We occasionally hear about altercations that occur on sets. However, we were still stunned to hear this morning that Criminal Minds veteran Thomas Gibson has been suspended from the CBS drama for the next two weeks. The reason? Reports from the set indicate that Thomas Gibson actually kicked a writer during a scene Gibson was both directing and acting in. Yes, kicked one of the writers. He didn't punch or slap the writer, he kicked him.
Apparently, the currently unnamed writer and Thomas Gibson got into a tiff over the creative direction of the episode. Since Gibson was also directing the episode, things probably got more heated than they may have otherwise. TMZ says at one point Thomas Gibson just "exploded" and kicked the writer in the leg. I'd really like to know what that writer could have possibly said that would make someone want to kick him in the leg, not that kicking someone is ever an appropriate response.
Of course, after the outburst things allegedly escalated. The writer then got his agent involved and it became a huge HR nightmare. Now Thomas Gibson is reportedly suspended for two weeks. He'll be written out of the episodes that are expected to shoot---I guess maybe his character will take some time to spend with his son? He has also been reportedly cut from Season 12 directing gigs on the series.
Deadline also says that Thomas Gibson's future might be more dire than the two week suspension. If that's actually true, it could be very bad news for Criminal Minds. The show has already been on the air for more than a decade and has lost a slew of cast members during that time. However, the drama has been able to keep trucking because a few of the main cast members---like Thomas Gibson---have stuck around. Losing the actor would most certainly be a big blow. Gibson, for his part, has already basically come out and apologized:
There were creative differences on the set and a disagreement. I regret that it occurred. We all want to work together as a team to make the best show possible. We always have and always will.
In a lot of ways this situation mirrors the Top Gear situation, when Jeremy Clarkson punched a producer after getting riled up. In that case, though, Clarkson had prior issues while working for the BBC. He was eventually fired from the series, but if things don't escalate any further, maybe Thomas Gibson won't have the same fate. Or maybe we'll be seeing him on Amazon in a year or so...
While we wait to hear what Criminal Minds decides to do about this predicament, new episodes of the long-running CBS drama are expected to hit the schedule on Wednesday, September 28 at 9 p.m. ET. You can check out when the rest of your favorite shows are returning with our fall TV premiere schedule.
