Why The Criminal Minds Spin-Off Suspect Behavior Was Canceled After One Season
Forest Whitaker and Janeane Garofalo starred in a Criminal Minds spin-off in 2011 that never made it past Season 1. Here's why CBS canceled Suspect Behavior.
The television network CBS attempted to capitalize on the immense popularity of their hit series Criminal Minds by launching a spin-off titled Suspect Behavior in 2011. However, the show only lasted a single season, ultimately being canceled by CBS. Starring Forest Whitaker, Janeane Garofalo, and Michael Kelly, Suspect Behavior focused on the Behavioral Analysis Unit's elite Red Cell team, which tackled the most dangerous criminal cases.
The series was introduced through a backdoor pilot in the season five premiere of Criminal Minds. Despite premiering with 13.06 million viewers, ratings steadily declined throughout the season, averaging just 9.84 million viewers by its conclusion. The show's low viewership prompted CBS to cancel it on May 17, 2011, while simultaneously renewing another spin-off, CSI: NY.
The cancellation of Suspect Behavior was not the end of CBS's attempt at additional Criminal Minds projects, as they later introduced Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders five years later. However, Beyond Borders also failed to gain traction, ultimately being canceled as well. CBS's Criminal Minds franchise concluded after 15 seasons in 2020, but the show returned on Paramount+ in 2023 under the new title Criminal Minds: Evolution, continuing the storyline as a continuation rather than a spin-off.
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