'Criminal Minds' Exec Explains (poorly) JJ exit

Criminal Minds' executive producer Simon Mirren has explained how A. J. Cook will leave the series.

Cook, who plays JJ, was dropped from the show earlier this year but will return to tie up her storylines.

Mirren has now suggested that JJ will be moving on to another job.

"We've always intimated that JJ's character has connections outside of our world - other more powerful elements in the government," he told TV Guide. "Those powers that she's connected with come back into her life. So basically, what we're saying is, our loss is going to be somebody else's gain."

Screw you, Mr. Mirren!  The truth is you're taking our A.J. away.  You can spin it all you want, it doesn't change that fact.

The Cook Has Left The Kitchen

The Cook has left the kitchen.

Tonight's episode of Criminal Minds—the second of the new season—sees the departure of series costar A.J. Cook after it was revealed earlier this summer her contract would not be renewed.

Kirsten Vangsness, who plays Penelope Garcia on the CBS procedural, has made no secret that she's not happy with the firing…

"You know, it's like we had seven arms and somebody cut one of the arms off and we're walking around with this phantom limb," Vangsness told me. "And that's the honest to God truth. That's what it feels like." It was reported earlier today that Star Trek actress Rachel Nichols was said to be replacing Cook, but she apparently will only appear on three episodes as a new FBI cadet.

"We're still sort of hungover from her leaving," Vangsness said. "But there's this point where you're like, 'OK, she's gone and she's going to rise like a phoenix and it's going to be great.' You can't keep fighting it. But it's weird when it's like this person is just gone and the nature of the network beast is almost like, 'They don't exist. Now we act like that never happened.' "

She added, "It's just not my cup of tea, the way it all went down."

Now, we want to hear from you. Gonna miss A.J. or change is a good thing? (hint: the right answer is this change is a horrible thing) Sound off below.