Criminal Minds is a popular procedural show, like NCIS and CSI, that is getting a spin-off, but all may not be well on the set of Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
First, producers of the original Criminal Minds basically fired actress A.J. Cook, who played the popular character J.J., and were going to cut down on actress Paget Brewster’s screen time. Fan outcry kept Paget’s character Emily Prentiss on the show, and it looks like they’ve replaced J.J. with another blonde, Rachel Nichols as Agent Ashley Seaver.
The new show Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior has a solid cast. Oscar-winner Forest Whitaker heads the unit, and Janeane Garofalo plays Agent Beth Griffith. But Janeane seems to be a bit disillusioned about how twisted the plots of CM really are.
Don’t get Janeane Garofalo wrong — she’s happy working on Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, the upcoming spin-off of the popular CBS crime drama. In fact, she even named her new dog Unsub, after a bit of the show’s jargon. But she sometimes wonders if the show has to be so creepy.
“I don’t mean to be such a puritan, but if I had kids, I would not allow them to watch,” Garofalo tells TV Guide Magazine. “That’s an issue I grapple with.”
Garofalo plays Agt. Beth Griffith on the procedural, which stars Oscar winner Forest Whitaker (a premiere date is not yet set). “Before I [signed on], I had discussions with the producer/creators, and was led to believe the show would not be so violent,” she says. The episode she’s currently shooting involves a female corpse being dragged to sundry crime scenes. “I don’t believe we need to find clever ways for somebody to slice somebody up.”
Garofalo says the producers have been “very open” to her concerns and adds, “I don’t mean to sound like I’m criticizing, because I’m thrilled that they want to hire me. I’m still surprised by it.”
[TV Guide, print edition, December 20, 2010]
Criminal Minds has some of the creepiest story lines on network TV. One of the reasons Mandy Patinkin gave for leaving the show was reportedly because he thought there was too much violence, so Janeane may need to reconcile her ideals with the direction of the show if she wants to stay on it.
Forest Whitaker apparently doesn’t have much patience for nervous guest stars on the show, as Justine Bateman found out the hard way, according to the Enquirer.
Exasperated Oscar winner Forest Whitaker walked off the set of his new CBS series, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior, when flustered guest star Justine Bateman could NOT stop flubbing her lines — and he told the director: Don’t call me back until she gets it right! Justine, a TV vet who starred for years on the smash sitcom Family Ties, has just one small paragraph of dialogue, but kept flubbing it — and the more she flubbed, the more nervous she became. After 30 embarrassing minutes of hearing her say, “I’m really sorry,” Whitaker stormed off. An hour later, the director finally decided he’d shot enough takes to correct Bateman’s ongoing bungles in the editing room. Called back to the set, Whitaker delivered his response to Justine’s d-d-d-dialogue — in just one perfect take!
[National Enquirer, print edition, January 3, 2011]
I can’t decide if this makes Forest sound like a douche or a frustrated professional. Maybe a little of both.
Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior will probably be a hit, like CSI: Miami and NCIS: Los Angeles are. I don’t know if I’ll be watching. I haven’t been watching Criminal Minds as loyally this season. I think I’m burned out on way-twisted serial killers of the week, and I think Janeane is wrong: the show is trying to find new ways to slice somebody up.
Forest Whitaker is shown on 10/9/10. Justine Bateman is shown on 4/11/10 and 2/21/09. She looks so rough! Janeane Garofalo is shown on 2/4/10. Credit: WENN.com
Forest is better looking than she is. No wonder he stormed off the set. Run Forest run!!!
The Batemans are aging well. I think Forest was a frustrated professional. I mean, it was only one paragraph. Maybe she has some personal issues.
Rita-I think the heavy eyeliner is the problem here. She looks good in the last pic.
wtf did Garofalo think she was signing on for? The BAU deals with the sickest of the sick. Of COURSE the storylines will be twisted. Serial killers are twisted.
And funny how other than the crap with Diva Patinkin (and believe me, his “disillusionment” with the storylines wasn’t as much a factor as his “disillusionment” with the attention the other cast members were getting was), there’s no drama on the set of the original “Criminal Minds.” I was asked to work the set of “Suspect Behavior” and for now, I won’t do it unless it’s for NY based location shoots. I just can’t stomach the thought of having to work near Forest Whittaker, who is really not that nice a person. I doubt I’ll even watch the spin-off. There was no need to take a unique show like CM and spin it off into this mess.
I think Justine Bateman looks okay, but Rita’s comment made me laugh out loud.
Cm is very disturbing. While I love the show, there are episodes that make me feel so sick in the stomach because of the possibility that somewhere out there, some sicko has probably done something similar before. I think that’s why it’s so scary.
I really liked JJ and was disappointed that they seem to have replaced her with a similar younger version of her. I mean if they introduced a completely new character than fine but that’s not the case.
lin, they get most of their storylines from actual cases, or aspects of actual cases. So yeah, people have actually done similar stuff and it’s scary.
@ Liana, yep, and THAT is what scares the beejeezus outta me! They are based on real cases.
Janeane G bitches about every single thing she does unless it’s something that is her own idea. Can’t stand her.
Justine looks like a corpse, I’m sorry.
I understand wanting to look natural and not going down the plastic route, but if only she’d put on a couple of pounds, she’d end up looking much much better.
I quit watching CM when they cut AJ Cook out of the show. Infact her departing episode was the last I watched. Wont be watching the spin off either. These show creaters need not be messing with a winning formula. The show is off now. It just doesent have the same chemistry.
I don’t even watch that show, but even I know it’s based on violent crimes – know what you sign up for before you sign!
How did FW go from winning an Oscar a few years ago to a TV crime procedural spin off show? Seems like an odd choice.
I think Justine needs a bit of a make-over.
WOW! Bateman is looking rough. and ugh at garafalio. really?!
Love Patinkin! He is a very talented man in more ways than one. I read when he left that he said he wanted to pursue his other passions which was singing and I can’t remember what else now.
He was great in Dead Like Me also! I still miss him on CM. I also have not been keeping up these last 2 seasons faithfully like usual and do not know the story as to why JJ is no longer on, I really liked her and they better not get rid of Paget !
Yes the show is disturbing but that is what makes the show what it is and why people watch it.
Whitaker is way too good for this hot mess. Didnt M.J. Fox used to say Justine was sort of slow? Seriously actors are paid very well to know their lines, when one messes up constantly it is beyond irritating for the cast and crew. If a boom operator kept dropping the microphone over and over he would be fired but when a “veteran” actress screws up over and over people are just supposed to say it’s okay dear, take your time, baby steps…Have been there, it SUCKS! The best paid people on the show need to know their shite or work behind the scenes.
How did FW go from winning an Oscar a few years ago to a TV crime procedural spin off show? Seems like an odd choice.
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Oscar or not, he’s an actor and he wants to act. I guess it doesn’t matter what he is acting in. Sometimes you don’t have a choice when you need to support yourself and family.
I don’t watch these type of shows too often but I might give CM a try since I like Forest Whitaker.
Bateman did not age well. She was such a cutie when she was younger. Looks awful now.
i miss AJ Cook. I bet she’ happy to know she’ got a loyal fan base who can’t wait for her next project.
I still watch CM on occasion, but without JJ, thee is something major missing in th group dynamic.
Justine needs some work on her brow game. That and a tiny hint of color in her cheeks. VOILA!
Janeane looks great!! I love almost everything she does 🙂
And Mandy Patkin is a wonderful actor. Dead like me was such a good show! I really wish it hadn’t been canceled
that justine thing is freaking me OUT.
how old is he or she? 78? jeez….what a BEAST.
I’d say he’s just a frustrated professional. He’s not used to TV and people having to quickly learn lines. Also Justine hasn’t been in much since family ties maybe this is why she’s not working as much. Justine doesn’t look that bad but her brother has aged better.
OMG, that’s Justine Bateman? She’s unrecognizable!
Oh dear. Too much eyeliner, lipstick too dark, flat hair. Who styled her like this??
Janeane Garofalo looks like herself. I remember she used to talk about being “fat” all the time, and I saw her on the train in 2004 – she is INCREDIBLY tiny and petite, not overweight in the slightest. Truly, body standards in the entertainment industry are so far removed from the real world, it’s ridiculous.
Liana: I guess I’m just out of it but I didn’t know that Patinkin and Whittaker were jerks. Interesting. Any more “stuff” to share?
I like Janeane Garofalo, used to listen to her on the radio, the old Air America. She is extraordinarily insecure which she readily admits. Sam Seder used to like to tease her and wrap her around the axel. She also panics before screen tests; one of the reasons she is so grateful when she lands a part.
I assumed AJ Cook left because she had a baby a season or two ago and didn’t want to put in the time on a series anymore–I’m really disappointed in the producers for firing her. I love entire cast and thought they played well off of each other.
I like Criminal Minds, but have to be in the right mood for it. It is pretty disturbing at times. I don’t know if I’ll watch a spin-off…
Perhaps the show isn’t “left” enough for Garofalo?
I kid, I kid.. kinda 😉
Who gives a rat’s ass about what J. Barofalo thinks?
Ugh. On one hand, I appreciate that Bateman clearly hasn’t taken the botox/ fillers root. On the other hand, AHHHH! She looks flipping horrible! Terrifying. And Jeneane looks fine but I haven’t seen her for about the last 20 years and all those tats etc. don’t suit an almost-50 yr-old woman.
Justine looks horrible. I’m not sure it’s the makeup or aging. Janeane is so stupid. The show is about serial killers. What did she expect and why on Earth would she think it’s a family show appropriate for kids?
A lot of movie actors are turning to tv. Gleen Close, Holly Hunter, Sally Fields are just a few. There’s a couple of reasons why movie stars go to tv. Movie scripts aren’t that good. Every other movie is a sequel, remakes, or something that’s been done 1000 times before. I think a lot of tv shows are more interesting than movies. There’s kind of stability in tv, but only if your show gets pickedup. If your show is a success you’re almost guaranteed work for a couple of years. Also you stay in one place. With movies you have to travel. Some actors may be tired of the travel. If you have a family you probably don’t want to be seperated from them or have to take the kids out of school.
The producers didn’t fire AJ Cook. The network basically did. Trust me, Ed Bernero went to bat for her in a big way. They were able to save Paget Brewster for most of the season. None of it was storyline driven. And as it stands right now, Paget is gone after this season.
Yeah, Mandy Patinkin was a bit of a jerk. Let’s just say that when he left, few tears were shed (especially from the crew). He left in a shitty way. Said he was quitting, effective immediately, agreed to finish out his “story,” then never showed at the table reading. He left the fate of the show and many jobs up in the air due to his rash and unprofessional way of going about things. Should his “replacement” Joe Mantegna leave, big time tears will be shed as Joe is the consummate team player. Mandy had his moments, especially during the first year of the show, but he was increasingly unhappy, and not all of it was due to the storylines. He did something similar on “Chicago Hope” as well. Still… Inigo Montoya, you know?
1) I looove Mandy Patinkin, would have his babies! He sings like a dream and looks like my husband! I thought he left CM and Chicago Hope for family reasons-like he wanted to see them…
2) FW looks creepy, a true wonk-eye, and has some weird mannerisms that creep me out in a David Caruso type of way.
3) That blonde cutie was good in CM, anyone know why/if she was fired?
4)Paget is the bomb.
5) JB-just yikes! Makeup and hair can be your friends!!
Poor Forest. Not one good role since he won an Oscar. Shame.
Woah. Justine is not aging well. She only looks “good” if she is 50+. If she is under 50, then no she is not aging well. *whispers*…drugs at all???
I may have to watch – but Garafaolo..is not an actress at all. Who did she bl** to get cast???
Liana: thanks for the info. “You killed my father. Prepare to DIE”.
Johnthing: I could say the same thing about you. I happen to like Janeane. To each his/her own. We do get to voice our opinions here, right? Or too lefty for you?
makes me sad to see how rough justine bateman is looking, looks like some sort of addiction, alcohol ??? sad she used to be so hot and she is not that old, someone groom her eyebrows stat, that alone will help majorly!
I will watch for Janeane Garafolo and I hope and pray they style her well. Forest Whitaker makes me Not want to watch.
I love CM! except the new agent, I understand that maybe they wanted to bring new blood to the show and it is good that it is a woman but I just don´t like her, and me thinks they will try to do something with her and reid. please don´t!!!
not sure if I´ll watch the spin off, watched the episode when they were introduced and didn´t like it except for the sniper but just because he has a Scottish accent LOL