Joe Mantegna, who plays FBI agent David Rossi on Criminal Minds, credits the show’s fans for its revival. In 2020, the long-running CBS procedural wrapped up its 15-year run with a shortened final season. While that seemed to be the end, Paramount+ announced that it would be bringing the show back on the streaming platform.
“We’re back filming. We just started last Tuesday. We’re back up. We’re going to be on Paramount+, so we just started season 16 after a two-year hiatus. And we’re all thrilled to be back. And it’s a good group, a great group. I’ve been there for 13 seasons, and I’m glad to be back, and we look forward to new episodes out there. And our fanbase is so wonderful all over the world. I think that’s what helped bring us back,” said Mantegna in an interview with WGN Radio.
Bringing the show back hadn’t been easy. According to Screen Rant, it was even deemed canceled at one point. But now, it’s moving forward with a 10-episode order that will see the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). As previously reported on this site, the show will differ from past seasons. Instead of the BAU investigating individual cases in each episode, one case will play out throughout the season.
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More specifically, the BAU will be going after a network of Unsubs, which is short for an unknown subject or unidentified subject of an investigation, who have become active during the coronavirus pandemic. Some of the cast even showing behind the scenes photos from the set. A release date for the season premiere has not been posted yet.
FBI in Real Life And in Show
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Criminal Minds is not only about FBI agents but has also been consultant by the bureau regarding how the show portrays the agency and its agents. Mantegna has spent time at Quantico and knows many real FBI agents, both active and retired. So, during the same interview where he discussed Hollywood & Ivy, Magtagna was asked about the “slings and arrows” that have been directed at the FBI lately.
“What do we do for a living, Bob? You’re on the radio. I do make believe. We have an incredible life. We don’t go out there every day when possibly someone is going to put a target on our back, and we might not come home that night. This is what our military does. This is what our law enforcement does. This is what these people do. The first responders, people like that.”
Mantegna also said that while “there’s always going to be a nutty fringe group out there whatever it may be, whatever the topic may be,” he’s just hoping that too shall pass and that people will realize that they should be thankful that they have the FBI. When asked if that makes him feel good about the work they do, Mantegna said, “absolutely.”
“That’s the success of Criminal Minds. That’s why people like the show. Because they watch the show and they realize thank god we have these people who take care of the problems that are caused, that are portrayed in this programming.”
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