Thursday, June 17, 2010

On Criminal Minds

While searching to find out what Wednesday night Criminal Minds episode would be airing, I learned that the contract for A.J. Cook (who plays JJ) would not be renewed, and that Paget Brewster's role would be reduced (she plays Prentiss) .

The first reports said it was for "financial reasons". An unfortunately logical but no less upsetting excuse. Then it was emphatically clarified to "creative reasons".

You want creativity? Have a few more episodes where no one is saved (e.g., A Shade of Gray or Tru Night); have a few more episodes where men are the victims; have Reid start dating; explore a possible relatioship between Morgan and Tamara Brown (and have him tell Garcia she was right); give Prentiss a shock to her self esteem (I know in the end she can handle it). But lose JJ? And 'replace' her with someone else? This is not Law & Order, this is not Monk. JJ is a pillar of the team, the Voice. You can freshen the series without main characters disappearing or (in Prentiss' case), fading.

Which leads us back to the initially reported reason. Money. We're all adults here. Why can't CBS just call it what it is?

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