Criminal Minds to turn into CSI, or how CBS lacks imagination
By fred | July 3, 2008
Michael Ausiello might be gone from TV Guide, but he’s not going to stay away from TV and his scoops for long. His desk might not be fully set yet at EW, but he’s already spitting out scoops. One of the first being that there might be a Criminal Minds spinoff coming up…
After turning CSI into a successful franchise, CBS might be thinking of doing the same with yet another cop-drama, which proves more than ever The Eye doesn’t aim at anything but being the cop-drama network. In other news, this is another one of those spinoff that comes out of nothing, as executive producer Ed Bernero says they’re “looking at all of the things the FBI does and how we can work that into the Criminal Minds world.”
Just like NBC with The Office : we have nothing, not one idea or anything, but let’s make a spinoff anyways!
Of course with what the FBI covers, from serial killers to aliens spaceships, they’ve got enough to create a bunch of other shows. But I have to say, I like the show, but I’m really not excited about this. Apparently this isn’t new from this season, it was already an idea for last season it seems, “but something always got in the way of it happening… like Mandy [Patinkin] leaving and the strike. But it’s definitely gaining momentum now” confirmed Bernero.
Well, I for one would like them to focus more on the show, because last season - indeed with Patinkin leaving and the strike - wasn’t all that good, and while it offered some of the best episodes, it also had some of the worst. Maybe working on consolidating the new team and getting the show fully back on he right tracks would be a better idea than starting to move away to other things and launching a new show.
I’m not entirely opposed to the idea, but I don’t think the timing is quite right. Also, I wish they’d stop with the spinoffs and other remakes already and focus on brand new shows, with original ideas/characters/stories… no wonder CBS has the older audience of all networks.
Anyways, do not worry : while this new series would be launched from an episode of Criminal Minds somehow, no one from the cast should be leaving. When asked, Bernero didn’t seem to like the idea of loosing his cast members, though it’s not completely out of the question… “We’re very happy with the team we have. On the other hand, it’s possible characters could be on both shows… All options are open.” Yeah, right, I’m sure that’d work… one week with daddy, one week with mommy, never really anywhere…
Posted in News
Shows: Criminal Minds
I disagree. I believe after Mandy left the show got better.And I like the idea of a spin-off. I have read some of your reviews for this season and I was appalled. You are quite negative. And for that, I have no idea why you watch the show. Give me a break.
Well, to each his own :)
I do watch the show, and I do so because I like the show, I really do. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to love every episode no matter what, it still needs to be good, of course.
As I’ve said during my reviews this season, some episodes have been really good (for instance I really loved True Night and 3rd Life, those were some of the best episodes of the entire series I think), but others have been highly disappointing, for instance I do believe Children of the Dark was really not a good one…
Which is why I feel this season hasn’t been very homogeneous in terms of quality, and why it might be better to strengthen up the show after it went through all of this, before thinking of going into spinoff territory…
As I said, I’m not entirely opposed to the idea.
Seriously? You thought Children of the Dark was not a good episode?? Oy vey. You really, REALLY, REALLY need to watch that episode again.
And yes, I am one of those people who loves every single episode.
Crazy huh? But for me, I don’t psycho-analyze every single episode. It takes the fun out of watching the episode itself.