Criminal Minds

The yet-to-be resolved WGA strike has left many cast and crew members of several shows with a good amount of free time, and Criminal Minds actress AJ Cook has been taking advantage, using her unexpected break to catch up on things she normally wouldn't be able to squeeze into her busy work schedule.

"I've been a good little housewife — decorating the house, put up the tree, did a little Martha Stewart making crafts — just doing stuff I don't normally get to do," Cook told the Ventura County Star.  "I've been doing a lot of reading and writing. It's funny; you just seem to be busier when you're not working somehow — I don't know how that works."

AJ Cook has been out of work since the strike forced Criminal Minds shut down production last year. As it stands now, only one new episode of the show remains.  The installment, "Limelight," is scheduled to air on Wednesday, January 23.

The show's third and current season premiered last September, with the most obvious change being the inclusion of Joe Mantegna as a regular cast member.  Mantegna was recruited after show star Mandy Patinkin's made an abrupt exit from the show.

"It was rough the beginning of the year, just with Mandy's sudden departure and all of us left standing here going What the hell?  What's going on?' " AJ Cook said.  "As far as a transition can go, it's been a really smooth transition.  We were really lucky to get Joe Mantegna.  He's just the nicest man you'll ever meet in your life, and he's so grounded and just a normal man."

AJ Cook got the chance to speak with Patinkin after he left Criminal Minds, and said that she understands her former costar's decision.

"He's been nothing but wonderful to me, and I hope he's happy,” she said.  “All we can do is shake it off and move forward.  That's what we've done, and it's gone pretty smoothly."


-Lisa Claustro, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
Source: Ventura County Star
(Image Courtesy of CBS)