CRIMINAL MINDS: ERICA MESSER CHAT TRANSCRIPT

Criminal Minds: Transcript of the chat with Erica Messer, showrunner of Criminal Minds held on June 25, 2011.
©2011 CRIMINAL MINDS FANATIC BLOG/WEBSITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Erica_M has joined.

jill: Welcome Erica! We're happy to have you here today to discuss season 7. You have your whole cast back.......that must feel great.

Erica_M: hi there everybody! I'm so so so so so so so so so so so so happy the cast is BACK!

jill: Are you ready for ?s?
Erica_M: absolutely!

jill: Since Thomas Gibson signed his new contract after the writers started working on Season 7, did this affect their writing process or their plotting for the first few episodes of the season?

Erica_M: Great question. Jill knows I tried to remain incredibly positive during that trying time -- so I wanted to move forward believing the deal would be made. We proceeded with stories involving Hotch for that reason. There was a plan B incase it took longer to make the deal, but thankfully we didn't have to go down that road because it felt really foreign to me. done

jill: You mentioned the possibility of a future online chat with the writers? When do you think we might be able to look forward to that chat? Can you tell us anything about the newest writers? :-)

Erica_M: Yes, we should set something up soon before they're all buried in scripts! The new writers are all seasoned storytellers and are fans of the show, which is helpful! I will talk to them on Monday about getting on here to say hello to you all. done

jill: I just wanted to know if MGG would be directing any of the Prentiss returns eps?

Erica_M: MGG usually directs later in the season for scheduling purposes, so no... but the good news in that is it means we've got our girl back in the premiere! done

jill: Do they plan to bring the Prentiss storyline to a head quickly so she can get back to the team?

Erica_M: Yes. The challenge in the premiere was to honor the storylines we created for Prentiss and her departure without repeating episodes 617 & 618. We accomplished that (I believe) without sacrificing story but also without having her just appear in the teaser! done

jill: Where do you want to see CM go this season? Will you take us back to when the cases were the A story?

Erica_M: I want CM to do what it does best. Tell compelling stories about the darker side of the world we all live in... and honor our heroes and their lives while they protect us all. The second part of that question has me wondering why the cases didn't seem like the A-story before. done

Erica_M: Can you explain? done

jill: I think they mean the drama with the actors

Erica_M: OH! That! Yes, I want the drama to be on the screen this season. And it shouldn't have too much to do with outside forces this year. We've been in the spotlight but I want us to rally around the troops and support them on screen as we did off screen. I want ALL of us to have fun again this year because I think we forgot how... done

jill: Not sure Jill will allow this question but will Seaver be back at all or are we done with that character...no offense to Ms. Nichols!!!!

Erica_M: I think I told you guys before that I believe there's a story that's begging to be told about Seaver's dad -- but I don't know when I'll get to tell it. Rachel has been amazing about all of this and has graciously accepted that she's moving on. I was incredibly impressed with her good attitude. done

jill: Jill tweets lots about you and for me, a newbie, it has been eye opening. I didn't know you had been with the show since day one. She says you know these characters better than anyone. That says a lot. Do you feel the new writers will have that type of understanding?

Erica_M: Oh, thanks Jill! She has known me for years and understands that I'm really really REALLY protective of this show (mama bear-like) and of course, the characters. I respect our actors and listen to any and all concerns they have. Their job is to portray someone they've created and our joint-responsibility is to protect those characters from harm. The new writers are getting a crash course in that right now! done

jill: What is your biggest challenge this season since it is your first year of being our showrunner?

Erica_M: Managing my time has been the biggest challenge. I'm sure once production starts and scripts start rolling in I'll have another answer to that question! done

jill: Now that the spin is over will we have more the same amount of Garcia?

Erica_M: Our Lady G will be more present. She's such an amazing actress, I can not get enough of her! done

jill: Erica, speaking of Garcia...I can't wait till you see the pens fans have sent in this year. They have outdone themselves.

Erica_M: Oh! That's great! Can't wait to see them! done

jill: Next ? has to do with loose ends but it was in Spanish

jill: I have tried to translate it as best as I can

Erica_M: Okay...

jill: Will you be able to tie up some of the loose ends from seasons five and six?
jill: I think that is the ?

Erica_M: The biggest loose end is Prentiss and all of the drama surrounding her departure and return, so, yes. I want to know what our team does outside of the BAU. We've come up with some good tidbits about each character. I still need to sit down with Thomas and Shemar since their contracts weren't finished when we wrapped. I think it's important to have the actors in on those conversations because we're all in this together and have to stay true to who we're creating. done

jill: Ed Bernero did cookies for us. Do you know what cookies are and will you be contiuing that tradition?

Erica_M: Oh! And Paget! She wasn't here when we sat down with the writing staff!

Erica_M: Of course! I've baked a few for you myself!

Erica_M: Yes, you can expect those throughout!

jill: Everyone has a favorite character and of course we never agree on who has the most screentime. My questions concerns the ladies. Can we hope they get some great screentime?

Erica_M: Yes Yes Yes

jill: A recent article say that AJ will be changing and her character will be more edgy. Looking forward to that. Any hints????

Erica_M: She's grown a lot since we've seen her and it's a confidence that is earned when you're on your own -- unable to depend on those friends who really had your back. Because Hotch promised he'd never replace her (ep 602, "JJ") and kept that promise, we'd like to see how it works with her as a profiler and her old communications duties will remain divided up among the team. She will not always be the face of the BAU for press conferences, etc. done

jill: Will Breen Frazier be back? Love his episodes. Miss not having him come to chat last season. We always had such a good time with him.
jill: Several people sent in questions concerning Breen

Erica_M: Breen is back and better than ever. He's writing episode 704 and would be happy to chat. I know he's always had a good time with you guys. done
Erica_M: Really? I'll pass that along to him and maybe you can get him in here soon!

jill: Okay, if we can do this in a reasonable fashion I am going to open this up to questions from MODS ONLY.

Erica_M: Yay!
Hardkorr: If i may ask for clarification, Erica
Hardkorr: JJ is coming back as a Profiler now?

Erica_M: She is filling more of that role than any other role she had before, yes.

Hardkorr: That's awesome. She's always profiled just not "officially"

Erica_M: If a stranger watched our show, they'd think she is a profiler. We all know her history and can understand why she's earned this spot.
Erica_M: Behind the scenes, I've wanted us to all have new challenges this season and I think it's great to show that on screen as well. done

00_WatchMod_SSA_Carpenter: Will we be seeing more of Sergio in season 7?

Erica_M: Ha! That's great! Sergio is mentioned in the premiere... is that a spoiler?!

jill: no that is cool

Hardkorr: Well we have Strauss back in Season 7? Will we find out what her secret is?

Erica_M: Yes, she too is in the premiere. I love Jayne Atkinson so much and would really like to see her in our show a bit more. There are hints to her secret in the premiere and we'll discuss when we chat about 701! done

Hardkorr: We love her too. She is the character we all love to hate

Erica_M: Right? Someone here called her Darth Vader! Yep. She is the perfect antagonist.

jill: Thank you for the Jim Clemente and John Douglas chat

Erica_M: Oh my gosh, those gentlemen are such a joy to work with -- haven't met John Douglas yet, but talked to him and hope to see him during his next trip to LA.

Hardkorr: Can you tell us if any interesting guest stars have been lined up yet?

Erica_M: Mark Moses (Mad Men among many other gigs) will be in the premiere. We just started prep and will have a list of guest stars coming our way by the mid of July. Will be sure to let you guys know.

Erica_M: (Jill, let me know if you meet up with JD)

jill: I think we are all meeting at the studio

Erica_M: oh... perfect!

jill: What can we as fans do to help support you this season?

Erica_M: Thanks for asking. Twitter is amazing (from what I understand of it!). These chats keep everybody on the same page and excited about the show that we all love... so we should make a real effort to keep these going. You having our backs while we're in the trenches is so important... your support goes a long, long way. Keeps the troops happy and encourages us to go on. One of our writers ran the LA marathon and said she connected with the crowd the whole time and their cheers made her keep going. That's how I feel about you guys. Your enthusiasm for CM is contagious. And when you're down about it, that's contagious too. So my hope is that you'll all be as excited as we are for season seven!

jill: I can't tell you what but a large group of fanatic fans have a surprise for you while I am there. Our way of showing you our support. We all have a lot of confidence in you and look forward to what your experience brings to the show.
jill: The show is in good hands

Erica_M: Oooooo! I love surprises!
Erica_M: And I have promised to take care of this show -- it's what I signed on for and it's what I plan on doing.
Erica_M: Thanks for your support now... it means the world.

Debbie: Hi! Just two comments, if I may…I’m so excited about you being our showrunner! and having everyone at home again! I would love to see more of the science of profiling - kind of like when the show began. I miss that.

Erica_M: Thanks for your kind words. I'm excited too! Our challenge with the science of profiling is that we don't sound repetitive. We're always looking for new disorders and conditions that we can dive in to... Yeah! I know Debbie
jill: Any more mod ?s

jill: Okay I am going to open ?s up to the room. ONE at a time

cmwinner: Just for clarrification, is Seaver's character only going to be mentioned in the premiere as to where she is or will we see her at all?

Erica_M: is my answer to that a spoiler? We will not see Seaver in the premiere
robinotl: Will we be seeing more of Kevin (Garcia's boyfriend)? I kind of miss their interchanges.

Erica_M: We'll see Kevin a few times this season... they're really cute together. Loved them in the finale. done

Sherry_Belle: hello, in the last chat, you said that you would check into letting us watching eps online...what's the status on that?

Erica_M: Ah! Sherry Belle! Thanks for reminding me. I'm putting it on my list right this second. Sorry!!!

Erica_M: Oh, hi Reid Fanatic. Yes, we will have more Reid. He's got a great arc this season.

diamondclear: Hi Mrs. Messer! This is great to have you here! My question is...Will we see Hotch really deal with losing Haley? And Jack's adjustments?

Erica_M: I'd love to see how he's been coping with that major loss... and Jack... it's one of the topics to discuss when the writers meet with Thomas.

Cephalophile: Thanks for being here! Any chance of seeing Jane Lynch, despite her many other obligations?

Erica_M: Yes!!!!!
Erica_M: The current Reid arc that's being developed involves Jane... done

sdwally: Wiil we have more Hotch this season than in Season 6? He seemed to be under-used in Season 6?

Erica_M: Yes, more Hotch.

oceanblue78: Season 6 focused more on the unsub I think, will season 7 focus more n the team and their realtions?

Erica_M: Yes, the premiere will get that ball rolling and I'd like to continue that journey throughout the season. We've earned that after this long!

psycheek: How many episodescan we expect this season?

Erica_M: We've got an order for 22. Will let you know if it becomes 24.

007luvscriminalminds: Okay. Thanks. Will we see Will and Henry this season? I missed them last season.

Erica_M: We will see JJ's home life this season... really want to see Henry

Hardkorr: Will he still be played by AJ's son?

Erica_M: I've got a meeting with Glenn Kershaw -- our producer/director who's directing the premiere -- in a little while, so I should start saying bye soon...

Erica_M: yes, hardkorr! AJ's son is Henry

jill: Lets let Erica go with out thanks

Erica_M: Thank you all so so so much. I'm really looking forward to spending more time with you all this season. Have a great weekend everyone and thank you for spending some of your Saturday with me!

Erica_M has left

©2011 CRIMINAL MINDS FANATIC BLOG/WEBSITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Shemar Moore Heats Up MAXIMUM FITNESS' July/August 2011 Issue

Criminal Minds: Shemar Moore Heats Up MAXIMUM FITNESS' July/August 2011 Issue. 41-year old Shemar Moore shares his workout tips with his fans in the latest issue of MAXIMUM FITNESS.

CRIMINAL MINDS SPOILER FOR SEASON SEVEN

Criminal Minds: Reprinted with permission from TV Guide. Spoiler info:

Criminal Minds producer Erica Messer has dropped new hints about the show's seventh season.

The CBS crime drama's sixth run concluded with the BAU team facing a financial crisis which threatened to dismantle their operation.

Messer told TV Guide: "All of those threats that were made in the finale, that there might be changes and people were going to move on, have come true to some degree [by the season seven premiere]."

The showrunner also revealed that Morgan (Shemar Moore) will be the first team member to discover that Hotch (Thomas Gibson) and JJ (AJ Cook) faked the death of Prentiss (Paget Brewster).

"You'll learn who's been where and who's been doing what," she said.

Criminal Minds star Thomas Gibson recently struck a last-minute deal to return for the show's seventh season.

It was previously reported that the Criminal Minds writing team had assembled to begin work on new episodes while still uncertain of Gibson's status.

The seventh season of Criminal Minds will air on Wednesdays at 9/8c on CBS in the fall.

CRIMINAL MINDS CHAT WITH ERICA MESSER

Criminal Minds: Erica Messer, the showrunner for Criminal Minds, will be joining us in the Criminal Minds Fanatic chat room to discuss the seventh season of Criminal Minds on Saturday, June 25th at 4pm EST. Please email the Criminal Minds moderators for the password for this chat: cmfchat@gmail.com AND make sure the subject line reads 'request password for the "Erica Messer Chat"

IMPORTANT: the password for the chat will be sent the day of the chat.

CRIMINAL MINDS: THOMAS GIBSON'S MESSAGE TO THE FANS

Criminal Minds: Thomas Gibson has sent a message for me to share with all of you.

I am very happy to be returning to Criminal Minds for season 7. I'm excited about the return of Paget and AJ, as well as the rest of our excellent team. We'll all miss Rachel. She did a great job with a tough task. I know our writers have been busy cooking up some great stories for this coming season, and I look forward to profiling and catching some new bad guys. - Thomas Gibson

**** © 2011 CRIMINAL MINDS FANATIC BLOG/WEBSITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CRIMINAL MINDS: THOMAS GIBSON SIGNS NEW CONTRACT

Criminal Minds: Thomas Gibson, Aaron Hotchner on Criminal Minds, has signed a new contract!! Criminal Minds has their entire cast back together! A great day for fans!!

CRIMINAL MINDS: JOE & GIA MANTEGNA

Criminal Minds: Joe and Gia Mantegna attended the Premiere of Walt Disney Pictures 'Cars 2' at the El Capitan Theatre on June 18, 2011 in Hollywood, California.

CRIMINAL MINDS: JOE MANTEGNA & CARS 2

Criminal Minds: Joe Mantegna, David Rossi on Criminal Minds, and Bonnie Hunt attended the after party for the premiere of "Cars 2" presented by Walt Disney Pictures at the El Capitan Theatre on June 18, 2011 in LA.

CRIMINAL MINDS: SHEMAR MOORE & DAYTIME EMMY AWARDS

Criminal Minds: Shemar Moore, Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds, will be attending the Daytime Emmy Awards which air tonight on CBS at 8pm EST.

CRIMINAL MINDS: THREE PRINCES IN MONACO

Criminal Minds: Thomas Gibson, HSH Prince Albert II of Monaco and Matthew Gray Gubler attend the Closing Ceremony and The Golden Nymph Awards at the Grimaldi Forum on June 10, 2011 in Monaco.

CRIMINAL MINDS: DIRECTING THE SHOW

Criminal Minds article about directing: When actors step behind the camera to shoot an episode, it’s twice the work—and twice as rewarding On a soundstage in Hollywood, veteran actor David McCallum reaches into a corpse and pulls out a gushy-looking organ. Kidney? asks his NCIS co-star Michael Weatherly. Liver, McCallum responds, plopping the glob onto a scale.

As the scene ends, instead of standing in his place on the set with the rest of the cast to see if the scene needs another take, Weatherly dashes over to a TV monitor and watches a playback. Print it,” he declares, and the crew moves on to the next shot.

Wait a minute—is this guy an actor or the director? Today, on set of the episode called “One Last Score,” he’s both.

“I was so excited to get to work, I actually had to go for a run this morning to burn off some energy,” says Weatherly, the latest member of an elite group: actors directing episodes of their own shows.

continued here: http://www.cbs.com/originals/watch_magazine/article/?id=59134

Criminal Minds: Thomas Gibson attends Photocall for 'Criminal Minds' during the 51st Monte Carlo TV Festival on June 8, 2011 in Monaco.

Criminal Minds: Matthew Gray Gubler attends "Criminal Minds" photocall during the 51st Monte Carlo TV Festival at the Grimaldi forum on June 8, 2011 in Monaco.

CRIMINAL MINDS: SHEMAR MOORE & HIS AWESOME ABS

Criminal Minds: Shemar Moore, Derek Morgan on Criminal Minds, strolls a Miami beach on Tuesday, June 7th, 2011.

CRIMINAL MINDS: THOMAS GIBSON & MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER IN MONTE CARLO

Criminal Minds: Actors Matthew Gray Gubler (L) and Thomas Gibson who star in the television series "Criminal Minds" pose during a photocall at the 51st Monte Carlo television festival in Monaco June 8, 2011

Criminal Minds: Joe Mantegna had a street named after him in Cicero, IL.

CRIMINAL MINDS: A.J. COOK AT THE NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT

Criminal Minds: A.J. Cook, JJ on Criminal Minds, participating with the "National Memorial Day Concert.

-Photos courtesy of Colleen

CRIMINAL MINDS: JOE MANTEGNA AT FALLEN WARRIORS WREATH-LAYING CEREMONY

Criminal Minds: Joe Mantegna this morning at the "Honoring Our Fallen Warriors Wreath-Laying Ceremony" event.

-photo courtesy of Colleen

CRIMINAL MINDS: ERICA MESSER'S INTERVIEW WITH TV GUIDE

Criminal Minds: Erica Messer, showrunner of Criminal Minds, talks to TV Guide about season seven. Reprinted WITH permission from TV Guide.

-The news that Paget Brewster will return to the cast of Criminal Minds in Season 7 gave many fans reason to cheer. But executive producer Erica Messer's reaction was more a sigh of a relief.

Paget Brewster returns to Criminal Minds; Rachel Nichols to exit.

And for good reason. Messer, who will officially handle showrunner duties this season, is coming off a Season 6 that was rocked by the never-fully-explained cutting of two fan favorites, Brewster and A.J. Cook, from the cast. But with both women now back on board, Messer says she's excited to move forward.

"It feels rewarding," she tells TVGuide.com exclusively. "This team works well together and now we can get on with telling the stories that have kept us going for six seasons.

But the good news for Brewster means bad news for Rachel Nichols, who will not return full time next season after recurring this past year. Below, Messer discusses that painful decision process, how the return of Brewster's presumed-dead character, Emily Prentiss, will affect the team, and the power of the Criminal Minds fans.

TVGuide.com: What are your plans for reintroducing Prentiss to the team?

Erica Messer: This will be the first order of business on Tuesday. The writers will be back and we will officially dive into Season 7.

TVGuide.com: Will she have changed any since we last saw her?

Messer: Absolutely. No one goes into hiding and comes out unscathed. She has been in defensive mode for months now. She'll be exhausted and will have to face the family to explain a few things.

TVGuide.com: Starting with the fact that she's alive! What will the team reaction be, given that many of them believe her to be dead?

Messer: There will be a lot of tension. Hotch [Thomas Gibson] and JJ [Cook] kept a big secret from the team. Ultimately. those kept in the dark will forgive the others when they find out Prentiss is alive.

TVGuide.com: What can you say about letting Rachel Nichols go?

Messer: It wasn't an easy decision and it took a village to make it. Having eight characters on Criminal Minds seemed unlikely. Rachel is a real trouper and a pro. She walked into an incredibly difficult position and handled it with grace. The cast felt she fit in — we're actually a funny group off-camera — and she will be missed by all of us who worked with her everyday.

TVGuide.com: Will she appear in any capacity to wrap up her character's story?

Messer: As storytellers we hate leaving threads undone. Creatively, there's more to explore there. I won't know for a bit if that's a possibility.

TVGuide.com: What's the latest on Thomas Gibson's contract?

Messer: [He's in] ongoing negotiations that I hope close soon. I have visions of the premiere in my head, but would feel better knowing he's back.

TVGuide.com: So, do you have a theme for next season at this point?

Messer: Our theme hasn't been discussed yet, though right now it seems like surprises await all of us, on-screen and off. So maybe there's something in that.

TVGuide.com: Looking back at last season overall, how did the cast changes detract from the original goals?

Messer: The cast issues gave us unexpected story lines, and I think we handled that the best we could. The goals for the season were altered, but the theme of secrets had been set and our Prentiss storyline reflected that in every possible way — before, during and after her battle with Ian Doyle [Timothy V. Murphy].

TVGuide.com: Do you want to do come back bigger and bolder than ever this year?

Messer: Having the band back together is in itself a huge victory and should give everyone a sense of security. Once that's established, we can get our heroes back to solving twisted tales.

TVGuide.com: How much did the fan outcry play into bringing back A.J. and Paget?

Messer: Our fans are some of the most loyal I've ever known. And they're not shy. Their love for our show and investment in the characters is beyond encouraging. If they're enthusiasm helped everyone see how important the unity of our team is, fantastic.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-Paget-Brewster-1033746.aspx

CRIMINAL MINDS: WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND?

Criminal Minds: What's on your mind? This is a thread for fans to talk about Criminal Minds.

CRIMINAL MINDS: PAGET BREWSTER BACK, RACHEL NICHOLS EXITS

Criminal Minds: Paget Brewster will be returning to Criminal Minds for season seven while Rachel Nichols will be exiting. Wonderful news for all Criminal Minds fans and now we continue to wait to see if Thomas Gibson is also signed for the season.

JOE MANTEGNA & NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT"

Criminal Minds: Emmy Award winner Gary Sinise and Tony Award winner Joe Mantegna will co-host PBS' "National Memorial Day Concert," which will be broadcast live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol May 29 beginning at 8 PM ET; check local listings.

The 90-minute broadcast will feature appearances and/or performances by General Colin L. Powell (Ret.), Kris Allen, Dianne Wiest, B.B. King, Hayley Westenra, Forest Whitaker, Jason Ritter, Daniel Rodriguez, Yolanda Adams and Maestro Jack Everly as well as The National Symphony Orchestra, Military District of Washington, U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Chorus, The Soldiers’ Chorus of The United States Army Field Band, U.S. Navy Band Sea Chanters and U.S. Air Force Singing Sergeants.

The concert is broadcast live on PBS and live via American Forces Network to the nearly one million American service men and women, Department of Defense civilians and their families overseas, stationed at bases in 175 countries as well as 140 U.S. Navy ships at sea.

This year's concert also will include a tribute to our World War II veterans 70 years after the attack on Pearl Harbor and a commemoration of the ten-year anniversary of 9/11.

For more information visit www.pbs.org.

CRIMINAL MINDS: A.J. COOK INTERVIEW

Criminal Minds: TV Guide interview with A.J. Cook, JJ on Criminal Minds, copied with their permission:

She was only on set half a day for the Criminal Minds season finale, but it was still a very sweet homecoming for A.J. Cook. "Everyone was so happy," she tells TVGuide.com. "They were like, 'Finally! OK, good, let's get back to what we do here. We missed you. We're glad you're back.' I love everyone over there. It was so great to see the camera operators and everyone you know and love."

A.J. Cook to return to Criminal Minds

The brief appearance — Cook's bare-legged JJ ("It was so Mrs. Robinson, right?" the actress says) cryptically accepts an offer from Rossi (Joe Mantegna) to rejoin the BAU — was only a guest spot, but the actress will return to the procedural as a regular this fall. CBS dropped her a year ago only to rehire her last month. Fans who launched a tireless campaign aimed at bringing back both Cook and Paget Brewster, who has an option to come back, are excited for Cook's return, but she says it wasn't an easy decision to sign a new two-year deal. See what else Cook, who will appear with Mantegna on Sunday's National Memorial Day Concert special (8/7c on PBS), has to say about her "rollercoaster" year, what's next for JJ and what she wants to make for the fans.

Can you describe what the past 11 months have been like?

A.J. Cook: It's been a rollercoaster ride, just from the shock of not getting picked up to trying to figure out why to never really knowing why. They kept asking me to come back for things, so trying to have closure was difficult. But it's been good. I've been able to focus on things that are really important, like my family, and just get back to acting. It's so easy to get used to playing a role. Then all of the sudden when you're tossed out of it, it's almost like you have to remember how to act again! This whole thing made me remember why I love acting. I've been able to work with some really great people. I'm shooting a really great movie right now [Least Among Saints] and I'm so excited because people have never seen me this way before. That was something that was very important to me, especially since I'm heading back to Criminal Minds. It's been fun and a challenge, and I love challenges.

When did you hear they wanted you back full-time?

Cook: Well, there was dialogue happening for quite some time: "What if...? Would you...?" From Day 1, they've let me know that I've been missed and they want to try to get me back. I knew that they were always trying, but I had to move forward. ... I always knew that it might be a possibility, but obviously until it was real, I didn't want them to keep coming to me. ... They made the offer [last month]. Pretty much when the news hit is when I heard it! I'm amazed by the Internet and how quickly things move. Everything's pretty much dead-on. It's crazy.

Did you say "yes" right away or did you think about it?

Cook: No. [Laughs] I did a lot of thinking and a lot of stressing. At the end of the day, it just happened to be the right decision for my family right now. I guess one thing to make clear to everyone is that I wasn't sitting around waiting for them to come back. I had other offers. There were other things that could've been great, but I wasn't willing to pick up my family and move them out of the country or out of state to pursue something that I didn't completely love. It just made sense for my family and my second family — Criminal Minds! ... I did a lot of talking to several of the cast and producers and writers. ...I am excited to get back there, from an acting standpoint too. I think this is a different JJ than we've seen in the past, so I'm excited to see where she goes.

She seems much more confident. I almost didn't recognize you in Paget's last episode — in a good way.

Cook: I know! Yeah, she's a different woman — a confident, "I've been working in the State Department" woman. But that's what I like. If I was going to come back, I didn't want to go back to what I was because apparently it wasn't deemed important enough to have me there in the first place! [Laughs] I wanted to make sure the character was going somewhere else and was going to be utilized. ... We've been talking a lot, me and Erica [Messer], who's now the new showrunner. ... What I love about them is it's open dialogue. It's always been that way with writers and actors. I guess fans are kind of freaked out that I'm going to turn into this huge ball-buster!

Some think you may be the new Unit Chief.

Cook: I know, right? I have no idea. The new Strauss? I don't know!

Criminal Minds: Will the BAU be split up?

When they wrote you out, they made it seem like there was no other choice but for you to leave. So how are you talking to Rossi behind Hotch's back and accepting an offer he made when there are budget cuts?

Cook: Yeah, I mean, it's one of those cliff-hangers where you're like, "What? Why isn't she talking to Hotch?" I'll tell you why! Joe has a contract and Thomas [Gibson] does not! [Laughs] It's them just covering themselves. I am hoping that everyone comes back and we can make the show that the fans love to see every week. That's what all of our fingers are crossed for.

Will we see more of JJ's family life? Is your son still going to play Henry?
Cook: Well, I pitched it! I'm like, "You know, Mekhai's still available!" [Laughs] He did such a great job the first time and now he's older and wiser! I'm sure we'll make that happen. But we're going to see that come into play this season. We're going to touch on that quite a bit more.

We haven't seen JJ holding press conferences and handling the media in the later seasons like we did in the earlier ones. Are we going back to the old days?
Cook: I'm not sure if she'll be stepping back into that. I'm being so vague! All I know is based on the conversations I've had and I don't want to look like an idiot if I go back to doing exactly what I was doing! "Oh, we just told you that to get you back!" [Laughs] But I think it's safe to say she'll still be the spokesperson of the BAU, but she's going to evolve. ... She was working at such a ridiculous level at the State Department that I think she's coming back ... able to handle a little more. But she's still going to be the nurturer, she's still going to be that JJ that everyone loved.

She and Hotch are in on Prentiss' "death." I feel like that has to be revealed to the team even if Paget doesn't come back. What do you think the repercussions are going to be?

Cook: It has to, right? They've got a lot of balls in the air right now! Poor writers! Bless their hearts. ... But that could turn into trust issues with JJ. I think they would understand. It's so Prentiss can live. There are so many different ways we can take it and go with it. It was excruciating for JJ to have to do that to everyone. ... That tore her up, but I think that shows how much she has grown and is doing her job. It was a kick-ass [exit] for Paget. She did a great job and she deserved that. I had two episodes to say, "Peace out, homies!" I'm so happy that they wrote her this really strong arc. She went out guns a-blazing.

A lot of fans were riled up about Seaver (Rachel Nichols) "replacing" JJ.
Cook: It has nothing to do with her. They were just upset because of the whole situation. The whole thing was crappy and I think they tried to fix a situation too quickly, and I think that rubbed people the wrong way — especially because she sort of looks like me! [Laughs] I honestly haven't been watching, so I don't even know what she did. From what I understand, she's a cadet. I feel for her too because it's a tough situation to walk into. The whole situation is so bizarre for everyone involved and sort of unprecedented.

What do you have to say to the fans?

Cook: I'm so touched that they spoke their minds and reached out to me personally. It made me feel like it's all going to be OK and that these people are going to support me wherever I go. Yeah, they're angry about the Criminal Minds thing, but they truly appreciate me as an actor and a lot of them were like, "We're excited for what you're going to do next." That made me feel really good. I mean, thank you! What else can I say? It was crazy! There was no explanation. ... They decided to make a creative decision and they're allowed to. It's their show. But our fans are so loyal. They love it. I'm so glad they do. Don't mess with the Criminal Minds fans! I'm going to get T-shirts made for them!

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-AJ-Cook-1033482.aspx

CRIMINAL MINDS: PENS FOR KIRSTEN

Criminal Minds: It has been a couple of seasons since we did our last "Pens for Kirsten" campaign so we thought it would be great to do it again now. Fans send a pen (the wackier the better), we collect them, present them to Kirsten Vangsness and then "Garcia" uses them during the season. If you are interested in sending a pen please emails cmfchat@gmail.

CRIMINAL MINDS: IN MEMORY OF ANDY SWAN

Criminal Minds: A message from Erica Messer, showrunner of Criminal Minds, about this evening's season finale and Andy Swan, of blessed memory!

Dear Fans,

As you watch tonight's finale, you'll hear a name that means so much to all of us in the CM family. Andy Swan.

For those of you who don't know, Andy was with us from the beginning of the series. He was Al's right hand man in props and Gubler's counterpart in the 'Matthew Gray Gubler Unauthorized Documentary' internet series. Most importantly, he was a devoted husband and father who was adored by everyone who had the honor of knowing him.

Writing this in the past tense is heartbreaking. Andy died in February just one year after his diagnosis. He had an aggressive form of cancer. One that took him way too soon.

Tonight's finale is dedicated to his memory. There were bigger plans to see his name on screen but they didn't pan out. So... naming a character after him was the only thing I could control. The script had every character saying Andy Swan. The final cut lost a few. I'd love to know how many times it's actually said... maybe we can all listen for it tonight and smile in memory of a great man, a great friend and a father and husband who will be very, very missed.

All of the proceeds from tonight's script will be given to Andy's family.

Thank you again for hanging in there this season.

Happy Hiatus!
Erica Messer

CRIMINAL MINDS SPOILER THREAD FOR "SUPPLY & DEMAND"

Criminal Minds spoiler thread for "Supply & Demand" starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness and Rachel Nichols.

** Beware! There will be spoilers within the comments!

CRIMINAL MINDS: THOMAS GIBSON STILL HAS NO CONTRACT. NERVOUS??

Criminal Minds: As of 10:25am CST today Thomas Gibson, according to his manager, still has no contract. Does it make you nervous that the CBS upfronts are tomorrow and Thomas Gibson still has no contract?

CRIMINAL MINDS CHAT WITH JIM CLEMENTE, BAU FOUNDER JOHN DOUGLAS & ERICA MESSER

Criminal Minds: Transcript of the chat with Jim Clemente, BAU founder John Douglas & Erica Messer held on May 12, 2011.
©2011 CRIMINAL MINDS FANATIC BLOG/WEBSITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Jim_Clemente has joined.

jill: Welcome Jim and thank you for being with us tonight. You have a guest with you tonight and I would love for you to introduce him if you would please. Then I will turn the chat over to our great moderator Kris.

Jim_Clemente: Hello Jill, I do have a very special guest. THE MAN who started it all. The father of FBI Profiling...JOHN DOUGLAS.

John_Douglas has joined.

jill: We are honored to have both of you with us this evening. Welcome John and thank you for being here tonight. When you are ready we will begin.

John_Douglas: Thank you Jill for having me. And thank you to everyone else who is joining us...

Hardkorr: Welcome to you both, it is an honor to have you here!

Jim_Clemente: We are ready... Thanks for joining us

Hardkorr: Jim, I would like to begin first with last night's episode. It was a great episode. Please tell us how you came up with your story idea.

Jim_Clemente: It was a combination of a tragic event in my life and a talk I gave in Jacksonville, Florida.. I was down at the beach working a case and they were doing a beach reclamation project. As I watched the sandy water being pumped out of the pipe on the beach, a worker waded in and pulled out a huge Megoladon's tooth. It struck me that it could have easily been a human skull. That coupled with the fact that My cousin was abducted and killed when I was a teenager. Her case has never been solved. Though I'm fairly certain I know which serial killer was in operation in that area at that time. He's in jail for 183 years so he's not hurting anyone else any more.

Hardkorr: Both of you must have a boatfull of stories to pull ideas from. I hear you two are working on a project together. What can you tell us about it?

John_Douglas: Jim and I are working on a new show for A&E called Profiler. We will be solving real cases in real time. We are working right now with several jurisdictions in the LA area to help them solve difficult and UnSub cases involving violent crimes.

Hardkorr: That sounds very interesting! What is the hardest challenge of putting together a profile and generally how long does it take to come up with one?

Jim_Clemente: A real profile takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 15 months... depending on the circumstances and the amount of information we have. In child abduction homicides, 44% are killed within the first hour, 75% in the first three hours and 99% in the first 24 hours. It wouldn’t make much sense spending a day developing a profile in that kind of case. So, when we get the info, we ask detailed and specific questions about the age, gender, and last known sittings and many times we can tell from that sketchy info, motive, Gender and Relationship of the offender. Also, Profiles always contain the caveat that they are based on the information available to date and are subject to change with additional information. How many times it changes and when that happens depends on what new info we receive. and how often new information develops. In the early days, the originators of the Unit only took cases that were absolutely dead. No more leads and no investigative avenues. Now we take cases in the first instant they are opened (child abductions, serial killers, for example) and we may constantly refine the profile all along the way. The most difficult part is balancing the need for all available information and the need to stop the offender from killing again.

Hardkorr: As viewers we realize that for the sake of entertainment there are liberties taken regarding the actual duties of the BAU. We’ve seen our heroes on tv kick down doors, tackle trucks, rush into fields, houses, etc. Is that an accurate portrayal of what a typical profiler does in the real world?

Jim_Clemente: Everyone in the FBI is trained in tactical as well as interviews and interrogations. In fact John was a SWAT team member and a Hostage Negotiator before he started the Profiling unit. We are all capable of and have in fact kicked in doors in our careers. However, when we are profiling we tend to use our brains more than we use our brawn. That said, on child abduction cases we race out to the site and we do whatever it is that we have to do to save the child and arrest and convict the offender. Then we move on to the next case... where ever that may be.

Hardkorr: John, what can you tell us about the BAU in it's infancy? How and why did you start such a unit?

John_Douglas: It started in 1977 with just me. Then when I finally got FBI HQ to hire more profilers, I had to train them myself. This is about a two year process. Then it's about 5 years before they are really able to fly solo. It was hard work but definitely worth it. Now, the Unit has about 30 Profilers. And they are able to help many more people every year.

Hardkorr: That's fantastic. You must be so proud!

John_Douglas: I am very proud of the people like Jim who have followed in my footsteps. They have taken a good concept and made it an institution.

Hardkorr: John, can I ask if you watch Criminal Minds? How close to they come to getting it right? It's probably much more cerebral and take more than an hour to solve a case but otherwise...how good a job do you think they do?

John_Douglas: They do a good job of portraying some of the difficulties of profiling and how much it can help law enforcement in situations where there isn't a great deal of forensic evidence.
They also show how important team work is to the process.

Hardkorr: The BAU has studied criminals that have died prior to arrest and also those that are incarcerated. How valuable is studying them once they are caught? How hard is it to sit and talk with a convicted serial killer? Do you look at them as people who did bad things or as evil beings?

Jim_Clemente: 1. Studying convicted serial offenders is the core of profiling. It forms the basis and foundation of what we do. 2. It is not hard at all. It is a challenge that is what we live for. We can learn form them so that others may not have to suffer. 3. We do not think of them as evil. If you elevate them to the position of being evil, then you put them on a higher plane then our human selves. We see them as criminals. People who have made choices to do very bad and cruel things. But just people. Nothing more.

Hardkorr: Once you’ve worked the job as long as you both did do you now profile everyone you meet? How does that affect your everyday life? Do you generally know when someone is lying? And what would your profile be of fans like us that are rather obsessed with a show like Criminal Minds?

Jim_Clemente: We are both well trained and experienced in detection of deception. We can't turn it off. But sometimes, to avoid destroying relationships, we have to bite our tongues from time to time.

EricaM has joined.

Hardkorr: Welcome Erica!

EricaM: hi guys! better late than never!

EricaM: technical issues. hi jimmy!

Jim_Clemente: Hey Erica!

John_Douglas: Hello Erica. Nice to have you here.

jill: Hi Erica.

EricaM: Hi there. Nice to be here. And hello JILL! Really a special treat to have both of you tonight. Don't let me slow you guys down. I'm just here to watch!

Hardkorr: Social media, the internet and the like has flourished the past decade. Has that helped the BAU or added a new class of serial killer? Also, do you think serial killers still on the loose use these types of technology to watch the publicity their crimes are getting and/or stay one step ahead of the law?

Jim_Clemente: The profile of fans who are "very intensely interested" in this show... The way I look at it is similar to Rubbernecking. For those who don't know what that means, it is when people pass a car accident and can not look away. They feel compelled to see exactly what happened. I believe this is a basic survival instinct. Our primitive brains tell us to look and memorize what we see so that this never happens to us. That is what happens on this show. I and the writers use the show to educate the audience about who the real bad guys are, What they do to people and how they get access to them. In effect we are helping to prevent the viewers from becoming victims themselves.

Jim_Clemente: Social media..... Has given serial killers a new and somewhat anonymous way to access potential victims. They can hunt, cull out vulnerable people and lure them in, all from the privacy of their own homes or cars or phones. They have a much greater reach than they ever had before...

Hardkorr: That's rather scary

Jim_Clemente: That said, it also gave us as law enforcement a way to infiltrate and track them so it is a double edged sword.

Hardkorr: Do you ever worry that Criminal Minds might be a feeding ground of ideas for potential serial killers? A copycat effecto so to speak.

Jim_Clemente: Actually, that is an issue I have discussed with the writers many times. It is why we changed the name of the drug we mentioned in Big Sea to Trilimide ( a made up drug). We do not want to give potential offenders any new ideas. Also, the kinds of things we focus on in the show are Behaviors that are intrinsic to that particular person. They are not the kinds of things they can change on a whim. Other shows may do that, but we stay away from forensics on Criminal Minds... Deliberately.

Hardkorr: This question goes back to Criminal Minds as a sort of survival guide... CM has taught many of us some valuable lessons regarding our own personal safety. Certainly it has taught us all to be more aware of our surroundings and the people around us. Situations we would never have imagined happening to normal people like ourselves. Prior to retiring from the BAU you were an advisor for the show. How involved were you in framing the lessons we’ve learned? Is there something you think we should all know that we may not know about how to keep ourselves, our schools and our communities safer?

Jim_Clemente: Great questions...

EricaM: *** jim is still our advisor ***** LUCKY US!

Jim_Clemente: I was very involved in shaping those messages. By giving training lectures to the writers and producers. I also was involved in breaking many of the stories. And adding profiling elements to each script. In fact Eddie B and Erica have both been extremely concerned about making sure that we teach only good lessons with the show. And I truly believe that they have done an excellent job of that all 6 seasons. To keep safer...Listen to your instincts. Your instincts are the one tool that you always have but don't always use. It is a culmination of all your experiences and all you have learned. It is a built in warning system that humans have that we are socialized away from relying on. It is a built in life saver. Cops learn to trust it. Military personnel live by it. All of them survive in much more dangerous situations than the average person, because the trust their instincts.

Hardkorr: The FBI website states that any aspiring FBI Special Agent should have 3 years prior work experience, what kind of work experience do you suggest an aspiring agent should do?

John_Douglas: In the BAU we've had members from all walks of life. Certainly investigative experience is very helpful. Any job that utilizes logic, interactions with people, organizational skills. Self-generator types of personalities. Leaders and people who are not afraid to be wrong. Who will do what ever it takes to get the job done and will never compromise thier values. Law, accounting and science are all great categories. Language as well. We've had rocket Scientists and Cancer Researchers. And school teachers and former Military. Law, accounting and science are all great categories. Language as well. Everyone should be a can do person and someone who loves interacting with people. that is one of the most important aspects of the job.

Hardkorr: Some people believe profiling isn’t a real science. What would you say to those people?

Jim_Clemente: Profiling is a combination of Art, Experience and Science...

Jim_Clemente: It is very similar to an internist in medicine. Much of it is not capble of empiracle study, but it is verified every day in the real world... in life and death situations. Not in a lab somewhere. It is tough to quantify it. But when a Profiler really knows his or her stuff, it is extremely obvious. They get results. They solve cases. They save lives.

John_Douglas: You can read more in my FAQ secton of my website: WWW.JohnDouglasMindHunter.com Thank you everyone for chatting with us.

jill: John and Jim, Thank you both so much for being here this evening. It has been truly an honor and we hope you both will come back soon. We want to hear all about your new project! Kris, I will take over for you when the men leave and Erica will be joining us as our guest. Thank you Kris for the great job.

Jim_Clemente: Yes, thanks for the great questions and especially for watching the show!!!!

Hardkorr: Thank you both for being here and sharing your experiences with us!

jill: Thank you for your years keeping us all safe

Jim_Clemente: Thank you. I'll definitely be back soon!!! It has been our honor... Bye Erica... See you soon.

EricaM: bye Jim and thank you and John for joining the chat!
Jim_Clemente: Any time...

Hardkorr: good night to you both

EricaM: Good night gentlemen!

Jim_Clemente has left.

jill: Okay lets switch gears and talk to our new show runner.

Erica’s chat begins

jill: Hi Erica!

EricaM: Hi!

jill: Thanks for setting up that chat for us. They are great.

EricaM: Oh my gosh, I'm so glad they were available! They're fantastic!

jill: While I was talking to them on the phone I was wondering if I was being profiled.

EricaM: I'm sure you were... they don't really switch it off!

jill: What are you looking forward to most for season 7?

EricaM: wow, great question. Having the band back together. I see that clearly... and my hope is that it comes to fruition.

jill: I think you'll have the whole crew back

EricaM: that's the hope. i just want to start telling more stories that we all love! To get into our heroes lives -- to laugh when we can. to see our team breathe and smile. did you guys like the hotch/rossi/jack soccer game last week?!

jill: That was fantastic

Hardkorr: I think that’s a given Erica

EricaM: it made me smile for days

jill: We need more of those moments

EricaM: I read your reactions... those moments are for you. And for Thomas who looks great, especially when he gets the chance to smile!

jill: We are doing pens for Garcia again this year so Kirsten can use them again in episodes. We want to start having fun again

EricaM: That's great. she'll love that. and so will we. Yes, we've got a clean slate. Looking forward to you all meeting the writing staff. We've got some great people coming to play. I try to write to the real-life jeopardy instead of who got shot in the dark?

jill: You wrote JJ which was a wonderful episode.

EricaM: I was so gutted when i wrote that and i think it came out on the page!

jill: And now we have JJ coming back and that is just sweet!

EricaM: During the read thru, AJ couldn't read the final quote so I read it but had tears in my eyes as i did. And we have our JJ back!!! yes!!!

scoutfinch75: More of a plea rather than a question... can we please have a Rossi storyline in season 7?

EricaM: yes yes yes! He has so many lives we can explore and we will!
outlawten: What do you think about the idea of having a Criminal Minds soundtrack? I know alot of us would love to see that happen! We're hoping to meet an ex-wife... done

RaniaC: now that AJ is back would you consider bringing Josh Stewart back for an episode? I think he's great!

EricaM: yes, JJ will be dealing with a lot this season. and her home life will be a part of that.

Cephalophile: Any chance we might see Gina or Anderson again? There are those of us who miss seeing them pop up from time to time. : )

EricaM: yes we want to bring back all of those "regulars"

raineinmd: In the early seasons there were some special effects done with the blue screen, it made giving the profile very cool. Any hope to bringing that special effect back?

0_Boot_Mod_Debbie: I loved that.

EricaM: Most likely... used sparingly.

Daisy: 1) will there be a conclusion to reid's heahaches in s7 2) when will be know for sure about paget coming back or not - thank you

robinotl: When do you start writing episodes for season 7... or have you already started?

EricaM: The writers room starts May 31. We've got some ideas floating around, but will start in earnest then.

klbutler219: Any possibility of Criminal Minds ever going international for an episode?

EricaM: I'd love to go international. we tried one year... maybe we can make it happen.

Hardkorr: Any theme yet for next season?

EricaM: Not quite the theme yet although we'll inherit some drama with hotch & jj being the 'secret keeper' of prentiss' "death"

Hardkorr: I so want to see that explored

CheetoBreath: me too!

Hardkorr: could make for great story-telling

EricaM: that'll be some drama -- especially after they all had their therapy sessions with hotch!

christyzachman: If a fan had an idea of a storyline for an episode for the show, would you consider it and how could they inform you of it?

EricaM: We're legally not allowed to hear story pitches -- it bums me out because my mom has them all the time and i'm like, "mom! I can't!"

00_watchmod_SSA_Carpenter: Going back to "to hell ... and back" are all those people in OPP uniforms actual police officers with the OPP?

EricaM: No but our amazing costumers sure do a great job, don't they?

jill: We have wanted to chat with them for years but they are shy!

EricaM: they are and they're BUSY. it's amazing

00_watchmod_SSA_Carpenter: Wow! That crest looked exact and everything!

EricaM: I'll see if they can do a chat earlier in the season

jill: Erica, We are going to say thanks now but if you have a second please give me a call

EricaM: Okay! Thanks you guys. See you soon!

jill: Goodnight and thank you to the mods

**** © 2011 CRIMINAL MINDS FANATIC BLOG/WEBSITE. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

CRIMINAL MINDS RATINGS FOR "BIG SEA"

Criminal Minds: Another great week of ratings for Criminal Minds!

FOX: "American Idol" (25 million, 13.9/21)/"Breaking In" (7.65 million, 4.4/7)
CBS: "Criminal Minds" (13.1 million, 8.6/13)
ABC: "Modern Family" (10.1 million, 6.1/9)/"Cougar Town" (6.1 million, 3.8/6)
NBC: "Minute to Win It" (4.3 million, 2.5/4)
The CW: "America's Next Top Model" (2 million, 1.4/2)