A couple of members mentioned aspects of this show in my "Hurt Locker" thread. I think it deserves its own topic.

I do watch, and overall, it's among my favorite TV shows...with reservations.

I agree with the member who thought that Mandy Pantinkin needed to go. Joe Mantegna is a far better person for that role. He does well in it.

Other cast changes that I'd make if I could would be to eliminate the black agent and the fat computer girl. I'd love to replace the black with the Hispanic girl who was in later episodes of, "Without a Trace." She was a plausible agent, and a cutie. And the psychologist geek needs to wear his revolver back where it belongs, not almost on his appendix, where it looks sloppy and is subject to being grabbed. His overall grooming and manner could use some improvement, too.

And I doubt that behavorial analysists (sp?) walk around looking like they do. In wilderness hunts, yes, but not in most cities. Suits seem more likely. Swaggering around to openly show their guns seems too "TV", which it is.

I'd like to see more than one expression on SSA Hotchner's face. He shouldn't be that grim all the time.

And they cut the brunette agent, and I read that the blonde will go, too, largely to save money. Heck, those chicks were half of the appeal of the show! They were among the most credible agents, too.

And I don't like the anti-gun, anti-hunting innuendo. This is one of those shows where you know you've found the villain if he hunts! In one episode, they inferred that only a psycho would hunt animals. And it was clear that they were incredulous that Texas has "lax" gun laws. Stuff like that repels me.

The violence is largely that of other shows, where blurry scenes don't show too cleary what happens. Sometimes, it does show, but not to excess, given tha nature of the plots. "Silence of the Lambs" was scarier in that respect.

I've written "harder" fan fiction and there is more candid violence in a novel that I hope to finish writing this year. More sex, too, in a tasteful way for the most part. This show isn't too bad in tnose realms compared to some detective books that I read. John Sandford routinely has harder stuff in his books, as does Wilbur Smith, who has a new volume out here in May.

Who else watches, "Criminal Minds"? Do you like it? Avoid it? Why? What do the real FBI agents here think of the show?

I do like Thomas Gibson as the lead agent. But he can seem grim in the right places without being so burned out all the time. He interacts well with Mantegna as Rossi. But they could smile about an occasional macabre joke or pun or talk about their love lives or hobbies...something. Just a little.

T-Star

I like housewives of New Joisey so much better.

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Sure you did

I do like "Criminal Minds". I have turned the channel on the show, but not often. It is one of those shows that my wife and I like to watch together. Some of the time there is a hint of anti-gun/ anti-hunting in it, but the show isn't heavy with it. Sometimes in movies and tv shows they seem to let some actor with strong opinions get in a couple of jabs. Dallas Clark of the Indy Colts had a cameo in the last episode!

Ladder13, I'll be waiting to hear your take on the new show starting next week - " MOB WIVES ".

I watch Criminal Minds from when it first started. Actually the show was going to be canceled. I disagree about Shemar Moore (the black guy) I think he is a excellent actor on the show.
They now have a sequel out CM Suspect Behavior with Forrest Whitaker as the lead. I do not see it going very far.

After a while, the show was just too gruesome, like you say Silence of the Lambs creepy so I have pretty much stopped watching it.

There was some hotties on the show. I hope ABC does not cancel Detroit 187 as I find that show very good and there is a major hot Detective on that one

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Still Running Against the Wind

Criminal Minds has become my favorite "fantasy" law enforcement show. At first the show would bother me to the point that I would have trouble sleeping, kind of like going to a really scary movie like "Saw", but I have gotten more callous and now really like it. Yes, would like to see more hotties, and the fat computer chick does not float my boat, nor does the dorky profiler who wears his gun in front of his yang. Otherwise, a good fantasy watch.
Steve

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Steve

fuhgeddaboutit

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Sure you did

That is television and this is the internet, um hello---would the real world check in please????????

What you want to go to WalMart??

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Still Running Against the Wind

I only started watching the series about 2 years ago, but I think I've seen all the episodes including the reruns dating back to 2005.

I'm not that enamored with the spin-off, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.

I prefer the more gory episodes such as the one where the "unsub" (unknown subject) scoops out his victims' eyes, or the one where "unsub" embalms his victims.

From a gun handling perspective, the most memorable episode for me is the one involving the search for the "Footpath Killer" who kills his victims by putting a bullet in their heads. Agent Gideon (Mandy Patinkin) profiles the unsub as a white male in his twenties who owns an American made car, has a menial job, and probably speaks with a stutter. Agent Gideon is shown going into an old gas station then, as the cashier hands him his change, the young man stutters, "Hahahave a nnnice ddday."

Eventually, Agent Gideon ends up under the control of the perpetrator who has a shotgun pointed at Gideon. They have an argument, then, apparently for theatrical emphasis directed at the viewers, the perpetrator racks the shotgun. That was the Hollywood gun moment, as nothing flew out of the ejection port. Besides, an experienced killer wouldn't remove a perfectly chambered round with an FBI agent in close proximity.

I've seen a similar situation in another series. I can't recall which series it was but the good guy, to get the bad guy to cooperate, racked the slide of his semiautomatic pistol for emphasis. Nothing flew out of the ejection port, either.

"Drop your weapon!" then when the bad guy refuses, rack the slide to impress the audience.

I'm another who finds the show a bit too creepy at times. I'll watch it occasionally but many times the story line is just a bit too much for me to take. To be honest, I'm probably a bit too naive for the show, even at 56 years old I find it pretty disturbing that people this Evil can actually exist.

I also find the "dress code" a bit beyond belief for the FBI. To be honest I don't believe that the FBI would ever permit any of their field agents to dress like a lab geek at college with long hair to boot. That might fly for an undercover, however for agents interacting with local PD's I would expect suits and ties for the men and tailered office wear for the women.

Yeah, the old cock-the-gun bit. Goes right along with shotguns blowing up cars or blasting people through windows halfway across the room.

My wife watches this and I've seen it a few times. I cant help but compare it with NCIS since I get them mixed up sometimes. NCIS has some idiots who just banter nonstop until Mark Harmon steps in to shut them up. Nonstop bantering seems like a new style of script writing ever since Pulp Fiction (which was great). Thank god Criminal Minds doesn't do it. At least not when I've watched it. And that one guy does scowl to much. You can stay out of the rain under that perpetual furrowed brow of his.
And what about David Caruso in that other show. When he tells a bad guy, "I WILL GET YOU!" it's like "OOOO! Real scary there buddy!" He's about as intimidating as my dog.

Wyatt-

Caruso is on, "CSI Miami." Another glowerer. Takes himself pretty seriously, but he does seem plausible.

You never know who the potentially dangerous ones are if they say they'll get you. Audie Murphy seemed pretty low key to me, but I wouldn't want him to think I was a threat. Never met him, just going by his movies and TV interviews.

I knew the late Col. Charles Askins slightly and he wasn't that theatrical compared to some I've met. Did boast a bit on occasion. But he'd probably killed more men than anyone else I've known, except for one guy who did three tours in Iraq and some "contractor" work elsewhere. Like Murphy, he is easygoing, but it wouldn't be wise to mess with him. Men don't have to come over like Eastwood to be dangerous. But Horatio Caine lays it on a little thick at times. I really can't stand the guy.

As soon as I saw Garafalo in the spinoff, that was enough for me not to ever watch it. She was an agent in the last season of 24, she nearly ruined the show. No acting talent there at all.

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Sure you did

Add me to the list who do not watch. I watched a few shows early on and stopped watching for many of the reasons already listed...Unrealistic behavior, anti gun & anti hunting BS, too many lousy actors, etc., etc.
I agree, they should have dumped the blonde computer geek and the black male agent...they are the most unbelievable and both are terrible actors even if they were given a good script.

I watch it once in a while. Not a huge fan to be sure. I don't like the spin off.

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It is what it is.

Horatio Caine doesn't seem unintimidating to me because of the way he looks, it's just that I don't buy the attitude of this particular character. But I think he's a great actor in other things. He played a mercenary soldier with Russell Crow in this one film and his character thrived on the action and he WAS intimidating in that movie.
Many gangsters like Lansky and Lepke were little guys with commanding personalities who made big guys cower in their presence. I'd loved to have met Askins. I think we've had long discussions about him on this forum before. Or maybe at the Colt Forum.
Oh, BTW. When my little dog there waits for her breakfast her ears lay down flat and she looks like one of those New Foundland baby seals you mentioned before. I couldn't thump her on the head. She's just too cute, not that that has anything to do with Criminal Minds!

I enjoy Criminal Minds and have watched it from the beginning. I heard (through the Internet so it has to be true) that Mandy Patinkin was a horse's patoot and was let go. I'll always remember him as Inigo Montoya and kept waiting to hear: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die."
Shemar Moore reminds me of the sniper contestant on Top Shot - George Reinas - in that a buff young ex-military guy could fit right in to a BAU. And with a little seasoning and some hardship could be as kind as Moore's character.
And Penelope Garcia's character could have been written from observing the "I-T Goddess" in my company. Right down to the crazy clothes.

While we're at it, I cannot find CSI Miami the least bit believable. White miniskirts and 3" heels at a crime scene. ("Don't forget to bag that vomit, Boa Vista"). And the CSI team consistently first on the scene shootin' it out with the bad guys. Heck what do we need cops for - send in the lab techs, they never miss.
Emily Proctor's character has some decent gun knowledge but as soon as she put on weight, it was obvious she was to be filmed in black, only sitting behind a desk.
'Cause everyone knows that Miami's finest scientific minds wear a size 2.

And another vote to bring back "Detroit 187." Gritty and as well written as the original "Hill Street Blues", IMO.

"Proof of Life" was a great flic. David Caruso is a much better supporting actor than lead.

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SOS USA

I agree. Same with Kevin Bacon & Eggs. Caruso was good when he was real young chasing Rambo around the forrest. That didn't work out too good for him, though.
I believe Mandy Pantinkin was the alien in the movie Alien Nation with James Caan. (Too lazy to google to find out)
That scowling guy on Criminal Minds could play Mitt Romney in a movie if he learned how to smile and changed his hair. He's surprisingly pretty three dimensional in CM for going through life with only one facial expression.

Glad someone else has seen it. I was getting into it.
It's on ABC so it will probably die.

Actor James McDaniel was on the originally NYPD Blue
Michael Imperioli is great and

I don't not care what Natalie Martinez does, just show up

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Still Running Against the Wind

Don't forget NYPD Blue