Wow… could it really be true?  There’s an FBI show on TV that is not produced by Jerry Bruckheimer?  Why, it doesn’t even seem possible!  Nevertheless, it’s a fact, folks… and Criminal Minds stands out on that sole impressive note alone.

The fact that it’s a good show makes it stand out that much further.

For the first two seasons, the cast of Criminal Minds was helmed by Mandy Patinkin, a distinguished actor (and singer) who had grown uncomfortable with the amount of onscreen carnage that was featured on the show.  In this, the Third Season, both Mandy Patinkin and his character, Jason Gideon, bid the series adieu (much like William Petersen’s Gil Grissom on CSI -- both characters depart from their respective series over somebody named Sarah, interestingly enough), leaving the show (briefly) in the hands of co-star Thomas Gibson (that Eric McCormack-looking guy from Dharma & Greg), and eventually turning the lead role over to seasoned mafia-movie stereotype, Joe Mantegna.

Now, as good as Mandy Patinkin was, he just wasn’t doing it for me anymore… mainly because the wardrobe department was strongly determined to make the poor guy look like the world’s worst dressed man.  Take a look at him in the first episode this season: he strolls off the jet in a dark blue shirt and light blue denim jeans (Fashion Police, hello!), with a “Hey, check out my De Niro impersonation!” face, and a walk that gives the impression that he’s wearing Depends.  How are we supposed to take that seriously anymore, folks!  Color coordinate for fuck’s sake!  And slacks!  Lots and lots of slacks for guys in their fifties on!  And I mean that with all due respect, by the way.

As David Rossi, Mantegna brings a new flavor to the show: he’s a bored, retired FBI man whose personal demons have been getting the better of him for the last several years...and so, when Gideon makes his unexpected departure, Rossi doesn’t hesitate to join the Bureau’s Behavior Analysis Unit and its staff.  All of the usual suspects (co-stars) are also on-hand this season: Shemar Moore as Derek Morgan (the buff brother with the tats and an almost David Caruso-esque fetish for his sunglasses), Matthew Gray Gubler as Dr. Spencer Reid (the jabbering specialist with the photographic memory), A.J. Cook as Jennifer “J.J.” Jareau (a hot chick with a bad habit of appearing in cheapo horror films), Paget Brewster as Emily Prentiss (another hot chick, and one who can probe my mind anytime), and, of course, Kristen Vangsness as Penelope Garcia (the outspoken computer geek).

Apart from Gideon’s swansong and Rossi’s debut, Criminal Minds also features a lot of other unforgettable moments: a killer therapist (with a killer way of overcoming fears); Garcia’s near-death experience and subsequent relationship with fellow geek Kevin Lynch (Buffy The Vampire Slayer co-star Nicholas Brendon… and I sincerely hope he joins the cast in future seasons); Jamie Kennedy as an overweight cannibalistic killer (he should have received an Emmy for that role); Queer As Folk star Scott Lowell as a stalker; and, funniest of all, Frankie Muniz as a graphic novelist whose psychotic break has turned him into a murderous vigilante (little Secret Agent Cody In The Middle even has some tiny clumps of facial hair sticking out of his chin… someday, that boy’s gonna hit puberty).

Presentation
A big “Cheers!” goes out to CBS/Paramount for another wonderful full Season on DVD.  Criminal Minds Season 3 features all 20 Episodes fit snugly onto Five Discs -- each one is given a solid transfer and presented in 1.78:1 widescreen with anamorphic enhancement.  The viewer (that’d be you, dumbass) gets to choose from an English 5.1 Dolby Digital or an English Dolby Surround soundtrack to listen to.  No Subtitles are provided, but Closed Captioning is available.

Extras
While some series out there don’t always get the benefit of receiving any Special Features, Criminal Minds Season 3 comes to DVD with several Featurettes, Deleted Scenes for six episodes, and a Gag Reel (5:14).  Two Featurettes are located on Disc Two: Profile: Rossi/Mantegna (7:49) is a little looksee into Mantegna’s new character, while Shemar Moore: Criminal Minds’ Wild Ride (5:44) shows us the actor (along with his fellow cast and crewmates he recruited) during an annual charity bicycle race for Multiple Scleroses (and another big “Cheers!” goes to these guys and gals).  From Script To Screen: “True Night” (12:26) is the Disc Three Featurette that goes Behind-the-Scenes with the episode of the same name (and the impressive visuals contained therein).  The last two Featurettes are included on Disc Five: Killer Roles (15:51), which interviews many of the guest stars; and The Criminal Element: The Making Of Criminal Minds, Season 3 (20:17), which gives us a lot more Behind-the-Scenes stuff and interviews with the crew.  Additionally, the same old tired Promo Previews for several other CBS/Paramount titles are on Disc One.

The Bottom Line
Although it’s a pity that Mandy Patinkin left the series, Joe Mantegna takes no time in warming up to the audience and ultimately gives us another great season of a terrific show.