CBS To Develop Another "Criminal Minds" Spin-off
Dec 12, 2014
by Michael Schneider


CBS is taking another stab at expanding its popular "Criminal Minds" franchise. The network is developing a new spin-off series that will first air as an episode of "Criminal Minds" in February.

"Criminal Minds" executive producer Erica Messer will write the episode and executive produce with Mark Gordon and Nick Pepper. The episode (and subsequent series) will focus on a division of the FBI that helps Americans in trouble abroad.

No casting is attached yet to the project.





If ordered to series, it would become the second planted spin-off from "Criminal Minds". The first, "Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior", aired in 2011 but was canceled after a single season

"Suspect Behavior" starred Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, Michael Kelly, Beau Garrett, Matt Ryan and Kirsten Vangsness (who did double duty with the mother ship).

http://www.tvguide.com/News/Criminal-Minds-Spin-Off-1090874.aspx

Nina Tassler, Chairman of CBS Entertainment, says that the network has learned to do a better job with spinning off "Criminal Minds" since "Suspect Behavior" from 2011.

Erica Messer, who is executive-producing and writing the backdoor pilot, has been part of the flagship series since Day 1.

http://www.tvguide.com/News/CBS-Colbert-Renewals-1092013.aspx