CBS’ Criminal Minds Renewed for Season 9 After Contract Resolution

There has been a meeting of the Criminal Minds, and as a result, the CBS drama has been renewed for Season 9, the network announced on Thursday evening, with all seven main cast members (and showrunner Erica Messer) set to return.

Last week, CBS and producer ABC Studios tendered their final offers to Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Kirsten Vangsness and A.J. Cook. Gibson and Mantegna were reportedly the first to be close to signing on for the new season; Moore’s negotiations were said to go on longer, while Vangsness and Cook rejected their offers and banded together to seek salaries closer to that of their male co-stars.

According to Deadline, all of the aforementioned five have signed new two-year deals with the crime drama, and though Cook and Vangsness did not achieve pay equal to the Criminal men, they did receive significant raises. (Matthew Gray Gubler and Jeanne Tripplehorn were not up for renewal this spring.)

Criminal Minds 8×22 Promo “Number Six – #6″

Criminal Minds Actresses Nix ‘Final’ Season 9 Offer, Seek Parity With Male Co-Stars

CBS and Criminal Minds producer ABC Studios on Friday tendered their final offers to longtime cast members Thomas Gibson, Joe Mantegna, Shemar Moore, Kirsten Vangsness and A.J. Cook — and thus far only Gibson and Mantegna are close to signing on for Season 9,  Deadline reports.

Moore is said to be still deep in talks (though the two sides remain far apart on the financials), while Vangsness and Cook reportedly rejected outright the latest offer, casting doubt on the futures of BAU agents Penelope Garcia and J.J. Jareau.

Per Deadline, Vangsness and Cook are negotiating together, seeking pay parity after too many years of making less than half what any of the male series regulars do.

Neither Matthew Gray Gubler nor Jeanne Tripplehorn are up for renewal this spring.

All cast negotiations reportedly need to wrap up by end of day Tuesday, to pave the way for an official (and thus far delayed) Season 9 renewal announcement. Show boss Erica Messer inked a new two-year deal with ABC Studios last week, assuring her continuance with the crime drama.

Messer recently told TVLine that even with five cast members to re-sign, she felt “very confident” about securing Season 9. “I’d be shocked if we didn’t come back.”

Criminal Minds 8×21 Promo “Nanny Dearest”

Criminal Minds 8×19 Extended Promo “Pay It Forward” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×19 Promo “Pay It Forward” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×18 Promo “Restoration” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×17 Promo “The Gathering” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×16 Promo “Carbon Copy” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×15 Promo “Broken” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×14 Promo “All That Remains” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×13 Promo “Magnum Opus” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×12 Promo “Zugzwang” (HD) ft. Beth Riesgraf

Criminal Minds 8×11 Promo “Perennials” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×10 Promo “The Lesson” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×09 Promo “Magnificent Light” (HD) ft. Raphael Sbarge

Criminal Minds 8×08 Promo “The Wheels on the Bus” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×07 Promo “The Fallen” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×06 Promo “The Apprenticeship” (HD)

Criminal Minds 8×05 Promo “The Good Earth” (HD)