could get Andrew Wilder back. Get AJ Cook back, you NEVER should have let her go!! Paget, please reconsider staying on the show (and get as much from CBS as you can, you deserve it!). Give Matthew the raise he is asking for, he more than deserves it, as do Thomas and Shemar!
The show doesn't need a new character, get rid of the Seaver character and get to the business of repairing the show you so swiftly destroyed!!!
PLEASE VOTE ON THE BLOG!
They have messed with our show enough! Help to save TG & SM!
I think its hilarious how CBS has backed themselves right into the corner. With the backlash of firing AJ and virtually Paget, they havent got a prayer when it comes to re-negotiating TG and SM contracts or even MG wanting a raise. They have no leverage at all. In fact their agents are probably dancing in the streets. TPTB know they cannot let anyone else go so they either give then all what they ask for or scrap CM altogether. Its not a coincidence that MGG is asking for more money ---his agent knows he will get it and I must say its about time they get paid just wages for the excellent work they do. The only downer is that we have to lose JJ and Prentiss in the process.
I think the really ironic thing is that most shows don't make it because people can't connect with the characters. They rush to fix it and never can. Then here's this show with the exact opposite problem. I can't help but wonder what in the heck they're thinking over there at CBS. This is the first time I've seen someone mess up a show that is working so royally, and have fans complain because they liked the show exactly how it was. The complaint is usually the opposite, but CBS was doing everything right with this show and still decided to change it. It's so ridiculous that it's almost funny.
Raven, I'm hoping that we don't have to lose Paget, but that is up to Paget and no matter what I will support her.
Yes, AJ is a long shot at best and that is a damn shame! They should just get rid of the Seaver character and bring AJ back!!! I just don't get this!
OK, people, where is the link/web address to vote/petition re: Paget?
I know I saw it somewhere but I am blind from scrolling and cannot locate it.
Is it legitimate? Started by one of our blog administrators?
I would appreciate it if anyone can help me out here because I feel that it is time!
A&E is starting the CM marathon here in SD right now. Just finished "Profiler, Profiled." I think SM did his best work here; the scene where he confronts Carl, his mentor/molestor while the LEOs and Hotch & Gideon watch while hidden: OMG, you can feel the anger/sadness in him - I have never seen him so vulnerable. Worth a 2nd watch, for sure.
Now "no Way Out" w/ that amazing actor Keith Carradine as Frank is starting...just saw the scene in the jailhouse where they are holding Jane, his GF,and she is flipping out and Reid and Prentiss walk in.
Jane drops her rib bone (she thinks it's a whistle) and when Prentiss returns it to her, she blows on it and Reid turns away and comments "A psycho with a whistle...that's not too weird..." such a cool scene.
God, I love these old epi's. It makes me long for the old days and wish Andrew Wilder, Chris Mundy and gang were back so we could continuing enjoying and revering this amazing show forever.
Sigh...
gubegirl, is there a direct way to appeal to Paget to stay? Maybe e-mail, postcards, letters, I guess anything. At this point anything is worth a shot, right?
Those CM episodes are among the best!!
Gubegirl, I haven't seen any recent petitions for Paget but there are new polls for Thomas & Shemar on the right side of the blog's front page. Yes, these are legimate; the blog/message board owner posted a link on the message board itself. Please vote. Thanks.
Jane, I was thinking the exact same thing. Take the salary they're paying the useless Seaver and give it to the others.
Could kill two birds with one stone, give the others a raise and get rid of Seaver.
Okay, seriously, CBS is trying my patience. Damn, what are they doing!!! They get rid of AJ, basically fire but then try to rehire Paget, now they are haggling over money with Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore. I'm sure they will also give Matthew Gray Gubler a hard time about the money that he is requesting as well.
WTH!!!! They need to stop this freaking nonsense!!! I am sure that these actors get paid crap, certainly nowhere near what some of the other actors on their other shows get paid. CBS needs to start respecting and paying these actors what they are worth. Instead of haven given the okay and paying for a ridiculous new character that virtually no one is believing because of the way the character was writen into the show, they need to get rid of that character and use their time and money to shape the cast for a successful season 7. They need to begin the work of salvaging a show that has the potential to go on for several more seasons if cast correctly.
Contract negotiations are rarely smooth sailing, and CBS in particular is known for playing hardball with its actors (unless you're Charlie Sheen of course and you get a ridiculous raise for borderline criminal behavior). I don't think most CBS shows, particularly crime dramas, ever have quick negotiations. I mean the entire NCIS cast didn't re-sign their contracts until mid summer last year. In the end I believe an agreement will be made, unless Thomas and Shemar are willing to walk away from a show they apparently love and the audience loves them. If CBS truly was hellbent on killing Criminal Minds, they could just out and out cancel it and be done with it. The fact that they are asking Paget to come back indicates they still value the show to some degree (even if it's only because it's a consistent ratings performer). It IS normal to have a lot of give and take with contracts. I wouldn't worry unless we hit the summer and there is still no light at the end of the tunnel.
LaShawna, I'm sure what you said is correct, but I just don't trust CBS and after what they were willing to do to the show because of the spin-off, I just don''t trust them and would put nothing against them.
Please vote in the polls!
http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/
I meant to say would put nothing past them.
They have never treated this show with the respect and support it deserves regardless of the fact this show has outperformed some of the networks crappiest shows that do get that respect and support, shows that have not come close to what CM has done. They have already demonstrated in many ways that they are willing to throw this show under the bus.
I voted Criminal Minds Fan! Thanks for putting the poll up.
Voted!
CBS, needs to stop treating this show like it has no significance. They need to pay these actors the money they deserve to get paid instead of the garbage I know they are getting paid now. We don't need new nonsensical characters, we need the characters that have always worked and make sense. Invest in them instead of rushing out and adding characters that don't make sense for the show.
I would not take it as a given that CBS will automatically do what most sensible people would do and that is look at the fact that the show is successful, that they can't really afford any more losses to the show, and that they should do the right thing and give these actors the pay they deserve. CBS does not have a good history with this and unfortunately CM has never been part of the "chosen" group CSI, NCSI. In their hubris, they could come back season 7 with a whole new crop either believing in their delusional minds that this will work, or saying in the end something like "this show was just too expensive to keep on the air," which they have done before with other shows.
CASSIE:
http://yfrog.com/froggy.php?username=annafleiner
this is from a user whom I thinks is someone from the CM makeup department
XOXO
Ugh, I just wrote up a nice review on the episode and received an error when I clicked on publish my comment.
I will try again but in multiples.
Dingbat (that would be me) hit the wrong button the DVR and lost the first 5 mins of the episode. It started with Emily sitting her apt in the dark. I assume she was watching the door for the guy, afraid he was coming for her. This is why she was tired/late in the morning and snapped at Morgan.
Many things to love about his episode. It was good one.
Loved how the unsub died. Loved the final look of grossed-out-ness Hotch had at the accident scene.
Loved having Reid back and liked that he picked up twice that his fact giving was being received well.
Like that Garcia's role was reduced a litte. There was just the right mix of fun/wittiness in this episode.
Loved that Morgan did the press conference and how they incorporated it.
Liked the interaction and realization (of smell) between Emily & Morgan in the taxi.
edit to above --- Reid's fact giving was NOT received well
What I didn't like about the episode was no closure/continuation of Reid's headaches. This was frustrating. Also didn't like that Mr/Dr Coffee Drinker is suddenly drinking tea. They made us watch him prepare the tea yet no other BAU colleague comments on his change of habit. My co-workers would be all over me if I did something like that.
Sorry, one last thing...
So far, for our year of secrets only Emily Prentiss has a good one.
I lied, I have more comments...
Loved the end when Emily thanks Reid for being Reid. You get the feeling she is saying goodbye/I love you just in case she doesn't see him again. I almost cried.
Another plus for this episode is the inclusion of a cat. Any scene with a cat is plus in my book.
I also saw the web articles about TG & SM's contracts being up for renewal and MGG seeking more $. CBS, please know that all four of the guys are awesome actors and bring in different audiences (both male & female/young & old). The show would not be the same without them or without the mix of them. Fans can only take so much change. Please keep them and keep them happy so they stay.
Isn't CBS the network that pays Charlie Sheen $1m+ per episode? Give CM the support you give to Two & Half Men and they can rake in the big bucks for you too. They have the goods to do it.
Nadine I am not sure how long American Idol will have two hour episodes, but I'm thinking at least through March. Seems like they don't go back to one hour until they get down to the final 12?
After rewatching CM (which is the first time I've done it this year, except for only watching the Reid parts of Corazon) I am surprised Prentiss would sit with her back to the window. Unless she wasn't on the ground floor.
I read somewhere that Prentiss will be the season finale cliffhanger since it is uncertain if she will return or not, but if her last episode airs March 16th, not sure how that would happen.
I don't blame Paget for telling Tassler & CBS to stick it, but I wish she would change her mind and return next season!
Rosie, I think Prentiss did that because she put the perfume bottles (I think they were perfume bottles) on the window, so if anybody tried coming in threw the windows (the only other way in) she would hear them.
Yes, contract talks are still early yet, but CBS has a lot of tricks up their sleeves and I would not put it past them to try and shaft one of the men, no matter how popular they are.
CBS needs to get a gripe, pay TG, SM, and MGG the money they know they should be giving them. Plus, they need to sweeten the pot for Paget. Paget, please stay! I know she got worked by the network, but her fans love her and the show really needs her. I will support anything she decides to do, but I really hope she will come back for season 7.
Season 7 I am hoping to see Hotch, Garcia, Rossi, Reid, Morgan, and definitely Prentiss (would be lovely if JJ were back, but I sadly I don't think that will happen). By now, I think that it has been fairly established that the Seaver character was ill-conceived and thus should not go past this season. It is not the actresses fault, it is just the way they wrote that character.
Oh, and yes, I voted :)
Never mind....I just noticed the exit door when Prentiss opened her door, so she obviously is not on the ground level.
I should have written "grip" instead of "gripe." Guess I was too focused on the gripe that I have with CBS that I wrote that instead of grip, :)
I wonder why the names of Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson are not together in the poll. I thought it was about sending a message to CBS and not about a competition between the actors. The message that this poll is sending to CBS is that the CM fanbase is divided. It will probably encourage CBS even more to ignore the fans . Shrugs.
Just when I thought CBS couldn't get any stupider.... If they think that this show will survive even a few episodes into the next season without Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore, they are smoking something more powerful than what any medical clearance can allow them to buy in California.
What is their obession with tinkering with this show? Didn't they do enough when they let go of many of the show's strongest writers at the end of season 4? Guess not, because then they went ahead and fired AJ Cook. But wait, I guess even those two things weren't enough because then they had to mess with Paget Brewster so badly that she wants to run as far away from them as possible. To further compound their stupidity, they add the most ridiculous new character to the show possible. A freaking cadet whose father is some serial killing psycho gets to join the BAU and start profiling even though she has no credibility whatsoever to do so based on how the show has run for all of these seasons, yeah, not even a 5 year old would believe that storyline.
CBS needs to get the hell out of messing with this show. CBS needs to also start treating the actors on this show with the respect that they have earned all of these years busting their humps to make this a successful show. I know that Paget is probably beyond done with CBS, but I sincerely hope that she will come back season 7, as well as Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore. What I emphatically do not want to see season 7 is the Ashley Seaver character. This is not a personal dig against the actress, it is the character of Ashley Seaver that makes no sense and is insulting to the majority of the Criminal Minds viewers.
CBS do what has to be done to keep this show afloat!
CM.Lover - Thank you so much! You are awesome and I appreciate it.
While I agree that CBS has done some incredibly dumb things with regards to this show, like firing AJ and reducing Paget, I truly believe the blame for Ashley is laid squarely at Ed's feet. This character was his concotion from the beginning as he wanted to do a Clarice Starling-type character with a serial killer father. He's the one who wrote her first episode and set up her ridiculous back story. And I believe he wanted this character as a series regular from the get go. Hate on CBS all you want (and I'll join right in with you), but I truly don't believe that Ashley was a character forced upon the show by the network executives, but rather eagerly sought after by Ed. And I hope they realize how ill suited Ashley is to the team and she does not return for season seven.
Hi LaShawana! You are totally right. While there is a lot to hate on CBS for, one of those things is not Seaver. All the network did, as far as I know, was give the ok for a character that Bernero created and put on the team. They basically went on his creative recommendation as showrunner for this show. I think some people may not know this and think that CBS had more to do with the Seaver character than they did so it is good to clarify that point here.
I too hope that they realize how ill-suited Seaver is for the show and not have the character come back for season 7. It may be wishful thinking on my part, but I really hope that Paget reconsiders staying on for season 7. Sense Memory, which I enjoyed by the way, showed how well this team can operate with just Hotch, Reid, Rossi, Morgan, Garcia, and Prentiss. However, the episode also clearly highlighted, I believe, once again the role the JJ character played on the show. If there were anyway possible, which I don't believe there is, I so wish the network would snag AJ Cook back up for season 7. She truly is missed and needed in many ways on the show.
I really hope to see a seventh season for C.M.
And it would be awesome if it could include our whole team : Hotch, Rossi, Morgan, Reid, Prentiss and JJ.
Maybe I'm asking for too much, but I would love to see the whole cast back.
Paget and AJ : we love you and hope to see you back on Criminal Minds !!!
And I agree with some of the posters who talked about romance : please, DON'T bring romantic storylines in the show.
It's not a soap opera, and I don't watch it to see one of the characters randomly hooking up with someone he/she just met.
There are much more interesting things to show about our beloved characters.
What I love is the interaction between the team members, and the "family feel" of the team.
That has more depth than any kind of romance that could be written for one of the characters.
Elisabeth said...
"I really hope to see a seventh season for C.M.
And it would be awesome if it could include our whole team : Hotch, Rossi, Morgan, Reid, Prentiss and JJ.
Maybe I'm asking for too much, but I would love to see the whole cast back.
Paget and AJ : we love you and hope to see you back on Criminal Minds !!!
And I agree with some of the posters who talked about romance : please, DON'T bring romantic storylines in the show.
It's not a soap opera, and I don't watch it to see one of the characters randomly hooking up with someone he/she just met.
There are much more interesting things to show about our beloved characters.
What I love is the interaction between the team members, and the "family feel" of the team.
That has more depth than any kind of romance that could be written for one of the characters."
I'd like to just say a big emphatic YES to all Elizabeth said in her post. I too don't wish to see romance storylines on CM. One of the many reasons I love CM is because there isn't any of that soap opera-y stuff on the show. Another reason is the "family feel". I was so delighted to see this back in this week's episode. I really hope that the family aspect is back for good. I've missed it a lot.
And I'd also like to echo the many wishes here for S7 to be about the old team - Reid, Hotch, Morgan, Rossi, Prentiss and, please CBS bring her back, J.J.
Oops...sorry...I forgot to add Garcia to my list. I'd love to see S7 being about Reid, Hotch, Morgan, Rossi, Prentiss, J.J... and Garcia.
Forgot to add Garcia too in my post, and of course I didn't mean too.
So I would love for Hotch, Reid, Rossi, Morgan, Prentiss, JJ and Garcia to be there for the seventh season.
I love the adition of seaver. Can't wait to see her back on the next episode. Really don't get why nobody here likes her. yet she is winning over more and more CM famns on twitter and some other tv forums. Glad she has become a regular on the show. And it would onlt be right to have her with the team in the coming seasons as well. Because now she is part of the team and thats how its supposed to be
There is no question about it she will get more and more that love her when she is a more establised character right now she is very new only in 3 episodes
Throughout the years, I think it has been more than established that network executives are driven more by ratings and advertisement dollars than by characters and storylines. If a character and/or storyline is bringing in the revenue, they will jump on that. According to that logic, then, one would think that TG and SM will have no problem sailing into season 7 with nice contracts in their pockets. The problem is that unlike stand alone shows where the expectation to perform is limited solely to that show, CM has been used to further a "franchise" model that has become par for the course when dealing with crime dramas at most major networks (most definitely CBS). Now CBS has this "shiny" new CM spin-off that they have poured multiple resources into and come hell or high water, it must succeed for them. Unfortuantely, from what I've seen, there isn't much enthusiasm in the world of TV critics (and certainly among fandom) for this spin-off. Ironically, most of what I've seen asks the same question "Why was CM made into a spin-of?" This is a question that I too have asked myself as I believe CM is unique, basically a stand alone show among the many crime dramas streaming past our screens.
If the spin-off were to flop, then not only would that be a significant loss to the network, but then that would mean that CM may perhaps not be spin-off "worthy" for the network in the future, and a crime drama that is not spin-off "worthy" is less than desirable for most networks nowadays. Connecting this back to TG and SM, if they come to the table and request a pay raise that I believe they are personally long overdue for, they all are, and the spin-off hasn't performed the way the network had expected, what do you think the chances are of them getting anywhere near what they may ask for salary wise. In my opinion, from the networks perspective, if the spin-off has not delivered then it may be a case where nothing further can be extracted from CM. Certainly, the prospect of fashioning another spin-of from CM if CMSB fails is doubtful at best (who is going to want to invest in that venture), so, then what is left. What is left is a crime drama that the network may have to accept cannot be used to further their "franchise" empire, and networks don't do well in accepting things.
Do they pay out what TG and SM (and from what the article states MGG as well) want being that the long term projection may be that nothing may be able to be spun from CM? I'd say that is suspect at best. Because while CM is successful, I believe that in order for it to be considered a viable long-term investment for the network the ability for it to be cloned must exist.
continued....
I think it was a mistake for CBS to spin-off CM. CM, I believe, is a stand alone crime drama like "The Closer," no spin-off necessary. Also, there is nothing particularly appealing about the spin-off that would drive me to watch it. Yet, CBS moved forward with their plan to, as Paget so wonderfully said "cannibalize" the original to create a spin-off nobody thought was a good idea.
Where does that leave CM now? I don't know. This show has taken so many blows writing wise, loss of actors, and now the addition of a new character that it is obvious is not making any headway because of the way it was written (certainly not making any headway for me). AJ's firing and Paget's possible departure from the show I am sure is writing a lot of things on the wall for the actors that are left on the show. Now is definitely the time for them to hit CBS in the pockets, but perhaps they may have also hit the point to where if they don't get what they are asking for they are going to walk. Because for many years, they have not been given pay raises, let alone any recognition or respect from the network for all of the hard work they pour into producing episodes of CM for them. I'm sure none of them wants to leave, but I am sure none of them wants to continue being used by the network and being stripped of writers and critical cast mates like AJ Cook and Paget Brewster.
We will all have to wait and see what happens, but I for one am not taking it as a given that these contract talks will be smooth sailing for TG and SM, especially considering that we are talking about CBS.
I agree with Helena. We are all against the spin-off but if you think about it, the succession of that show is good for the original as well. New viewers watching the spin-off may become curious and start watching the original as well. I think we just don't want it to outshine the original and get all the resources CM should be receiving.
There wouldn't be a spin-off if CM was unsuccessful. If it was a flop, maybe CBS will assume that no more can money can be made off of the original CM and become less interested in it. It's all about money at the end of the day. It's all about Neilson ratings as well. As far as I know, the ratings are based on what the sample group is watching and not all of us. So all of us could boycott the spin-off but if the sample group is still watching, the ratings could still do well.
I'm actually pretty confused because I want the spin-off to fail because I feel like they are getting preference by the execs over the original. Another part of me knows that the spin-off was only made because Criminal Minds is so successful. If the spin-off fails, maybe CBS will assume the Criminal Minds is not as profitable as they thought.
I just read the blog above about characters not returning to the show next season and i am outraged! Basicly they are just getting rid of every character!!! SO MAD!!!
So funny that Tom just posted that comment because I just read two comments on another forum from people who spoke on the influx of CM Tweets. The first one is from someone with the screen name "blue133,"
"Personally, I am becoming a bit weary of all of the tweets from various sources at Criminal Minds. In the beginning of this Criminal Minds "Tweet-Fest," I said to myself, "Oh, how nice, some pictures from the set." But soon thereafter, a wave of pictures were being sent from the set, some from the actors, most from make-up artists. Then entered the tweets from the new actress who tweeted how she was being "hated on" by some Criminal Minds fans, followed by tweets from her make-up artist asking people to stop hating on the new actress and to not blame her for what happened to AJ Cook and Paget Brewster, and on and on and on. It was perplexing to me that such an inordinate amount of time and attention was being placed on what appeared to me to be a campaign to garner sympathy for the new actress from the new actress herself and her make-up artist. Not to mention the infamous Twitter "RAD" commentary from the new actress regarding Paget's final episode the day it was suggested that Paget was leaving the show. I was not, and am still not, interested in Twitter pity parties or slips of the tongue.
In my opinion, Twitter is a great marketing tool for actors and shows. What better way to potentially reach hundreds, if not thousands, of fans with "late breaking news" and Kumbaya- type pictures of all of the actors on the set. I'm not implying that there isn't a great deal of love among cast mates and crew. I'm sure that the cast and crew have a great deal of respect andlove for one another. My point is that I believe that this sudden stream of tweets not only coincides with February sweeps, but also, in my opinion, is sort of a PR tool for a show that has suffered a lot of set backs in recent months. As such, I think that people should digest all of the tweeted images and news with a grain of salt.
Will Paget Brewster decide to return for season 7 of Criminal Minds? Will the Seaver character still be bopping about the BAU in season 7? What about the fates of Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore? I think these questions and concerns are better left addressed in an arena where more than 140 characters are allowed to answer each question and concern.
Just my opinion..."
The second one is from someone with the screen name "tellygirl,"
"Blue133, I've started feeling the same way about the recent "Tweet-Fest". The fact that Rachel Nichols comes across as a lovely person shouldn't change the fact that her character, Ashley Seaver should not be in the BAU. Personally, I wouldn't even want someone without qualifications and experience to cut my hair no matter how nice they are, so how am I supposed to find it acceptable for an inexperienced cadet to make such an easy transition to an elite team where any errors could mean the difference between life and death? The recent Tweets and hugathon pictures have done nothing to change my mind, in fact they are having the opposite effect, I feel that they are trying to use Rachel's likeability to distract the fans from the fact that the character is ill conceived but I'm sure the writers will do everything they can to convince us that we're wrong, and I wouldn't be surprised if Seaver ends up saving Emily in episode 18."
Cont.....
Those two comments struck me because I too have been wondering what is going on with all of these tweets. I'm not saying they can't tweet, or that it isn't nice to see pictures from the set, it is just the timing and the volume are a bit much. Plus, to tellgirl's point, I do believe that in some way they are trying to use Twitter as a way for people to accept the Seaver character on CM. No doubt, Rachel is a lovely person, but that has nothing to do with the disaster that is the character she is playing on CM. Also, unfortunately for CM, Twitter probably only captures a small fraction of the people that watch CM and those people, probably like me, are not going to be swayed by tweets but rather what is shown on screen and sadly this character is just a fail from the get go. A cadet sailing into the BAU is never going to work no matter how many times this character pops up on the screen. This is not the fault of the actress, the character is just not a good one, and in my opinion should not return for season 7.
Like tellygirl, these tweets are having the opposite effect on me.
I don't have a Twitter account so I can't speak to what has been written about Twitter, but I do go to quite a few forums and I get the overwhelming sense that the Seaver character is not being accepted as a credible character for the show. Unless there is a forum out there that I don't know about, that is the sense that I get.
I don't trust CBS and certainly would not be surprised if they refused to give TG and/or SM what they wanted contract wise.
Criminal Minds Fan, thanks for putting up the poll. I voted.
I'm stil not watching the spin-off because the set-up for it in the episode the Fight was horrible, not something that I would care to spend an hour on watching. Also, in all likelihood, I am not part of the sample group whose viewership will determine whether the spin-off is a success or not. Even if I were, I still wouldn't watch it.
I think that what CBS did to CM because of the spin-off was not only stupid, but unnecessary and tragic. Honestly, I don't know why they made a spin-off of CM. I wish networks would just invest their time and efforts into producing original quality shows instead of knock-off's.
Not trying to be negative, but I would not surprised if another cast member were to leave by the end of the season. Frankly, the decisions that have been made lately with the show have been poor. Poor decisions starting back from the end of season 4 when writers were let go, then AJ getting axed, Paget's got one foot out of the door, and now the show sadly believes that this crazy cadet Seaver character will fill in the gaps.
This is what happens when network execs come out of their "ivory towers" and start sticking their noses where they don't belong, it is also what happens when not enough care is taken by developers of the show's characters to consider what will work for the premise of the show.
I agree whole heartedly that the spinoff was a bad idea. I am curious what the exact premise for this BAU team will be, but not curious enough to actually watch it. From the beginning of the show, the team we see every week was supposed to be it. Now in reality there is a East BAU team and a West BAU team focusing on different regions of the states. But everything I read about the spinoff gives the impression they are some sort of BAU "black ops" team, which is flat out ridiculous. The BAU catches criminals with the power of their brains. I suspend enough disbelief when watching the original to just accept the fact that the TV BAU team goes on raids. I get that it would be dull to watch what the BAU actually does every week. But you can only suspend credulity so much, and I think the spinoff has reached that point.
I also agree with the assessment of the ongoing Criminal Minds Twitter Fest. Now don't get me wrong, I love the pictures and tidbits coming out in these tweets, particularly the ones about Matthew (of course I do! :)) But I do get the sense that the show is trying to get us to accept Ashley by making us like Rachel. Ed did the same thing once, when asked about the viewers' reservations about the character. He essentially said that anyone who doesn't like Ashley are still pissed over JJ's departure. He begged viewers to give RACHEL a chance and told us how huge of a Criminal Minds fan she is. I agree that Rachel seems very likable as a person, but people who like the character of Ashley, usually cannot say why they like the CHARACTER and why she is a good fit for the show. They just point to how cool Rachel is. If you want us to like and accept the character, you have to give good reasons why we should and not use Rachel's likability to shore up a weak character.
@Lashawna
But she has only been on 3 episodes it is to soon to form an opinion on her. Besides she didn't even have much screentime up until now.
I think we will grow to like her and i think soon she will become a more central person on the show and then she will fit way more with the team. Like Rossi he also was not liked at first. But that was also because he was new like Seaver. Like Rossi she will also win the hearts of the viewers i know it. Just have to give it time like all new characters need.
I think she will become a great addition to the Criminal Minds BAU team
Anna, the problem is not that the fact that she has only been in 3 episodes thus far, the problem is her character. This is something that has been repeated here over and over. A cadet with no quantifiable skills and experience to be on an elite amd specialized team like the BAU is just not reasonable.
From the very beginning, the show has stressed over and over how elite and specialized this team is and that only the best of the best with years of experience in their respective fields could become members of the team. Of course, the obvious exception is Reid who was allowed in because of his exceptional genius (a 1 in a million type genius). With that background in play, how can viewers now be expected to believe that a cadet, a cadet, can just waltz on in there without even a dash of the qualifications that any of the other team members possess. That is just not possible, believable, and quite frankly, it is insulting.
Also, I must disagree with you regarding screen time. The first episode this character was in was almost exclusively all focused on her, unfortunately, to her detriment because it highlighted how woefully unqualified she is to be a part of the team. The second episode showed that as well, and by the third, the writers took her to a level that was just insane. Her giving part of the profile with the team in the Corazon episode was just ridiculous!
Yes, sometimes new characters have a hard time in winning people over, but the problem with comparing Seaver to Rossi and/or Prentiss is that unlike those characters, Seaver has no justifiable way to be on the team. None at all! If she were half way believable as a character, I would be open to the Seaver character's presence on the show, but this character is not believable at all and that irritates me to no end because I despise that the show is trying to get me to buy something that simply cannot be.
As a viewer I am willing to accept fictional circumstances to a degree, but this goes way beyond that point.
@Maribel
Well i am definitely willing to give Seaver more time. And i hope others here will as well.
trueCMfan said...
“And I doubt that paget Brewster would come back if AJ Cook isnt part of the deal. i heard they were best friends... props to AJ for coming back at all though. She must have done it for the fans and for Paget. And props to Paget for sticking it to CBS because they deserve”
zagi said…
“I wonder why the names of Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson are not together in the poll. I thought it was about sending a message to CBS and not about a competition between the actors. The message that this poll is sending to CBS is that the CM fanbase is divided. It will probably encourage CBS even more to ignore the fans .”
I have to take issue with these two posts because there appears to be a desire to connect the individual livelihood and the existence of the actors to the misnomer of the ensemble nature of the characters they play.
Just because AJ and Paget are friends doesn’t mean and shouldn’t mean that Paget should tie her livelihood and decisions to the travails of a friend; and that friend should not expect or accept such a sacrifice. We work beside friends and sometimes relatives at various organizations, the expectation shouldn’t be because my friend got fired, or my cousin got fired; I’m now going to quit; or that I will not accept a position unless you give my girlfriend or uncle a job too.
I’ve been in the business world for many years and that logic has never played itself out in any organization I worked for or with. And I don’t believe a true friend would place that kind of burden or expectation on another friend. Paget should not leverage her value to pressure TPTB to change their minds about AJ; and AJ should not expect or allow her to. No other cast members is expected to tie their livelihood to another cast mate’s; and they are not expected to make those kinds of stipulations as a part of any negotiating strategy. It’s immature, shortsighted and unreasonable. Friendship should be given freely, not with the expectation of unrealistic sacrifice to prove one’s loyalty.
The same case can be made for zagi’s comments about the way the CMF Blog poll was set up. Yes, it could have been done with the two actors together; but, I have no issue with the separateness of the polls, because these polls are not about a composite group like the boy bands of their day, for example, the Beatles, the Backstreet Boys, or the Jonas Brothers. The polls are about the individual actors, who live separate and distinct lives and play separate and distinct characters. How fans feel about them as individuals is just as or more important than grouping them together under the guise of some artificial ensemble. As I’ve said before CM is an ensemble simply for argument sake, in reality there is a hierarchy. If it weren’t, then what happened to AJ and Paget also would have happened to the male members of the cast. Everyone would be paid the same and everyone would get equal billing. That’s not the case. They each have to leverage their own value and negotiate as individuals for the best outcomes. They don’t all get to go into the room together and negotiate for a pot of money that they all split equally. Maybe if they were a singing group they would; but these are individual actors who are entitled to what they as individuals can get out of TPTB.
Wow, whomever voted saying they would watch the show without Shemar, or Thomas....
Way to give the network even more fuel to mess with this show.
Maybe next season we won't have JJ, Prentiss or Morgan or Hotch.
Hey, Maybe next season, when that spin off FAILS big like it should, one of those incompetent misfits will be taking his place.
Thanks guys. Go watch Two and a Half Men now
This episode was a great improvement on the violence depicted in the last few. Violence was kept to a minimum while excitement was still sky-high -- I loved it.
Whatever happened to that new girl to replace JJ? She was introduced but then she kind of faded into the netherworld?
Loved it.
Felt more like "classic" CM than anything in the past few months.
Yay, the old CM is back! :) Really liked the ep, the team, the suspense and the wonderful character moments that make CM so special for me.
Poor Emily, I really hope she comes out of this alive. Wonder when Hotch is going to confront her? He must know something is off because he has lived in fear long enough.
Best ep of this season so far... :)
Just trying to clarify...
What I meant was that Hotch would know the signs because he has been through a similar experience when the Reaper was hunting him.
Late to the game … but thought I would still post … and then I read LaShawna’s post, so I won’t go into it a lot of detail, particularly given that I agree 100% so ditto LaShawna
Was nice to see the strong Emily as we know her & she seemed totally in control, when they were discussion the case there was a moment that I felt Hotch noticed something not quite right with Emily and I was hoping that he would say something, and so yes as much as the team interaction was great I would have loved to see more. This is something that I have missed so much this season, and this is the first time in a while that I felt they connected as a team which seamlessly flowed into the case.
Most certainly was a glimmer of hope after the gloom of some of the previous episodes, there is sill hope for CM, looking forward to the developments of the Prentiss story & hoping that she will return for S7 together with the old series regulars.
And I have to say it … loved Reid …. 498.3 … says it all ;)
Post a Comment