The case is still open on Criminal Minds. Despite being on the bubble once again this year, the crime procedural series has been renewed for a 14th season. But, could this be the show’s last year?
Airing on the CBS television network, Criminal Minds stars Joe Mantegna, Paget Brewster, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Adam Rodriguez, Daniel Henney, and Aisha Tyler. This season, Shemar Moore guest stars. The series follows the FBI’s elite Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) out of Quantico, Virginia. The BAU remains dedicated to understanding predators’ motive and triggers, in order to stop them before they strike again.
A Look at the Ratings:
Over the years, Criminal Minds has slipped quite a bit in the ratings but the numbers have dropped significantly this season. Season 13 averaged a 0.99 rating in the 18-49 demo and 5.73 million viewers.
For comparison, season 12 of Criminal Minds averaged a 1.39 rating in the 18-49 demo and 7.466 million viewers. That’s a 29% drop in the demo and a 23% drop in viewers for the CBS series.
There has been talk about this potentially being a final season of 13 episodes to give the long-running series a proper sendoff. We’ll likely know more next week, when CBS has their upfront presentation on Wednesday. For now, fans can rest easy knowing that the season-ending cliffhanger will be picked up in the show’s season 14 opener — episode 300 of the series.
All told, today CBS cancelled two TV shows: Superior Donuts and Scorpion. The network also renewed five series: Criminal Minds (season 14); Man With a Plan (season three); Life in Pieces (season four); Instinct (season two); and Big Brother: Celebrity Edition (season two).
UPDATE: CBS has cancelled Kevin Can Wait and has renewed Elementary for season seven.
What do you think? Are you a fan of Criminal Minds? Are you glad that it’s been renewed for a 14th season? Should this be the end?
I have watched every episode of ‘Criminal Minds’. So why are you pushing it away!?
I will still watch this stunning show!
Susan
I shunned tv for years. Criminal Minds pulled me back in.
Criminal Minds is great to watch, very nerve racking. I have been watching since season 1. I’ve watched characters come and go. I really hated seeing Derek and Hotch go. Maybe getting at least one back would be really awesome and would also help the ratings go up.
I love Criminal Minds but can only watch reruns. Putting it on later makes it impossible for me to watch due to my job. This could be another reason the numbers have dropped. I’m sure I’m not the only one with this problem. I hope it stays on longer than season 14.
I love the show. Criminal Minds is my favorite!!!
I dont want criminal minds to stop airing. It’s my all time favorite show ever. I dont watch anything else on Monday Tuesday Wednesday and Saturday but criminal minds. Please keep the seasons coming.
I think S12 of Criminal Minds concentrated to much on “Spencers” story and “Mr Scratch”, leading to very little anticipation of what was to come. S13 tried to get back on track but i felt the storylines were not as engaging as the seasons before S12. I hope S14 brings back some of the unexpected punches earlier seasons (before 12) had.
Agree
I love watching “Criminal Minds”. It’s one of my very favorite television series. I am so happy it has been renewed and hope it stays on for yet more seasons to come.
Criminal Minds has been unique over the years both in character development and relationships but also in storyline. Relationally, the series is still pretty solid although not as strong in years past. However, the storylines have somehow lost their punch in recent times. I’ve said over and over again what I believe the series needs to land some real bite and provide a suspenseful excitement the episodes once held. Whenever former characters, unsubs, etc have made renewed appearances, there seemed to be a heightened level of excitement and intensity to the drama. (Return of Floyd the cannibal, Cat, Lindsey, Frank,… Read more »
I have loved Criminal Minds from the onset! I will be very sad if they cancel it! they need to bring Hotchner back!
Yessss!!!
Before this controversy emerged, I noticed how more and more the dialog was so very difficult to say believably, and how well the entire staff work around that. People in the workplace don’t speak in the complete sentences these actors were forced to make real. The scripts also never handled the ending’s exposition very well. (For the very worst of the latter, watch the end of any “Mission Impossible” episode.) The writers for NCIS manage this beautifully, language natural and always character driven.
I will be at a loss when this show inevitably comes to an end but I hope this isn’t the case anytime soon! Some essential characters and relationships have come and gone but most of the favorites are still there, and that’s good enough for me! They personally still have me at the edge of my seat, so keep ‘em coming!!
I don’t miss this show. It is my favorite despite losing some characters that I loved. i hope it doesn’t come to an end but if it does I will have to deal with it.
I totally agree!!
If they do decide that “Criminal Minds” season 14 is its last year, then I would be perfectly fine with this. I mean, all this wrangling by “CM”‘s production companies and them always going back-and-forth over costs and whatnot when it comes time to renew “CM” each year, not to mention the fact that the closed captioning on “CM” is STILL IN ALL CAPS this season (which is the exact reason why I’ve avoided “CM”), and all of the other CBS series have their CC in “mixed-case”. It’s probably not worth it anymore. Plus, I hope Kirsten Vangsness gets another… Read more »
This is my favorite show and I still watch the ruruns often.I am very relieved to know that it will be back for season 14. Pleeeeease don’t take my Spencer away.
I am so happy to have Criminal Minds renewed. It is an awesome show, Season 12 to me was offtrack, but I think once Spencer got out of prison, the show started back on track, I believe it will just get better and will once again be a top rated show The team just works. Looking forward to more than just season 14 you have Avery large fan base for this show, it is truly my favorite of all time.