Criminal Minds' Shorter Season 14 Explained
08/18/2018 | By Mace Parker
This upcoming season of Criminal Minds is going to be shorter than expected. So far, only 15 episodes have be commissioned for the series' 14th Season. Although there is a chance more episodes will be commissioned in the near future, but that chance may be slim.
Through its first 13 seasons, Criminal Minds has averaged 23 episodes per season, and never fewer than 20 (the previous low delivered in Season 3 - due to the 2007 Writers Strike). Explaining the shortened order, CBS president Kelly Kahl told TVLine at the Television Critics Association summer press tour, “First of all, that’s what we need” — and as of now, not a single episode more. “Scheduling gets more difficult as we try to pack more shows into the schedule each season, with fewer repeats,” he elaborated. “The number of episodes you need tends to ‘accordion’ a little bit.” Even at just 15, “We consider that a full season,” Kahl affirmed. “There’s still the possibility we might ask them for a few [additional] episodes, but that’s where we’re starting at.” Will Season 14 be Criminal Minds‘ last? “I’m not saying this is the last season,” Kahl said. “We will have an honest discussion with them at the right time.” While the core cast of Criminal Minds is already locked in for next season, they will have to make new deals for a potential fifteenth season. After a long run at 9 PM, Criminal Minds moved to 10 PM last season. With its most recent run — airing an hour later on Wednesdays — Criminal Minds averaged a 1.0 rating, landing in a four-way tie for third among all CBS dramas (behind NCIS and Bull). In total viewers (with 5.7 million), it ranked 13 out of 17 CBS dramas. It has improved the time period and is doing well in delayed viewing. The crime drama ended its 13th season on a cliffhanger. It will now be resolved in the Season 14 premiere, which will mark the show’s 300th episode. In teasing the resolution of the latest season finale — which left both Garcia and Reid in forms of life-and-death jeopardy — showrunner Erica Messer looked ahead to a major milestone, saying, “There is no greater way to launch a season than to say ‘our 300th episode.'” Catch the 14th Season Premiere and the Milestone 300th episode on Wednesday, Oct 3 at 10/9c on CBS.
|
|