Thursday, June 16, 2016

CRIMINAL MINDS Season 12 - Adam Rodríguez, NEW Series Regular!


By Matt Webb Mitovich

CBS’ Criminal Minds is adding Magic Mike levels of muscle to the BAU team, recruiting Adam Rodriguez as a series regular for Season 12.

The CSI: Miami vet will help fill the void left by original cast member Shemar Moore’s late-season sendoff by playing a special agent with the FBI Fugitive Task Force who joins Rossi, Hotch et al at the Behavioral Analysis Unit.

We’re all big fans of Adam’s and are excited to welcome him back to the CBS family,” CBS Entertainment president Glenn Geller said in a statement. Added showrunner Erica Messer: “We have..."

To Read More: TVLine.com

36 comments:

  1. I never liked CSI Miami, couldn't watch it with David Caruso. People I know who did try to watch it quickly stopped because it wasn't very well done...

    Thank said, regardless of who or where a new actor came from I don't think it's a good idea. Now we will be subjected to an overload of his character, while Fan Favorites are pushed to the background again. Also, if they make the mistake of trying to slide this new character into the role Morgan had with his "Pretty Boy" & "Baby Girl" I think the fandom will erupt...

    TPTB need to stop thinking they need 7 on this team... Use locals for 'extra' man power... but for god's sake stop adding people...

    I actually feel bad for Rodriquez because he's going to be vilified like all the other 'replacements' that have come to CM... *sigh*

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  2. I have no idea why the production team keep insisting they need another team member - unless the contracts of the regular cast preclude them doing extra to close the so-called gap. I just hope they don't bring him in as some wonder boy overshadowing the main team. I wish they would show some adjustment to the team, even some friction to shake things up and bring something new although I fear they will just add him into the happy family!I'm not hopeful for this development but I guess we must just wait and see and hope for the best.

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    1. That's a good point about the contracts, Dog, I hadn't thought that there may be some proportional crap written in. That said, why should we care? They DO NOT NEED another character, specifically, they do not need another Morgan!

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  3. STOP adding unnecessary characters, 5 profilers and Garcia is more than enough.

    STOP adding unwanted characters, the writers do NOT know how to write for that many people AND do NOT know how to introduce them without relegating the rest to wallpaper.

    STOP messing with the cast of 6 we want and love. STOP messing with Criminal Minds!

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    1. Agreed. Enough of adding new people that will of course gets the majority of the backstories, who cares anymore there(At CM/CBS) if some of us have waited freaking 12 years for backstories on some of the characters they already have? But hey get new characters and we know freaking everything about them in the first 3 episodes of a new season.

      Not that I do not like Adam Rodriguez, he was the only bright spot on CSI:Miami but if the past tells us anything when it comes to CM and adding new cast, the writers will go overboard and give us so much of the new character that many fans will start hating the new addition (see last season Lewis). In order to make the new character shine sadly the writers write in the background fans favorites (Hotch, Reid) in order to put the spotlight on the new character (see Kate and Lewis).

      Do I want to go through this once again? No. The last two seasons have been very frustrating for me as a Hotch fan to see my fav character be left at the police station or worse just disapear from episodes without any explaination!

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  4. I have my reservations. It isn’t the actor because I only know him from CSI Miami, but for the scripts. After last season work counting the minutes of the team individually, unsub, etc, I hoped that with one character less, the time would be more and better spread, but it seems it's not to be.

    I hope that they learn to even out the screentimes; we saw that with the excitement of having a new agent in season 11 (Lewis), she was given too much prominence and, she was a recurring! If Adam Rodriguez is regular, I dont want to imagine how many minutes will have on screen unlike others.

    It seems silly, but with 7 actors they have difficulties using them well on screen. In many episodes someone will go to the bathroom and miss the killer, the arrest and all the action. Perhaps I will also have to count when the characters are going to the bathroom or are lost without warning...

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  5. Nuria I'm actually afraid to see the 'timing' this season.. I fear you're right and that once again Hotch and to some extent Reid will be marginalized to make room for the new character...

    As it is... Adam Rodriquez' IMDB resume would suggest that he will be billed in the credits ahead of MGG.... So that would mean Shemar left MGG moved up... New guy comes in MGG is demoted.... NOT a good way to 'introduce' a new character...

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    1. I'm laughing just to keep from crying... The number 7 like a lot but they don't know to play with it :/

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  6. Also Adam Rodriquez has been know to write as well as direct....

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  7. Member of the minority here. I'm glad they filled the role. I'm not a fan of a shrinking cast. That said, I'm going to withhold judgment if it was a good casting decision or not until I've actually seen some episodes.

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    1. God YES! Finally, a voice of reason! Everyone is saying "stop messing with CM!" but the "messing" with Criminal Minds is why we are going into our TWELFTH season of Criminal Minds. Watch first, judge later! Tara Lewis proved that to me.

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    2. You make it as if people are afraid of changes, we are not, we have stick with CM despites changes. We are voicing our, reasonabble, fear of cast being once again marginalized in order to make room for a new character.

      As for changes being the reason why CM is going into its twelfth season, you cannot be more wrong, it is going throught its twelfth season DESPITE all the questionnable changes we had through the years. Anyone remember the great writers purge after season 4? Or when we had to fight CBS to get AJC and PB back after they were fired for again very questionnable reasons.

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  8. Personally, I will not vilify the guy, he's an OK actor, and, just as I came to value Jeanne Tripplehorn and Aisha Tyler, I'll come to accept him, except when he takes over the storylines, as they always do with newbies, to the detriment of the regulars (the real ones).

    Oh, and, if they bill this guy in Morgan's old spot, I will hit the ceiling. Just saying

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    1. They're going to do the credits 1 of 2 ways....

      #1. JM, AR, MGG, AJC, KV ....AND TG and when Aisha is on "guest starring Aisha Tyler"

      #2. JM, MGG, AJC, KV ...with AR AND TG (same guest starring designation for AT)

      Either way while SM was gone for those 4 episodes MGG moved to the 3rd spot he'll now fall back down to the 4th spot in both these scenarios.

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  9. It should be JM, MGG, AJC, KV, AR, and TG, with AT guest. The longtime stars deserve that.

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    1. Should be.. but it won't... the placement is based on resume... not time on show.. sadly.... :(

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    2. But I believe Adam Rodriguez has a bigger resume than MGG, AJC and AR, so he will either get billing ahead of MGG or special billing at the end. It's not really that big of a deal though.

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  10. I must side with Crime Fan 12 on this one. I will definitely hold judgement; this could be a good casting; I never thought of him. Anyone else and I'd say no more replacements but in this case they are doing something right by replacing Morgan's spot with a well-respected crime drama actor, one of a different race no less. Not that it really matters to me that much on the race issue, but I have no idea if Dr. Lewis will be back or not. Honestly, she did better as a recurring than JT and JLH did as regulars, unfortunately she has an insane schedule to the point where Idk how she sleeps, so I doubt we'll be seeing her. However, back to the main issue here...

    This wouldn't be such a scary prospect for our show if we had reliable writers. Don't get me wrong, Seasons 10 & 11 could've gone ALOT worse and there are times when these writers of ours absolutely bring it home! But those times are growing fewer and farther between, depending on who is behind the pen.

    Breen and Sharon have this show down pat like nobody else, so let them take charge (for god's sake would it kill them to make Sharon a co-showrunner?) and Bruce is just getting better, but he needs to keep it that way. I say bring in some new talent (I'm wishing for POI and Homeland's Patrick Harbinson caliber of writers... hey, I can dream!) and please kick Kimberly and Karen to the curb; have Jim and Sharon co-write some episodes with Virgil to get him to his A game (I know he's got it in him) and let Kirsten write a few by herself! Putting her and Jim together would be a powerhouse!

    Character-wise I say put this new guy with Rossi in the beginning since that's how he'll be introduced and perhaps create some apprehension by Garcia, (opposite of our Morgan-replacement expectations) maybe even to the point where new guy has to earn Garcia's respect because she doesn't like the prospect of someone replacing Morgan as the tough guy; and finally, bring Hotch and Reid back to the forefront ...its been what, almost 7 seasons since they were there? Steadily? Let's see some focus on the Reid/Hotch dynamic which can NEVER go wrong, and let JJ be her old Seasons 1-6, & 11 self with friendship with Reid and Hotch, maybe have her develop a friendship with the new guy too so he can take away from any supergirl tendencies she may have. But most of all, Kim and Karen go to the curb, (sorry Karen; you had your chance and you blew it) Matthew goes behind the camera much more often if he feels inclined, and let Breen and Sharon run the show while Erica writes the occasional hum-dinger and send the rest to a profling/forensics seminar for the summer.

    On a tangent here, this season worked out because Erica wasn't commandeering everything and Breen's brilliance got to shine. She is pre-occupied with Beyond Borders, so I'm rooting for that show because it takes up a lot of Erica's time, and she doesn't sit the driver's seat for the mothership the entire time, almost letting it become a well-oiled machine.

    But... Guys, this could work! Erica, Breen and Glenn gave us an epic template for Season Twelve with that masterpiece of a finale. It might take a miracle, but if everyone on set just takes a step back, binges on the first two seasons (and the fourth) and then use Hotch's marksmanship and menacing, cunning, authoritative, large-and-in-charge, classy style combined with Reid's genius and determination to learn, do right by the new guy, and RUN with this 13-killers-on-the-loose-and-one-of-them-is-Mr. Scratch plotline, we could be looking at an amazing Season Twelve and 300 episodes will be in the rear-view. (all we need is a 23-episode Season 13 to make it there) Miracles do happen. Ask anyone who is the recipient of a transplant or a deaf person who receives a well-programmed cochlear implant. They do happen; we saw 55 of them from Sep. 2005 - May 2007, and I'm confident they CAN happen again.
    LONG LIVE CM

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    1. I completely agree with severeCMaddict and Crime Fan 12.
      I'm glad they filled Morgan's spot as the tough guy.
      I never watched CSI Miami, had no idea who Adam Rodriguez was before he shot that video last night, and my immediate thought was that it could very well work!

      Plus this time (and that's only my "female fan side" showing up), the new team member is a guy (ok, I know, it's only because Shemar left), but we haven't had a new guy since Rossi showed up in Season 3!

      I'm a bit more curious about Season 12 now, after the disappointing storylines we've had those past seasons. I'm hopeful, I'll give Adam Rodriguez a chance to fit in with the team.

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    2. SCMA,

      First, Karen Maser has already tweeted that she's back. So is Virgil. Kim has left CM and is now writing for the Empire Spin off Star. Anyone else we don't know about.

      While a new person causing some angst and possibly strife in the team sounds good, history of this show dictates that it won't happen. I've never been a fan of CSI Miami but I have seen some episodes and frankly with AR's addition I fully expect the quips about his having the body of a male dancer to start fairly soon. He was after all Tito in Magic Mike. AR might very well be a nice man, and a great 'team' player on the shows he's worked on. However, he's there for eye candy purposes which tells me that TPTB don't think Hotch or Reid are sexually appealing enough to fans. Also, his 'hiring' is more then likely all about the all important politically correct diversity issues..

      I have absolutely zero confidence that this character will be put in the forefront way too much over Hotch, Reid and even Rossi. I'm sure he'll be paired with AJC most of the time. Virgil has already tweeted about being thrilled he's there. Viril called him 'The Homie', so you can bet Virgil will write completely around him...

      We are into Season 12 with 22 episodes to possibly wrap up the entire show... Adding a completely new character at this stage isn't the smartest choice in my opinion. Because adding this character means that time has to be taken from the other characters. Which tells me that unanswered questions and storylines just forever remain that.. unanswered..

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    3. I think I read somewhere that the cast had a contract for one year Seas 11) and then a second optional year which would be this season 12? If this is the final season, would that be announced sooner than later similar to other TV shows? We would know way in advance that this was it and not waiting for the renewal decision?

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    4. I think at this point everyone involved with CM realizes that with 23 more episodes after S12 Criminal Minds would make that coveted "300th" episode. With the ratings the way they are I would bet that CBS/ABC are thinking about how to get there, with the team intact. Would it go beyond S13 and the '300th'... I have no idea but I would guess No.

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    5. Janie Marcheant,

      CBS will not announce a sereies final for CM before May when they have the upfronts in NYC. If this turn out to be indeed the last season all I can think about is that the writers will know soon enough so we get answers to long standing questions about the characters and we do get a great series final and not something added at the end in case the show is not pick up.

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  11. It’s been announced as a done deal, so there really are only two choices: wait and see, or don’t watch at all. I’ll wait and see. But I agree with those who think a smaller cast would have been a wiser decision. They have never “needed” seven. If that were true, we wouldn’t have had characters marginalized, even when there were only six.

    I think the thing that makes CBS view it as a “need” is the show’s shift away from being about the workings of the criminal MIND, and toward being just one of many generic action procedurals. The putative action hero has left, so there must be a new one brought in to replace him. Yawn. Had they reverted to their original premise, they could easily have let the cast shrink and focused more on the profilers actually profiling. There are still interesting stories to be told about the current team.

    Since we’re not getting that, I agree with Mary that I would still like to watch a new member of the team struggle in the role. And I think it would provide some good dramatic potential to have a little conflict, that lasts more than an episode. No hankering for a pasta party here.

    I can’t agree that longevity in television programming is synonymous with quality. The nature of the viewing public, and what appeals to it, has at least as much, and probably more, effect on whether a show stays on the air. There have certainly been programs with inexplicably large viewerships that lasted well beyond what one would expect.

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  12. While I stand by everything I wrote yesterday, is a fact that Adam has been hired and he's going to play a part in our Criminal Minds family, no matter if we like it or not.

    Must say upfront that I barely know Adam Rodríguez; haven't seen anything he's been on in at least a decade, and know next to nothing about him as a person (have to say too, that I've never read any negative comment about him, and that's great!). In short, have nothing against him in any capacity.

    Since learning the news many thoughts have been crossing my mind about how the introduction of this new character would go down well with me, and maybe with most of the fans too. Going to try to resume them here:

    The New Agent Himself

    - A simple, but strong reason, for him to be added to the BAU (given where he worked previously, I may get this wish).
    - Do NOT overuse him. Worst mistake done with any other introduction so far has been cramming them down our throats. Never ends well.
    - Let him make mistakes. If he's a perfect profiler from the get go, or even before Christmas, no believable thus NO BUENO.

    His Interactions With The Team

    - Don't pair him with only one other agent most of the time. He has to learn to work with all, and they need to learn how he is. My common sense tells me realistically Hotch would keep him close often until he's sure the new guy has adapted a ways.
    - He's going to effectively take over Morgan's place on the team. Anyone can believe that Garcia wouldn't be wary of him? Anyone can believe that's something that can be resolved in the time they need to solve their 1st case?
    - Disliking someone and being confused by someone are two different animals. I'm mostly an average person, and I know at first I would like Reid and be confused by how his brilliant mind works at once. Show that, but do it without histrionics; is the most normal reaction.
    - Because I'm fully expecting them to keep JJ at the level she was on Season 11 (if I don't ever see Ninja-JJ again, will be too soon), I think it would be natural for him to get along with her more easily than with anyone else from the get go.
    - Not sure if him hero-worshiping Hotch, or even Rossi, would do any good, but him being respectful and eager to learn from them, if he really wants to be a true profiler and part of the team, is something I expect.

    I'm asking too much? I'm being unrealistic? I've followed eagerly Criminal Minds since the pilot, and I've a good idea of what works and what doesn't. I think I've noted all the points that went awry in the past, and I truly believe that not repeating those mistakes will go a long way into endearing this new character with the fans AND the general viewers.

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    1. couldn't agree more with what you said!

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    2. agree with most of the fans. I also miss Morgan and Garcia relation, I hope the new agent fit well, and go after Garcia, (no Garcia after him at first)miss some romance and flirting. Morgan left the show happy and married Savanna. Garcia doesn't need to be like a "widow"mourning for w Morgan.

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  13. I was worried/dreading to see the announcement of Morgan's replacement, and when I first saw that Adam was replacing Morgan, I thought, "Well, OK! I can see that!" and I always liked him from CSI Miami. Neither he nor Morgan are eye candy to me, so I don't care about that. Agree that 6 is enough, but I think they put him there to be the more "physical" part of the team like Morgan was, and glad they replaced Morgan with that kind of person (I am assuming he will be) - not to insult, but who is there really to do some serious bad-ass, strong arm take downs? None of the rest of the cast, IMO. I don't see anyone else jumping through windows, physically fighting with unsubs in a heavy duty way, etc. Maybe his presence now will have Tara cutting back on her screen time (although I really like her) so it will "seem" more like 6 and not 7. I also hope his character is nice and gets along with anyone, I don't want to see friction, and I think that by making his character "like" Morgan's, it will be a more smooth transition in the "feeling" of the show - yes, Morgan's gone, but we still have the same dynamic - physical, super smart, authoritative, snarky, feelings, and quirky - the same feeling of the family. Tara - I like her, put her on a few times but not as a 7th regular and I think it will be fine.

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  14. Hiya Elyan, Going to try to add my two-cents to your resume.

    I absolutely agree with all you said about introducing new character. The worst mistake TPTB can make is to make him Superman and overshadow the rest of the team with his brilliance.

    His Interactions With The Team

    1. Along those lines. Yes Hotch as the Unit Chief would be watching him closely. However, I do think that there should maybe be some trepidation on the new character’s part with regard to Hotch too. I say this because the interview says that he’s coming from the Fugitive Task Force, IF he was with the Fugitive Task Force back in 2009 (as new agent or rookie to unit) he would have been involved with the hunt for George Foyet after his escape from East Wolvern Prison in Boston. Why not effective show him as having some anxiety about working for the man who the task force effective failed? Maybe have a discussion about that with Hotch where Hotch eventually reassures him that He, his son and everyone involved with that need to and for the most part ‘have’ moved forward. The past is the past and Hotch can reaffirm that to him. This would also be a good platform for some angst amongst the team about his coming on board. After all Hotch is part of their family and they all lived through what Foyet did to Hotch and Jack.

    2. No I couldn’t ever believe that Garcia would jump right into having a super duper friendly attitude about the guy. I think she would think she’s betraying Morgan if she accepted this guy readily. And there could be some nice scenes between her/Hotch/Reid/Rossi/JJ about accepting change isn’t and doesn’t mean betrayal.

    3. For the most part ‘most’ people who come in contact with Reid and his brilliant mind seem to take a step back. Not because they don’t like him but they’ve no experience with a mind that works like his. Not to mention even after 12 yrs the rest of the team still shake their heads over some of the stuff Reid comes up with. (EVILER TWIN THEORY anyone.)

    4. Agreed all the way around

    5. I would think that it should be pointed out or at least it’s very well known in the FBI who David Rossi is as well as who Aaron Hotchner is. I would certainly expect anyone coming onto or into the BAU would at least be slightly in awe of what they’ve all accomplished.

    6. I think longtime fans will always speculate on what and how is the best way to present characters into the fold simply because we have been with these characters for such a long time. Longer then some of those who are responsible for writing the characters themselves. I believe fans want COHESION above all. *

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  15. he loooks nice, he needs to be one of te team not more importan or less important than the rest. I'll miss Morgan and Garcia flirting, maybe Garcia and this new agent ...not the same way Morgan and Garcia use to do,but...

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  16. I have no issues with Adam's hiring. He'll probably do fine as a character addition. This show lives and dies by its writing, so if the writing is good, this new character will be good. If it sucks, everything else will suck. And I dearly hope this new character doesn't replicate that cringe inducing dialogue with Penelope. It was such a relief to have that gone the last four episodes of the season, and I hope to never see it return in any capacity, with any character.

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  17. Now that all the hubbub has calmed down over the hiring of Adam Rodriguez, I feel I can come in here to state my two cents worth without getting my blood pressure up.

    From the top -- I knew that CM was going to hire a replacement for SM. Criminals Minds has had seven cast members from day one of S1. Yes, KV was listed a "guest star" in S1 and didn't get "full credit" until S2. But she was there.

    To Rodriguez; I feel its a solid hire. They could have done worse. From what I've seen of him, he's a decent actor. And the video that CBS/CM posted, to me, shows he seems to be genuinely happy and excited to join the cast. That tells me he should fit in with the cast. Very honestly, when CM hired JLH, I cringed. Her reputation was not sterling. But she fit in well with the cast which was a huge worry for me. Kudos to everyone. Rodriguez doesn't have that reputation from what I've read. So my first fear is eased.

    As to the rest -- CM hasn't even started filming S12. Which means I, as a loyal viewer haven't seen one second of the show to judge how the new character will fit in. Until I see that, all I can do is welcome Adam to the cast and wish him and everyone involved in S12 the very best.

    If the writers screw the pooch, y'all know me. I can call cr*p when I see it. But the bottom line for me right now is this: I haven't seen anything yet so I can not make a judgement.

    *kicks soap box to corner and heads to bed* *waves*

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    1. Well said, Rockie. Those were my thoughts too, but you do a better job of expressing them than I ever will.

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    2. You do just fine CF 12.

      And thank you. :D

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  18. I'd do him! I am unfamiliar with his acting history so I am ready to give him a shot at fitting in with the team.

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