CRIMINAL MINDS: CBS ANNOUNCES NEW SCHEDULE WHILE THE WGA STILL WALKS!

Criminal Minds: CBS has announced their new winter schedule as the writers of Criminal Minds continue walking the picket line. I loved the line which said that Criminal Minds and their other primetime cash cow shows will continue in their normal time slots. What they forgot to mention is that unless this strike stops soon then what you will be watching is repeats! Here is a link to an interesting article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/business/media/04strike.html?n=Top/News/Business/Companies/CBS%20Corporation

CRIMINAL MINDS: EVEN DOGS WALK THE LINE.

Criminal Minds: Even Criminal Minds writer Debra J. Fisher's dog Brodie is walking the picket line. It is a sad day when a dog has to picket so we can have new episodes of Criminal Minds. Thanks for helping out Brodie.

CRIMINAL MINDS: ONE CONSUMER AT A TIME!

Criminal Minds: Many fans of Criminal Minds and certainly the Criminal Minds writers have tried to do the math on exactly what the latest strike offer really breaks down to in dollars and cents. It is very dry business and almost impossible to get a good number because network revenue isn't broadcast accurately anywhere. I know approximately what my company pays for a 30 second spot on Criminal Minds versus other shows but even that number has many variables. Here is what I do know for a fact. Companies like the one I work for tend to take wait and see postures during events like strikes. What they don't take lightly is when consumers use the "B" word. Nothing scares a company more than a boycott or a recall! So who has the power in this strike? It isn't the AMPTP or even the WGA! It is you the consumer. Every individual consumer has the power to scare a Fortune 500 company into taking action to end this strike.

Without using the name of the company I work for I am going to give you some examples of why each and every consumer matters. My company sells a variety of products. One of these is a condiment. A worldwide best seller! If 100 consumers threaten to boycott that condiment the account managers take that 100 and times it by 8 because research has shown us that for each unit of our product that we sell to you that you will probably influence 8 of your friends, family or co-workers to purchase our product. So every sale translates to 9 total sales.

An even better example within my company is a room freshener. Our research shows that for every air freshener warmer we sell we can count on you buying a minimum of 11 refills. The research also shows that each consumer of this product can be expected to influence 13 other individuals. So when you call and say I am boycotting this product you are telling them that they are going to lose: 11 X 13 X 13 etc! on the refills. That is one person's influence. 100 people calling means a lot.

That is a very accurate but simplified example of what it means to the account managers when you say the word boycott. The biggest effect a boycott has is the PR attached to being a boycotted company. No company wants to be the "Company that was boycotted during any strike". Now factor in that my company has two main competitors and all three of the companies advertise on all the primetime networks. Do you need to get them all to pull out? NO! Once one pulls out the other two will as well. We all compete with each other and nobody is going to stand on a limb alone. You can take that piece of info to the bank because it is golden info! Whichever company pulls out first's next ad will read something like this, "We supported our consumers' wishes and backed the writers strike while our competitors sided with the corporations".

So will a boycott work? I believe it is the single most important thing that fans can do to help end this strike. It is the golden bullet. Stop the ad money flowing into the networks and you force them to end this strike. When companies start asking for their "buy back" because there is no way for the networks to deliver on their contracts this strike will be over!

So please call the companies I list every week. Be polite and firm. Call often. Tell them you will not buy any products that have their logo on it until the strike is over. Use the words boycott and tell them you are spreading the word!

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODE CHAT.

Criminal Minds: The Criminal Minds Conversation Yahoo group and the Criminal Minds Fanatic website will be holding a chat this evening to discuss "Scared to Death" at 10pm est. :)

CRIMINAL MINDS: THIS WEEK'S STRIKE PLAN. **REVISED!

Criminal Minds: Here is this week's suggested strike plan. We need to get the Criminal Minds writers back in the writing room. Lets work together each week to accomplish that goal.
1. CALL CBS: 212-975-4545 and CALL DISNEY: 818-560-1000
2. Call the following companies that we are targeting this week and tell them you are boycotting tv and urge the advertisers to boycott the networks (or demand their money back). If we say we're not going to be watching until the strike is resolved, then who are the advertisers advertising to?

**Revision: Also tell them you are boycotting their products.

SC Johnson Glade
1.800.494.4855*

Pfizer Drugs
Phone: 1.212.733.2323*

Coca Cola
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/contactus/cokefeedback/index.html*

3. Do not go to any network show sites on the internet.
4. Do not watch any primetime news shows or reality shows.
5. Boycott all theater movies.
6. Boycott I-tunes and all other downloads
7. Buy Pencils at http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/
8. Do not buy any dvds
9. Boycott Disneyland, Universal Studios and any other place the studios make revenue.
10. Please contribute to the Criminal Minds Assistance Fund.
11. Tell everyone you know about the strike and ask them to help in all the above.

CRIMINAL MINDS: A BUCK A BOX IS STILL ONGOING.

Criminal Minds: It is not too late for the fans of Criminal Minds to buy a box of pencils and show their support for the Criminal Minds writers and the WGA.
http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/

CRIMINAL MINDS: INCREDIBLE LINK.

Criminal Minds: This is a wow link. Take a look at how the Big Greedy Corporations make money off you everyday in ways you may not have realized. Criminal Minds writers are on strike while these companies are making money by the truckload!
http://www.thenation.com/special/bigten.html

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODE INFO FOR "BIRTHRIGHT".

Criminal Minds episode "Birthright" - A series of murders in rural Virginia has the BAU team investigating a link between this killing spree and a similar case two decades ago, on CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Dec. 12th at 9:00pm est. Criminal Minds starring: Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Paget Brewster, Shemar Moore, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness and Matthew Gray Gubler. Written by Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer. Directed by John Gallagher. Guest starring: Nathan Sutton, Lacey Beeman, Jesse Bernstein, Curt Bonnem, Kandis Erickson, Jeffrey Corbett, W. Morgan Sheppard,
Elizabeth Ann Roberts, Dendrie Taylor, Jennifer Hetrick, Rodney Eastman, Rebekah Brandes, Matt Hoffman, Sally Pressman, Royce Thomas Johnson and Erika Whalen.

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODES V. STRIKE FOOD.

Criminal Minds: My biggest blog decision used to be what Criminal Minds episode info to post and now it is trying to decide what food to ask Kris to deliver to the Criminal Minds writers on the strike line. That sucks. We only have a couple of new episodes left of Criminal Minds and unless the strike ends soon the third season of Criminal Minds will run out of time and be over. Wow! Who is going to buy the season three dvds when all they hold are 13 or 14 episodes? For anyone who cares the writers are getting fruit and subway sandwiches tomorrow. Thanks Kris! :(

CRIMINAL MINDS SCREENCAPS FOR "TRUE NIGHT".

Criminal Minds screencaps for "True Night" are courtesy of Stacy. Criminal Minds starring Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook and Matthew Gray Gubler. :)

CRIMINAL MINDS "GRUESOME TWOSOME" CHAT REMINDER.

Criminal Minds: Reminder that the chat with Deb J. Fisher and Erica Messer, pictured above, is on Sunday. I really like the fact that Criminal Minds has so many female writers. It isn't that way on all shows. We really need to keep up the pressure on CBS and the advertisers. I just realized something. Can Erica's baby still watch Sesame Street? Are those writers on strike too? No child should have to grow up without Big Bird and Elmo! :(

CRIMINAL MINDS: SAG MEMBER LINK

Criminal Minds: Please take a moment to read this wonderful article and lets do everything we can to get our Criminal Minds writers back to work! Bravo to all the Criminal Minds actors who have supported the writers by walking the line or showing up to lend their support.
http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/sag-call-to-arms.html

CRIMINAL MINDS STRIKE IDEAS?

Criminal Minds: What do you think of holding a "Turn Off Your TV Day"? The fans of Criminal Minds are already doing quite a bit to help during the writers strike but I was trying to think of other ways we could help. I thought maybe all tv viewers and not only fans of Criminal Minds could come together and not turn on their television sets on the same day. Showrunners could get the word out to their fans and we could all send the same message to the networks that not only is there solidarity within the WGA but also with all fans of tv. What do you think of this idea? Do you have any suggestions on other ways we can help?

CRIMINAL MINDS: WRITERS STRIKE UPDATE!

Criminal Minds: I felt optimistic today that negotiations would go well and the Criminal Minds writers would be back to work really soon. Please follow this link and read the latest proposal. I want new episodes of Criminal Minds but not by ending the strike this way. Everyone call CBS and Disney and tell them that this proposal sucks worse than Kid Nation!
http://unitedhollywood.blogspot.com/2007/11/press-blackout-lifted-companies-offer.html

CRIMINAL MINDS "ASSISTANCE FUND" AUCTION.

Criminal Minds: One Of A Kind Piece of Memorabilia: Original poster filmed on the wall of Vincent Stiles' room in Criminal Minds "Ashes & Dust". Signed last season by Mandy Patinkin, Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook and signed this week by Joe Mantegna, Andrew Wilder and Edward Allen Bernero. Mandy Patinkin and Joe Mantegna on the same poster! All proceeds, minus ebay fees, will be donated to the Criminal Minds Assistance Fund to aid the staff and crew who have lost their jobs due to the writers strike.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290186137999

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODE INFO FOR "SCARED TO DEATH":

Criminal Minds: "Scared to Death" - Hotchner and the team track down a serial killer who exploits his role as a psychiatrist to find out his victims worst fears, then uses that fear as a means to kill, on a rebroadcast of CRIMINAL MINDS, Wednesday, Dec. 5 (9:00-10:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. (Originally broadcast 10/10/07). Criminal Minds starring: Thomas Gibson, Shemar Moore, Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler and Joe Mantegna. Written by Debra J. Fisher and Erica Messer. Directed by: Felix Alcala. Info courtesy of cbs.com

CRIMINAL MINDS "TRUE NIGHT" OVERNIGHT RATINGS:

Criminal Minds: The overnight ratings for Criminal Minds "True Night" are fantastic!
"CBS came in second in adults 18-49 and narrowly won in viewership, thanks to "Criminal Minds" (16.3 million, 4.5/11) that came in ahead at 9 p.m. over ABC's "Pushing Daisies" (10.2 million, 3.8/9) as well as NBC's "Bionic Woman" (6 million, 2.2/5). It was the highest viewership and demo rating for "Criminal Minds" since Feb. 7."

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3iba73049c32407a2ac5e7a4ac1d3e839e

CRIMINAL MINDS ADVERTISERS LIST FOR "TRUE NIGHT".

Criminal Minds: Here are the advertisers to target this week. These companies had ads during Criminal Minds "True Night". Call them and don't forget your daily Criminal Minds strike calls to Disney and CBS. I have narrowed it down to three companies that advertise repeatedly on the show and who are the most likely to take this issue seriously.

SC Johnson Glade
1.800.494.4855
* Glade sells numerous products but this is their best sales period for household cleaners. Tell them you will use many of their products and would like them to support the writers strike by pulling their ads.
Pfizer Drugs
Phone: 1.212.733.2323
* Pfizer doesn't just sell prescription drugs. They sell many over the counter cold, allergy, flu, etc. drugs. This is their busy season. Same the same thing as for SCJ.
Coca Cola
http://www.thecoca-colacompany.com/contactus/cokefeedback/index.html

* Tell them the same thing as the other companies.

CRIMINAL MINDS QUOTE & SONG INFO FOR "TRUE NIGHT".

Criminal Minds: The quotes and song for Criminal Minds episode "True Night" were:

"Superman is, after all, an alien life form. He's simply the acceptable face of invading realities." Clive Barker

"The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armor. He's dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he's a hero the whole time.” Frank Miller -Thanks to Stacy for the quote info.

Song: "Harlem Nocturne", composed in 1939 by Earle Hagen.

CRIMINAL MINDS WRITERS STRIKE PLAN!

Criminal Minds: The negotiations to end the writers strike are under way. It is important for all Criminal Minds fans to continue their efforts to pressure the networks to settle with the writers. Please follow the Criminal Minds Writers Strike Plan:

http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/2007/11/criminal-minds-writers-strike-fan-plan.html

CRIMINAL MINDS QUOTE INFO FOR "TRUE NIGHT".

Criminal Minds: The quotes for Criminal Minds episode "True Night" were:

"Superman is, after all, an alien life form. He's simply the acceptable face of invading realities." Clive Barker

"The noir hero is a knight in blood caked armor. He's dirty and he does his best to deny the fact that he's a hero the whole time.” Frank Miller

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODE CHAT INFO:

The Criminal Minds Conversation Yahoo group and the Criminal Minds Fanatic website will be holding their after episode chat on Wednesday, Nov. 28th at 10pm est. The topic is "True Night" written and produced by Ed Bernero.

CRIMINAL MINDS: YO JAY! I HAVE A SCAB FOR YOU!

Criminal Minds: Today I received an email from someone wanting to desperately write for Criminal Minds. Evidently this lady is talented and understands the "criminal minds concept" or so the email says. She would like someone to contact her asap. I have a few problems with this email. Real big problems. The obvious problem is why tell me about it but the bigger issue is that the writers are on strike. If this young woman is wanting to write for Criminal Minds "asap" and already has script ideas to share then doesn't that make her a scab? I know a few very talented writers who would love the opportunity to write for Criminal Minds and none of them have ever asked me to pass something to the studio for them and none of them would ever scab for any network. But evidently a total stranger thought I could or would help them. I emailed her back and used my southern manners (she's lucky the New Yorker in me didn't answer her) and told her I was just a lady with a blog and she had come to the wrong place. Jay Beattie is the strike leader for Criminal Minds. Yo Jay! Who do I report scabs to?
** Update: After receiving a second email from this writer, who has a few scripts ready, I reported her on the WGA scab hotline**

CRIMINAL MINDS: MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER ARTICLE.

Criminal Minds: Matthew Gray Gubler, Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, is mentioned in this article: http://www.film.com/celebrities/story/fivemensexierthanmattdamon/11784156/17382693

CRIMINAL MINDS NIELSEN RATINGS FOR THE WEEK ENDING NOV. 25th.

Criminal Minds scored in the top ten again in the Nielsen Ratings for the week ending November 25, 2007. WAKE UP CBS! Repeats aren't going to keep Criminal Minds in the top ten. End this strike NOW!
1. DANCING W/THE STARS-MON ABC
2. NBC SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL NBC
3. DANCING W/STARS RESULT-TU ABC
4. DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES ABC
5. NCIS CBS
6. HOUSE FOX
7. 60 MINUTES CBS
8. CSI: MIAMI CBS
9. CRIMINAL MINDS CBS
10.EXTREME MAKEOVER:HOME ED. ABC

CRIMINAL MINDS NEW EPISODES DWINDLING!

Criminal Minds: Here is a link to an AP breakdown of how many new episodes of Criminal Minds and other scripted primetime shows are currently finished and ready to air. Please keep calling and emailing CBS, Disney and the advertisers. The strike really needs to end soon. Erica Messer, pictured above on the picket line, needs to get back into the Criminal Minds writers' room. There are buildings to blow up, body parts in need of boxes, all kinds of people to hack apart, unsubs to invent, and she can't do that on the picket line!
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j6_r2bwM3IPWtskdoUII6fb1O70gD8T5LB802

CRIMINAL MINDS EPISODE INFO FOR "TRUE NIGHT".

Criminal Minds episode "True Night" airs on Wednesday, November 28th at 9pm et/pt. A famous comic book artist becomes involved in the search for a serial killer in Los Angeles. "Criminal Minds" stars Shemar Moore, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler, Paget Brewster, AJ Cook and Kirsten Vangsness. Written and directed by Edward Allen Bernero. Guest starring Frankie Muniz.

CRIMINAL MINDS WRITERS ARE JOINING SUNDAY'S CHAT!

Criminal Minds writers Erica Messer and Deb Fisher (the gruesome twosome) will be joining us in the Criminal Minds chat room this Sunday at 4pm est. to discuss Criminal Minds and the writing process. These seasoned writers have long and impressive resumes and have been a writing team for many years on Criminal Minds, Charmed, O.C. and Alias. Deb joined us last week and those of you who were there already know she is a funny and open person. I have spoken with Erica and she is exactly the same way and I look forward to all of you getting to meet Erica and getting to know both of these fantastic writers better.

**** RSVP IN THE COMMENTS SECTION SO THE NEW PASSWORD CAN BE SENT TO YOU *****

CRIMINAL MINDS: MESSAGE TO FANS IN GERMANY.

Criminal Minds: Melanie, a fan of Criminal Minds who lives in Germany, sent me this email & asked me to post it in hopes that other Criminal Minds fans in Germany would call their local networks and ask that they air the Criminal Minds episodes that are being dropped:
Hi Jill, The german fandom is really upset, 'cause the tv station, that is airing criminal minds, they won't be airing from 2x14 including 2x18. They say, it's because protection of minors, so they aren't able to show that particular episodes on sunday at 9.15 pm. But in the first season and in season two there were things much heavier. And this tv station repeats the episodes on mondays very late, times from 11.15 pm till 11.45 pm. I'm trying to activate the german fans, that they will call this tv station or send them mails that we can see those episodes on monday nights. So, I'm asking for an own topic, 'cause I don't know any huge kind of message board in Germany. Over a good friend of mine we have more than 1.000 students, who are criminal minds fans, who will be mailing and calling this tv station. Regards, Melanie

CRIMINAL MINDS: MATTHEW GRAY GUBLER

Criminal Minds: Matthew Gray Gubler, Dr. Spencer Reid on Criminal Minds, has updated his personal website. There are new pictures and written entries. MGG talks about his latest project that benefits Project Red. http://www.matthewgraygubler.com/