It was a very meta episode of 'The Simpsons' (Sun., 8PM ET on FOX), as the opening minutes dealt directly -- or directly through talking about 'Itchy & Scratchy' -- with the dated references issues. Sure, they explained that it takes a long time to animate the series, but is explaining the technical reasons behind the problem supposed to make the audience simply accept it and be happy about it?

The rest of the episode had a chance for some sharp satire, but as 'The Simpsons' tend to do, went for the soft approach. When Krusty the Clown's show got cancelled, he hooked back up with the talent agent who first scouted him, played by Joan Rivers. She first booked him on a live show à la Pee Wee Herman's recent broadway revival, and ultimately on HBOWTIME.

['Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior' - 'Two of a Kind']

I like Forest Whitaker, a lot. And I like Janeane Garofalo, a lot. And I admit I like 'Criminal Minds', CBS's highly watched FBI procedural, a lot too (well, sometimes).

But, based on this mindless premiere episode, I don't like 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior,' the new spin-off starring Oscar-winner Whitaker and great comedian/solid actress Garofalo. Well, not so much.

Everyone is talking about Forest Whitaker coming to TV. Actually, I should clarify that statement: By everyone, I mean my colleagues who write about TV or edit sites and magazines about TV. I imagine most of you haven't been racking up your long distance bill comparing Oscar winner Forest Whitaker to Laurence Fishburne.

I'm mainly surprised by how surprised everyone is. This trend -- if you can call it that -- of serious screen actors taking lead roles on procedural dramas is getting kind of long in the tooth. At this point, you can't even launch a legal or crime show without first securing the services of a frequently nominated supporting actor type -- a Sinise, D'Onofrio or Patinkin.

It makes me wish there was some kind of long-term betting site where I could place money on the likelihood of 'Law & Order: Space Station' starring Jeremy Renner debuting in 2035, or 'CSI: Missoula' with special guest star Mark Ruffalo.

CBS has released the first look at its next surefire hit, 'Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior.' As expected it's pretty creepy, with lots of inspirational dialogue and tons of action.

Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo headline a pretty and grizzled cast of FBI agents who profile the worst kind of criminals.

The first episode follows the team as they try to crack a child abduction case. Check out the trailer below. It's chock full of what you've come to love about 'Criminal Minds' plus smart aleck Janeane Garofalo.

'Cosby Show' veteran Malcolm-Jamal Warner has signed on to star in BET's new sitcom pilot opposite Tracee Ellis Ross.

As we previously reported, Ross will star as Dr. Carla Reed, a psychiatrist who is trying to balance her home life and work. According to Deadline Hollywood, Warner is expected to play Ross' husband.

Besides 'The Cosby Show,' Warner's past TV credits include a recent stint on 'Sherri,' 'Jeremiah' and 'The Cleaner.'

In other TV news ...

They're anticipated, but sometimes dreaded. They can be just what a show needs, or a ratings killer. They can unite or divide audiences. What has this much power in television? TV babies.

Jim and Pam on 'The Office' are just the latest fictional couple to welcome a baby into their wacky fold in tonight's special one-hour episode (9PM ET, NBC). To commemorate the occasion, we're taking a walk around the virtual nursery, looking back at some of TV's most anticipated -- for both good and bad reasons -- babies.

Did your favorite TV baby make the list? Check after the jump.

Olympic champion Lindsey Vonn is eyeing another Gold medal-winning performance -- this time, on NBC's 'Law & Order.' Bob Costas broke the exciting news to her during an interview segment on Saturday, in which he revealed that she will play a jury foreman in a future episode. 'Law & Order' is said to be Vonn's favorite show. [TV Guide]

More casting news after the jump.

(S07E23/S07E24) "You don't know what I've done." - Jack

When 24 first premiered back in 2001, we were all taken off guard. It was so different, innovative, and action packed - like nothing we'd seen on TV ever before. But do you remember why it worked so well? Sure, there was a vast conspiracy that enshrouded the whole day in darkness, but for the most part, it was all about Jack and his family. The Bauers were what made Day 1 so memorable.

You felt horrible when Jack held Teri's lifeless body in those final seconds, and it was because the season focus was weighted towards them and not Drazen or Nina. Because of that formula, the show took off and with each season from then on, 24 became bigger than itself and so did the conspiracies. Then the bubble burst with Day 6 when it all came crashing down - we'd seen enough nukes, bio-pathogens, and Middle Eastern terrorists. The difference? All of that became more important than Jack. After Day 7's stellar finale, I think we can all agree that 24 has found its roots again.

(S07E22) "Why did you betray me?" - Jack

Since next week's finale is actually the last two hours of the season back-to-back, I think it's safe to refer to tonight's hour as Day 7's penultimate episode. As is so often the case with pivotal installments that precede a finale (especially with 24), going into it, I couldn't help shake the feeling that the bio-terror threat would be erased for good only to reveal one more crisis ready to spill over into next week. I'm not trying to say that it was predictable, but ... well ... nevermind. It was predictable.

(S07E21) "I have to see this through." - Jack

After a run of so many good episodes, it had to happen sooner or later - the calm before the storm. Hour 21 wasn't much more than that. A lot of filler and only a little bit of action.

All the events that are going to play out over the season's final three episodes were set in motion, but it was done with such a deliberately slow pacing that you probably would have been fine just watching next week's "Previously on 24" clip.

(S07E20) "Another attack today is all we need to push this thing right over the edge." - Tony

Only four hours left. All the pieces are in motion and sides have been chosen. Following Tony's betrayal last week, things have progressed quickly - his cohorts aren't exactly the waiting type. As tense as the plot has become, I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. Essentially, the plan is exactly the same and Hodges has just been replaced with the dozen or so people in that bad guy summit ... not sure what else to call it.

(S07E19) "I would think you'd know by now that no one can change my father's mind when it's made up" - Kim

Wow - talk about a complete 180°. A lot of this season has played it safe, but after last week's shocking final minutes, Day 7 has kicked into overdrive. During last night's episode, at times it felt like we were watching something out of season five. It was that tense. New conspiracies, new players, and confirmation of the one thing we've all assumed but couldn't bring ourselves to admit - Tony has been lying to Jack all day.

(S07E18) "Kim, I'm dying." - Jack

That, my friends, is what you call a game changer. Initially, I wasn't feeling the vibe of this episode. It was slow, predictable, and the Kim/Jack reunion that we've known about for ages was about as anti-climactic as you can get. But it worked. Kim's return created precisely the distraction we needed so that hour eighteen's final minutes made our jaws drops. When I spoke with Carlos Bernard recently, he said that production was shut down for over a month at one point to reassess the direction of one episode. I'm guessing this was it.

(S07E17) "I'm not giving up on you." - President Taylor

Not a bad pep talk to get from your President after being indicted, considered a federal fugitive, and becoming infected with a bio-engineered virus all in the same day. However, if I know Jack (and speaking of "knowing" Jack, check out this 24 quiz that TV Squad's own Joel Keller put together for Parade), then those words probably meant the world to him. That was until Dr. Macer gave Jack a pouch full of pre-loaded syringes. She looked at his file! She knew he had a daughter. I guess she glossed over the part about that raging heroin addiction he picked up in Mexico while undercover in the Salazar organization.

Lead characters are extremely important for TV series, as they are the basis of the shows' storylines. However, to make said lead characters shine and make the storylines interesting, supporting characters must be introduced. Sometimes, those characters have a major impact on a series and even end up becoming leads. Just see how Ben Linus on Lost was set to appear in a few episodes, but ended up being so helpful to the storyline and loved (or hated) by the fans that he became an integral part of the series and is now a major player on the show.

That compelled me to make a list of new supporting characters who helped make their series better this season. Since my list only has 10 items and because I don't watch all current TV series, I will have missed tons of supporting characters, so feel free to add to the list by commenting below. However, note that I restricted my list to supporting characters that were introduced THIS season. So the Ben Linuses of the TV world are not on the list.