Celebrity Extra: Mandy Patinkin
By Dana Jackson
Q: Is it true that Mandy Patinkin is returning to “Criminal Minds”? Wasn't he on the first season, then got replaced? -- K.K.
A: Mandy Patinkin lasted two full seasons on the hit crime drama "Criminal Minds" before choosing to depart early on in season three. He had an issue with the moral content of the show, saying that he never thought they were going to conduct such violent acts against women "every night, every day, week after week, year after year." He told New York Magazine, "It was very destructive to my soul and my personality." He was worried that he wouldn't be hireable again, but he was soon cast on the Showtime drama "Homeland," where he was nominated for an Emmy on four separate occasions.
Mandy Patinkin ("Criminal Minds"). Photo Credit: Courtesy of Hulu
Joe Mantegna filled the void left by Patinkin when he joined "Criminal Minds" in season three. The show ended on CBS in 2020 after 15 seasons, and a spin-off, "Criminal Minds: Evolution," emerged on Paramount+, with Mantegna and several other cast members of the OG series.
As for Patinkin, you might be confused by the news that he's guest-starring on a couple of episodes of an upcoming new series called "Brilliant Minds." Zachary Quinto ("Heroes") stars as a neurologist named Dr. Oliver Wolf, who is based on the famed physician and author Dr. Oliver Sacks.
In "Brilliant Minds," Quinto's Dr. Wolf leads a team of interns at a fictional Bronx hospital "as they explore the last great frontier -- the human mind -- while grappling with their own relationships and mental health." It will air on NBC beginning Monday, Sept. 23, at 10 p.m. ET.
***
Q: Is Justin Hartley's new show coming back with new episodes this fall? I still miss "This Is Us," but I'm happy if he's on my TV regardless. -- D.A.
A: Yes, there will be a sophomore season of "Tracker" on the CBS fall schedule, but not until Oct. 27. Justin Hartley returns as an "experienced survivalist" who travels the country using his skills to help solve crimes, including missing persons cases.
Jensen Ackles ("Supernatural") will be returning for a few episodes. He was introduced later in the first season as Hartley's brother. Melissa Roxburgh ("Manifest") is also expected to return as another sibling. So, in a way, you're getting to see Hartley in another family drama. It might not be the same as "This Is Us," but perhaps it'll do.
***
Q: Is "Severance" ever returning to Apple TV+? I know it was delayed, but I thought they started filming again. -- D.J.
A: Yes, the second season of "Severance" will premiere on Apple TV+ on Jan. 17, 2025. It's still a long way off, but it'll give you plenty of time to rewatch the complex but gripping first season, in case you've forgotten all of the intricate details.
Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry and John Turturro will all be back as the severed workers, along with some new faces like Bob Balaban ("The Chair"), Gwendoline Christie ("Game of Thrones"), and Alia Shawkat ("Arrested Development").
Send me your questions at NewCelebrityExtra@gmail.com, or write me at KFWS, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.
(c) 2024 King Features Synd., Inc.