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Question: I never watched Moonlight, but know that as a result of it, Alex O'Loughlin developed a big fan base that I often see letters from in your column. Since some people have stated that they wish that he had been given a spot in NCIS: LA, what are your thoughts on him being a part of the alleged Criminal Minds spin-off if Three Rivers doesn't last? Chances are that it would be a successful show based on name recognition and the fact that CBS has done well with spin-offs. Therefore it would probably earn him a permanent spot on
tvand please his fans. I realize that just last season he was on Criminal Minds in a guest spot, but it wouldn't be the first time that the same actor plays different characters on the same show or in the same "universe."—Ira A

Matt Roush: Very true that just because Alex O’Loughlin played a guest villain (memorably) on Criminal Minds wouldn’t preclude him from taking a lead role in a spin-off. There’s precedent for that. Before Jerry Orbach became the most beloved (and still missed) member of the Law & Order franchise, he had guest-starred on the series a year earlier as a defense lawyer. But my understanding is that if CBS does greenlight a Minds spin-off, it’s likely to be built around a female lead character. It’s hardly a surprise that such a prospect is not high on my list of shows I’d most love to see next season, but I don’t see how it could possibly be worse than the mothership.

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