Ten fun facts about Criminal Minds

Fact 1
The series follows a team of profilers from the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) based in Quantico, Virginia. The BAU is part of the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime.

Fact 2
The show differs from many procedural dramas by focusing on profiling the criminal, called the unsub or "unknown subject", rather than the crime itself.

Fact 3
CBS announced in October 2009 that Legacy Interactive would develop a video game based on the show. The game would require players to examine crime scenes for clues to help solve murder mysteries.

Fact 4
When the series premiered in 2005, it featured FBI Agents Jason Gideon (Mandy Patinkin), Aaron Hotchner (Thomas Gibson), and the rest of the BAU. For season one, the team was composed of Agents Elle Greenaway (Lola Glaudini), Derek Morgan (Shemar Moore), Spencer Reid (Matthew Gray Gubler), Jennifer "JJ" Jareau (A. J. Cook), and Technical Analyst Penelope Garcia (Kirsten Vangsness). During season one, Vangsness was not in the regular cast, but instead appeared as a guest star.

Fact 5
Casting has been ever-changing with the coming and going of multiple characters

Fact 6
Dorothy Rabinowitz said, in her review for the Wall Street Journal, that: "From the evidence of the first few episodes, Criminal Minds may be a hit, and deservedly."

Fact 7
In season 2 episode "The Big Game" Criminal Minds set a series high rating by attracting an audience of 26.31 million viewers and a 18–49 rating of 9.3.

Fact 8
The show ranked number nine in DVR playback (2.35 million viewers), according to Nielsen prime DVR lift data from September 22, 2008 – November 23, 2008.

Fact 9
Eight complete seasons of Criminal Minds have been aired, with the ninth season starting on September 25, 2013.

Fact 10
The premier episode was met with mixed reviews, receiving a score of 42 out of 100 on aggregate review site Metacritic, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.