Fall TV Spoiler Spectacular: Exclusive Scoop...

PREVIOUSLY ON... | Prentiss (played by Paget Brewster) left, again, to head up the London Interpol office. JJ and Will got married. Good times!

COMING UP NEXT | Things pick up three months later, after Morgan (pulling special duty at the Olympics) and Garcia (tagging along) have helped Prentiss settle into her new flat.

Read the whole scoop on tvline.com.

The Silencer: Promo

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” –Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) talk as they investigate the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” –Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) talk as they investigate the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – JJ (A.J. Cook) looks after the baby of a victim as Hotch (Thomas Gibson) discusses the victim’s murder, who is left behind with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

"The Silencer" - JJ (A.J. Cook) ponders the evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” –Hotch (Thomas Gibson), newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and JJ (A.J. Cook) look at evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – Newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) helps investigate the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – (seated, left to right) JJ (A.J. Cook), Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Morgan (Shemar Moore, standing) go over evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – (seated, left to right) JJ (A.J. Cook), Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) and Morgan (Shemar Moore, standing) go over evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – Newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) discusses evidence with the team as they investigate the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

“The Silencer” – Rossi (Joe Mantegna) and JJ (A.J. Cook) discuss evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

"The Silencer" - “The Silencer” – Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness) makes a point as newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) looks on when the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

"The Silencer" – Morgan (Shemar Moore) flashes a smile to his BAU team members during their latest investigation, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Sonja Flemming/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

The Silencer: Promo Picture

"The Silencer” – JJ (A.J. Cook), Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and newest BAU member Alex Blake (Jeanne Tripplehorn) look at evidence as the BAU investigates the murder of a victim with the trademark handiwork of the UnSub “The Silencer,” who leaves behind victims with his unique trademark of sewing their mouths shut, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS © 2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Press Release: The Silencer

THE BAU IS CALLED TO TEXAS TO SEARCH FOR AN ESCAPED KILLER KNOWN AS “THE SILENCER” AS THE TEAM WELCOMES ITS NEWEST MEMBER INTO THE FOLD, ON THE EIGHTH SEASON PREMIERE OF “CRIMINAL MINDS,” WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26

Emmy Award-Nominated Actress Jeanne Tripplehorn Joins the Cast as Linguistics Expert Alex Blake

CHEAT TWEET: The BAU gets 2 know its newest member – #JeanneTripplehorn joins cast on 8th season premiere #CriminalMinds 9/26, 9pm! http://bit.ly/NeEd4j

“The Silencer” – When a Texas prisoner escapes during a transfer, he leaves behind victims with his unique trademark, sewing their mouths shut, a signature the BAU remembers as unique to the UnSub “The Silencer.” While they investigate who he was and who he's become, the BAU also gets to know the newest member of the team, on the eighth season premiere of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Sept. 26 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. Emmy Award-nominated actress Jeanne Tripplehorn joins the cast as linguistics expert Alex Blake, the newest member of the BAU team.

SERIES REGULARS:
Joe Mantegna (David Rossi)
Thomas Gibson (Aaron Hotchner)
Shemar Moore (Derek Morgan)
Matthew Gray Gubler (Dr. Spencer Reid)
A.J. Cook (Jennifer “JJ” Jareau)
Kirsten Vangsness (Penelope Garcia)
Jeanne Tripplehorn (Alex Blake)

GUEST CAST:
Jayne Atkinson (FBI Section Chief Director Erin Strauss)
Troy Michael Kotsur (John Myers)
Sam Hennings (Marshall John Tilghman)
Ray Mirabal (Mitch Gregory)
Tracy Fraim (Kevin Jenson)
Julia Silverman (Dr. Janine Ainsworth)
Matt Beck (Tyler Parker)
Brian Slaten (Danny Tucker)
Meagan Campbell (Laura Tucker)
Bianca D’Ambrosio (Kelly Tucker)
Jessica Ires Morris (Julie Myers)
Kayla Tabish (Girl at Rest Stop)
Aidan Collins (Young James)
Jarrod Bailey (Teenage James)

WRITTEN BY: Erica Messer, one of the series’ executive producers
DIRECTED BY: Glenn Kershaw