There have been a lot of stories floating around about Mandy Patinkin's departure from CBS' Criminal Minds. That he's only going to be in one scene of the show to wrap up his storyline, that his costars didn't like him. Turns out neither of those stories are true.
Co-star A.J. Cook says that Patinkin has actually been phoning all of his Criminal Minds castmates and explaining to them what happened. Cook says that the cast didn't know what was going on, and now that they know they "just want him to be happy."
As for how much Patinkin will be in the show this season, executive producer Ed Bernero says (scroll down) that Patinkin actually worked for over 14 hours, not just one scene as had been reported. And he says it's not true that other cast members didn't want to work with him. It's just that the way they've set up the plot, the other actors weren't needed. He adds that it wasn't about money or time, that they wanted to give Patinkin those things. He just didn't show up for work.
The first episode of the season is going to be the episode from last season that was pulled because of the Virginia Tech shootings. The episode will be re-edited now, as a flashback, and we'll see scenes of Patinkin's character writing a note to a mysterious unknown person. Joe Mantegna's character will show up in the fifth episode of the season.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
8-20-2007 @ 3:56PM
lucyfan62 said...
Okay, so that cleared up absolutely nothing. The real reason he left is...because he was too busy calling the cast to tell them why he left but no one is talking???
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8-20-2007 @ 4:02PM
khamel said...
he probably agreed with everyone else and thought the show blowed. i'm planning to leave my job due to creative differences (aka i hate my job).
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8-20-2007 @ 4:08PM
D. said...
He left, cause he couldn't stand the dark nature of the show anymore. The dude has a fragile mind. I don't understand WHY he took the job in the first place. He knew what he was getting himself into. But I'm glad he called the cast and told them his reasons. And those reasons don't have to be mentioned, cause it's for the cast ONLY. Private stuff. However, Mandy should have done things differently. But I still LOVE the show and will continue watching. I'm glad Mantenga has joined this great team. Can't wait for September!!
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8-20-2007 @ 4:12PM
Oreo said...
I think he has some metal issues or something, I love him, but something is wrong.
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8-20-2007 @ 4:21PM
EnglishTeacher said...
In English we have these things called sentences.
USE THEM.
Go back to your first paragraph and try again.
The technical quality of writing on TV Squad is shameful.
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8-20-2007 @ 5:07PM
matriculated said...
What? So why did he leave?
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8-20-2007 @ 5:39PM
Flutesong said...
He left in a hurry and in a way that caused people to be surprised. That is all we know and probably, all we will ever know for sure. He is so talented that he is a bonus to any show and will, no doubt, work again on TV shows in the future.
I am looking forward to the new season regardless and I am sure the coolness with still be present in the new eps, sans Mandy or not.
I just hope there are lots of extras on the season 2 DVDs so we have Mandy at his best.
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8-20-2007 @ 8:22PM
rickster said...
i figured he left because they wouldn't turn it into a signing part for him... love his acting, hate how he turns his roles into musical ones.
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8-20-2007 @ 7:44PM
Joost Schuur said...
A word of advice to anyone writing blog entries: Don't bury the lead.
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8-21-2007 @ 3:45AM
christopher said...
WHOA, he couldn't handle the darkness of the show? The man who was in Dead Like Me? And LaChrucia's Wild Party? Not only did he play an absolute psycho in that one but it was rumored that he terrified his co-stars with his unpredictable frenetic behavior. I'll believe he's gone loony well before I'll believe he couldn't handle the material.
As for never getting a TV gig again, he left Chicago Hope halfway thru the second season. He got plenty of work on TV after that--including on Chicago Hope!
Anyway, I hope he hasn't gone crazy and that he returns to the stage where he belongs.
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8-21-2007 @ 7:23AM
Michael said...
"I think he has some metal issues or something"
Does this mean he's allergic to metal and they should have just used plastic everywhere?
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8-21-2007 @ 7:01PM
drake said...
Patinkin left because he thought the show was too formulaic... too much like the rest of the CBS crime drama clones (CSI, CSI Miami, CSI NY, Without a Trace, Cold Case, etc.) He wanted the series to try and take more chances, and CBS wanted the show to stick to their market proven formula.
It seems like even Numb3ers has been 'getting notes' from the market driven formula. The last season especially toe'd the CBS crime drama line.
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8-24-2007 @ 11:47AM
Jim said...
Could this open the door for "Dead Like Me" again? I haven't seen Ellen Muth anywhere, Callum Blue can't be too busy with "The Tudors", and the rest of the reapers were mainly supportive. Bring it back!
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9-01-2007 @ 11:16PM
judypburton said...
I love Mandy. All the others are terrific, but he is the show. He is the Older, father, wiser, and fits the "Profile" perfectly. I like Joe, but this show will not last. They never do after the main character is replaced. We lose interest. This was my favorite fall show. Too bad. If I were a CBS executive, I would have done anything to keep Mandy. We are all sick of reality shows, and island dramas, etc. Criminal Minds was at the top of the list, of other similar shows. I despise CSI. Poor acting, only trying to show sex, and not true crime drama. My husband is the chief medical examiner in Atlanta, and only likes Criminal Minds, because of its true reality. CSI type shows are a joke and for entertainment only. Too Bad.
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9-05-2007 @ 9:52PM
Charlie said...
Shemar Moore is HOT! Thomas Gibson is HOT! Matthew Gray Gubler is adorable, Kirsten Vangsness is hilarious, AJ Cook is a cutie (with bite!) and Paget Brewster is fitting right in but, I'm sorry, I only started watching the show because of Mandy and he's the major reason why I kept watching! I loved him on Chicago Hope and was thrilled to be able to see him again on Criminal Minds. The show won't be the same - he pulled them all together and I'm not sure I'll keep watching. For those actors that are left, I hope I'm in the minority. Good luck!
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9-11-2007 @ 11:39PM
Randall said...
Hey, what's with this Joe Montana guy? Geez, I thought The Rock was supposed to be up for the part.
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9-17-2007 @ 10:29AM
Karen said...
Hey, can anyone remember that Mandy's character was only working with the team as a consultant? So he leaves the show, so what, his personal reasons are his own, leave him be-the man is awesome, I will watch whatever he is in, I think Joe will be awesome too. Mandy is one of the main reasons I started watching the show, but the rest of the cast is why I will continue watching the show, the cast and the way it is written. This is a very good show, and I hate to see him leave too, but I bet the change will be not so noticiable as time goes on - that is how good the writers are!
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9-28-2007 @ 12:22PM
serraangel46 said...
I love Criminal Minds, it is a great show. Hate to see Mandy leave, but I am kind of use to seeing him leave many other show also. Good luck to ya Mandy
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9-29-2007 @ 7:32PM
MSnyder said...
Mandy Patinkin was awesome in this show. I had no idea he'd be leaving. Whenever I told someone "Criminal Minds" is great, I followed that with a comment about Patinkin. I am sorry to see him go. The others are good, but he's the glue.
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10-01-2007 @ 12:59AM
Jason said...
I'm going to miss him on the show. Great actor, regardless of his reasons for leaving. Part of me thinks things aren't so rosey between cast members, but hopefully they are.
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