A.J. Cook Returns to ‘Criminal Minds’ for Paget Brewster’s Final Episode

While all of the petitioning from Criminal Minds fans couldn’t save A.J. Cook from being wrongfully fired from the series, it appears that we haven’t seen the last of Cook’s lovable character Jennifer Juneau. This spring, Cook will be returning to Criminal Minds for a single episode.

Last summer, the Criminal Minds fandom rightfully revolted against the brash, thoughtless decision from the “powers that be” to terminate Cook’s contract with the series.

While departing cast members is not uncommon in television or for this series (Mandy Patinkin and Lola Glaudini both left previously), Criminal Minds has been criticized for their obvious and ongoing trimming of female cast members. Unfortunately, J.J.’s character reprise does nothing but confirm the accusations.

Cook’s return is neither a sole character piece nor a welcoming return for her character. Instead, Cook will be returning for former co-star Paget Brewster’s final episode. Facing the same fate as Cook, Brewster’s character Emily Prentiss was given a smaller role in this season of Criminal Minds, only to be completely written off midway through.

As fans will undoubtedly be happy to see Cook return to the BAU, the fact that it correlates with Brewster’s final episode somewhat dampens any potential joy. Fortunately, Criminal Minds fans are not the only ones unhappy with the way the series had chosen to release select female cast members. Kristen Vangsness, who plays the lovely Penelope Garcia, had a few choice words about this when we talked with her last July.

“It certainly didn’t feel good and certainly doesn’t make you feel like, ‘Oh, everybody’s ok!’ It makes you very aware that it’s a job and if they need you, they keep you, and if they don’t, they fire you.

Not that [Cook’s] not necessary! But, someone made a decision that she was not necessary and that’s a bad decision – in my opinion. My job, I did not choose to be “whoever makes these decisions” and that’s their choice. It’s like you’re living in someone’s rental and they get to decide who stays and who goes — and it BLOWS!”

Perhaps it’s Vangsness’ sidekick-esque nature on the series or the fact that fans absolutely love her character, but Penelope Garcia seems to be the only female character that’s safe for any transition to the Criminal Minds “boys club” that appears to be forming. In fact, Vangsness will now be pulling double duties as her character will also appear in the Criminal Minds spin-off, Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.

Even if it’s for a single episode and even if it’s brought on by the departure of another female cast member, it will be nice to see A.J. Cook return to the series. Of course, whether or not these calculated character dismissals will mark the beginning of the end of this series still remains to be seen.

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Criminal Minds airs Wednesday @9pm, on CBS

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Source: TV Line

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Steve Carell’s Final ‘Office’ Episode Airs in April

When it was announced last year that Steve Carell would be leaving The Office at the end of its seventh season, fans of the series began preparing themselves for the departure of Michael Scott.

Unfortunately, series show-runner Paul Lieberstein (Toby) revealed today that Carell’s final episode would not, in fact, be the season finale as everyone expected, but one month before, in April.

While this news will certainly shock fans that were relishing every last moment of Dunder Mifflin’s (now Sabre, Scranton) Regional Manager, Lieberstein, while speaking with Vulture, explained the decision behind Michael Scott’s early departure and what they’re looking to accomplish with this season’s final four Michael-less episodes:

“Steve will have a number of episodes that dramatize and lead up to Steve leaving. Then we’ll continue on for about four more episodes, and the spring will prove to be not about an actor leaving, but what happens in an office when a manager leaves and the chaos ensues and people vie for the job and are uncertain about their future.”

Of course, with Michael Scott gone, a managerial position opens up and viewers have been speculating who would be filling the shoes of the “World’s Greatest Boss.” While Lieberstein hinted that they’re “talking about guest stars” who could come in and apply for the position, the job will ultimately go to one of the series’ current characters. Currently, Darryl (Craig Robinson), Dwight (Rain Wilson), Andy (Ed Helms) and Kelly (Mindy Kaling) are all in the running.

Previously, we reported that Darryl was hinted at being the most likely candidate, but today Kaling gave an interesting pitch on why it might be good for her character to take over:

“People who aren’t necessarily qualified to be the boss are sometimes put in positions that management hopes they grow into. And the boss [doesn't have] to be the starring role. Most shows are about all the underlings. I could see a world where Kelly becomes the boss, and it’s not a show about Kelly.”

Even though hell might freeze over before Kelly is given the position of Regional Manager, Kaling’s statement touches upon an interesting topic. With Carell gone, The Office has to, on some level, reinvent itself. With one cornerstone character gone, the writers will have to find other avenues to sustain the series’ comedic stylings. Fortunately, it looks like they might just be doing it.

Lieberstein says:

“This time last year there was probably a lot of dread, but right now there’s a lot of excitement. We’re having the kinds of conversations we had in seasons one and two about, ‘What is the show?’ It feels like we … can really influence the show in a way we couldn’t last year. It feels really cool.”

Despite Lieberstein’s acknowledgment of the writers’ eagerness to persevere, viewers won’t know exactly what potential the series has without Carell until we see the story unfold for ourselves. While many might have their doubts about The Office, we shouldn’t count the series out – the perfectly executed transition from the first to second season most certainly proved that.

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The Office airs Thursdays @8pm, on NBC

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Smallville: Chloe And Black Canary Return in ‘Collateral’ Episode

While fans wait with bated breath for news that Michale Rosenbaum will reprise his role as Lex Luthor, original Smallville cast member Allison Mack will return as Chloe on the January 28th episode, entitled “Collateral”. Alaina Huffman, who plays the Smallville version of Black Canary, will also make an appearance. The two come into conflict with Oliver Queen/Green Arrow over Chloe’s intentions.

Chloe Sullivan’s last appearance on Smallville was the season 10 premiere, where she and long-time love interest Oliver Queen (played by Justin Hartley) were dramatically ripped apart. Chloe left with the knowledge of Doctor Fate after faking her own death and hasn’t been seen since.

“Collateral”, will see them reunited – though with only a handful of episodes left, they’ll have to talk fast if fans are to see a happy ending for Smalliville‘s original girl reporter. Dinah, AKA Black Canary, has made fleeting appearances this season, but will return in earnest as the series ramps up to the finale.

Chloe’s return won’t come without it’s own complications. Her intentions are far from clear, and Black Canary fears that Chloe may have turned traitor since the events in the premiere. The central conflict will revolve around Chloe’s mysterious disappearance, and whether or not Clark and the others can trust her. It’s not clear if Chloe will resume her duties at the Watchtower (or as Watchtower, for that matter) but given the character’s on-again, off-again powers, various interests and her recent disappearance, it would seem that anything is possible. The Suicide Squad will also make an appearance.

TV Line speculates that Black Canary and Green Arrow may be headed for a more serious relationship in the last few episodes. They offer the recent marriage of Black Canary and Green Arrow in the DC comic continuity as evidence. This seems unlikely, however, given Chloe’s more established role in Smallville‘s continuity and the fact that the show’s writers never feel compelled to use the comics as anything more than a guideline. We’ve seen over 200 episodes without Clark donning the blue tights, so why start walking the continuity tightrope now?

One thing’s for sure: those waiting to see Clark finally seize his destiny are in for a treat very soon. Comes the hour, comes the man – and there aren’t that many hours left. The recent promotional art for the last half of season 10 doesn’t leave much room for interpretation.

Smallville returns to the CW on Friday, January 28th.

Source: TV Line

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Star Monster – Episode Four The Collectible Signature Series

Star Monster – Episode Four The Collectible Signature Series

There was a tear in her large blue eye. The full figured woman in a black leather spacesuit was the female wizard from Teon named Elkry. She was paralyzed unable to move after being struck by some fantastic beam of power. Within the dark green shadows of a faintly lit fighter dock on the Krillan Transport, Eric Hart in his silvery cosmic spacesuit had been battling the curvaceous woman. Parked just behind him was the white teardrop shape of the starship Voyan. He stared up ahead to the shadows at the end of the dock.
Out of the deep shadows stepped a huge figure that had metal framework for legs. Two green orbs on a hairy face squinted. A matted moustache moved, its gaping mouth opened wide and the warlock spoke.
“Ah, it’s the human in his silvery spacesuit, a silver knight, eh? Do you remember this monstrous form?”

Price: $ 5

Location

San Francisco, USA

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Ask Rod, Episode 21: How Do I Attract More Twitter Followers

November 30th, 2010 | Twitter

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Executi­ve Edi­tor Rod K­urtz i­s­ ba­ck­ i­n­­ s­tudi­o w­i­th a­dvi­ce on­­ con­­queri­n­­g the Tw­i­tters­p­here a­n­­d getti­n­­g y­our p­roduct on­­ s­tore s­helves­. Do y­ou f­ollow­ Rod on­­ Tw­i­tter?

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