Friday, January 14, 2011

Nina Tassler talks about Criminal Minds cast change at the TCA


From TheFutonCritic

-- And lastly, in regards to cutting A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster back on "Criminal Minds," Tassler said, "I wouldn't say it was just budget reasons. And I would say that over the past couple of years, you know, many shows take a look at adjusting their casts, their cast members, you know, sometimes for financial reasons. Other times, and in this case what it's about, which was we were developing a spin-off. And when we had 'Suspect Behavior' we looked at sort of the evolution of the franchise, we looked at what this vision of the FBI, how they actually did their jobs, what were the nature of the characters being introduced in the sequel and that did give us an opportunity to reflect back on the desired structure of the team on 'Criminal Minds.'

So there were some discussions about, you know, what role did A.J. play, what role does Paget play, is there an opportunity here with the spin-off to look back at the original show and say how can we build out that brand, how can we, we can evolve so that the roles of the agents in the original show? We hope Paget stays with the show, she has the option to stay there, we would like for her to continue on the show but I can tell you that across the board there are discussions about cast members changing [on every show]. It happens more often than necessarily is shared by the press but it is the nature of the evolution of any show.


From Deadline

On the decision to drop A.J. Cook from Criminal Minds. Tassler said it came out of the discussion related to the development of the show's upcoming spinoff. "We though, 'is there an opportunity with the sipnoff to evolve some of the roles (on the mothership series)?'." On Paget Brewster, whose episode commitment was reduced this season and whose future on the show is uncertain: "We'd hope that she would stay, she has the option to do so."

32 comments:

  1. So it was because of the spin-off!!! That totally sucks!
    Didn't need a stupid spin-off, especially when it screwed up the original Criminal Minds cast!!

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  2. Yes it was all about taking from CM, all because of the spin off. This is why we will NEVER post anything about the Spin off. WE, respect Criminal Minds, its cast and crew too much to go and promote a spin off that is helping destroy Criminal Minds!

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  3. Nina Tassler, you've just become the most hated woman in the Criminal Minds fanbase, our Michael Grade.

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  4. i always go with my gut instinct as it has never failed me...I knew they were lying right from the git go!

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  5. Well too bad I will NEVER watch the spin-off because you dicked the original over. CBS, you suck.

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  6. NINA TASSLER: you are as dumb as a sack of hair. NO ONE WANTS THIS SPINOFF. No Criminal Minds fan I know of will be watching this spinoff, and being an obsessed fan of the REAL Criminal Minds, I know a lot of fans!

    AJ Cook and Paget Brewster were robbed. JJ is still noticeably abset on each and every post-JJ episode. And the new agent? Can't stand her (nothing against the actress; just the character is stupid).

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  7. When has a spin off or a sequel done better or has been more successful than the original? It's a rare thing if it's ever occurred. I would sue for Sexist reasons if I were them. And also, CM is the best show on tv but the spin off looks disappointing.

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  8. Why is Paget been offered the option to continue but AJ hasn't? I would really like to know who it is that really didn't like AJ as a person, enough to just kick her off the show with no warning. I don't believe for a minute all that crap about "analyzing her character" for the spin-off! I thought her character added a lot to CM. I haven't even watched it since they kicked her off. It just seems to disappointing.

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  9. Well, that really is a said excuse for 2 cast members being let go. Bet no producers cut their salary down for the spinoff. Thanks CBS for messing with a really GREAT SHOW chemistry.Didnt anyone ever here if it isnt broken dont fix it. Just hope it survives all the changes and dosent get canceled.

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  10. Well, that really is a SAD excuse for 2 cast members being let go. Bet no producers cut their salary down for the spinoff. Thanks CBS for messing with a really GREAT SHOW chemistry.Didnt anyone ever here if it isnt broken dont fix it. Just hope it survives all the changes and dosent get canceled.

    REPOST DUE TO SELL ERROR.

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  11. ABC please take back the show!

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  12. Anonymous,
    I really love C.M. it is the best show of it's kind on tv.
    I AM A 54 year old viewer, and I Really hate brain drain show.
    Like the Mentalist. They insult my intelligence.I really hope that
    you smarten up and start listenning to the people. And instead of
    telling us what you think we should like why don't you shutup and really
    let us tell you what you want to watch!

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  13. I am a 32 year old viewer , and I too love C.M.! It is one
    of my favorite shows. Therefore axing it would be a huge mistake!
    You have no right to tell us viewers anything! why miss with
    a good thing the show is great just as it is ! And so therefore
    you are an idiot ! As for the spinoff I don't have to watch it
    not to like it ! The original is good on it's own standing and doesn't
    need no stupid second handed sequel!

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  14. My brother and I like dark haired women, so taking off
    the black haired one that plays Emily ! Would be a totally
    huge mistake ! She is pretty and talented , and being
    a woman you should know better! Besides blondes are over
    rated! So if she does unfortnately leave please replace,
    her with someone of equal talent. And hopefully a woman who isn't
    a blonde!

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  15. I hope Nina Tassler's happy now, because she more than llikely just killed any chance of the spinoff being popular. We lost our JJ and Prentiss for that piece of crap show? From what I saw from the X-Over episode, I was NOT impressed. The NCIS one did a whole-lot better job introducing the new characters, and they didn't have to lose cast members for it! I hope CBS is happy now, because we all think that network SUCKS!! I can't believe that's the reason why they left! From what I heard, it was CBS's decision, so I won't make CM punish for it, but I am peeved. What's next, Nina Tassler, get rid of Reid so the spin-off can have less competiton? It's not working! And now they throw Ashley Seaver in our face as a peace offering, and guess what? From what I heard, no one really likes her! At least bring back Prentiss! What is wrong with you, CBS?!?

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  16. I think the lies trickle off of Nina Tassler's tongue like water trickles down a drain. I don't think she thinks before she speaks. To say that they are taking a look at how the real BAU unit works and trying to tailor the characters accordingly is bullshit. The real BAU do NOT go out in the field. They stay at Quantico and do profiles and papers for agencies that request them! They are tyring to get the male 20 year old demography by making it an action show and they are going to lose the audience they have which are mostly older than 20 and female. It just boggles my mind.

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  17. Nina Tassler is an idiot and this just seals it. Someone should sew her mouth shut so she'll stop opening it and saying things like this. The spin-off is going to tank, especially now that she opened her big mouth. The only thing to me that was even slightly interesting about the spin-off was the actor who played Mitch and he's not enough to get me to watch... he's just a little eye candy... but it takes more than that to make a character interesting. The cast of the spin-off had absolutely no chemistry with each other in the episode of Criminal Minds that they were in. And Jeanne Garafolo? She's a good actress, but she does NOT fit a show like CMSB. Even adding Garcia to the spin-off will not get me to watch it... especially now that Tassler has said that the spin-off is the reason for AJ being dumped. I want AJ/JJ back on the original.

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  18. Folks,

    Please remember that name calling is not acceptable. Speak your mind but remain polite or we will have to delete your comment.

    Thank you

    CMRT admin

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  19. all i can say is, as per usual, the WRONG PEOPLE are in charge.

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  20. This was obvious from the beginning. Tassler tried to dismiss all of us who sent faxes, emails, even the "lipstick campaign" - she tried to make fans look like idiots. Well, Nina, we're smarter than you think. Even some of the stars of CM7 - The Original Recipe - have now spoken out against the spin-off. They are no longer feeling obliged to cover for the network that obviously doesn't care about them. So what is it really that drives the networks if it isn't ratings and fan support? Oh, right - this is the network that cut Cagney and Lacey three times. Duh!!!

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  21. All I have to say, is that if Emily doesn't end up dead, I will no longer be watching Criminal Minds. It's been my favorite show since it first aired. But I will stop watching it if they don't have Emily go down fighting. If her character willingly walks away after how hard she worked to be a part of the team, there's no help left for the show at all. AJ being gone was one thing. Whose next? Gibson? Gubler? You're going to get rid of everyone for this stupid spin-off that no one wants to see. I watched the preview for it. It was sickening. It looked like a sad attempt of some talentless directer to rip off the original criminal minds. What's wrong with you people. Stop ruining everything. It's it's broken, fix it. This wasn't broken until you started messing with it.

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  22. Companies fail when they do not respond to the desires, wants, and needs-yes,needs-of their customers. You have made a mistake CBS; correct it, or it will correct itself at your loss. Logic based on facts should always trump personal feelings.

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  23. Well now that CMSB has aired a few episodes I think it's fair to say that it sucks! It sucks!! Its awful! CM used to be my favorite show. I HATE CBS!

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  24. I agree that no die hard CM fan will watch the spin off. I watched the pilot, just to check it out, and was more than disappointed.

    However, in response to an earlier anon comment: NCIS is actually a spin off of JAG. That's the only spin off that I can think of that has done as well or better than the show it was spun from.

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  25. get rid of gubler.....he is too fey and talks too FAST ...

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  26. The spin-off is horrible and boring. They made a huge mistake firing these 2 strong, smart female leads. I have been a loyal fan for years but I'm done. Can't stand the new girl and the chemistry of the show just isn't the same. Bad move CBS! So disgusted you caved into a psycho like Charlie Sheen. And by the way I hate Two and a Half Men and have never and never will watch it. If I'm going to take time out of my eveing to watch television, it won't be CBS. I was already angry when they eliminated As the World Turns and Guiding Light. Crossing CBS off my list.

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  27. Bad move is right, I won't be watching either

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  28. I am totally disappointed in the changes to Criminal Minds. I won't watch the spin off, hate Janeane Garofalo!! This is what happened to CSI, I don't watch that anymore either.

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  29. With the single limited exception of law and order SVU no spinoff of a crime drama has compared to, let alone been better than the original recipe. And the whole crap about suspect behavior influencing casting decisions on cm is bs political pandering to an audience she assumes is stupid. It doesn't even make sense, why should a barely related crappy spinoff have any impact on the casting of another show. DON'T FIX WHAT ISN'T BROKEN, NO DON'T BREAK WHAT IS PERFECT TO START WITH. What's going to happen is the new show is going to tank because Forest Whitaker sucks! and ION TV reruns, internet, and DVD sales are going to skyrocket while CBS is going to feel really stupid that they ruined their only good show for a few bucks therein eliminating whats left of their ratings and losing way more than they were paying paget and aj. I hope that when/if they realize this (and its a sadly narrow likelihood because unlike wiser networks, they decide not to listen to their viewers) and fire Ms. Tassler they tell her it's not because of money, its because "they need to reevaluate and reflect on the developement and evolution of their crappy network", and then replace her with some bimbo based entirely on haircolor and tell her she has the choice to come back when she stops being an idiot. P.S. if they touch Garcia (an unlikely threat but still difficult to ignore because talent seems a secondary asset in this sausage fest) then hell will break loose with much more ferocity than a strongly worded comment.

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  30. Okay, here's are my theories, because no self-loving network would make this incredible series of idiot decisions. 1. Aliens have taken over CBS and are ruining the show just to watch us weak humans squirm. 2. Forest Whitaker is an alien with the same goal as number 1. 3. The tea party wants TV watchers to unite against the liberal media and only watch fox, so they secretly planted chips in Nina Tasslers brain to make CBS suck. (watch out NBC, you're next...) . 4. Nina Tassler is a sadistic psychopath who gets off on the suffering of her network and viewers and the BAU needs to track down those responsible for this BS and "try 'em and fry 'em"

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  31. This sucks. Criminal minds original recipe was the best show on TV and now there is nothing good on CBS anymore. congrats. I really hope when/if this network decides to listen to their viewers and fire Ms. Tassler, they tell her its becuase they're you know, re-evaluating and reflecting on the development and you know evolution of their crap network and then replace her with a bimbo based solely on haircolor. Suspect behavior sucks. Prentiss and AJ should just go to fox and get their own alias style international show, take shemar and kirsten with them, and let CBS crash and burn.

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  32. CBS, if you don't listen to your viewers, you are going to fail. You don't have to, you know, be, you know, president of a network to know that. You have ruined the last good crime drama for the sake of the almighty dollar and you are about to lose a lot of ratings to online, dvd, and reruns, and (good luck Paget!) NBC's new show. Congratulations, for a while there was hope, but you have officially resecured your place as the worst US network.

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