CRIMINAL MINDS: AJ COOK INTERVIEW

Criminal Minds: AJ Cook has revealed that she considered turning down the opportunity to return to Criminal Minds.

The actress told TV Done Wright that her "defences were way up" after she was previously dropped from the show.

Cook admitted: "I had to think long and hard on it. My ego gave the initial response, which was 'No way'... and I had to talk myself off the edge a little bit."

However, Cook revealed that her brief absence from the CBS drama now feels like "a distant memory".

"It all just seemed like a bad dream," she said. "It feels like I never even left. It's great to be back with the family."

Cook also claimed that her character JJ will have a more vital role on Criminal Minds in future, having switched positions from media liaison to profiler.

"I wasn't going to go back if we couldn't figure out a way to use her properly," she said. "She's there because she belongs there now! That grey area is gone and it feels really good!"

The seventh season of Criminal Minds begins on September 21 on CBS.

http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a336896/aj-cook-almost-turned-down-criminal-minds-return.html

CRIMINAL MINDS: THOMAS GIBSON TALKS SEASON SEVEN

Criminal Minds: It's time to play a little catch-up with San Antonio celebrities. Here goes:
Though I hear Monte Vista resident Thomas Gibson has been spotted picking up groceries at the Olmos Park H-E-B, it took a visit to L.A. for me to get a little one-on-one time with the Criminal Minds star.
He prefers to keep his profile low here, he has said, in order to lead a quiet life with his family: wife Cristina and their three children. At a CBS party, however, he did chat a bit about his new contract and season seven of Criminal Minds, which premieres Sept 21.

Several fans had told me they were on pins and needles until mid-June when Gibson, who has played FBI agent Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner from the beginning, finally negotiated a new contract. He said he's glad, mainly because the cast of Minds is "such a great group of people." As for the new season, Gibson said: "It's going to be great. The show has a new energy and a new outlook."

The first episode will pick up some "unfinished business from last year that needs to be wrapped up," he added.

That unfinished business involves Paget Brewster, whose character, Emily Prentiss, was thought to be dead by most of the BAU team; Hotch and J.J. (A.J. Cook) were the only ones who knew she was alive. They had created the ruse, you see, to throw off a vicious criminal determined to kill her. She returns to feelings of shock and betrayal in the season premiere, however, when other team members realize that J.J. and Hotch had kept such an important secret from them.

Incidentally, Gibson's new contract seems to have netted the actor a nice raise. According to this week's TV Guide, he now earns $120,000 per episode - a solid increase from last year's reported salary of $100,000.

http://www.mysanantonio.com/entertainment/entertainment_columnists/jeanne_jakle/article/Jeanne-Jakle-Thomas-Gibson-is-ready-to-take-care-2137851.php

CRIMINAL MINDS PRESS RELEASE FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

THE BAU MEMBERS FACE QUESTIONING BY A SENATE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR ACTIONS TO AVENGE THE LOSS OF PRENTISS, BUT AN UNEXPECTED FAMILIAR FACE KEEPS THE TEAM UNITED, ON THE SEVENTH SEASON PREMIERE OF "CRIMINAL MINDS," WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 21

Paget Brewster Returns as Emily Prentiss and A.J. Cook Returns as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau

Mark Moses (“Desperate Housewives,” “Mad Men”) Guest Stars as Cramer, a Member of the Senate Committee Interrogating the BAU


“It Takes a Village” – The BAU team is at a crossroads as they are questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions in the wake of Prentiss’ loss, but an unexpected familiar face could help them win their case and keep the team together, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Paget Brewster returns as Emily Prentiss and A.J. Cook returns as Jennifer “JJ” Jareau. Mark Moses (“Desperate Housewives,” “Mad Men”) guest stars as Cramer, a member of the Senate committee interrogating the BAU.

SERIES REGULARS:
David Rossi............................. Joe Mantegna
Aaron Hotchner....................... Thomas Gibson
Emily Prentiss........................ Paget Brewster
Derek Morgan.......................... Shemar Moore
Dr. Spencer Reid........... Matthew Gray Gubler
Jennifer “JJ” Jareau..................... A.J. Cook
Penelope Garcia.................. Kirsten Vangsness

GUEST CAST:
Erin Strauss........................... Jayne Atkinson
Cramer........................................ Mark Moses
Chloe Donaghy.......................... Ursula Brooks
Lachlan McDermott......... Robin Atkin Downes
Declan.................................... Conrad Bluth

WRITTEN BY: Executive Producer Erica Messer
DIRECTED BY: Glenn Kershaw

CRIMINAL MINDS PROMO PIC FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

Criminal Minds: "It Takes A Village" -- Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness), JJ (A.J. Cook) and Morgan (Shemar Moore) are questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions in the wake of Prentiss' loss, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CRIMINAL MINDS PROMO PIC FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

Criminal Minds: "It Takes A Village" -- Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) and Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler) talk as the BAU team is questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions in the wake of Prentiss' loss, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CRIMINAL MINDS PROMO PIC FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

Criminal Minds: "It Takes A Village" -- Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) attempt to locate a suspect, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Paget Brewster returns as Emily Prentiss and A.J. Cook returns as Jennifer "JJ" Jareau. Photo: MATT KENNEDY/CBS ©2011 CBS BROADCASTING INC. All Rights Reserved.

CRIMINAL MINDS PROMO PIC FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

Criminal Minds: "It Takes A Village" -- FBI Section Chief Director Erin Strauss (Jayne Atkinson) is concerned when the BAU team is questioned by a Senate Committee for their retaliatory actions in the wake of Prentiss' loss, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CRIMINAL MINDS PROMO PIC FOR "IT TAKES A VILLAGE"

Criminal Minds: "It Takes A Village" -- Prentiss (Paget Brewster) and Hotchner (Thomas Gibson) are questioned by a Senate Committee for their actions surrounding Prentiss' assumed death and disappearance, on the seventh season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 21 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

CRIMINAL MINDS GUEST STAR INFO

Andy Milder to Guest Star on Criminal Minds. He made a surprising appearance on Weeds a few weeks back (above) and now Andy Milder is set to make an unusual appearance on Criminal Minds.

The actor will guest star on a fall episode of the CBS hit as a mentally-challenged character named Cy. Look for this man to play a key role in a BAU investigation that centers around a creepy thief. Criminal Minds returns for season seven on September 21st.

http://www.tvfanatic.com/2011/08/andy-milder-to-guest-star-on-criminal-minds/#ixzz1VP5DF3e3

Kirsten Vangsness is dancing as fast as she can

Criminal Minds: Great interview with Kirsten Vangsness:

AE: So what's happening for Penelope on Criminal Minds this season?
KV: We're on episode 3 and I'm working a lot, so I'm really grateful for that. I love the people I work with so it's so great to be able to be with them because a lot of times, in episodes past when I just work one day and I'm just in my office, I don't get to see them. And when I do, it's always like first day of school because they all have inside jokes from last week and I don't know what's going on, they're all trying to catch me up and it's weird. I love them and so I know that episode 8 is all about Penelope.

It's just fun. It's so great to have everybody back and it's a really good job. It's kind of weird because I know it now so well and I haven't done anything this long so it's Season 7 and so many episodes. I'm so grateful on this train, I will stay on this train as long as the train runs.

AE: Are you excited that AJ and Paget are back?
KV: I love them so much. I'm so excited! It all worked beautifully because Rachel [Nichols] is there, she was wonderful. Now she's on the cover of Maxim and Conan's coming out and I know she's in Detroit right now doing a movie, and she's rising like a Phoenix. I always said about those girls, and I meant it and it's true: They will rise like Phoenixes. In my dreamiest world, I never thought they would be back and now they're back and because of that break, all these changes happened with them and their characters are different so that's cool.

CONTINUED HERE: http://www.afterellen.com/people/kirsten-vangsness-is-dancing-as-fast-as-she-can?page=0,1

The Women of Criminal Minds Celebrate: The Band Is Back Together!

Criminal Minds: What’s old is new again — and improved — on CBS’ Criminal Minds, which on Sept. 21 will enter its seventh season armed for bear, with both A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster restored as series regulars.
At a Television Critics Association soirée last week, TVLine huddled with Brewster and Kristen Vangsness (aka Prentiss and Garcia) to cheer on Minds‘ fan-facilitated reunion, when before you knew it Cook (who plays JJ) joined in the revelry as well [see photo]. You kinda had to be there to feel the love going ’round, and that’s what I hope this transcript of our festive four-way delivers.
TVLINE | Kristen, did you even get a chance to miss Paget?
KRISTEN VANGSNESS | Yes. Hell yes. I got the chance to miss her in a big, huge way. I was already grateful and appreciative for both her and A.J. I didn’t need to be more so!
TVLINE | What is the feeling like on the set going into the new season — is it as if you “got the band back together”?
PAGET BREWSTER | It felt like the band’s back together, yeah!
VANGSNESS | For me, having been there, it was sort of like, “Well, that was totally unnecessary.” It was what it was, and it was great to have Rachel Nichols there… [but] now [Paget and A.J.] are back because they need to be back. They’re a huge partt of the show.
TVLINE | Joe Mantegna and I spoke about how the fans’ voices have been heard, which is nice to have happen once in a while.
BREWSTER | And from what I can tell, for maybe the second or third time ever, as far as actually getting a network to change its mind about what it doing. It’s certainly nice being on the good end of that! [Laughs] But yeah, unfortunately a mistake was made when A.J. and I were let go. Rachel [Nichols] did a great job, and then when we were brought back Rachel was let go. So frankly, it was a lot of unnecessary firing, which is a shame, but … Rachel is going to be in huge movies [including Conan the Barbarian, opening Aug.19], she’s on the cover of Maxim, she’s totally hot….

continued here: http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/criminal-minds-brewster-cook-vangsness-preview/

CRIMINAL MINDS SEASON SEVEN SPOILER

Criminal Minds: With Paget Brewster rightfully restored to the cast, the first order of business this season is “resurrecting” Prentiss, whose death was faked so that she could evade arch nemesis Ian Doyle. “The first episode [airing Sept. 21] is about how I have to come back,” Brewster previewed for me, “and people are surprised.” Well, not everyone. After all, both J.J. and Hotch were in on the ruse. As for those left out of the circle of trust, “Some of the gang are peeved,” says Kirsten Vangsness, “but I’m just like, ‘Whee!’ Garcia is happy.” Still, it sounds like Reid, Rossi and/or Morgan might feel snubbed. As A.J. Cook teased (quite dramatically, bless her): “Relationships will unravel!”

http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/matts-inside-line-scoop-ncis-csi-criminal-minds-chuck/

CRIMINAL MINDS: SEASON SEVEN SPOILER

Criminal Minds: One of Agent Rossi’s (Joe Mantegna) three ex-wives will be coming out of the woodwork this season on Criminal Minds.
Homicide Life on the Street‘s Isabella Hofmann has landed a two-episode arc as Rossi’s first wife, new showrunner Erica Messer confirms to TVLine exclusively. “She’s the love of his life,” Messer elaborates. “We’ll meet her in Episode 5″ when she comes to her former hubby for help.

Hofmann’s credits also include JAG, Providence and Dear John. Criminal Minds' seventh season kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 21.

http://www.tvline.com/2011/08/criminal-minds-isabella-hoffman-rossi/

Criminal Minds' Thomas Gibson Arrives at the Annual Press Tour Stars Party.

Criminal Minds' Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, AJ Cook and Kristen Vangsness Arrive at the Annual Press Tour Stars Party!

CRIMINAL MINDS FAN THREAD

Criminal Mind: Is everyone tired of re-runs yet? Lets discuss Criminal Minds and season seven in this thread. Thoughts?

CRIMINAL MINDS ACTORS & FANS WORKING TOGETHER

Criminal Minds: The cast, writers, crew and fans of Criminal Minds first started working together to raise money for worthy charities during the WGA strike years ago. Shortly after that we continued raising money for various charities including the Aids Foundation, The American Red Cross, The American Heart Association, MS and lately the American Cancer Society. The generosity of the Criminal Minds family never ceases to amaze me.

http://shop.ebay.com/bigcmfan1/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=