Jane Lynch returns to Criminal Minds TV series on CBS, season 12. (Photo: Helga Esteb/Shutterstock.com.)

After eight long years, Jane Lynch is returning to Criminal Minds on CBS, as Reid’s (Matthew Gray Gubler) mom, Diana, TV Guide reports. The actress recently starred in the Angel From Hell TV show, which was cancelled during its first season on CBS, after only five of thirteen episodes aired.

Executive producer Erica Messer told the news outlet, “We’re really excited. It’s a fun Reid story and she’s really excited to come back and reprise her role. She’s been a busy lady and we’re still here, so we’re happy to be able to offer that opportunity for her to come back.” Lynch is returning for two episodes in a Reid-centric storyline. The procedural drama also stars: Kirsten Vangsness, A.J. Cook, Joe Mantegna, and Paget Brewster.

Here is more from TV Guide:

Diana’s absence, of course, didn’t stop the show from mentioning and giving updates on her. In Season 9, Reid received a postcard from his mom about her supervised trip to the Grand Canyon. And last season, Reid took a leave of absence to visit her at Bennington Sanitarium after she took a turn for the worst. He later revealed, during a cat-and-mouse hostage situation, that his mother has onset dementia and didn’t recognize him right away. However, she was doing better by the finale, when Reid was planning a trip with her to Paris.

“They did take a trip together. We learn about their trip to Paris in the premiere. Reid talks about that,” Messer says. “[Her return] will be good. That’s why everybody’s excited. It was more important than ever to have Jane come guest-star because it will be a big story.”

Criminal Minds, season 12, premieres Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 9:00pm ET/PT, on CBS.

What do you think? Are you a Jane Lynch fan? Do you plan to watch the 12th season of the Criminal Minds TV series on CBS?