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A.J. Cook Out Of CRIMINAL MINDS

CRIMINAL MINDS

A.J. Cook’s time on the popular CBS crime drama CRIMINAL MINDS has come to an end after the show’s producers decided not to pick up her contract according to Michael Ausiello. The show’s sixth season begins this fall and Cook will not be returning.

In not picking up her contract option for the sixth season, producers of the show have essentially fired Cook. The network explained that Cook’s contract was not picked up due to financial reasons.

Cook had been on Criminal Minds since the first episode in 2005, joining the cast after the pilot. Fellow female cast member Paget Brewster, who joined in season 2, has been offered an altered contract that would see her remain as a main character but she would have a reduced number of episodes.

Deadline.com just provided an update to the story which states that the changes in cast were not a financial decision, but a creative one. It seems that CBS is trying the “refresh” Criminal Minds and will do so by bringing some new blood in the form of a new female cast member who will fill Cook’s void.

It will be interesting to find out what the fans’ reaction to this change will be. So what do you say? Are you sad to see A.J. Cook leave? Are you looking forward to a new female character being added to the team? Any suggestions as to whom should play her? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

By | June 15, 2010 | 472 Comments
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  • Sweet Pea Tina

    Do they not remember that J.J. was replaced for a short time when she was out on maternity leave and no one liked it then and we won’t like it now. So instead of keeping your regular viewers happy you want more so you will risk losing the people who are watching. Very stupid move if ya ask me. How about you try being creative somewhere else cause I am not buying that lame excuse. The show is perfect the way it is. Bring J.J. back cause any replacement person will never be able to fill her shoes. I still miss Mandy Potentkin and Lola Glaudini. Don’t be a family wrecker again this family really works well together.

  • Michelle

    I love and miss aj. No one will do as good as she did.

  • http://none Jamie Versteeg

    I was disappointed to see JJ or AJ Cook leave Criminal Minds and was hoping it was a temporary absence due to a storyline. She did a great job. I am not looking forward to a new actress to replace her and wish they would bring her back, writing her character back into the storyline.

  • morrow

    We are missing AJ Cook terribly she handled the role extremely well, and gave a fresh approach to the crimes, and handled the press and families well, I hate that she is gone, but we will continue to be faithful watches of this show.

  • bONNIE

    WE ARE SAD TO SEE ANDREA LEAVE CRIMINAL MINDS THE SHOW IS NOT THE SAME.:(

  • Pbedard

    I think they should have JJ (AJ Cook) return….I think the show was watched by many as it was….change is not always better.

  • http://www.facebook.com Brittney

    NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! I LOVE AJ!!!!! How could the replace her!!!!!???? How could the pretend that it never happened???????

  • Nancy

    Bring AJ back to Criminal Minds. The show isn’t the same any longer.

  • Nieli Hebert

    I really enjoy watching Criminal Minds, I even look forward

    to Criminal Minds marathons, I can watch the reruns over and over.

    I do have to say, since A.J. Cook is going, I feel a void

    when watching the show, I just don’t feel the same, in fact

    I changed the channel to another show, Law and Order, Special

    Victims Unit, which is also a great show, but normally I would

    of stuck with Criminal Minds. I think replacing any of these

    women on the show would be a mistake. I was sad when Elle and

    the other gentleman left, but this is just to much to overlook

    now. You may need to swallow your pride, and beg her

    to come back, or you may loose alot more viewers than myself.

    Sincerely, Nieli Hebert

  • dnealjy

    I think replacing A. J. Cook in the show was a severe lapse of good judgement…I have since ceased to watch Criminal Minds…even ‘tho it was in the top 3 of my favs!
    Shame on you for looking for “trying to refresh” the show!! Someone was erally wrong there!
    “If it ain’t broke why fix it?”
    Good-bye Criminal Minds…for, I fear, forever….sigh…

  • dnealjy

    I think replacing A. J. Cook in the show was a severe lapse of good judgement…I have since ceased to watch Criminal Minds…even ‘tho it was in the top 3 of my favs!
    Shame on you for looking to “refresh” the show!! Someone was really wrong there!
    “If it ain’t broke why fix it?”
    Good-bye Criminal Minds…for, I fear, forever….sigh…

  • Carol Palmer

    I loved JJ. She added another dimension and her personal storyline with Will and the baby made it even more interesting. She needs to be the anchor for the show. Bring her back. While another female is needed, I still want JJ back.

  • hellyer76

    haven’t the exec’s ever heard not to mess with a good thing all the actor’s suit this show the’ll have some try hard i’m an aussie so just watched the episode where they get rid of her i think season 4 if the try hard newbie screw’s the pooch i’ll b changing the channel it only takes 1 tool to ruin a good thing

  • Marilyn

    I have watched criminal minds for years. I have become attached to the characters and can not believe they did not renew A J Cook’s contract. She was excellent in her role. I don’t know who they think will be better. How can we make them bring her back?J

  • Shannon

    Why would they think someone else could fill JJ’s role?
    The great thing about Criminal Minds is the team – first Mandy Patinkin and now AJ Cook

    Just wont be the same – reconsider and bring her back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    • Merise Walsh

      At least Mandy wanted to leave,so we can get some comfort from that.

  • ash

    AJ Cook was one of the best on the team. Without her Im not sure I will even tune into crim minds tonight. It was a major shock and shouldn’t have been done. No one can replace her. Next thing they will be replacing Reed and the show will be even worse!

  • Jess

    No one will be as good as AJ. I don’t know why they felt the need to “refresh” the show when it was doing fine. Bring more strong female characters to the show, but don’t get rid of the ones that you already have, it makes no sense.

    • Ron

      Same here good-bye CM.

  • Steve-Tarheel

    these are most likley the same execs that thought replacing Leno with Connan would be a good idea. and we see how that turned out. even with Leno back the show suffers. C. M. will never be able to replace JJ and any atempts to revamp her spot will come up lame. she was need to soften up the show. remember when she was out and the hard charging young black girl filled in .it was not the type of role needed for her part.

  • http://yahoo Miriam Rodriguez

    I am very disappointed not to see JJ on the show. If she has other obligations and it was her choice the best of luck to her. But if she was dropped just to refresh the team I don’t think no one else can do what she did for the show. I really hope you guys don’t start messing with the team you just might mess the show altogether.

  • George Foyet

    I really don’t understand why if something works someone in charge decides to make changes. Creative reason? I say bullshit. The team works as well togheter. I insist… there’s no reason to change somothing good that works fine.
    Take an advice Mr. CBS creative: bring back JJ… if not… “you will know that my name is the Lord when I lay my vengeance upon you”

  • Merise Walsh

    Here in Australia A.J’s final episode has just been screened. It was very sad for me to see her go, she was such a beautiful,caring character. I thought she must have wanted to get out of the show,but now i find out she was ‘fired’-well,that just makes it even sadder!!! Why would they do that??? In my eyes they have broken up the perfect team. It’s utter madness!!!And now i hear they’re reducing Paget Brewster’s episodes…What’s with that??? They want to ‘refresh’ the show??? More like they’ve put the first nail in the coffin…If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it:(

  • Claudine

    Very unhappy that JJ is gone. Not looking forward to a new character. Still hoping she will be back

    • Aseel Alobaedy

      yeah, me too…

  • rose

    what will cbs do next revamp ncis? getting rid of aj was just one
    of many stupid things cbs has done. i just might have to start watching nbc. no more criminal minds for me.

  • Aseel Alobaedy

    This is soooooooooooooo annoying !!!!!!!
    I mean why did you do that?????
    for God’s sake not JJ, if u wanted a new female around u could have fired Emily although I like her but she’s not as good as JJ…
    come on guys would u really risk loosing your fans, I’ve been watching the show since the first episode and never missed one, but with no JJ around it’s never the same, I thought Criminal Minds was a different show than any others who always confuses everybody by bringing new faces, it was enough that Gidion left now JJ ???\
    I gree with on of the viewers Tina she’s totally right we didn’t like it when the replaced JJ when she was pregnant, now she’s gone for good ?????????????
    this is dessapointing :( :(

  • Lizzy

    I don’t get it… I very much enjoy “J.J’s” role and feel she brings a balance to the team and show. Why they have to play with a show that has great ratings already!! This is how shows end up falling to the bottom!

  • Lizzy

    I don’t get it… I very much enjoy “AJ’s” role and feel she brings a balance to the team and show. Why they have to play with a show that has great ratings already!! This is how shows end up falling to the bottom!

    • http://www.daytradingtemplates.com jon

      I agree, they should keep her. Too much change is a real bad thing!

  • Yajna

    Hey I love J.J’s character, it’s a shame they took her out! It didn’t work when they tried to replace her. The ‘beauty’ of these series are its characters, the team is what makes everything else works, I just hope this does not ruin the series ’cause that it’ll be a shame, I love Criminal Minds!

  • Yajna

    And personally I want her back!!

  • http://daemonstv.com aj cook

    i really didnt like it when they kicked me off. the contract said i could stay.im really upset.but its over with im getting replaced :(

  • john smith

    I think getting rid of AJ is a horrible idea!!!! She is a huge part of criminal minds and the show won’t be the same without her

  • cora c

    I am very disappointed that A.J. Cook left. She was one of my favorite characters and I do not like the show as much now that she has left the show. Thumbs down for the producers.

  • carol nicoloff

    i am very sorry to see aj cook go, excellent actress, xanadian connection. why mess around with such a great show. criminal minds my favorite have seen every episode many times. I do not understand this decision. was very disappointed to see mandy go, but that was his decision, this is awful, cruel and uncalled for.

  • k

    BOO!! BRING JJ BACK! BEST CHARACTER ON THE SHOW!

  • Scott Justice

    You remove Mandy form the show and Lola from the show and got very lucky. Dont expect it to happen a 3rd time Aj is a major part of the series. You want to stay no.1 pay the lady what she wants write her back into the story and get her back on the show. Too many times writers and producers let go of a star and try replacing them only to find the rating plumet. That could happen to Criminal Minds and that would be tragic! Bring her back

  • evelyn

    I am sorry that they let her go, I like both her and Paget Brewster, & dont like the new female at all.
    It is one of my favorite shows, but this does diminish my feelings for criminal minds

  • frequent viewer

    Why are the execs messing with a good thing? The character of
    JJ was acted wonderfully by AJ. I actually feel for the actress
    that is expected to fill this void. I probably won’t keep watching
    anymore as the execs don’t get that these people become important
    to the viewers and changing it up so often is becoming annoying.

  • http://asktonyjackson.com Tony

    Big mistake CBS! I can’t believe you cut out a great member of the team. I will keep watching but I’m sure you lost a few fans.
    Terrible decision.

  • Helen Vawter

    I can’t believe they would drop A J. No one can take the place of JJ. She will be missed. Criminal Minds is the only “network” show I watch. I also watch the reruns on the other channels. I will probably just watch the reruns now.(the ones with “JJ”)

  • Helen Vawter

    I can’t believe they would drop A J. No one can take the place of JJ. She will be missed. Criminal Minds is the only “network” show I watch. I also watch the reruns on the other channels. I will probably just watch the reruns now.(the ones with “JJ”)
    I like all the cast but I really miss her. The show is just now the same.

  • Brittany

    Worst decision ever! JJ was a great actress and a fantastic role model. No one will ever play that character or any character better than she did! I have never been so upset from a character not returning to a show before but this is just ridiculas.. i can not guarentee i will continue to watch the show. It will not be the same

  • jsilva

    I am disappointed on AJ leaving. Her storyline..husband and son, friendship with Dr Reid, added depth with various episodes. Money or not, the idea of losing the person who had contact with the police/families will be missed. She added a quality that he rest didn’t have.

  • Hayleycorcoran13

    oh no! i love J.J. im never going to watch it again

  • Miriamgonzalez123

    i think the show will not be the same without aj cook she was part of the team. she’s a great actress one of the best it’[s sad to not see her in this great show but now it will not be great.

  • Karr_matthew1

    I loved AJ cook on the show and Paget is a majjor part of the cast as well!! Bring Cook back now!!!

  • Kstafford

    I defo don’t agree on AJ leaving Criminal Minds. She has been there from the start, and I think she should stay. It won’t be the same.

  • Sslipps

    I understand when a show wants to add characters, however, the reasons fans watch Criminal Minds has a lot to do with liking the characters they have. I don’t think it’s going to be the same without AJ.

  • Beoates1573

    I think it was stupid to not extend her contract everyone of the team members played a special part they are all unique in there own way and that is what made the show we the public want her back. you do not need to cut the cast you need to find different screen plays.

  • Annabellelee0359

    devastated at jj leaving the show.can the new female character do what AJ has done for the show

  • Xox_natalie_ell

    i have stopped watching it now until A.J is back

  • Xox_natalie_ell

    i have stopped watching it now until A.J is back

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