Update: 16th June Thanks to Phil for the heads up on this Facebook Group for fans wanting to support the current cast.
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125496860822243
Update: 20:00 According to Deadline... (Thanks to xenite_tara for the tip)
A new regular female cast member will be brought in sometime next season to fill the void that will be left by Cook's departure.
Update: 16:30 Here is a little update from Joe Mantegna. Thanks again to Kev for the heads up.
Update: 10:00 Thanks to Kévin10 for sending us the following..
Fans already have petition online here
http://www.petitiononline.com/cmwomen/petition.html
EXCLUSIVE: CBS’ Season 7 of its successful crime drama Criminal Minds is trimming the female portion of its cast for what I hear are financial reasons. I'm told the option of series regular A.J. Cook has not been picked up and co-star Paget Brewster is being made an offer to stay for only a reduced number of episodes next season, leaving fan favorite Kristen Vangsness as the only remaining full-time female cast member. I hear negotiations are underway with Brewster for a new deal that would keep her on the show. If she agrees, she will continue to be formally a regular but won't appear in every episode. Talks are also ongoing with Cook to possibly appear in several episodes next season to wrap her character Jennifer Jereau’s storyline.
Source: SpoilerTV
Thanks to ilenya for the heads up.
EW is reporting that producers have opted not to pick up A.J. Cook’s contract option for next season
Seriously, just what the hell. NO! JUST NO! I'm so upset :(
ReplyDeleteIf they're having financial Oh, hey, I have an idea CUT THE FREAKIN SPIN OFF! NO ONE LIKES IT ANYWAY!
Don't pick up both AJ and Paget FULL time, I (and lots of other fans) are not watching!
ReplyDeleteI'm so disappointed and mad right now. CBS, you suck big times! If I were Cook I'd tell them "screw you, see yourself how you can handle the axing of my character, I'm done here!"
ReplyDeleteTreated so bad after all those years, it's a shame. And Paget, too. This all sounds very sexist, CBS, I hope you'll get your comeuppance, soon! Cutting because of financial reasons? GET RID OF THE SPIN-OFF, NOBODY WANTS IT!
That's just stupid. I don't know what to say. Criminal Minds is that successful because of each and every cast member. Reducing some character's air time or getting rid of them because of money issues will change that. Either all of them together or none of them at all!
ReplyDeleteThere is a petition to get this decision reversed: http://bit.ly/933z2f It is a safe site, and WILL make a difference.
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a dumb decision... Need money? Cut the spin-off.
ReplyDeleteWhat are they thinking? This, along with the spin-off, is going to leave CM and CBS with a lot less fans.
ReplyDeleteFigures they gotta pull this just when I get into it. :P
ReplyDeleteThese two are obviously not the most exciting characters. But yeah, I don't see why they need to cut them if the spin-off idea is not that popular.
WHAT?! What the hell kind of fuckery is this?! That is just messed up.
ReplyDeleteWTF is this crap? This sucks. Just cut the spin-off and keep the girls!
ReplyDeleteI dont think they realise that Paget Brewsters character has the biggest and most loyal fanbase alongside Reid. I mean I'm genuinly FUMING!! CBS says the most ridiculous load of bullshit ever. Axing a very popular character along with reducing the best character in a show is a way for them to save money? Well CBS if you did your god dam fucking homework you would realise your actually losing one fuckload of money. Let me suggest a smater way to save some money, scrap that piece of shit you call a "spinoff" because that sucks almost as much as havning to listnen to you bullshit statements of financial issues.
ReplyDeleteSidenote: Did the article make an error in saying that Season 7 is doing this? Cause the show is only in Season 6. :P
ReplyDeleteI have zero interest in the spin off -- we didn't like those characters. Frankly I'm offended that they'd cut the female members of the cast, I feel like they just don't understand their audience at all.
ReplyDeleteI'm so pissed off I can't even find the words. If it's a money issue then don't go head with the stupid spin-off! And who says kirsten is the fan favorite? Yes, she's awesome, but I watch the show for Paget!
ReplyDeleteIf this is true-I'm giving up the show. It has devolved into a "hurry up and save the "last" victim" huge foreshadowing quagmire anyway.
ReplyDeleteI have already signed the petition. I hope fans spread the word about it and that will make them realize that they just can't do it! Hopefully Joe gets more info and can update the fans with it. It's kinda odd that he didn't know about it yet. They probably discussed this decision not even with the cast yet. I love AJ Cook, she's my favorite of the girls. Sure the character "Garcia" is funny and interesting, but JJ is also part of the team and I don't wanna miss her or Prentiss!!! Exactly, get rid of the spin off. No one needs it! Invest the money in the original Criminal Minds and leave the cast as it is.
ReplyDeleteWhy do they have to mess with such a great show? I honestly feel like I would be okay without the character of JJ. But, to cut her and cut back on the character of Emily? No, that is just wrong. I like Garcia and am glad she is staying, but I would rather see them cut Morgan than Emily. Also, totally on board with not doing the spin-off.
ReplyDeleteMe to...no AJ Cook - no me on Wednesday nights watching tv tuned into channel 07 (or 2)
ReplyDeletenew female character - what the heck, then why did the "fire" AJ Cook!!!!
ReplyDeleteI think JJ was just not really serving any purpose. I knew they'd cast a new character and I am not against it. They successfully replaced a character before and they can do it again. I think and hope this new female character is more entertaining.
ReplyDeleteEmily was better than Elle. Maybe this isn't as bad as some make it out to be. :P
I hope the new female cast member will be as "interesting and exciting" as Anna Belknap in CSI:NY. Whenever she's on screen, I feel like falling asleep! Just because you have a successful TV show doesn't mean you will be still successful when you start exchanging cast members. It's not all about the story lines, it about the actors that put their heart into their roles and characters. AJ Cook is a great and passionate actress, and she is believable in her role. She's the glue that kept the team together, and I always loved emotional scenes with her. What a stupid decision to make! Next thing you know all Criminal Minds cast members are exchanged by talent free wanna bes. Sure Criminal Minds has the best and most talented writers, but that alone isn't enough to keep the show going. It's all about the fans!!!
ReplyDeleteAnne
ReplyDeleteDROP THE SPIN-OFF & KEEP CM TEAM AS IS!!! WHAT'S WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????
Seriously, before season five started airing, I thought everything was on the up for criminal minds, it was still getting over a full series, and then there was news about a spin off, which I personnaly thought would be amazing judging on the original show, then I watch the backdoor pilot and am not exactly disappointed, but not at all impressed, and now they are getting rid of Paget and JJ, it just seems like they are trying to wind the show up. Also, to bring in a new character at this point in the show seems risky,when Meta Golding was introduced I don't particularly think anyone warmed to her character, and this is bound to happen after fans who a peeved about their loss being introduced to another character. Total bull#*&% to be quite honest
ReplyDeleteI'm pretty surprised by this move, but it's probably good for AJ Cook, now she can find a show that will utilise her more, she was defo under-used in CM.
ReplyDeleteCBS appear very sexist with this move also. I won't be watching CM any more.
I'm so mad hearing the news that I've literally left comments EVERYWHERE..even CBS's website !!!
ReplyDeleteThey are getting rid of our favortie LEAD actresses to cast new ones??? WTF
and i WON'T watch that spin-off !! AJ and Paget are love :(
Noooo!!! You can't be serious... :-((( Leave the original series alone and cancel the spin-off!!!
ReplyDeleteExactly! :-((( I am ready to stop watching this show if they're going to do that. Paget rocks.
ReplyDeleteI don't want Paget to be gone :-((( She's a wonderful character and it's not like we know and seen so much of Emily that there's nothing left to say. I see what they're trying to do - to make some changes before audience will get bored with the "old" cast. But seriously - Prentiss??? And if you look at the choices they made regarding the cast members for both: temporary replacement for JJ at some point and the lead characters for the spin-off... I don't think they will surprise us in a good way.
ReplyDeleteJoeyDC ---> LOL... I sooo totaly agree with you when it comes to Anna Belknap XD
ReplyDeleteBack to CM - they have a very strong cast and they're making a mistake... CSI: NY did that with the whole concept of getting rid of Jessica Angell and putting whatever-her-name-was in her place (Hayleen? who cares...), CSI: LV did it with trying to force people to love a famous actor, whom nobody what's to watch and they just wasted two seasons on that and still the best thing I can say about last CSI season is one of the old cast members being back (Jorja Fox). If CM will do this... ehh...
Yeah, me too Therefore I am not planning to give this ******* spin-off a chance anymore.
ReplyDeleteGood to know I'm not the only one who feels that way, Leslie! And I also agree with everything else you have said. When they introduced Haylen, I thought fans would tear her into pieces if they saw her on the streets LOL. Luckily, CBS listened to the CSI:NY fans and got rid of her immediately. Jessica Angell was such a sweetheart, I really miss her and I'm still mad they god rid of her but bring someone like boring Anna on the show.
ReplyDeleteThe Criminal Minds petition was retweeted by Joe and Vangsness so there are a lot of signatures already. I hope that makes CBS realize that the CM cast are the people who bring in the money and not them.
Keep signing and spreading the word about the online petition for AJ and Paget:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.petitiononline.com/cmwomen/petition.html
We almost reached 10.000 signatures and it can be more. Let's show CBS that fans won't let this happen easily!
stop crying like a baby!!!!!!!!!!!! A.J. sucks and her role is fluff, same for the Pag dame
ReplyDeleteAs long as the keep Garcia all is well and I'm looking forward to the spin-off
Good decision :)
Yeah, thanks to Mantegna and Vangsness who retweeted the petition form online on Twitter. I think that really helped!!!
ReplyDeleteI have also started a facebook group to lobby CBS / ABC and the Mark Gordon Company to keep A.J. and Paget full time next season - join here: KEEP CRIMINAL MINDS CAST INTACT! http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=125496860822243
ReplyDeleteSeason 6.
ReplyDeleteFemale fans of Criminal Minds want to be represented as more than victims. They deserve to see strong women like AJ Cook and Paget Brewster working in the field of law enforcement. Considering that this network still chooses to stand behind Charlie Sheen, this "financial" decision is an insult and a disservice. It is bald-faced sexism and fans of this show will not stand for it.
ReplyDeleteit's very sad. Why they do this to CM fans? I'm Tunisian fan and i'm very dispointed. Thanks for your respect to fans lie that, continue! (Applaudissez-les!)
ReplyDeleteTHIS IS SO WRONG
ReplyDeleteI am SO ANGRY at the fact that they want to ruin a perfectly great awesome show!! i love the cast as they are! They work perfectly together. I can't believe CBS. I'm so mad.
ReplyDeleteThere's a Twitter campaign as well -- tweet to #SaveTheCMLadies, or just read some of the tweets there--they have links/email addresses/etc.
ReplyDeleteAll the Criminal minds actors are so very talented and such class acts - I would miss any one of them! But reducing/cutting the roles of the only two female characters who carry guns? At the same time? On a cop show that - as of now - currently routinely passes the Bechdel Test? That's just beyond insulting to every fan that appreciates well-rounded characters - especially well--rounded, inspiring, female characters.
ReplyDeleteWe have launched a Twitter campaign: http://twitter.com/SaveTheCMLadies and #SaveTheCMLadies
ReplyDeleteI'd LOVE it if another network would create a new series specifically for AJ and Paget. Much as I love Garcia and the CM Boys' Club, this just makes me mad enough to give up on the show.
ReplyDeletewe are all so angry, CBS why would you even want to mess with a show that is so popular to your viewers, do you not care what your viewers think, you will loose so many of us if you cant find a better solution to your financial problems, please rethink and keep AJ and Paget, they are the best cast you can find! Please listen to us, and show that you care!
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely disgusting & a disgrace. CBS are making a huge mistake if they continue with this stupid attempt to save money. Oh wait a minute I mean their so-called attempt to 'refresh a veteran drama'. Yeah right CBS guess we know what the BS stands for! Your attempts to 'refresh' are more likely to kill what is currently a top ten show. I wonder if they'll use this as a teaching aid on how not to kill a top ten show & doom an already questionable spin-off. CBS deserves to lose their precious ratings if they continue with this appalling plan. Unfortunately that means we the viewers & the cast & crew lose a great show. So please CBS realise your mistake and rectify it. We want A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, Kirsten Vangsness, Matthew Gray Gubler, Joe Mantegna, Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore hired full time for season 6 at full pay.
ReplyDeleteWait a second: WHAT THE HELL? I'm offline for A DAY and the end of the world begins??
ReplyDeleteIf there's NO MONEY, WHY THE HELL ARE THEY MAKING A SPIN-OFF??? Just to be as "cool" as CSI and NCIS?? Neither had to FIRE a member of their casts to make a spin-off! DUH!
I used to believe CBS is not dumb. ¬¬'
Hey, I got this message over Facebook so please spread the word about it and keep on fighting to keep our lovely ladies on the show!!!
ReplyDeleteSeries Star Joe Mantegna has just replied to an email I sent him and has advised that CBS network is closely monitoring fan feedback at the following site: http://criminalmindsfanatic.blogspot.com/2010/06/criminal-minds-anyone-have-opinion.html
Please, please, please, visit the link and have YOUR say about how much you hate the decision regarding A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster's future on CRIMINAL MINDS. Every voice counts and we just may end up keeping the CM cast intact. Please SPREAD THE WORD far and wide.
Cheers, P
Thanks for the info Joey
ReplyDeleteThanks for the links to the petition Andy. I've been watching this show for years (in fact have all the dvd's as well) & am not at all happy with this decision.
ReplyDeleteThere was nothing in the finale script this year that indicated JJ (AJ) was leaving the BAU. Are they simply gonna bring in someone new and announce that JJ decided to leave the BAU to be with her family out of nowhere? Bad decision, both these characters have important roles to this show. How do you "reduce" Emily's role; she's either a part of the BAU or she's not. In order for Paget to have a reduced role they'd have to have her leave the BAU & be a part of another division of the FBI (as a consultant or something like that). This makes no sense whatsoever.
Much as I love the remaining cast members, this is an ensemble cast (similar to Lost in that respect). They need to stay together. This show took a big hit when Mandy Pantinkin (Gideon) disappeared years ago but recovered nicely. They had no control over that however; this they can control.
Criminal Mind's became a shell of the brilliant show it used to be in season 5 ,well actually that started at the very end of season 4 with the firing of it's 5 top writers and now it's just continuing that down hill spiral with losing AJ Cook and especially Paget Browser. Found most of the episodes in season 5 too painful and cringe worthy to watch after being privileged to it's almost perfect artistry the previous seasons.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame such a talented cast, one of the best ensembles on television with chemistry that's borderline magical and then NOT to see them placed in an episode with the quality we used to know,it really is a crime what CBS has done to this show. If they couldn't keep up the quality and keep the cast and the magic they both worked together they should have pulled the plug when season 4 ended. For me I have those 4 DVD's that's all I will own as the show ended there for me and now any chance I had of it finding its way back are gone with the un ending stupidity of this network continuing to butcher a great show. Who are they replacing AJ with someone with big boobs! That wouldn't surprise me the powers to be taking,the road least clever!
Criminal Mind's became a shell of the brilliant show it used to be in season 5 ,well actually that started at the very end of season 4 with the firing of it's 5 top writers and now it's just continuing that down hill spiral with losing AJ Cook and especially Paget Browser. Found most of the episodes in season 5 too painful and cringe worthy to watch after being privileged to it's almost perfect artistry the previous seasons.
ReplyDeleteIt's a shame such a talented cast, one of the best ensembles on television with chemistry that's borderline magical and then NOT to see them placed in an episode with the quality we used to know,it really is a crime what CBS has done to this show. If they couldn't keep up the quality and keep the cast and the magic they both worked together they should have pulled the plug when season 4 ended. For me I have those 4 DVD's that's all I will own as the show ended there for me and now any chance I had of it finding its way back are gone with the un ending stupidity of this network continuing to butcher a great show. Who are they replacing AJ with someone with big boobs! That wouldn't surprise me the powers to be taking,the road least clever!
Our petition stands at 28000 (at he moment!) see http://saveajcookandpagetbrewster.webs.com/ for how you can help!
ReplyDelete´Please , Please we want AJ Cook and Paget Brwester FULLTIME.Its so unfair.If they are cut out, than i won´t watch the serie anymore .
ReplyDeleteThis is outrageous, CBS can count me out. I will not watch the show ever again, not even reruns, if they go through with this. In fact, I see no reason to watch CBS at all.
ReplyDeleteHELP Keep AJ Cook & Paget Brewster on Criminal Minds! http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/signed.cgi?cmwomen&1
ReplyDeleteIf AJ Cook is removed and Paget Brewster's role is reduced that will leave pretty much only male characters on the show and really no one for females to relate to. I mean come on. I agree with another poster. If they are needing money then cut the spin-off. I didn't care for it anyways. I like the current characters. If they reduce Brewster's role and remove AJ Cook, I will not be watching. Why doesn't CBS listen to the fans of the show. We are the only reason it's on TV at all. I mean to be on TV you gotta have viewers right? Oh, well, I guess TBS really will have the best shows for then. The Closer, Leverage, Memphis Beat and soon Rizzoli and Isles. At least I have those to watch.
ReplyDeleteSeriously? So until this new repacement female cast member comes along the female fans are going to be left with Garcia stuck in the computer room and Prentiss tagging along every so often? Hell no. The increasing focus over the last couple of seasons on attractive half-naked women being stalked, raped and tortured to death was starting to get disturbing but now the network are also cutting strong, central women out of the main cast. I'm not going to bother investing my time in a series whose only regular female characters will be woman-who-sits-behind-computer-and-whose-main-purpose-in-script-is-exposition-and-flirting-with-handsome-guy and token-woman-who-gets-raped-in-graphic-detail-while-just-happening-to-be-wearing-sexy-matching-underwear.
ReplyDeleteI meant TNT not TBS.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I thought when I heard. I mean come on, ladies don't just do the office work anymore. There are plenty of real life female FBI agents that don't ride a desk all day. It's actually a little insulting. Once Paget's gone, I'm out anyways. I've enjoyed Crminal Minds but if the rumors are true and this is her last year then I won't be watching anymore, and No CBS, I will not watch the spinoff either.
ReplyDeleteIf aj and paget's not going to be on cm, then I'm not watching cm! And I'll make everyone I know stop watching it too!
ReplyDeleteThat really sucks !!! She was a great part of the cast , and one of the main reasons I never missed an episode !! Guess the Tivo can get a break on that night . CBS , are you trying to lose iin the ratings ???
ReplyDeletei love how everyone is saying that they should cut the spin-off if they are having financial trouble, and just now i saw an article that said they aren't cutting AJ because of financial problems but because of "creative reasons" such BS!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.tvguide.com/news/cook-criminal-minds-1019640.aspx
Thanks Phil, I've just joined and added the link to the original post.
ReplyDeleteYep, it's very odd. I also hear that Paget Brewster is having her role reduced.
ReplyDeleteWow... 10,000 Awesome!
ReplyDeleteWow, 28,000, that's insane.
ReplyDeleteCongrats
Thanks, we've already posted a link to the petition in the post :)
ReplyDeleteWhats with CBS? Don't they know you should'nt mess with sucess. Why is it whenever they have to cut a character its the women who go? There are so few strong women on TV we really ought to keep the ones we have. They have a good cast and I hate to see Ms Cook leave. Please CBS don't do to this show what you did to CSI. Leave well enough alone and keep AJ and give Paget back full time status. Keep the team together!
ReplyDeleteOh, this really sucks! I love Paget and AJ, too! I love them both so much! I'm at least glad that Paget isn't leaving completely, but she's my very favorite! I was hoping to see alot of her next season! Ah, CBS, you're starting to piss me off!
ReplyDelete