CRIMINAL MINDS SCREENCAPS FOR "THE BIG WHEEL"

Criminal Minds screencaps for "The Big Wheel" written by Simon Mirren and starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness are courtesy of Keren.

CRIMINAL MINDS SCORES WELL ON THURSDAYS TOO!

Criminal Minds scored big with rerun of "Brothers in Arms" written by Holly Harold, pictured above with director Felix Alcala on the set of Criminal Minds,"House on Fire."

CBS won the hour with a Criminal Minds repeat, which with an audience of 10.34 million performed 38 percent better than time-slot predecessor Harper's Island (now airing on Saturdays). Private Practice was No. 1 the demos, and wrapped up its second season with 9.85 mil, up 7 percent. http://www.tvguide.com/News/Ratings-Greys-CSI-1005665.aspx

CRIMINAL MINDS SCORES WELL WITH CANADIANS

Sonja Flemming/CBS ©2009 CBS BROADCASTING INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Criminal Minds: Canada aired Criminal Minds several hours early this week. Lucky Canadians. Top 10 television programs in Canada for the week of April 20-26:

1 "American Idol" (CTV, Tuesday) - 2,306,000
2 "Amazing Race 14" (CTV, Sunday) - 2,178,000
3 "Criminal Minds" (CTV, Wednesday) - 2,104,000
4 "Grey's Anatomy" (CTV, Thursday) - 2,054,000
5 "American Idol" (CTV, Wednesday) - 1,987,000
6 "Desperate Housewives" (CTV, Sunday) - 1,615,000
7 "Survivor: Tocantins" (Global, Thurs) - 1,588,000
8 "CSI" (CTV, Thursday) - 1,559,000
9 "Fringe" (CTV, Tuesday) - 1,457,000
10 "Two and a Half Men" (CTV, Monday) - 1,361,000

Above picture: "The Big Wheel" -- Agents Rossi (Joe Mantegna, left) and Morgan (Shemar Moore, right) investigate a serial killer who sends a videotape of one of his crimes to the BAU in an effort to stop his own crime spree.

CRIMINAL MINDS: JOE MANTEGNA GOLFS FOR CHARITY. :)

Criminal Minds: Joe Mantegna, David Rossi on Criminal Minds, will be taking part in the Second Annual National Kidney Foundation Celebrity Golf Classic later this week. Here are the details:

Hosts George Lopez & Stewart Rahr will be joined by celebrity golfers including Alfonso Riberio (Fresh Prince of Bel-Air), Alyssa Milano (Charmed), Andy Garcia (The Pink Panther 2), Anthony Anderson (The Departed), Bill Bellamy (Last Comic Standing), Chris Webber (Former NBA Player), David Leisure (Young & the Restless), Grant Show (Melrose Place), Jerry Ferarra (Entourage), Joe Mantegna (Criminal Minds), Kelly Slater (Pro Surfer), Kellen Winslow II (NFL Player), Kevin Sorbo (Hercules), Len Goodman (Dancing with the Stars), Luke Wilson (Battle for Terra), Michelle Kwan, Rod Carew (Former MLB Player), Rodney Peete (Former NFL Player), Susie Castillo (Former Miss USA), Tim Allen (Toy Story 3), and many others.

http://www.worldgolf.com/newswire/browse/58447-GEORGE-LOPEZ-HOSTS-SECOND-ANNUAL-NATIONAL-KIDNEY-FOUNDATION-CELEBRITY-GOLF-CLASSIC

CRIMINAL MINDS HEADING TOWARDS "TO HELL AND BACK"

Photo: Vivian Zink/ABC Studios ©2009 ABC Studios. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Criminal Minds: "To Hell...And Back" - The BAU (from left) Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Paget Brewster, and Thomas Gibson) tracks a serial killer who chooses junkies, prostitutes and the homeless off the streets of Detroit as his victims and takes them across the border into Canada, and an agent's life is in peril, on the two-hour, fourth season finale event of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 20 (9:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

Criminal Minds calendar for May is courtesy of Cerine. May is our last month of new Criminal Minds episodes until season five starts. Four more episodes left.

5/6/09 "Roadkill"
5/13/09 "Amplification"
5/20/09 "To Hell and Back, Part 1"
5/20/09 "To Hell and Back, Part 2"

CRIMINAL MINDS OVERNIGHT NIELSEN RATINGS

Criminal Minds: Here is some overnight Nielsen ratings info for "The Big Wheel" written by Simon Mirren, pictured above in the Criminal Minds writers' room.

"American Idol" did its normal "American Idol" thing in the 9 p.m. hour, delivering a 13.0/20 for FOX. CBS' "Criminal Minds," featuring guest star Alex O'Loughlin, was second with an 8.4/13. The 100th episode of "Lost" on ABC had a 5.5/8. Repeats of "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" on NBC and "90210" on The CW trailed.

http://www.hitfix.com/articles/2009-4-30-tv-ratings-no-obama-no-problem-for-fox-wednesday

CRIMINAL MINDS REMINDER: BROTHERS IN ARMS TONIGHT

Criminal Minds schedule reminder. Tonight "Criminal Minds" at 10pm est. since CBS has is moving "Harper's Island" to a new time slot on Saturdays.

"Brothers in Arms" written by Holly Harold and directed by Glenn Kershaw. Starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness. -caps courtesy of Keren

Brothers in Arms" - A BAU case hits close to home for Morgan, who was a cop before joining the team, when a serial killer specifically focuses on members of the police force in Phoenix, Ariz.

CRIMINAL MINDS SPOILER THREAD FOR "THE BIG WHEEL"

Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminal Minds spoiler thread for "The Big Wheel" written by Simon Mirren and starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness.

**Beware! Spoilers will be in the comments. **

CRIMINAL MINDS QUOTES FOR "THE BIG WHEEL"

Criminal Minds quotes for "The Big Wheel" written by Simon Mirren, starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness and guest star Alex O'Loughlin.

"No matter how dark the moment, love and hope are always possible." George Chakiris

"In order for the light to shine so brightly, the darkness must be present." Francis Bacon

CRIMINAL MINDS: ED BERNERO & DIRECTOR ROB HARDY ON THE SET OF "THE BIG WHEEL"

Criminal Minds: Exec. Producer Edward Allen Bernero and Director Rob Hardy on the set of "The Big Wheel." Written by Simon Mirren. Another wonderful episode of Criminal Minds!

CRIMINAL MINDS RATINGS FOR THE WEEK ENDING APRIL 26TH.

Criminal Minds: Here are the Nielsen ratings for the week ending April 26th. Congrats to Deb Fisher and Erica Messer on their top ten episode, A SHADE OF GRAY. Congrats Criminal Minds!

1. "American Idol" (Tuesday), Fox, 23.96 million viewers.
2. "American Idol" (Wednesday), Fox, 23.95 million viewers.
3. "Dancing With The Stars," ABC, 20.53 million viewers.
4. "Dancing With The Stars Results," ABC, 14.73 million viewers.
5. "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," CBS, 14.64 million viewers.
6. "Criminal Minds" special, CBS, 13.72 million viewers.
7. "Desperate Housewives," ABC, 13.64 million viewers.
8. "Grey's Anatomy" ABC, 13.51 million viewers.
9. "NCIS" special, CBS, 12.65 million viewers.
10. "The Mentalist" special, CBS, 12.46 million viewers.

CRIMINAL MINDS SCHEDULE PRESS RELEASE

Criminal Minds: Here is the latest CBS press release regarding Criminal Minds taking "Harper's Island" time slot this week.

The following episode of CRIMINAL MINDS has been substituted for the programming previously scheduled for April 30) -- THE BAU TEAM HUNTS FOR A SERIAL KILLER WHO IS TARGETING COPS ON THE PHOENIX POLICE FORCE, ON A REBROADCAST OF "CRIMINAL MINDS," ON A SPECIAL NIGHT AND TIME, THURSDAY, APRIL 30, 10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT

"Brothers in Arms" - A BAU case hits close to home for Morgan, who was a cop before joining the team, when a serial killer specifically focuses on members of the police force in Phoenix, Ariz., on a rebroadcast of CRIMINAL MINDS, on a special night and time, Thursday, April 30 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. (Originally broadcast 12/10/08)

GUEST CAST:
Jordan Todd............................... Meta Golding
Commander Marks.................... Joe Regalbuto
Lt. Evans................................. Mark Pellegrino
Playboy..................................... Guillermo Diaz
Officer Ron Mercer..................... Bo Foxworth
Sgt. Manny Rodriguez........... Roberto Sanchez
Officer Tom Kayser............... Jake McLaughlin
Officer ............................. Alexander Bedria
Officer Mark Cunningham.......... Shane Conrad
Morgan's Dad............................... Keith Burke
Young Morgan.................... Sterling D. Ardrey
Punk....................... Christopher Guckenberger
Cop......................................... Andre Ellingson
Sgt. Selby................................. Charles Hoyes
Sergeant Daws........................... Roddy Jessup
Sharpshooter.............................. Zokai Holmes
Bartender............................. Kevin Scott Allen
Fight Club Captain......................... Doug Jones
Police Operator.......................... Maria Russell
Maggie Cunningham................... Hollis Doherty
Sam Cunningham.................. Dylan Sprayberry
Father................................... Darrell Bryan
Scrappy Boy #1............................. C.J. Brown
Scrappy Boy #2.......................... Reed Harper

WRITTEN BY: Holly Harold
DIRECTED BY: Glenn Kershaw

CRIMINAL MINDS: CBS PRESS RELEASE FOR "THE BIG WHEEL" WITH GUEST STAR ALEX O'LAUGHLIN

Photo: Monty Brinton/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminal Minds: CBS press release for "The Big Wheel" starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness.

THE BAU TEAM RECEIVES A VIDEOTAPE FROM A SERIAL KILLER TRYING TO STOP HIS OWN CRIME SPREE, ON "CRIMINAL MINDS," WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29 -- Alex O'Laughlin ("Moonlight") Guest Stars as the Unsub

"The Big Wheel" - When the team is sent a videotape from a serial killer detailing one of his crimes, they discover a hidden message asking them to help him stop his murderous ways, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, April 29 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

GUEST CAST:
Vincent................................... Alex O'Laughlin
Det. Lynne Henderson............ Erika Alexander
Kate............................. Martha Anne Madison
Stanley Wolcott............................ Jake Cherry
Michelle.......................................... Jill Klopp
Alice.......................................... Giselle Jones
Carl............................... Quentin Prescott Price
Jay...................................... Terrence Edwards
Fairground Worker................... Rick A. Young
Young Vincent............................. Neil Ironfield
Sid.......................................... David J. Wright
Kim......................................... Rebecca Avery
Eric.......................................... Kyle Templin
WRITTEN BY: Simon Mirren
DIRECTED BY: Rob Hardy

Criminal Minds - Preview: The Big Wheel

Criminal Minds video clip from "The Big Wheel" courtesy of CBS. When the team is sent a videotape from a serial killer detailing one of his crimes, they discover a hidden message asking them to help him stop his murderous ways, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, April 29 on CBS.

CRIMINAL MINDS RERUN REPLACES 'HARPER'S ISLAND' ON THURSDAY NIGHT

Criminal Minds: 'Harper's Island" fails to perform! Yeah for Criminal Minds!

CBS will fill the Thursday 10 p.m. slot this week with a repeat "Criminal Minds," and next week with a repeat "CSI." On Thursday, May 14, Eye will air the season finale of "CSI: NY" in the slot.

"CSI: NY" moves to Thursday from its usual Wednesday spot that week because the Eye will now air the two-hour "Criminal Minds" season finale from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m. on May 20. "Minds" was originally set to run 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. that night - but with President Obama holding a press conference this Wednesday, Eye suddenly had to push Wednesday laffers "Old Christine" and "Gary Unmarried" a week.

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118002887.html?categoryid=14&cs=1

CRIMINAL MINDS: HAPPY BIRTHDAY ANN!

Criminal Minds: Please join me and the moderators of the Criminal Minds Fanatic blog in wishing Ann a very Happy Birthday! Ann is pictured above on the set of Criminal Minds! Happy Birthy impychick!

CRIMINAL MINDS BLOG NOTES: THE BIG WHEEL, HIATUS & TWITTER

Criminal Minds blog notes: I hope everyone had a great weekend. This week's episode of Criminal Minds is "The Big Wheel" written by Simon Mirren and guest starring Alex O’Loughlin. The Criminal Minds moderators were on the set while this episode was being filmed and this is not an episode to miss. It is going to be wonderful!

Criminal Minds' cast and crew are now on hiatus. I hope they all have a wonderful vacation. They've worked especially hard this season and deserve this break. Have fun folks!

I'm having lots of fun twittering. Please let me know if you are twittering as well. I am criminalminds on twitter.

Have a great week everyone!

CRIMINAL MINDS SCHEDULE FOR THE REMAINDER OF SEASON FOUR

Criminal Minds schedule for the remainder of season four. We still have five original Criminal Minds episodes on CBS and reruns will continue all year long on A&E. Criminal Minds rules!

4/29/09 "Scared to Death" A&E
4/29/09 "The Big Wheel"
4/30/09 "Scared to Death" A&E
5/6/09 "Roadkill"
5/13/09 "Amplification"
5/20/09 "To Hell and Back, Part 1"
5/20/09 "To Hell and Back, Part 2"

CRIMINAL MINDS SCREENCAPS FOR "A SHADE OF GRAY"

Criminal Minds screencaps for "A Shade of Gray" written by Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer and starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Matthew Gray Gubler and Kirsten Vangsness are courtesy of Keren.

CRIMINAL MINDS: THANK YOU TO DEB AND ERICA

Criminal Minds: Thank you to Deb Fisher, pictured on the set of "A Shade of Gray" with Director Karen Gaviola, and Erica Messer for joining us in the Criminal Minds Fanatic chat room this evening. It was wonderful to discuss the episode with them and to get to say goodbye to Deb Fisher! Thanks ladies.

CRIMINAL MINDS: JOE MANTEGNA INTERVIEW

Criminal Minds: Joe Mantegna, David Rossi on Criminal Minds, has a wonderful interview in 'A.V. Club' this month. It is interesting to read why he decided to name his Criminal Minds character David Rossi. Here is a snippet and the link:

Criminal Minds (2007-present)—“David Rossi”
JM: It’s my third series, and I finally got one that seems to be successful, with some longevity to it. It’s a great group of people, great group of writers. Again, it’s based on real people. I spent some time at Quantico, went down to FBI headquarters in Washington, and met some of the real people and some of the guys who work with us as technical advisers. I have tremendous respect for what these people do. I think of being an actor as a blue-collar profession. In other words, you just get out there and do it. And very often, even in movies, you can spend a lot of time sitting in a trailer waiting for them to set up, you know, a special-effects shot. When I did Baby’s Day Out, it was a lot of fun, but with those kind of pictures, it’s almost the more money they spend on them, the more time you wait to do the work. It’s just the nature of the business. So the actual time you’re acting is miniscule compared to the time you’re getting ready to do the work. The big difference on series television is, there’s not a lot of hanging-out time. You’re pumping those pages out, you’re doing six, seven, eight pages a day. And I like that pace. It’s a little more what I’m used to, it’s a little more like the theater. I feel like “This is what I’m being paid to do, let’s do it.” I’m not being paid to sit around and chat, you know, have coffee, and then just say four words and come back tomorrow and do take two. So I kind of like that.
I look at Amber Tamblyn, who was so brilliant on Joan Of Arcadia, and I figure where she probably got her chops was working eight years on a soap opera, where she had to learn reams of dialogue every day and run through every kind of emotion at the drop of a hat. And it gave this girl such depth as an actress, you know, so that’s an example of that. If you can do series television well, and not walk your way through it, do it as high a level as you can, and if the writing is good, if the people running it know their shit—which in this case we do, Ed Bernero who runs the show, and everybody involved—it’s very rewarding. And I like it. I got a chance to name this character after a real person, a policeman named David Rossi who was the first guy to testify in the O.J. Simpson trial. I thought he got piled on by O.J. Simpson’s lawyers at the time. So I thought “Someday I’m gonna name a character after this guy.” He went up in his dress blue uniforms and testified for two days. And I thought “What integrity.” For two days, this guy just got beat up—and all he did was answer the phones—and it’s obvious the defense is just gonna beat this guy up and try to hang the LAPD over the fact that this fuckin’ idiot murdered his wife. To me it was a joke. And so because of it, I named him after this guy, and he found out through surreptitious methods, and we became great friends. ’Cause he was so flattered that I had done that.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/joe-mantegna,26934/

CRIMINAL MINDS: DIRECTOR KAREN GAVIOLA & IAN WOOLF ON THE SET OF "A SHADE OF GRAY"

Criminal Minds: Director Karen Gaviola and 1st AD Ian Woolf on the set of "A Shade of Gray" written by Deb Fisher and Erica Messer. Ms. Gaviola did a terrific job directing her first Criminal Mind episode. I hope that she directs a few more Criminal Minds episodes for us. She has a keen eye.

Karen Gaviola's IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004610/

Ian Woolf's IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0941147/

CRIMINAL MINDS OVERNIGHT RATINGS FOR "A SHADE OF GRAY" & "THE CROSSING"

Criminal Minds overnight ratings info for "A Shade of Gray" and "The Crossing" both written by Deb Fisher and Erica Messer. Directed by Karen Gaviola, pictured above with members of the Criminal Minds crew. Great night for Criminal Minds in the ratings.

At 9, a "Criminal Minds" rerun on CBS had 9.8 million fans and ran second to Idol. A "Lost" clip show pulled 6.6 million to ABC.

At 10, a new "Criminal Minds" arrested 13.5 million for CBS. A "Law & Order" repeat on NBC ran second with 6.1 million. ABC's "Unusuals" had just 5 million takers.

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2009/04/american-idol-outdistances-everything-wednesday-night.html

CRIMINAL MINDS: BEHIND THE SCENES OF "A SHADE OF GRAY"

Criminal Minds: Behind the scenes pictures from the shooting of "A Shade of Gray" written by Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer. Pictured above are cast members Shemar Moore and Paget Brewster with Deb Fisher, direcor Karen Gaviola and various Criminal Minds crew members.

"A Shade of Gray" - When profiling a series of child abductions and murders, the team discovers that one of the cases may not be the handiwork of the serial killer they apprehended."

CRIMINAL MINDS SPOILER THREAD FOR "A SHADE OF GRAY"

Criminal Minds spoiler thread for "A Shade of Gray" written by Debra J. Fisher, pictured on the set with Matthew Gray Gubler, and Erica Messer.

"A Shade of Gray" : When profiling a series of child abductions and murders, the team discovers that one of the cases may not be the handiwork of the serial killer they apprehended.

** Beware of spoilers in the comments **

*** Quote info will be posted after the episode airs on the east coast ***

**** Last chat with Deb Fisher and Erica Messer is on Thursday ****

CRIMINAL MINDS QUOTES FOR "A SHADE OF GRAY"

Criminal Minds quote info for "A Shade of Gray" written by Debra J. Fisher, pictured above hard at work during filming of the episode, and Erica Messer. The last Criminal Minds episode written by the Gruesome Twosome. Sad news for all CM fans!

Quotes:
"To lose a child is to lose a piece of yourself." - Dr. Burton Grebin

"Without a family, man, alone in the world, trembles with the cold." - Andre Maurois

CRIMINAL MINDS FANS SAY GOODBYE TO DEB FISHER

Criminal Minds: Co-Executive Producer and writer Debra J. Fisher, pictured above with 1st AD Ian Woolf, has left Criminal Minds to move on to other projects. Please join me and the moderators of the Criminal Minds Fanatic website and blog in thanking Deb for her remarkable contribution to Criminal Minds these past four years and wishing her great things in the future. Criminal Minds just won't be the same without her!

CRIMINAL MINDS SEASON FOUR FINALE

Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Criminal Minds: "To Hell...And Back" - Agent Rossi (Joe Mantegna, left), Agent Hotchner (Thomas Gibson, right) and the BAU track a serial killer who chooses junkies, prostitutes and the homeless off the streets of Detroit as his victims and takes them across the border into Canada, and an agent's life is in peril, on the two-hour, fourth season finale event of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 20 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CRIMINAL MINDS PRESS RELEASE FOR "TO HELL AND BACK"

Photo: Michael Yarish/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

THE BAU FACES ONE OF ITS TOUGHEST CASES YET WHEN A PROLIFIC, BORDER-CROSSING SERIAL KILLER LEADS THEM ON A HUNT INTO CANADA, AND AN AGENT'S LIFE IS IN PERIL, ON THE TWO-HOUR, FOURTH SEASON FINALE EVENT OF "CRIMINAL MINDS," WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

"To Hell...And Back" - The BAU tracks a serial killer who chooses junkies, prostitutes and the homeless off the streets of Detroit as his victims and takes them across the border into Canada, and an agent's life is in peril, on the two-hour, fourth season finale event of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, May 20 (8:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

PART ONE WRITTEN BY: Chris Mundy
PART ONE DIRECTED BY: Charles Haid

PART TWO WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY: Series Executive Producer Edward Allen Bernero

GUEST CAST:
William Hightower........................ Sharif Atkins
Charles Porter......... Christopher Guckenberger
Motel Clerk................................. Scott Lincoln
Border Agent #1...................... Brandon Taylor
Border Agent #2...................... Gavin McClure
Officer Jeff Bedwell.......................... John Lacy
Daniel....................................... Jessie T. Usher
Sheri the Hooker....................... Erin Anderson
Unsub........................................... Paul Rae
Det. Benning............................... Rowena King
Maxine Hightower................... Vernee Watson
Walter Patterson........................... William Belli
Vicki...................................... Krystal Marshall
Kelly...................................... Lily Kershaw
Mason Turner......................... Garrett Dillahunt
Burt Lang...................... Benjamin Byron Davis
Constable Cassar....................... Casey Nelson