Thomas Gibson: ‘Criminal Minds’ Cast Is ‘Just Like A Family’
Thomas Gibson, A.J. Cook and Paget Brewster, to name a few, have described the Criminal Minds cast and crew as “like a family.” Not all shows have that kind of chemistry. It is a gift that has helped the show’s popularity thrive over a 12-year run.
Kirsten Vangsness told The Advocate just how precious and rare the chemistry is on Criminal Minds.
“That chemistry does not come every day. We genuinely get along. On other sets they say ‘Cut’ and everybody goes to their trailers. Here everybody stays. We’re all joking around and talking. Shemar goes to every single play I’ve ever done ever since I’ve met him. All of them do, actually.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qr-nQvCO1Tc
Thomas Gibson loved Criminal Minds. He was also loved by his co-stars. So how can one get fired from a family that loves them? Because being a co-star on a television show is also a job, and the entire Criminal Minds family is employed by CBS, ABC and ultimately the Disney Corporation.
Thomas Gibson is said to have been fired from Criminal Minds, but he was not fired by Criminal Minds. He was fired by ABC studios HR department officially, but apparently, that was not their initial decision. HR only suspended Gibson, but later had to announce he was fired. It is unknown who made that decision, but certainly it was not made by anyone seen on the TV show every week.
Thomas Gibson, Matthew Gray Gubler, Kirsten Vangsness, Shemar Moore, Paget Brewster, Joe Mantegna, and A.J. Cook all got along just fine. An anonymous witness told Page Six back in August before Gibson was terminated that the cast and crew of Criminal Minds were like a “tight-knit family.”
“The cast and crew are a very solid, tight-knit family … I’m sure it’s going to be resolved, [Gibson and Virgil] will post a photo together … they’ve known each other for 12 years, and they’re together for 12 hours a day. Things happen.”
Criminal Minds cast and crew are tight-knit according to the source. Thomas Gibson and Virgil Williams are included in that group judging from the context. These guys have been together 12 hours a day for 12 years. They had a little disagreement that lasted only a few moments. None of the cast thought it was a big deal, the crew didn’t think it was important, but somehow someone decided to fire Gibson.
The Criminal Minds family has been disturbed by the random termination of actors before. Back in 2012, A.J. Cook was let go, allegedly because of budget considerations according to TV Guide.
“It felt like a breakup with a guy. It happened out of nowhere. And it was an “It’s not you, it’s me” sort of thing. You think, “What did I do?” It’s been a rollercoaster ride.”
Criminal Minds fans stood up for A.J. Cook in much the same way they have taken up Thomas Gibson’s termination. In 2012, CBS heard the fans were discontent and re-hired Cook.
Criminal Minds star Paget Brewster went through something even more bizarre than either Thomas Gibson’s firing or A.J. Cook’s firing and rehiring. It really upset her and now she’s back on the show, but no doubt treading more cautiously. Cinema Blend explained the situation with Brewster and Cook years ago as a “rough time.”
“A few years ago, veteran actress Paget Brewster’s role was reduced and A.J. Cook was displaced on a whim by CBS. They then returned to the show on another whim by CBS. It was a rough time for Brewster, especially, who ended up leaving the show after her contract played out.”
Like Thomas Gibson and A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster found her situation completely bewildering, according to this quote from Cinema Blend. Brewster placed the blame for being cut and then forcibly re-hired solely on CBS.
“So now A.J.’s gone, I’m training Rachel Nichols to replace me and A.J., I died, and then I shot a pilot that didn’t go… and then it was announced that I was returning to Criminal Minds! And I called my agents, and I said, ‘I’m not! What do they mean I’m returning to Criminal Minds?‘ And they said, ‘Well, they added another year to your contract for you to get those 17 episodes.’ And I couldn’t understand that. So I was forced to go back or… terrifying things were inferred. And I was kind of p**sed, but then I went back and thought, ‘I love everyone there!’ I hated CBS. [What they did] was just scummy.”
So many of the Criminal Minds cast have been fired, re-hired, forced out and then forced back on a “whim,” according to Cinema Blend. Paget Brewster herself said it was all CBS making those weird decisions, CBS is “scummy,” according to Paget.
Thomas Gibson’s Criminal Minds termination was said to be different. While most of what actually happened during 2012 was kept under wraps, the Thomas Gibson and Virgil Williams quarrel has been scandalously publicized. CBS was quick to spread the word about Gibson’s “violent” act. Reading about the incident two months ago, one would think these guys went nine rounds in the parking lot. It was allegedly nothing of the sort.
Criminal Minds cast members A.J. Cook, Paget Brewster, and most recently Thomas Gibson have been terminated for little or no reason. In the past, Cook and Brewster were both let go in an effort to cut the budget. Is Gibson’s dismissal related to cost cutting and the spat just an excuse?
Criminal Minds cast and crew are together 12 hours a day. Producers, actors, and directors tend to be interchangeable. Often the actors direct and occasionally write. Producers write and direct as well, and they all have to make the plot cohesive. It isn’t as if they have a single writer who makes the entire plot line.
Thomas Gibson was directing and Virgil Williams had written Episode 2. Both are creative talent, involved in plot decisions as well as just being a producer or just being an actor. These guys are hammering out creative material vital to a Criminal Minds continuing plot.
Thomas Gibson and Virgil Williams both believe in Criminal Minds. The quality of their work early in the season could determine the fate of a show that just saw a rating decline for their season finale. Tensions were high no doubt.
Criminal Minds cast and crew get along like family, and many very close-knit families have occasional spats. It’s not usually a lasting problem.
Thomas Gibson and Virgil Williams had a disagreement, and perhaps some think that went too far, but why on earth cause this kind of havoc over something so minor? Now the ratings are down, fans are boycotting and protesting on twitter. The show may not survive. The show has run for 12 years. Everyone knows that casting changes upset the fans, so why antagonize them?
Criminal Minds cast members have been fired and rehired, killed off and resurrected. A.J. Cook was let go for no reason other than the budget. Paget Brewster had a very confusing incident, but now even she is back. It isn’t out of the question for CBS and ABC to get Thomas Gibson back, and judging from the drop in ratings, it would be a sensible decision.
RELATED REPORTS FROM THE INQUISITR
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If Criminal Minds is really a family, forgiveness has to be part of getting along. People are not perfect, and family members see everything. Fathers, mothers, brothers and sisters forgive each other for minor altercations. Being together 12 hours a day for 12 years is something few co-workers experience on a regular basis, so it is understandable that it’s become more of a family than a workplace. ABC and CBS need to remember that and rethink their decision if they want to save the show.
Firing Thomas Gibson or any other Criminal Minds cast member is just painful to the cast, crew and to fans. Why do that? It’s a good show and ratings have held for 11 seasons in spite of the network tampering. This time have they gone too far? Fans love Criminal Minds but resent the networks firing their favorite cast members.
Criminal Minds co-stars Thomas Gibson, A.J. Cook, and Paget Brewster know the ups and downs of hiring and firing, and considering that, Gibson could go back to the show.
[Featured Image by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images]
