Exciting Casting News For Next Season
Apr. 15th, 2011 10:29 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
x-forgetromeo.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
criminalxmindsEXCLUSIVE: 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!
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!
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no subject
Date: Apr. 16th, 2011 05:31 am (UTC)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. :)
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Date: Apr. 16th, 2011 06:16 pm (UTC)THIS! SO MUCH! CBS should be extremely happy for AJ's returning.