Before the current sixth season had begun, however, it was revealed regulars A.J. Cook (Special Agent JJ Jareau) had been cut and Emily Prentiss (Paget Brewster) would be leaving midway through. The news sparked outrage among fans, but to no avail, as JJ was whisked away to the Pentagon in the season's second episode and Prentiss, at the end of a recent arc of episodes, was left in hiding and presumed dead after a killer from her past returned.
Now, as Deadline revealed Friday, Cook has signed a new two-season deal to return to the crime procedural. According to the report, she will appear in this season's final episode on May 18.
Deadline also reported that ABC Studios, which produces "Criminal Minds," still has an option on Brewster, who is filming a comedy pilot for NBC, to return next season should her new project tank.
In addition to the cast shakeup, the series is also losing two of his executive producers in Ed Bernero and Simon Mirren, leaving Erica Messer running solo next season.
This has not been a stellar season for the show creatively, with rather stale writing raising questions about its premise's longevity even as it maintains its high ratings. It's ill-conceived spin-off--"Suspect Behavior"--can't be helping matters in that department.
I've been a fan of the series after picking up at the start of the second season, and it remains one of the better procedurals with "Law & Order" off the air and "CSI" showing its age. It just needs a bit of a creative jump start. Here's hoping the show can find it.
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