Criminal Minds: DIS Official Thread 2 (Spoilers)

[Imzadi]

I just remembered, ABC now has a new head guy. He was responsible for all the ABC TV show cancellations a couple months ago, like Nashville and Castle, that was nicknamed "Bloody Tuesday" (or Thursday.) I bet he was ultimately made the decision for TG's firing. Criminal Minds is actually produced by ABC, and then airs on CBS.

 

[Tink9721]

I wonder if they will use that episode and what happened to Hotch as the reason he's now gone? Or will they say that Jack needs him and he's decided to retire finally?

From this article: https://tvline.com/2016/08/12/thomas-gibson-leaving-criminal-minds-fired-season-12/

Gibson’s character, BAU Special Agent Aaron Hotchner, will likely be sent away on special assignment in Season 12’s third episode. During TVLine’s Season 12 preview Q&A with Erica Messer, the showrunner made mention of a storyline that will take Hotch off the canvas. Setting up the return of Paget Brewster as BAU team member-turned-Interpol agent Emily Prentiss, Messer told Matt Mitovich, “Prentiss is doing essentially temporary duty with us, while Hotch is on temporary duty doing something that the Director tapped him to do.”

Gibson’s Hotch will thus be off-screen “for a couple of episodes,” Messer said at the time, “and then we’ll get to see what that assignment was about. It’s a big thing that will play out.” Or… not.

Sounds like it was originally supposed to be a temporary assignment, probably to cover his two episode suspension, and then it was supposed to be a bigger storyline. But now they'll probably just make it a permanent assignment.

So probably no farewell episode for Hotch. He'll just leave on an assignment and never come back

 

[Imzadi]

Sounds like it was originally supposed to be a temporary assignment, probably to cover his two episode suspension, and then it was supposed to be a bigger storyline. But now they'll probably just make it a permanent assignment.

I wonder if the firing also isn't about money? When ABC initially fired AJ Cook & Paget, it was about money. They brought Seaver in to take the place of TWO actresses. TG must be one of the highest paid actors on that show. Shemar was probably second and Joe M, third.

They saved money when Shemar left. And they can pay the new replacement less. But, now that Aisha is a regular and they have to pay Paget enough to make it while for her to come back - plus, she HAS to know the show needs her as Shemar is gone, she has been in quite a negotiating position money-wise.

ABC suspending TG for kicking is one thing. But, a kick is not death threats or anything like that, where he'd be a constant threat and fear onset. So, either there is more going on that we aren't being told about, or ABC decided to save money on a show in it's 12th season, and might be in it's last anyway, by using the assault as a way to totally get rid of TG and save money.

They COULD also be using this to negotiate a lesser salary to bring TG back. He can come back after all, but with a lot less money per episode and more anger management therapy. AJ & Paget came back after the fans rallied to bring them back.

There is currently a petition on Change.org to bring Thomas Gibson back. It's only been up an hour and already has 132 people who signed it.

https://www.change.org/p/bring-thomas-gibson-back-for-the-fandom


I think I will boycott whatever episodes this Virgil Williams writer writes for the show this season.

 

[Imzadi]

So probably no farewell episode for Hotch. He'll just leave on an assignment and never come back

Or they could kill him off the way they killed off Gideon off-screen.

Thomas Gibson should join the cast of Homeland, then he & Mandy Patinkin will be working together again.

 

[SMD]

Not that ONE writer/producer who TG kicked.

Why is it mitigating that he only kicked one? If someone worked at WalMart and had a physical altercation with a co-worker would they be immediately fired, or would they be excused because it was only one co-worker? Actors may be the highest profile people on a television show but shows don't get made without crew. It's good that TPTB are standing up for the crew, as their set might not function at all of a physical attack for a pass because it was by someone who is in front of the camera. Kicking your co-worker is unacceptable, no matter what your job title.

 

[Tink9721]

I think I will boycott whatever episodes this Virgil Williams writer writes for the show this season.

I just saw that he wrote both episodes TG directed in season 10, but not in season 11

Or they could kill him off the way they killed off Gideon off-screen.

I hope not - that would leave Jack with no parents

 

[Missy1961]

I just remembered, ABC now has a new head guy. He was responsible for all the ABC TV show cancellations a couple months ago, like Nashville and Castle, that was nicknamed "Bloody Tuesday" (or Thursday.) I bet he was ultimately made the decision for TG's firing. Criminal Minds is actually produced by ABC, and then airs on CBS.

ABC Studios produces CM. It is different than ABC Network. Cancellations of Castle, etc. came from the network, this firing came from ABC Studios.

And I think you mean the new female president (Channing Dungey) of ABC Entertainment cancelled those shows.

 

[Imzadi]

Why is it mitigating that he only kicked one?

You took what I said out of context. I was replying to sailorstitch, who was writing about the writers being in panic mode, having to rewrite the show without Hotch now and fit it into the overall storyline. I meant I don't think the writer who got kicked is in panic mode at the moment.

Whatever they do, I bet the writers are in panic mode right now!

Not that ONE writer/producer who TG kicked.

ABC Studios produces CM. It is different than ABC Network. Cancellations of Castle, etc. came from the network, this firing came from ABC Studios.

I didn't know there was a difference. Thanks for the clarification.

And I think you mean the new female president (Channing Dungey) of ABC Entertainment cancelled those shows.

I couldn't tell from the name the gender of the person. A thread I read over on the IMDB makes sense now. Someone was raving about women in charge ruining things.

 

[SMD]

You took what I said out of context. I was replying to sailorstitch, who was writing about the writers being in panic mode, having to rewrite the show without Hotch now and fit it into the overall storyline. I meant I don't think the writer who got kicked is in panic mode at the moment.

So his job is somehow easier because he was the one who was kicked? Your other posts seem to indicate that you're blaming the victim here. Including boycotting any show that he writes. As a Co-Executive Producer I imagine he has input in every episode. I still can't imagine why the end result of kicking a co-worker should end any way but termination.

 

[Missy1961]

So his job is somehow easier because he was the one who was kicked? Your other posts seem to indicate that you're blaming the victim here. Including boycotting any show that he writes. As a Co-Executive Producer I imagine he has input in every episode. I still can't imagine why the end result of kicking a co-worker should end any way but termination.

Well, the producer credit is something almost all writers have; most of the time, they produce the episodes they wrote, not all episodes.

But you're right, kicking a co-worker wouldn't fly in any workplace. (happened at my old job - the guy that threw the first punch was fired) And I understand this wasn't the first time Gibson harmed a co-worker.

 

[Imzadi]

So his job is somehow easier because he was the one who was kicked? Your other posts seem to indicate that you're blaming the victim here. Including boycotting any show that he writes. As a Co-Executive Producer I imagine he has input in every episode. I still can't imagine why the end result of kicking a co-worker should end any way but termination.

I didn't say his job is easier. He is probably PLEASED today that Gibson got fired.

I saw this info on the writer yesterday on TMZ. The writer isn't some mild, gentle, dweeby, Beta male. He is trained as a boxer and martial artist.
http://www.tmz.com/2016/08/11/thomas-gibson-writer-kicked-criminal-minds-suspended-fight/

​

Thomas Gibson The Writer Kicked is an Aggressive Badass



8/11/2016 10:45 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF
EXCLUSIVE

The writer Thomas Gibson kicked on the "Criminal Minds" set is anything but a nerd ... he's a boxer/martial artist with a super aggressive attitude -- sources connected to Gibson tell TMZ.

Virgil Williams is the writer/co-executive producer who got into it with Gibson when the argument escalated to the point the actor kicked him. But our Gibson sources say Williams escalated the verbal argument by "making a move" toward Gibson in a highly aggressive manner. They say Gibson's kick was more a reaction to the perceived threat than an aggressive move.

So we don't really know what happened between them or who started it. All we know is he has worked closely with Thomas Gibson before as Gibson directed two of his episodes. Gibson was directing that episode also. So they had an ongoing work relationship which we don't know anything about. And we know he got kicked.

As Missy said, the person who throws the first punch gets fired. It's also hard to prove self defense in a court of law, when one strikes first. I used to assistant teach a self defense course. Do a DIS search, I mentioned it a few times years ago. Once, while teaching, the teacher had to stop a match as the student hit first. It didn't matter if she was being menaced and threatened and followed by the assailant. That part would be hard to prove in court as she hit first. She was made to re-do the match and wait till the assailant stuck first. And boy, did he take his time, baiting and menacing her, trying to get her to hit first again.

We don't fully know what happened between Gibson & Williams and how much Williams may have contributed to the altercation too. They probably BOTH could have behaved better. IF Williams "escalated the verbal argument by 'making a move' toward Gibson in a highly aggressive manner," then as far as I'm concerned he should be fired TOO. Not just the one who hit first. That shouldn't be tolerated in the work place either. So, no, I'm not going to support him, until we hear what fully, really happened. If it turns out that Gibson is drinking again, and he seems to be an angry drunk, and the kick was totally unprovoked, then yes, I will be supportive of Williams.

 

[mummabear]

Unfortunately there is no choice but to fire TG, it will significantly change the show, particularly with Shemar already gone.
Not sure if they can continue with such major cast changes.

 

[Missy1961]

Sorry, but if the other guy didn't touch him, he doesn't deserve to be fired. I'm sure loud, long, nasty verbal disagreements happen all the time on TV/movie sets. But adults should learn to control themselves and not physically harm another. I don't care what the writer said, or if he came at TG, as soon as TG kicked him, he was the one to get fired. Besides, one man's "highly aggressive manner" may be another man's nothing much.

I'm sure the previous problems with TG added up for the powers-that-be. He's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

[Imzadi]

Unfortunately there is no choice but to fire TG, it will significantly change the show, particularly with Shemar already gone.
Not sure if they can continue with such major cast changes.

Sorry, but if the other guy didn't touch him, he doesn't deserve to be fired. I'm sure loud, long, nasty verbal disagreements happen all the time on TV/movie sets. But adults should learn to control themselves and not physically harm another. I don't care what the writer said, or if he came at TG, as soon as TG kicked him, he was the one to get fired. Besides, one man's "highly aggressive manner" may be another man's nothing much.

I'm sure the previous problems with TG added up for the powers-that-be. He's a lawsuit waiting to happen.

I get what you both are saying about needing to fire him. I do. Especially if this was a regular job. Yet, I remember when Michael J. Fox had to announce on his show, Spin City, that he has Parkinson Disease. He said the worse part was the guilt he felt that if his show had gotten cancelled, that so many people would be out of work because of him. They were filming in NYC at the time. A lot of series don't film here, like in L.A. So those people would be out of work for a long time. That always stayed with me.

I had hoped that TPTB on CM could have figured out a better, different punishment for Gibson than firing him, a longer suspension and hefty fine or something. Now the future of the whole show may be in jeopardy. And Beyond Borders, which is set to come back mid-season and airs after CM, may not have the lead-in audience it needs for ratings, if CM loses viewership. There are a LOT of people's jobs on the line because of the loss of two Team members now.

 

[mummabear]

I get what you both are saying about needing to fire him. I do. Especially if this was a regular job. Yet, I remember when Michael J. Fox had to announce on his show, Spin City, that he has Parkinson Disease. He said the worse part was the guilt he felt that if his show had gotten cancelled, that so many people would be out of work because of him. They were filming in NYC at the time. A lot of series don't film here, like in L.A. So those people would be out of work for a long time. That always stayed with me.

I had hoped that TPTB on CM could have figured out a better, different punishment for Gibson than firing him, a longer suspension and hefty fine or something. Now the future of the whole show may be in jeopardy. And Beyond Borders, which is set to come back mid-season and airs after CM, may not have the lead-in audience it needs for ratings, if CM loses viewership. There are a LOT of people's jobs on the line because of the loss of two Team members now.

I totally agree with you, my he had to be fired was being pretty pc lol.
I like Hotch and like TG from his Dharma and Greg days.
I like CM and was disappointed when Mandy Parkin was given the boot, and I don't see the CSI Miami guy (forgotten his name) as a great replacement for Shemar

 

[Tink9721]

I like CM and was disappointed when Mandy Parkin was given the boot

Mandy wasn't fired, he quit. He just didn't show up for work one day, no notice, and they had to write him out.

 

[Imzadi]

Mandy wasn't fired, he quit. He just didn't show up for work one day, no notice, and they had to write him out.

And then they fired him.

 

[Tink9721]

And then they fired him.

True

 

[mummabear]

Mandy wasn't fired, he quit. He just didn't show up for work one day, no notice, and they had to write him out.

You are right! I was so sure they fired him after creative differences.

 

[Missy1961]

I get what you both are saying about needing to fire him. I do. Especially if this was a regular job. Yet, I remember when Michael J. Fox had to announce on his show, Spin City, that he has Parkinson Disease. He said the worse part was the guilt he felt that if his show had gotten cancelled, that so many people would be out of work because of him. They were filming in NYC at the time. A lot of series don't film here, like in L.A. So those people would be out of work for a long time. That always stayed with me.

I had hoped that TPTB on CM could have figured out a better, different punishment for Gibson than firing him, a longer suspension and hefty fine or something. Now the future of the whole show may be in jeopardy. And Beyond Borders, which is set to come back mid-season and airs after CM, may not have the lead-in audience it needs for ratings, if CM loses viewership. There are a LOT of people's jobs on the line because of the loss of two Team members now.

Yes, it sucks when a show gets cancelled, but it is a fact of life in Hollywood - all shows eventually end, either by cancellation or a decision to end them. Not firing someone who deserved to be fired just because it may save the show isn't a good enough reason. Life on that set would have been miserable. For all we know, his co-stars could have been targets of his ire before, and now they don't have to worry about him anymore. And I bet many members of the crew have moved on over the years and at least now, they will have an idea that this season may be their last so they can look for new jobs during the year. At least that'll be better than what happened to the crew of Castle - who probably would still be working if TPTB hadn't decided to dump Stana Katic.

Working out a different kind of punishment for him because that could have kept the show going smacks of favoritism - or like what happens in the sports world, where the star keeps on playing but the non-stars get dumped. And that is annoying.

CM was slowly dying anyway. Sorry, but the older shows get, the more likely they are to get cancelled. Once SM left, CM wasn't going to last much longer anyway. And the new spin-off wouldn't have lasted too much longer anyway - it's not that good.