criminalminds

There will come a time, no doubt, when every show on TV will be turned into a video game to delight and distract us from all the other important stuff we're supposed to be doing in our lives.

CBS is stepping up to help contribute to our delinquency with a new slate of TV-based video games. They've already got two 'CSI' games on shelves, and six more are in the works for a number of systems, including the Wii, Nintendo DS, iPhone and iPod Touch.

We thought we'd help out by supplying a few possible scenarios for these upcoming games.

If I were an executive at CBS, I would never want to do business with actor Mandy Patinkin again. Even though Mandy is a terrific actor and one of my personal favorites -- I loved him on Broadway in Evita and Sunday in the Park with George, not to mention on screen in The Princess Bride and Yentl -- his history with CBS is abominable.

He was an Emmy-winning star on Chicago Hope, then left after a couple of seasons to be closer to his family in New York. Okay, that was understandable. Then after getting Criminal Minds off to a great start, he walked out of that show, citing creative differences.

Apparently, someone has said let bygones be bygones because Mandy Patinkin will be a guest star on Three Rivers. Maybe because this is a very personal issue with Mandy, he's convinced the powers that be to let him return to the network, albeit for just a guest appearance.

The "Ask TV Squad" column, published every Wednesday, answers your questions about current and past TV shows, as well as about the celebrities appearing on TV. Every week, I will pick a question (or more) sent to us and provide answers in the column. If your question is not picked for a column, it may be answered in a subsequent column. To submit questions to the "Ask TV Squad" column, you can post them below in comments or email them at asktvsquad@gmail.com.

This week, I answer questions about online TV shows, a new series called Miami Trauma, and NYPD Blue DVDs.

Oh, no. Please. CBS, please don't. I know it's tempting when you see the NCIS: LA ratings -- number two for last week, topped only by NCIS! -- but please, refrain. What am I talking about? CBS is pushing a spinoff of Criminal Minds, asking the show's executive producer Ed Bernero and executive producer Chris Mundy to come up with a variation on Criminal Minds. Hmm... Criminal Minds 2.0? Son of Criminal Minds? Criminal Guts?

The Eye Network is becoming the Double Vision Network.

The Hollywood Reporter reveals that CBS is planning yet another spin-off drama series, this time from 'Criminal Minds.'

The move comes after spin-off 'NCIS: Los Angeles' debuted to big ratings last week. (And if you remember, the blockbuster hit 'NCIS' itself is actually a spin-off of 'JAG.') And just as in the 'NCIS' case, the 'Criminal Minds' spin-off would feature a brand-new team of agents and air as an episode of the original series.

Matt LeBlanc plans a return to television, CBS plans a 'Criminal Minds' spinoff, 'NCIS' continues to dominate in the ratings and more of today's top TV headlines.

'True Blood' has officially reached new heights, earning an astounding 4.3 million viewers for Sunday night's episode. This marks the show's best ratings performance to date.

Also in the news today: Paula quits 'American Idol,' while Lauren Conrad and Kim Kardashian book 'America's Next Top Model.'

See more of today's top TV headlines after the jump.

The 19th season of 'Survivor' will lead off CBS' 2009 fall premiere schedule.

The 'Samoa' edition premieres Thu., Sept. 17, followed by the network's Monday night comedy block, which includes the debut of Jenna Elfman's 'Accidentally on Purpose,' on Sept. 21.

Meanwhile, dates were also added for hit shows like 'Criminal Minds' (Wed., Sept. 23), 'The Mentalist' (Thu., Sept. 24) and the NBC import 'Medium,' premiering Fri. , Sept. 25.

Check out the full list of premiere dates after the jump.

Moonlight is history, but Alex O'Loughlin is still in demand. The actor, who garnered a huge fan base playing Moonlight's good guy vampire Mick St. John, returns to TV this week. O'Loughlin will guest star as a conflicted serial killer on CBS's Criminal Minds on Wednesday.

For O'Loughlin fans, the guest appearance is only a tease. What they really want to see is their favorite Aussie actor starring in a new weekly series. They might get their wish if CBS picks up Three Rivers, a drama pilot starring O'Loughlin as an organ transplant surgeon.

I got a chance to speak with O'Loughlin this week. We chatted about his new projects, his love for the vampire genre, and how Mick St. John could totally kick Kate Beckinsale's ass. Click through for the conversation, plus preview images and video from the actor's appearance on Criminal Minds.

What a sad sad day it was when CBS announced last season that it was canceling vampire series Moonlight starring hottie Alex O'Loughlin. The series was getting better and better every week, had a devoted fan base and a oh-so-beautiful cast (thanks mainly to Aussy O'Loughlin).

Even if CBS decided to end the series, the network was not about to let go of the actor which is why they inked a one-year deal with him to star in one of their new projects.

Until said project happens, Alex O'Loughlin will guest star in one of CBS's most popular shows: Criminal Minds.

'CSI: New York'
(10PM, CBS) 100th episode
Will the real Mac Taylor please step forward?

Actually, the Mac Taylors of the world -- or at least the ones in New York City -- may want to stay inside and lock the doors, because someone has killed two people with that name in a two-week period. So CSI-er Mac Taylor (Gary Sinise) is banding together with 15 other people with the same moniker to figure out why their name is driving someone to murder.

In a clever twist, an eclectic array of guest stars pop up as the various Macs, including singer Chris Daughtry (as Machiavelli Taylor), 'Party of Five' alum Scott Wolf (as Mackinley Taylor) and Bruce Willis/Demi Moore offspring Rumer Willis (as Mackendra Taylor).

It's November sweeps time. When thinking of that time of year, TV fans know that this also means huge cliffhangers, major twists and a lot of guest stars. A good number of fans don't like the stress this time of year brings, especially since they know some of their favorite series will go on hiatus for December and the first weeks of January.

To help you prepare for November sweeps 2008, we compiled spoilers for the November episodes of some of the best shows on TV. We give you spoilers for series such as: Bones, Brothers & Sisters, Criminal Minds, CSI, Desperate Housewives, Fringe. Ghost Whisperer, Gossip Girl, Grey's Anatomy, Heroes, House, How I Met Your Mother, NCIS, Prison Break, Smallville, The Simpsons, The Unit, Without a Trace and Ugly Betty.

SPOILERS FOLLOW!

'The Sarah Silverman Program'
(10:30PM, Comedy Central)
It hardly qualifies as feel-good-TV, but tonight's 'Sarah Silverman Program' episode, which kicks off a round of seven new season two installments, does come with a lesson. When Sarah and Brian decide they haven't been spending enough time together, he proposes that he and his pal spend a day smoking weed.

Sarah, a marijuana virgin, starts to get wacky ideas when she smokes the wacky tobacco, which leads her to profess her love to the local diner cook, cook up a conspiracy theory involving a potato chip corporation and kidnap the chip company CEO.

So, the lesson: This is Sarah's brain on drugs. Don't do drugs.

'Gary Unmarried'
(8:30PM, CBS) series premiere
We love us some Jay Mohr, even if he does seem a bit out of place as a typical sitcom dad.

He's the titular Gary, unmarried after divorcing Allison (Paula Marshall). Breaking the chains of love hasn't loosened controlling Allison's ways, though, especially when he's in charge of their kids, geeky teen Tom and politically-minded 11-year-old (hey, we said it's a typical sitcom) Louise.

Allison's controlling ways aren't Gary's biggest problem, though; she announces her engagement to her ex marriage counselor (Ed Begley Jr.), which means not only is Allison officially moving on, but now Gary has no excuse not to do the same. Let the single-father dating games begin.

I can't decide if this is good news or bad news. Moonlight star Alex O'Loughlin is staying at CBS.

Unless you've been in another galaxy for the past year, you know that the Aussie actor cultivated an enormous fan base with his role as vampire P.I. Mick St. John on CBS' Moonlight. The uproar caused by the cancellation of the show in May can still be heard, well, in another galaxy.

At the Television Critics Association press tour in July, CBS entertainment president Nina Tassler said the popularity of Moonlight was due in large part to O'Loughlin's fan base. So I can appreciate the fact that CBS wants to keep him around. But it's what they'll do with him that has me worried.