ext_218556 ([identity profile] x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com) wrote in [community profile] criminalxminds2011-04-15 10:29 pm

Exciting Casting News For Next Season

EXCLUSIVE: JJ fans can rejoice. After a week of negotiations, A.J. Cook just closed a two-year deal to return to CBS' drama Criminal Minds as a regular. She will guest star in the series' sixth season finale on May 18 before re-joining the show full-time in the fall.

Cook departed Criminal Minds after the end of last season when her option was not picked up, stirring outcry among fans of the show. She appeared in the first two episodes of this season to wrap the storyline of her character JJ, who was transferred from the BAU to a job at the Pentagon. Cook then returned for the last episode of the season for co-star Paget Brewster, which aired last month. If Brewster's NBC comedy pilot My Life As An Experiment does not go to series, she will also likely return to Criminal Minds in the fall since series' producer ABC Studios has an option on her. Cook's return to Criminal Minds does not bode well for newly minted regular Rachel Nichols, who was brought in to fill the void left by Cook's departure. Meanwhile, ABC Studios is yet to close new deals with original cast members Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore for next season, with negotiations continuing.

Cook was offered to return to Criminal Minds late last week after the series' producers recently came up with ideas for JJ for next season. Despite her exit from the show, Cook and her character continued to be extremely popular among Criminal Minds fans. Heading into Season 7, Criminal Minds will be run solely by executive producer Erica Masser following the recent departures of executive producers Ed Bernero and Simon Mirren, who have served as co-showrunners with her this season.

Source

ETA: AJ Cook tweeted and confirmed it!

[identity profile] eiko82.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 08:28 am (UTC)(link)
Awesome news!!! I'm very happy to hear JJ will be back.

But I also hope that they keep Seaver. I'm starting to warm up to her and I'd really hate to see her go.

[identity profile] lagolindari.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 08:29 am (UTC)(link)
Me too ç___ç I was looking at some caps and was completely convinced it was Reid, Morgan, Penelope and JJ. It took someone writing down the names for me to realize it was actually Seaver.

[identity profile] elliptic-eye.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 08:30 am (UTC)(link)
\o/

[identity profile] phibatola.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 10:02 am (UTC)(link)
I like Seaver. She isn't my favourite character but I am ok with her. I don't think she looks like JJ's twin. I can tell them apart just fine and the actresses play different roles anyway. I am fine with Rachel not changing anything. The idea of her having to look different is unrealistic to me. I know more than one blond person with long hair and the same build give or take. Why should people not look alike on TV shows? We the fan base are smart enough and observant enough to tell them apart.

[identity profile] littledrop.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 10:10 am (UTC)(link)
I like all of the female characters

OMG, me too! There should be a support group for people like us!

OMG like YAY ! I am on cloud 9 right now....

[identity profile] phibatola.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 10:14 am (UTC)(link)
Unpopular opinion but I like Seaver.Even though she is new I like what they have done with the character so far. I hope they keep her arouund. I am fine telling them appart.

I am a very bad person but I hope we get Prentiss back as well. Which is totally unfair to PB I know but Emily was one of my most favourite characters on the show (Along with JJ).

Now if I only got my penelope back. Cause this person I have been watching lately is very different than the penelope I knew and loved. I don't want Penelope to have a smaller role I just want her personality and style back! Not to mention the BFF she has going on with Morgan.

[identity profile] midnight-coffee.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 10:29 am (UTC)(link)
Wheeeheheee! I woke up to this news today and it's like: YEEEHAWWW! CBS still sucks, but it seems like they finally realized what a bad decision they made. Now get us Paget back, too, and I might enjoy my 'old' CM team completely again.
a_blackpanther: (mod post)

[personal profile] a_blackpanther 2011-04-16 10:38 am (UTC)(link)
OMFG! AWESOME!

But, SPOILER CUTS PEOPLE, SPOILER CUTS!

[identity profile] arakat.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 10:40 am (UTC)(link)
I had to check the date of this post several times just to make sure it wasn't a April Fool's joke (been away from LJ for a while).

It wasn't, and now I'm ecstatic! Hopefully we'll get Emily back, too. And if Seaver stays, we'll have equal number of men and women on this show, and that could be kinda awesome.

[identity profile] blissful-sky.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 11:13 am (UTC)(link)
I love JJ, but I can't really get excited before Emily is back :( Secretly hoping for her pilot to go shit so she will

[identity profile] klutzy-girl.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 11:15 am (UTC)(link)
Yay!

[identity profile] beautifulworld.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 11:29 am (UTC)(link)

[identity profile] ficdirectory.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 11:33 am (UTC)(link)
Yay! I just found this out and it made my morning! So thrilled. AJ's my favorite actress and I was so bummed that I only discovered CM by season 6 and she only had 2 episodes left. SO glad she's coming back! Makes my whole day brighter!

[identity profile] diemme.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 11:44 am (UTC)(link)
Yes!!! * uses up store of exclamation points * Now, can we have Prentiss back and Seaver sent to Suspect Behavior, please?
ext_197473: kanzeon bosatsu from saiyuki reload blast (Default)

[identity profile] lawless523.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 12:49 pm (UTC)(link)
This part of the fanbase is not smart and observant enough to tell them apart, especially before anyone begins speaking. My husband, who continues to watch, agrees that Rachel Nichols is a generic blonde and it's hard to distinguish her from AJ Cook; in fact, when he saw her, he thought, "AJ's back?" Why make it harder? In promo photos, believe me, I'll have a hard time telling them apart.

[identity profile] resolucidity.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 01:09 pm (UTC)(link)
This is fabulous news! But the fact that TG has still not be signed (when every other leading actor in a returning show was inked a long time ago) is very concerning. And the hint of Hotch moving up in the FBI during the last ep, has me even more concerned. Re-signing AJ just may a smokescreen to cover up not signing TG. As much as I love JJ, the show would not be the same without Hotch. We may need to mobilize, folks. After the ass-hattery that was pulled on us last summer, we know it can happen.

[identity profile] beth-tint.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 01:11 pm (UTC)(link)
Image (http://s1120.photobucket.com/albums/l483/bethtint/?action=view&current=akz6vn.gif)
Image (http://s1120.photobucket.com/albums/l483/bethtint/?action=view&current=14ukf9z.gif)

[identity profile] laminy.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:21 pm (UTC)(link)
With JJ and Seaver, and no Emily, this show could actually be perfection.
ext_2932: (Criminal Minds)

[identity profile] lothy.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:30 pm (UTC)(link)

Complete agreement here. In my opinion the show would be much better if there were an equal number of women to men. But when does that ever happen on TV?!

And I also love Rachel Nichols. Her character wasn't great at first, but then I think CM has a history of characters not being so great at first but slowly developing over time (Prentiss, for example). I want to give Seaver enough time to develop the same way.

[identity profile] liona5.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Oooooooooooh YESSSS Best News of the DAY! YAAAAY
Dance around like crazy!!!
Now we just need Paget too and everything is PERFECT in the world!

[identity profile] thecowboycliche.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:31 pm (UTC)(link)
/missed the party

/parties anyway

Image

I'm just amazed that TPTB basically admitted that were wrong to fire her in the first place. I would have thought that their stubborness alone would have prevented them from bringing her back.

Now we need Paget toooooo.

And I'm figuring/hoping that Rachel isn't going anywhere. I assume she has some sort of contract.

[identity profile] thecowboycliche.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:36 pm (UTC)(link)
Not completely unpopular. I like Seaver too and I don't think having them on together is going to be a problem. At worst, one of them can cut or dye their hair, though I hope it doesn't have to come to that.

As for Garcia, it's possible that because she's in the spinoff too that's why her screen time has been reduced. Hopefully that will be CANNED and we'll have her back full time. :)

[identity profile] runriggers.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 02:48 pm (UTC)(link)
I wonder, given the end of the episode this week, whether they writers will tie that into JJs return.

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