Criminal Minds
Aisha Tyler has been promoted to a series regular role in "Criminal Minds" Season 12. CBS

CBS crime series “Criminal Minds” is making some changes to its cast in Season 12 in the aftermath of Shemar Moore’s departure. The long-running procedural has already cast “CSI: Miami” actor Adam Rodriguez as a Fugitive Task Force Agent in the FBI named Luke Alvez and added returning cast member Paget Brewster as Interpol Agent Emily Prentiss in a recurring role.

Now, the network has promoted a relatively new actress to “Criminal Minds.” Aisha Tyler, who plays psychologist Dr. Tara Lewis, has been promoted to a series regular role in Season 12, TVLine reports. “The Talk” co-host was added to the cast in a bid to fill the void left by Jennifer Love Hewitt, who played Kate Callahan, and to temporarily fill in the shoes of A.J. Cook, who plays Jennifer Jareau/J.J., since she was on maternity leave.

Dr. Lewis has proved to be an invaluable asset to FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU). She has worked in several cases and proved that she has what it takes to catch criminals. Tyler was introduced in the Season 11 premiere and was booked as a recurring cast member.

Season 11 ended with several serial killers escaping prison. Many of these criminals were previously caught by the BAU, but now the team must catch them again so that they are behind bars.

Rodriguez’s character will play an important role in capturing these escaped convicts. Alvez caught most of the killers over the summer, Entertainment Weekly reports. “There are still five [killers] out there when we come into the premiere,” “Criminal Minds” executive producer, Erica Messer, told EW. “One of them is a guy Peter Lewis plays named Mr. Scratch. He is our baddie for the year. We will stretch him out and tell his creepy tales,” she said.

Mr. Scratch was introduced in Season 10. He uses mind-altering drugs to coerce victims to do his bidding.

“Criminal Minds” Season 12 premieres on Wednesday, Sept. 28, at 9 p.m. EST on CBS.

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