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!

(deleted comment) (Show 21 comments)

[identity profile] hani.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 03:32 am (UTC)(link)
YES!!!!

[identity profile] e-rousset.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 03:37 am (UTC)(link)
Yes, Yes, Yes !!!!!!! So happy about the news !

[identity profile] bubblexdreams.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 03:40 am (UTC)(link)
This is my literal expression rn:

Image

SO HAPPY

[identity profile] mzkitteh.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 03:42 am (UTC)(link)
YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


*happy dance*

[identity profile] staay-classy.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 03:44 am (UTC)(link)
BEST NEWS EVER.
Now I just hope Paget returns so that this show can go back to how wonderful it was.

[identity profile] cinematicrazor.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:04 am (UTC)(link)
YES <3

[identity profile] jupisan.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:05 am (UTC)(link)
Hell yeah!!!!!!!!!! :D

[identity profile] prussianturtle.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:14 am (UTC)(link)
Awesome news!

[identity profile] la-loony.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:15 am (UTC)(link)
AWESOME!!!

[identity profile] spriggina.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:16 am (UTC)(link)
YAY JJ!!!

[identity profile] wrongcooze.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:27 am (UTC)(link)
YYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

[identity profile] ayajedi.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:28 am (UTC)(link)
YAY! I welcome this news. Hopefully I will get to see more Will and Henry too

[identity profile] infinitlight.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:31 am (UTC)(link)
Go J.J. go!

I hope this indicates a return to form for the show.

[identity profile] hotch-fan.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:33 am (UTC)(link)
OMG! Yay! I was having a pretty bad time right now and this had made me so happy that everything else doesn't matter anymore!

This news just made my weekend!!!

ext_197473: kanzeon bosatsu from saiyuki reload blast (Default)

[identity profile] lawless523.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 04:46 am (UTC)(link)
Oh, thank fuck. Now I'm rooting for Paget's pilot not to get picked up so the show can go back to what it was. Before, I was rooting for her to leave because of the way she and AJ had been treated.

I don't really care one way or the other whether Seaver continues. I know that's harsh, but it's the truth; I have nothing against Rachel Nichols, but if the showrunners hadn't screwed up and canned AJ and cut Emily's episodes, Rachel Nichols wouldn't have been on the show in the first place. If they do keep her, though, cut her hair, dye it, or do something so she doesn't look like AJ's twin. It was hard not to think of her as AJ's replacement (which she was as a cast member if not as a character) when they look so much alike.

ext_150185: Plantbert Oh Well (C JJ 2)

[identity profile] jeweledvixen.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 05:16 am (UTC)(link)
HALLELUJAH! Finally CBS and ABC realized what a huge mistake they had made getting rid of JJ and Emily. Hopefully they can bring Emily back as well as JJ, but I'm ~thrilled~ that JJ will be coming back! :D

[identity profile] sugakane-01.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 05:31 am (UTC)(link)
*flails and does happy dance*

Oh thank goodness!

I am totally team AJ/Paget...if AJ had given CBS a one finger salute and told them to kiss her grits the AJ fan in me would have totally supported her, even though the Criminal Minds fan in me would have been disappointed. The Paget fan in me is rooting for her pilot to be all kinds of successful, but the Criminal Minds fan in me is hoping she comes back.

Seaver...can kick hot rocks for all I care. I tried, because I actually really like Rachel Nichols, to like Seaver, but she's just not my cup of tea. And its disappointing b/c I've NEVER not liked one of the characters (I even have an appreciation for Strauss lol). There were some I liked more than others (Reid is my personal fave) but I've never hated a character before (ok, I developed Haley hate towards the end but it was mostly a reaction to the passive/aggressive way they had begun to write her) but Seaver...yeah not a fan. She actually makes me dislike Rossi...I can't explain it but their dynamic irks the beejeesus out of me.

But whether Seaver stays or goes, I'm just happy to have JJ back. :)

[identity profile] ravenboo.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 05:34 am (UTC)(link)
WOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO !!!!!!!!!!!. Now if we can get Paget back and lose NotJJ !!! :D

[identity profile] akin16sk.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 06:31 am (UTC)(link)
ok girls are back in town, now to bring boys back and my fandom life is complete and utter bliss :)

[identity profile] keeconk.livejournal.com 2011-04-16 06:39 am (UTC)(link)
OMG I'M EXCITED ♥

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

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