Last year when it was announced that both A.J. Cook (Jennifer "J.J." Jareau) and Paget Brewster (Emily Prentiss) were no longer going to be regulars on Criminal Minds, fans were both shocked and angered by this seemingly unnecessary character double cull.They showed this anger in the best way that passionate fans of a TV show can do and they took to the internet to vent their frustrations by setting up "Save the Actresses" petition which attracted nearly 60,000 signatures.
This move by CBS executives to dismiss two cast members had people looking to budget reasons for this cut (it wasn't) or potential problems with the actors (it wasn't) but it turned out that it was simply a way to try and keep a stable show fresh. They believed that by cutting two popular characters and bringing a new one in would excite the audience as it was something new. Cut to a year later and this approach has clearly failed as A.J Cook will be returning for the Criminal Minds season finale and has signed a two year contract as a regular, there are rumblings that Brewster will also do the same, pending a pilot that she has just shot.
During this season A.J. Cook has made several appearances in the show, most notably and recently in Paget Brewster's final episode last month which ended on an ambiguous note for Brewster's character in a classic did she/didn't she die cliffhanger (I guess her characters fate might be influenced by the success of her next project). This huge about turn by CBS executives has left Cook more in tune with the business side of show business, but instead of speaking out of turn about her now again employers (which would probably not be a smart thing to do) she seems rather pragmatic about the whole experience when talking to TV Guide:
"It's opened my eyes to the industry, and that had to happen, really. I'm just this sweet little Canadian girl, and this was a nice wakeup call. In this business, you have to be on your toes, ready for anything. That's a valuable lesson."
It does seem like a bold move by CBS to rehire the actress that they so unceremoniously fired last year but it signals that they know that rather than energise the audience, this cast change left them feeling betrayed and disatisfied. It has also meant that a lot of this negative feeling has been directed at new character Ashely (Rachel Nichols), who it would seem a lot of the audience are having a hard time connecting with, especially if mumblings on the Criminal Minds message boards are anything to go by. This vocalisation from the fans is something that Cook is both aware of and very grateful for
"Their outpouring of support really blew me away. That's definitely the silver lining to being let go. The fans really let me know how they felt, and I guess they really let CBS know too."
With the nature of procedural shows such as Criminal Minds and the CSI franchise you can see what the CBS executives were going for when changing the cast in this manner, but doing such a drastic cut and dismissing two strong female characters who are part of the heart of the team seemed like a move that they thought would be an edgy, cool risk but ended up just making them seem ignorant to who the fans of the show are. By rehiring Cook and having her sign a two year deal shows that they are willing to admit their mistake, a move that has been more than welcomed by fans of Criminal Minds.
Are you looking forward to seeing Cook return as a regular? Are there any other shows that you watch were you would like characters who were axed to return? Are you glad to see that fan reaction can have an impact on executives?
AJ Cook sounds like a selfish person
What ever gave you that idea? She sounds sweet to me, she could have made a big fuss when she left but she didn't. She "took the high road", and I respect her for that. I am extremely excited to see her return to the show and cannot wait.
It would be hard to judge someone without even meeting them…..wouldn't you say?? More importantly it is what her character did for the show and she is intregal to its story line. I have renewed interest in Criminal Minds
What would make you print such a comment. She is a big part of the shows success and coming back doesn't seem selfish, she seems very likeable to me.
"AJ Cook sounds like a selfish person." Huh? To me, her comments sounded gracious & politic, particularly in light of the way she was jerked around by CBS.
Mike- She isn't she's beautiful. CBS was dumb to have left her. God, I HOPE she comes back. I cried for three hours straight after I watched her last episode! I looooove JJ.
I hope that AJ and paget come back… and i wish them to dismiss to Rachel nichols, her character is boring and stupid, and she is a horrible actress
While I don't like Ashley Seaver, her character seems like a straight line whose voice tone doesn't change, I don't think it's fair to say Rachel Nichols is a horrible actress because she is just doing her job and is a more successful actress than most because she is part of a TV series.
Of course it´s her job but she isn´t a good actress. There are hundreds of bad actors who have success…
I don't know why anyone would say AJ Cook is selfish. She tried to move on but couldn't find anything satisfactory and she belongs on Criminal Minds. She and the rest of the cast are all very good friends. AJ sounds very humble and pensive but not pretentious in her interview. Its very admirable becuase she did take the high road when she left and she is taking the high road again no that she accepted CBS' offer to come back on.
I hope that Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore sign their contracts soon as well.
Of course it´s her job but she isn´t a good actress. There are hundreds of bad actors who have success…
I BEG TO DIFFER….AJ COOK CAN ACT.
RACHEL NICHOLS CAN'T ACT TO SAVE HER LIFE AND SHE IS BORING WITH HER 1 EXPRESSIONLESS FACE!!!!!!
I'm not AJ Cook fan nor am I overly fond of her character, but even I think it was a dumb move to fire her and an even dumber move to try to reduce Paget Brewster's role and essentially say to her, "she's not worth it" only to scramble later to try to secure her after publicly offending and humiliating her. But the dumbest move was to hire Rachel Nichols thinking she would be in any way a good replacement or even someone to fill the void. Ms. Nichols, IMO, inferior talent in comparison to the Ms. Brewster and Ms. Cook aside, her character is simply ill conceived and in no way compelling, interesting or believable. She's like a bad Mary Sue fan fic character. Now, CBS continues to make incredibly poor decisions regarding this show by jerking around Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore on their contract renewals. Obviously, CBS and ABC Studios STILL have learned nothing from the debacle last year.
Well Said. I look forward to a time when fans and not advertisers can decide what we should watch.
CONGRATS AJ AND WELCOME BACK JJ. WE'VE MISSED YOU!
This news is thrilling! I love JJ and have missed her terribly! NOW, if they would only get Emily back the show will be PERFECT once again!
I liked Emily the first time they introduced her to the show (near the beginning of the episode and near the end) and liked Rossi near the end of his first episode once he realized the BAU worked as a "team." I NEVER was able to warm up to Seaver at all.
I hope Paget Brewster decides to return! Criminal Minds was always my favorite show on TV and it went down hill when they let AJ Cook go and it was no longer interesting after Pagent Brewster left.
By the way, don't ever let Hotch, Reid, Morgan, Rossi or Garcia go like you did Prentiss and Jareau!
The are the team!
This news is thrilling! I love JJ and have missed her terribly! NOW, if they would only get Emily back the show will be PERFECT once again!
I liked Emily the first time they introduced her to the show (near the beginning of the episode and near the end) and liked Rossi near the end of his first episode once he realized the BAU worked as a "team." I NEVER was able to warm up to Seaver at all.
I hope Paget Brewster decides to return! Criminal Minds was always my favorite show on TV and it went down hill when they let AJ Cook go and it was no longer interesting after Pagent Brewster left.
By the way, don't ever let Hotch, Reid, Morgan, Rossi or Garcia go like you did Prentiss and Jareau!
They are the team!
YEA! AJ will be back. It was infinitely stupid for CBS (or whoever makes these decisions) to fire her, and then – stupid squared – to replace her with someone who somewhat resembles her (fair, long blonde hair). did they think any blonde could replace her? Didn't they notice that she (AJ) had a certain personality that added to the show?
Did I mention that CBS was stupid?
I'm so glad JJ (AJ Cook) is comming back on the show, The show just hasn't been the same without her. It's good to know that sometimes they do listen to the fans. I really hope that Emily (Pagent Brewster) will be back too. If they ever cut Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore) It'll be the last time I watch the show (except for the reruns with him in it). Again I'm so HAPPY they are bringing JJ back. Now if they would just get Morgan and Garcia together. LOL
I like JJ but Seaver is great to. Gonna be great seing these 2 interact with each other
This news made my day when I found out.. Now all we need is to get Paget Brewster back too.
My feeling about Seaver has nothing to do with JJ or Emily. That character is just wrong in every way and totally discredits the very premise of the show. Her very presence drains energy from the other characters. I like JJ, but I wasn't devastated by her being written out of the show. I miss Emily a lot more. But this Seaver business needs to go whether JJ and Emily come back or not.
I am sooooo happy that AJ Cook is coming back to Criminal Minds!! Whatever moron thought it was a good idea to fire her, reduce Paget's appearances on the show, and worse of all, create the dumbest character known to man, should be hiding in shame. I can't believe all of the stupid moves that have been made with respect to this show. I hope that lessons have been learned, although I have my doubts with the whole Gibson and Moore contract plight. Just get the team back to the way it was, minus the dumb Seaver character and hopefully, hopefully, crossing my fingers, with Paget back too!
AJ/JJ coming back is fabulous news, I've really missed her this year. Now my beloved genius boy Reid gets to be 'Spence' again!
Now all they need do is get Paget back, make sure Shemar Moore and Thomas Gibson are given new contracts and then pack the utterly dreadful Seaver off to some remote field office for many years to get the experience supposedly needed for a place on the BAU (seeing as she doesn't have Reid's extraordinary genius) and I will be tuning in for S7. Bring back the old team of Reid, Hotch, Morgan, Rossi, Garcia, JJ and Prentiss; they're the 'family' I want to see next season.
Happy AJ Cook is returning. Now lets keep Garcia in her computer nook. Her new activities are not good for the series
I agree with you there. Having Gracia doing all of these other things instead of just being a technical analyst has been a very bad move for the series all season.
I think it's absolutely wonderful news that AJ Cook is rejoining the Criminal Minds cast! I am really pleased for her and it's clear from the interview that she is as delighted to be back as the fans are to have her. CBS made a huge mistake in firing her and in doing what they did to Paget Brewster. Now, some of the imbalance has been brought back. The icing on the cake for me would be the return of Paget Brewster as well and for Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore to have their contract negotiations sorted out sooner rather than later. I don't believe that Agent Seaver would ever fit into the BAU team, no matter how long she was there because her presence is just not credible. GOOD LUCK, AJ! It will be fantastic to see Agent Jareau once again!
i am really glad that Aj is back. missed her loads hopefully they wont cut any male characters EITHER PLUS BRING BACK EMILY PRENTISS. agent seaver is not a good fit, she always gonna be an unwanted addition to the team especially because she caused 2 lovable actresses to leave in the first place. i mean that is hard to forget. they better not even think of cutting reid or any of the other characters. CBS shouls keep the cast the same like before AJ's departure because they are a perfect fit. bringing back gideon wont hurt though. so don't cut characters from ttly amazing show.
There's so much talk about "FAMILY" on the show…as in the team is FAMILY…..CBS doesn't seem to be paying any attention to their own script!!! Rachel Nichols is dreadfully weak in the show…..please 86 her and get the REAL family back together. The show lacks a great deal without these two splendid actresses and Ms Nichols doesn't add, only subtracts from the program.
in my opinion, "if it ain't broke"? aj cook and all of the rest of the cast are like family when you become a steady watching fan..they had no choice about mandy, replaced him with rossi and it worked, the same with elle, but i think the show has had about as much change as a hit show can tolerate…it's still a hit to spite the first 2 cast changes, why mess with that??? count your blessings.. i was a huge fan of the original csi, but when they shaved down the cast i stopped watching.. i also don't watch csi ny since they let stella go..cbs execs if you are reading..dont push your luck, good move to bring the 2 girls back, let them ride the rest of the life of the show however long it may have…oh and it was kind of hard to believe that cbs would think fans would like anyone (rachel nichols) that would take the place of a beloved ensamble cast member like aj cook…..wake up and smell the coffee…
The Seaver character is wooden (it's either the acting or the writing). In addition, it's hard not to resent her as a "replacement" for JJ and/or Emily. Seaver needs to go. Prentiss definitely needs to come back from the "dead" or return from hiding…however they want to write her back in…CBS should never have screwed with the show!!
The "keeping it fresh" move was one of the stupidest things the network, or the writers, or whoever, could make. What they didn't seem to realize is that we've been following these characters (and the actors) for five and six YEARS. They were people we cared about, people we wondered about, people we got excited for and nervous for. Of COURSE we're going to get pissed and start petitions and blow up Twitter and Facebook.
As fans of this show, our loyalties are going to lie with those actors and the characters they portray. They are who we know, and they are who we love. It's almost like their friends of ours and when they leave… well you certainly aren't going to replace a friend with someone else just because they look like them, are you?
Welcome back, AJ. We missed you and you shouldn't have ever been gone. Paget… good luck. No one is going to blame you if you don't come back.
I am an angry viewer because Criminal Minds producers have seen fit to Axe A.J. Cook's roll as J.J. and the part of Emily Prentiss played by Paget Brewster. Sorry, since Rachel McNichol has come to the show, the charisma of the cast has vanished. She does not fit with the rest of the players, and in this viewers estimation, the show is RUINED
Criminal Minds will be a better show for having JJ retyrn. She provided a stable pivot for the show to highlight the other actors. Hopefully CBS realizes her worth and allows her to exhibit an increased self confidence that such a role with the Ste Department would have brought her. Good for AJ Cook to exhibit equal character growth in her personal life because of the antics of CBS.
Cant wait for AJ to come back, and I do hope Paget returns also. Rachel is a decent actress but her character is dreadful. Good to see that cbs is trying to fix their mistakes.Now all they have to do is cancel that awful suspect behavior… Welcome back AJ we all missed you!!!
Glad to see the fans opinion counts as I was as well disapointed at the decision to let 'JJ' go…….
I couldn' t believe that they would write out 2 at the same time! I love the show but have not been excited about the new cast member.
I have not even seen this new woman, as we are a bit behind in South Arica, but I already hate her. We just saw the 2nd episode A.J's last. We don't even know about Prentis yet! We are kept like mushrooms, in the the dark and fed sh!t! leave the cast alone, we love the show as it is.
Please tell me what happen to Emily and in what episode????
I am sooo happy CBS is bringing back AJ Cook, the show has not been the same without her.
I am definitely happy to see the return of J J for two reasons..1 I am a fellow canadian ..2 don't fix it if it ain't broken. Removing her was like amputating a limb, only because she was there from the beginning. A lot of people do not like to see changes of characters is their favorite shows especially if it is a strong character I am not a television watcher, Criminal Mind is my, favorite show.
I am so happy AJ is coming back. I could jump up and down. I just love her and Paget Brewster on this show. Hopefully she comes back also. The cast and the show are just great especially considering the terribibly morbid story lines. Good acting from all!!!
I'm so glad JJ is back – what a void! I hope Paget Brewster returns as well. The cast "works" what a great assemble. I haven't met anyone that's not a "Criminal Minds" fan.
North Carolina
I was so mad that AJ Cook was fired. But now I am happy that she is coming back to the show.
i agree with everyone that j.j. and emily are a huge part of the show. i dont find it as intresting with them both gone. whos next to be cut morganm i would so stop watching if that happened. i think cbs is g going to loose alot of viewers if they keep cuting the cast,
CBS – thank you for taking it on the chin.
JJ is back!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Criminal Minds just became one of my favorite shows again.
Still miss Prentiss!!!!!!! Do what is right and get her back.
Glad A.J. Cook is coming back. Hopefully Paget Brewster will surprise us in the fall. This has been my favorite show on television for the past five years. Love the chemistry between Hotchner, Reid, Prentiss, Garcia, J.J., and Rossi. It's great when the writers of this show mix things up — crimes of every nature.
I am so HAPPY to hear A. J. Cook is back!!!! The team is incomplete without her. I hope Paget Brewster comes back too. They all belong together..they are a team.
"Keeping it fresh" it makes no sense to me to get rid of JJ and then bring another character to resembles JJ so much in terms of looks.
I am more than glad. I am ecstatic! Hurray for the return of AJ and Paget!! Long live "Criminal MInds"! And thanks CBS for heeding our call to have these two beloved ladies back pronto! Now we're looking forward to seeing Thomas Gibson get signed for Season 7, and Shemar too. What? You have already? W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L! Now, if you think you still need to shear off some characters, you could maybe, free Rachel Nichols from her contract. She belongs to film, not TV.
mad about letting prentis go , i can only say one thing get her back, and get rid of the nieuw blond girl i dont like her.glad j.j is coming back,
Seaver is all wrong for the show. She doesnot compliment the others at all. There's not any excitement to her character. Move her out. I am so glad JJ and Emily are returning. I think that it was a terrible act on CBS . Pls take seaver off. If changes are not made I will stop watching the show.
Im so glad JJ is coming back- she fit in perfectly with the other actors personalities. I love them all and it is a shame Prentiss was cut too. When you have a great cast, and with so many shows coming/going its best to keep it as is when its RIGHT!
love them,love them and love them.so happy that JJ AND paget are back.criminal minds is not complete with out them.
Here in kenya we hated the show after JJ and Prentiss left. Seaver is in the wrong show! Btw, if you take away Gibson you may as well shut down the show or call it Criminal History!