Criminal Minds season 12: The latest rumor ridiculousness
We’ll start this article with an admission that we’ve discussed the ratings many times in articles. Just earlier this week, we reported that the show had some of its lowest ratings of the season. They adjusted up in the final figures following that article’s publication, but a 1.3 in the 18-49 demographic is still better than a 1.2. We published a piece discussing whether or not it was time for concern over the show’s future, and the answer there still seems to be “yes.” If you enjoy the show, you should be worried about the numbers being lower than the season before, which were lower than the season before that.
Yet, there’s a difference between a show having lower ratings, and then one that is on the verge of being canceled. That’s not happening. There is zero evidence that this is the final season, and despite what you may read on some other sites such as Counsel & Heal (which we chided recently for speculating that Mark Harmon’s health was going to make him quit NCIS), the boycott from some Thomas Gibson fans isn’t going to get the show canceled. Does it hurt the show? Absolutely (we of course miss the Hotch character, as well), but no one group of fans controls the fate of any show. Just look at how there were campaigns to get The 100 canceled last year, how people have tried to rally against Arrow, or even some of the people upset with NCIS.
The thing that we all have to remember sometimes is that television shows extend far beyond any audience of people on the internet. A good 90% of Criminal Minds viewers we never hear from. Many of them watch casually or in repeats, and haven’t tweeted about the show once. Maybe some of them left after Gibson did, or maybe they’re off doing other things. The facts are what the facts are, and they indicate that the show has lower numbers.
In the end, though, the biggest reason why the show will get a season 13 renewal is this: Criminal Minds is the #3 scripted drama on CBS in terms of adults 18-49, averaging just over a 1.4 in the demo. Here are the shows faring better at present with live viewers: NCIS proper and Bull, which airs right after it. NCIS: Los Angeles is close behind in fourth place, but so far in 2017 Criminal Minds has extended a lead. That show’s lost a big chunk of its viewers since the premiere, and it still has the entirety of its main cast.
We’re not trying to invalidate the opinions of anyone who is or isn’t watching the show now, since we understand all sentiments and, like we said, we do miss Hotch as well. We’re just trying to state that factually, there’s no evidence that Criminal Minds will be canceled. Whether it’s because of Gibson or not, though, there may be more reasons to be concerned come season 13 if the ratings drop further.
The one sentiment we don’t understand is publications trying to capitalize on the anger and frustration of a group of fans for pageviews. (Photo: CBS.)
As always, we welcome your thoughts on this story below.
Lima
March 7, 2017 @ 5:06 pm
CarterMatt the real fans of Criminal Minds miss Aaron Hotchner. How can you say that the characters are not important?
The characters are the heart and soul of a show.
That Erica Messer and Harry are the worst producers a show could have.
Harry made X-Files canceled and is doing the same in Criminal Minds.
We want our authentic Criminal Minds back!
Thomas Gibson did a great job as Aaron Hotchner, that’s unquestionable!
There is no substitute for Thomas Gibson.
We want back well told story, which would locked us on the couch from start to finish of the episode.
I had been afraid of exiting the couch and losing parts of the show.
This no longer exists, because the stories are boring.
Bring the writers: Edward Allen Berner, Andrew Wilder, Debra J. Fisher, Simon Mirren, Holly Harold, Rick Dunkle, Dan Dworkin & Jay Beattie, Breen Frazier, Andi Bushell.
Who remembers the episode True Night, Seven Seconds, Elephant’s Memory, The Angel Maker, sensational episodes.
CarterMatt If you really care about Criminal Minds help us bring your original characters.
No more amateur writers!
The true and authentic fans of Criminal Minds.
We only want the QUALITY of the Show.
CBS, ABC, Disney and Criminal Minds producers need to understand that the fans are responsible for a show’s success and they need to respect the fans!
Lucy
March 6, 2017 @ 2:57 am
I stopped watching after hearing about the firing of Thomas Gibson. Did you say that information out there could be misleading & that articles can be misdirecting misinformation? Welcome to Gibson’s world where they smeared his good name for the sake of justifying his firing. No Thomas No CM.
Suzanne Cain
March 6, 2017 @ 12:24 am
Good article. I am a huge Gibson fan…still want him back, but I did not stop watching. Don’t think we needed another new character…would rather see more of Alvez. Never been a huge fan of Prentiss but am still watching. As long as Reid and JJ and Garcia and Rossi and Alvez are on I will watch…even tho I wish for Hotch to come back.
phyllymd
March 5, 2017 @ 6:40 am
Thank you for the thorough dissection of this ridiculous article, Phoenix Rising. Like many of these internet sites – TV Guide, TVLine, EW, Variety and now CarterMatt, it appears they’re all too beholden to the networks and production machines for scraps, scoops and tidbits; that any form of research or homework rarely, if ever, undertaken or necessary. They simply report and reprint what’s shoveled to them or handed to them on a silver platter. I don’t know why we should expect a semblance of real journalism, which is rarely if ever found in these stories.
I don’t know why Matt bothered to even mention Counsel & Heal, other than it’s probably the only site that he could think of that bothered to “speculate” about something–how awful and below the belt. While this site, like TV Guide and the rest are just spoon-fed information from the PR teams of the networks and producers, which they report as fact without checking because they don’t want to bite the hand that feeds them, right Matt.
Matt, you shouldn’t have any problem verifying the facts provided you by Phoenix Rising. The reputable sites cited in her comments provide ratings reports every week. You don’t have to look far or hard to find them. Instead you try to paint the most favorable picture of Criminal Mind’s deteriorating situation in order to stay on the good side of those providing you with the occasional attention with well-massaged and manipulated information–now who’s being ridiculous.
Phoenix Rising
March 5, 2017 @ 11:51 am
It’s far far easier to blame one particular group for the downfall rather then accept responsibilty for their part in it…
Here’s a Hypothetical for you –
What if the writing didn’t have all the inconsistencies in it?
Well fans wouldn’t be complaining about those inconsistencies for one.
Possibly Thomas Gibson would not have had the arguement with Virgil Williams regarding the inconsistency that was in Sick Day, which led to his firing.
Thomas maybe not then have been fired.
Thomas would have been a large part of the season, the Mr. Scratch arc and of course now the Reid/Prison Arc.
Paget would NOT be Unit Chief nor would she be in the entire season.
Damon Gupton might not have been hired and replaced Reid.
Do you see where I’m going with this? It starts with what triggered all these events to begin with… And that is CLEARLY the badly thoughtout writing/scripts.
phyllymd
March 5, 2017 @ 2:20 pm
The writing for CM has be questionable for several seasons; but there were some writers like who penned some real gems. But most of us hung in there because Thomas Gibson’s Hotch was a part of the team. I don’t know about you, but I’d still be watching if Thomas was still there, even through the painful episodes.
What this firing has taught all of us is that every show needs a strong anchor to survive, and Thomas/Hotch was it for CM. Erica, Virgil, Harry, ABC and CBS never appreciated or understood that. Now, they do; and it’s too late. If CM gets another year, CBS will require a complete makeover; hopefully with Erica Messer and the mess she made gone. But CBS would be better off giving Thomas his own show in CM’s time slot.
Erica, ABC and maybe CBS believed Thomas was expendable and shot themselves in the foot trying to prove it. Remember, it was the stories that was so important to CM, not the heroes. Erica and her producers started preaching that even before Thomas was fired. It appears they planned to can Thomas for a while, when they started promoting that dialogue. They simply needed an opportunity. This is what happens when your intentions are cloaked by nefarious deeds. They dug a hole for Thomas that they are now about to fall into.
Phoenix Rising
March 5, 2017 @ 2:58 pm
Totally. Many now former fans/viewers have been complaining for years about the abysmal writing on the show. Going back as far as season 9 and the complete retconning of JJ with “200”… Not to mention the complaints about the marginalization of Hotch/Reid/Rossi going back as long. This isn’t something new, this is the culmination of very very bad decisions by those supposedly entrusted with the torch to continue the show as it was deisgned. Erica and Company have failed miserably in that respect.
Many Viewers like myself hung on, hoping with each renewal that things would change. That those in charge would finally see how fans/viewers felt. Alas, those complaints have fallen on deaf ears.
One just has to go to a site like Series Monitor and look at the ratings going back to Season 9 and forward and it’s plain to see the decline of viewership. Making excuses for the decline and refusing to accept their own responsibility just tells me that these people are out of touch with what the core fanbase was all about regarding the show.
Lucy
March 6, 2017 @ 3:02 am
I agree w/every word you said, thank you. Writing has been bad for a few seasons now, esp 11 but I watched it because of Thomas Gibson/Hotchner.
Lucy
March 6, 2017 @ 2:59 am
I totally agree w/you.
Phoenix Rising
March 5, 2017 @ 4:40 am
Also, CM is not the #3 scripted drama in the 18-49 demo. According to TVbythenumber and spotted ratings as well as TV Series finale they’ve dropped significantly… Even based on CBS scripted drama’s they’re #6… Last year they were #3.
As a matter of fact one renewal prediction account the week before last listed CM as 102% chance of renewal, after this weeks episode they are now listed as only a 65% chance of renewal. And CM has lost 37% of it’s viewing and ratings numbers since the same time last year.
If you want a ‘pulse’ on what fans are saying regarding the direction of the show, just log onto Criminal Minds Facebook account and read the weekly commentary regarding the episode, writing, acting and addition of new cast of characters…. However, I’ll warn you the comments aren’t good.
As we all know the reality is that social media numbers only amount to a small percentage of those actually viewing or in CM’s case ‘not’ viewing any longer.
PS – Google CM’s placement in the list for scripted drama’s by demo and CM is currently #9 in 18-49 and #14 in all demo groups.
Phoenix Rising
March 5, 2017 @ 4:35 am
Ohh and btw…. Maybe you should change the date… You’ve listed TOMORROW as the publication date.. Today is March 4th…
Phoenix Rising
March 5, 2017 @ 4:33 am
Sadly Matt you’re either not informed or have been misinformed. You’re completely ignoring the fact that above all else the it will come down to the financial feasibility of renewing CM… CBS is losing money on the prospect according to Adage. Back the in the early part of the season Adage had an article that stated CM needed and average of 1.71 in the 18-49 demo to break even on their advertising promises. That’s not the case as several ratings sites have listed their current average as 1.40. The fact that last year CBS demanded a steep cut in licensing fees from ABC to renew the show before Thomas Gibson was fired should be a concern. With the bankable lead now gone who will advertisers buy into? None of the current cast is lead acceptable especially with the loss of 2.57 million viewers since the airing of the first episode this season.
It’s pretty disengenuous of you to attempt to slight the signifigance of the loss of viewers just to promote yourself and what maybe the position of the powers that be of Criminal Minds.
Lucy
March 6, 2017 @ 3:10 am
Thank you for all your comments. I agree 100%. Thomas Gibson genuinely cared about this show to speak up about the writing. Ppl who say that the writing is still good is not paying attention, or they’re easily mislead. TPTB is annoyed that ppl are criticizing their writing since this is the reason they fired Gibson in the first place “creative difference.” They’ve killed this show, that’s ok since I no longer care to watch.