Season 1
Season 2
The second season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 20, 2006 and ended May 16, 2007. Lola Glaudini left the show after six episodes, and was replaced by Paget Brewster two episodes later.
Having been a guest star for Season 1, Kirsten Vangsness was finally promoted to series regular, coming last in the opening titles after AJ Cook.
Having been a guest star for Season 1, Kirsten Vangsness was finally promoted to series regular, coming last in the opening titles after AJ Cook.
Season 3
The third season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 26, 2007 and ended May 21, 2008. The third season was originally to have featured 25 episodes; however, only 13 were completed due to the Writers Guild of America strike (2007-2008). Seven more episodes were produced after the strike, bringing the total number of episodes to 20 for the third season. Mandy Patinkin wanted to leave the series, since he loathed the violent nature of it.He was replaced by Joe Mantegna several episodes later.
Season 4
Season 5
The fifth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 23, 2009 and ended May 26, 2010. Episode 18 was a pilot episode for the spin-off series Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.
Season 6
The sixth season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS on September 22, 2010 and ended May 18, 2011. A.J. Cook appeared as a series regular for two episodes, and as a special guest star in two episodes, due to contract negotiations. Paget Brewster was a regular for eighteen episodes, but returned in the seventh season premiere. Rachel Nichols appeared as a guest star for two episodes and was then promoted as a regular, but departed after the season finale. The opening sequence was changed as of this season, more sound and visual effects were added as well as the theme song itself being amplified, an electric guitar playing being added.
Season 7
The seventh season of Criminal Minds premiered on CBS in the United States on September 21, 2011.
On February 15, 2012, Deadline.com reported that Paget Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss on the show, would leave Criminal Minds, definitively, once the seventh season was over. All other main actors on the show have secured deals to return for an eighth season. The two-hour season 7 finale, which took place on May 16, 2012, revealed Prentiss making the decision to leave the BAU.
On March 14, 2012, CBS renewed Criminal Minds for an eighth season, expected to air during the 2012-2013 television season.
On February 15, 2012, Deadline.com reported that Paget Brewster, who plays Emily Prentiss on the show, would leave Criminal Minds, definitively, once the seventh season was over. All other main actors on the show have secured deals to return for an eighth season. The two-hour season 7 finale, which took place on May 16, 2012, revealed Prentiss making the decision to leave the BAU.
On March 14, 2012, CBS renewed Criminal Minds for an eighth season, expected to air during the 2012-2013 television season.