As fans know, Thomas Gibson was fired from Criminal Minds after filming a few season 12 episodes and Shemar Moore left in season 11. Meanwhile, Paget Brewster is returning, Aisha Tyler has become a series regular, and Adam Rodriguez has joined the cast. That’s a lot of upheaval in a short amount of time for this venerable CBS TV series. How will it do in the ratings in season 12? Could it be cancelled? Will there be a 13th season? Stay tuned.
Criminal Minds continues to follow the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) out of Quantico, Virginia. This season’s cast is Joe Mantegna, Matthew Gray Gubler, A.J. Cook, Kirsten Vangsness, Aisha Tyler, Adam Rodriguez, and Paget Brewster.
The ratings are typically the best indication of a show’s likelihood of staying on the air. The higher the ratings (particularly the 18-49 demo), the better the chances for survival. This chart will be updated as new ratings data becomes available — usually the next day, around 11:30am EST/8:30am PST. Refresh to see the latest.
4/7 update: Criminal Minds has been renewed for season 13 on CBS. Details here.
5/11 update: You can see the rest of the latest night’s ratings.
Note: If you’re not seeing the updated chart, please try reloading the page or view it here.
For comparisons: The 11th season of Criminal Minds averaged a 1.79 rating in the 18-49 demographic with 9.01 million total viewers (live + same day ratings).
Note: These are the Live + Same Day Ratings which include “live” viewing plus delayed DVR viewing, up until 3am local time that same night. Ratings marked with an “*” are the fast affiliate ratings and will be updated with the Live+SD numbers when they are made available. Typically, networks get paid for C+3 ratings which includes DVR viewing within three days of the original airing when commercials are watched. Those numbers are rarely released to the press.
What do you think? Do you still like the Criminal Minds TV series? Do you think it should be cancelled or renewed for season 13 on CBS?
With Gibson & Moore gone, I’m gone. Huge mistake firing Gibson. I’ve watched every year until this one. You should have worked out your issues for the sake of your viewers.
Haven’t felt the need to watch this season. With Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore gone it doesn’t feel like the same show. The introduction of 2 new characters and the return of Pages Brewster now puts the team one person over than last year. How can they find time for individual storylines now? I originally intended to stop watching (NoHotchNoWatch) but really love Reid that I kept tuning in. However much to my disappointment there was very little of Reid in this season. The whole timeline of the show has been filled with the bosses thinking they can do as… Read more »
I agree!
If Thomas Gibson doesn’t return. Can it. It lost its best asset. The powers that be has a problem with just up and firing people. They are scummy with how they go about it. They put Thomas Gibson on a two week suspension, then up and fires him. You can’t trust these people. Its obvious they could care less about us fans. They try to fudge the ratings saying how well they’re doing. They are not doing well. They destroyed this show. I don’t know why it when the writers just focused in one character from the B.A.U. This is… Read more »
Thank you.it pisses me off bc I he been a have been a fan since day one,never missed one episode, even arranged my days at work to have Wednesday’s off. I was mad when he was suspended but I wad ok bc I knew he was coming back.Then two days later he’s fired and Virgil didn’t get fired out even suspended. Talk about unfair to thomas and us.yes cbs is shady unfair and I’m never watching unless Hotch return. #nohotchnowatch
I agree with some who say that Shemar and Hotch were great and that the show is unwatchable without them, if there is any chance that Hotch can come back then that’d be great and greatly appreciated. We’re now officially in 2017, we should be able to handle an apology and keep the best actor on air. (I think?) I personally love the show and I definitely will watch it however, one person watching it and another not might hurt the chances of season 13 coming back (as everyone might know). All I am trying to say is that maybe… Read more »
I agree with Thomas Gibson and Shemar Moore gone it doesn’t feel the same. Aisha Tyler is so awful she needs to go back to the talk. I don’t watch as much now.
And rumour has it Reed is also leaving for good……goodbye Criminal Minds, it was a great run, best series I have ever seen…..so sad it has to end this way…..CBS just sucks, they could care less how their fans feel…….they fire Gibson for defending himself and nothing happens to Virgil who was the aggressor., and these facts have been confirmed by people who were there…..so unfare
I love love love criminal minds characters have come and go but it still remains a brilliant show and Emily is back so woohoo so it’s all good def be a season 13 and I’m a big fan in Ireland
I love Criminal Minds. I miss Morgan and Hotch, but my favorite character is Spencer. I am still watching and hope the show will continue to Season 13 and beyond. Love that Paget is back and I am willing to give the new characters a chance to establish themselves. Wish they would play the episodes with more consistency, the new season started end of September and we have only had 8 new episodes.
Criminal Minds needs to be put to rest in my opinion……without Hotch it just doesn’t work, the writing isn’t good this year, the acting is off……I find it ‘s boring and very predictable…….I don’t feel it is the criminal minds I use to love soooo much…….just way too many new people for one season.
This is the best show on tv and the cast was set before changes were made, thats what lost viewers! Either way, keep it in the air!!!!!
Being Shemar back!!! Get rid of new dude introduced in S12E8. He clutters the cast & makes it impossible for anyone to have a personal storyline.
The reason Criminal Minds ratings are dropping is the firing of Thomas Gibson and no Shemar Moore. Please get them back! The new guy is terrible and the Lesha character is too. I’ve watched CI from the beginning and I love the show but your casting director is wrong on choices. Please do something before its too late.
Who is this Lesha you’re speaking of? I think you’re not speaking of CM at all.
She’s the beautiful black lady. I like her real well, but the show with only focusing on one member of the B.A.U. has taken away from what the show was about. Solving crime. This isn’t a soap opera. Constantly just firing the cast all the time has hurt this show massively. Especially Thomas Gibson. Dumb dumb move. I could really care less about Virgil Williams. Seems since he’s been a writer for Criminal Minds, The stories have sucked. Get rid if him and bring Thomas Gibson back.
I agree bring Shemar Moore back. let the new guy go along with Aisha Tyler.
Yes, Criminal Minds is worth renewing for season 13 and beyond. I mainly watch for Spencer Reid but I also like the solving of the crime aspect to the show. I don’t care for all of the other characters, although some of them are okay. The show still works, even without Morgan and Hotch. If the writers put out good stories there is still lots of potential for CM!
Looking at the serious decline in quality episodes and major cast changes the last couple seasons it’s time to say thanks for 10 good seasons and goodbye to Criminal Minds.
This show is awful without Hotch and Morgan. Replacing not those two with 2 females that weren’t big characters to begin with (Aisha Tyler is awful and her character is just as bad), and Adam Rodriguez who was the reason I stopped watching CSI as the “eye candy replacement for female viewers” to Morgan she character followed by a forced love connection between him and Garcia so quickly, is a joke. Subtracting your 2 biggest characters with 3 trash characters isn’t acceptable. More is not more! Hate to say it but my favorite show for the last 10 years is… Read more »
You are absolutely on Target in regard to your comments!!!!!
Ellen’s comment mirrors mine. I do not watch the show for the actors or characters; they are replaceable to me – just as in real life people come and go. I prefer not to see the violent acts in excess, but instead how the team profiles and catches the unsub. I’ll keep watching, but I’m not as devoted to this show as I used to be. Perhaps it has been on too long?
The characters of Hotch and Morgan are certainly not major factors in watching the show. They really weren’t that good – just interesting and quite replaceable. My problem over the past few years is that they have steered towards the backstory of the violent killer. Sorry, but I don’t want to see a serial killer at work and know that he has mommy or daddy issues. What used to be interesting is how they solved the crime. By devoting too much time showing the audience the killer and the killings, they don’t leave much air time for the team to… Read more »