While it may not be the MOONLIGHT revival that fans were hoping for (or to be more specific, that one really dedicated fan who is single-handedly keeping the “Save MOONLIGHT” campaign alive by inundating my email box with bi-weekly emails), star Alex O’Loughlin is making a return to the small screen this evening on a very special, not to mention intensily creepy episode of CRIMINAL MINDS. And here to talk about tonight’s role with your very own TV Addict, in between shooting his new CBS pilot (THREE RIVERS) and his upcoming romantic comedy opposite Jennifer Lopez is the immortal one himself, Alex O’Loughlin.

Before we get into your guest appearance on tonight’s CRIMINAL MINDS, I of course have to first ask about MOONLIGHT. Were you surprised it was cancelled?
Alex O’Loughlin: Yes and no. It was a tough show for everybody in a sense that it was a high maintenance girlfriend. You love her, she’s great in bed but it takes so much of your time to appease her [laughs] that you’re left going, “Okay, is this worth the end result.” From the very beginning, there were huge amounts of changes: Five different showrunners, from the early days when it was Twilight we fired everyone, recast the show, reshot the pilot, called it MOONLIGHT, changed the showrunner. [Producer] Joel Silver and the network were butting heads constantly about the creative direction of the show. It was a lot of stuff to deal with behind the camera, maybe too much in fact. But to answer your question, I was surprised we were canceled because it was doing so well.

On tonight’s CRIMINAL MINDS, you play Vincent, a serial killer who couldn’t be more different than MOONLIGHT’s Mick St. John. How did this guest appearance come about, and did you purposely look for a role that was Mick’s polar opposite?
In terms of CRIMINAL MINDS specifically, the writer, Simon [Mirren] is a great friend of mine, and he said, “listen, I’m writing a role with you in mind. Would you read it,” and I did and the rest is history. I love playing different roles, the more variety the better. Once I’ve played a role I don’t want to play it again.

Was there any apprehension about playing a serial killer?
No apprehension because as far as I’m concerned Vincent is a redeemable character. When I first read the part, I could see how sympathetic he was. In terms of how I prepare, obviously not by going out and slaughtering anything. My main preparation with this character was the obsessive compulsive stuff because that’s the thing that rules his life and keeps him doing what he does time and time again. His OCD is at the core of his physical being.

A lot of your scenes are with a young actor [Jake Cherry] who plays Stanley. Before accepting the role did the old Hollywood adage about not working with kids or animals ever cross your mind?
(Laughs) That’s the old rule man, no kids or animals! But I love working with kids, I’ve never not enjoyed it. But then again maybe I’ve never had a bad kid. The thing about working with children is that there are no walls there, no barriers between you and their vanity. When you’re working with adults, we all have vanity, narcissism, whatever we have that has to do with our ego can potentially get in the way of our work. With kids there is a purity and an innocence regardless of what character they’re playing within them. And so to tap into that is just extraordinary to work with because it’s so true.

What can you tell fans about the THREE RIVERS [the pilot that Alex O'Loughlin recently shot for CBS]
Set in Pittsburgh, it’s a medical drama told from the perspective of the organ donor, the organ recipient and the surgical team. So every episode, someone may live and someone may die. Meaning the stakes are very high.

Was it a difficult decision to sign on to what potentially could be seven years of playing the same character versus the idea of playing different characters between films and occasional TV guest appearances?
Very good question and yes it his hard, it is daunting I got to say and i don’t think any actor would disagree with me. Once you’ve done a couple of films, I think the whole idea of being a movie star — well I don’t know about the ’star’ thing — but the idea of working regularly in feature films that’s my dream. To go from one character to the next and get to tell a million different stories, that would be wonderful, I’d love to be able to do that.

But the thing about television is that the job security, you cannot beat. I’m a family man and I have to think that way. But I definitely do get scared I’ll get stuck in one character and never find my way out. That other people aren’t going to trust me that I can’t find my way out to find one of their characters. So there is that.

That being said, after experiencing what I’ve experienced on both THE SHIELD and MOONLIGHT there is also joys and benefits to playing a character for a long time because you discover things and get to live out things you discovered about the character. There have been so many times in my life when I’ll finish a play or a film and a week later I’ll wake up and say, “Ah F*ck, that’s what I should have done with that scene, that’s the missing element.” And so in TV you get to live that out and discover so much more it’s great. but it’s definitely a catch 22 situation.

Have you started shooting The Back-Up Plan?
I start shooting in about a minute!

Aside from the opportunity to work with Jennifer Lopez, what attracted you to the project?
Nothing, just J.LO… No, just joking. The film is great, it’s funny, well written and I’ve never really done a lead role in a romantic comedy over here yet in America. Also, the director’s a pal, the great Alan Poul, who has a really smart clear vision for the film. And Jennifer being attached didn’t hurt.

CRIMINAL MINDS airs Wednesday nights on CBS at 9PM (8PM on CTV in Canada)

Least Welcome EX of the Week
Elizabeth Reeser’s THE EX LIST attracted less viewers than MOONLIGHT. That sound you just heard, eight million MOONLIGHT fans muttering “I told you so.”

Career Advice of the Week
After sitting through Greg Kinnear’s FLASH OF GENIUS over the weekend, this TV Addict can’t help but wonder… How many non-descript supporting wives and girlfriends is ex-GILMORE GIRL Lauren Graham going to play until she comes to grips with the fact that her star shines brightest on the small screen.

Showrunner Advice of the Week
While this TV Addict gives serious credit to creator Bryan Fuller for the brilliance that is PUSHING DAISIES. The fact is this. Assuming he’d like to see The Pie Hole open for business past November, Fuller and Co. might want to consider finding a more delicate balance between whimsical quirkiness and comprehendible storytelling. After-all…

Head-Scratcher of the Week
Not only did more Americans tune into the second episode of KNIGHT RIDER [7.6 million viewers] over the first episode of PUSHING DAISIES [6.3 million viewers]. BEVERLY HILLS CHIHUAHUA was the top grossing movie of the weekend with $29 million at the box office. Talking cars, talking dogs, dare we ask what’s next?

Head-Scratcher of the Week II
The dismal ratings of TERMINATOR: THE SARAH CONNOR CHRONICLES. Does creator Josh Friedman really have to add a talking car to get you to watch?

Head-Scratcher of the Week III
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS. But only because we have yet to see the season premiere and am wondering if it marked a return to form for our favorite fictional football team.

Good News: In related Vampire news, MOONLIGHT fans will finally get something exciting to sink their teeth into. Bad News: It’s not a second season. Rather the announcement of a DVD release, which let’s face it, effectively puts a final nail into any and all hope for a second season. [Source]

Good News: The second episode of FRINGE was up an astounding 68% from the show’s tepidly received season premiere. Bad News: We’re pretty sure a test pattern would do well following the highly anticipated series premiere of HOUSE. [Source]

Now that CBS has taken the ‘bite’ out of MOONLIGHT’s cancellation by signing Alex O’Loughlin to a one year holding deal with the hopes of developing a new starring vehicle for him in partnership with high profile TV Producer Mark Gordon [GREY'S ANATOMY, ARMY WIVES, CRIMINAL MINDS]. This TV Addict feels the need to ask the obvious question. Is a talent holding deal enough to get MOONLIGHT fans back to CBS, if [and when] the Untitled Alex O’Loughlin Project premieres?

Thanks to The Hollywood Reporter for the Tip

Minutes ago, CBS Entertainment President Nina Tassler filled us in — and by ‘us’ I mean the hundred or so journalists attending the 2008 Television Critics Association Press Tour — with regards to what fans can expect from the character replacing William Peterson’s Gil Grissom on CSI this upcoming season. According to Tassler, Grissom’s replacement will be a doctor, who not only is a bit of an outsider and must work his way onto the team, but has somewhat of a complex dual identity. One that DEXTER fans might be intimately [or is it eerily] familiar with.

In other news, Tassler pretty much put a final stake into MOONLIGHT’s chances for survival by revealing that she stands by her decision to cancel this season’s JERICHO. Said Tassler, “We love Alex and the rest of the cast, but we’re okay to let the show go.” Adding that most of the comments she received from viewers were aimed at the actors and not the show itself.

Which naturally got us thinking. If Alex O’Loughlin is currently unemployed and the gang from CSI are on the look out for a dark and mysterious investigator. It doesn’t take THE BIG BANG THEORY’s Sheldon and/or Leonard to connect the dots here! Match made in television heaven? You be the judge.

Here are five words this TV Addict never expected to write: Perez Hilton has a point.

In his recent post titled, ‘Vampires Are In’ the reigning queen of celebrity gossip sights the 3.5 million copies being printed for Stephanie Meyers fourth and final installment of the TWILIGHT series BREAKING DAWN, the upcoming September premiere of Alan Ball’s [SIX FEET UNDER] highly anticipated new HBO series TRUE BLOOD and the TWILIGHT movie set to hit the big screens in December as proof positive that vampires are the new boy wizards.

Leading us to wonder aloud — with interest in Vampires seemingly at an all-time high — could CBS have cancelled MOONLIGHT at a worse time?

And just to make sure we’re clear. I’ve awarded the first spot in theTVaddict.com’s Second Annual Pimp Your Favorite Show Contest to MOONLIGHT. Courtesy of designer ‘Anonymous’, I hope everyone enjoys this TV Addict’s personal favorite of the over twenty different MOONLIGHT header designs that were submitted.

And rest assured all you non-MOONLIGHT fans, throughout the week theTVaddict.com will be highlighting some other great designs that don’t include Mick St. John’s hypnotic blue eyes. I promise.

… They would do their absolute best to extend an olive branch to the eight million or so angry and bitter fans of the recently axed MOONLIGHT.

Take it from a TV Addict who knows. When EVERWOOD was unceremoniously cancelled to make way for the CW’s much-hyped and short-lived RUNAWAY, ask me how many episodes of it I watched. Not a single frakkin’ frame of footage! Seriously, that’s how bitter I was.

So rather than simply be remembered as the show that replaced MOONLIGHT, showrunner THE EX LIST showrunner Diane Ruggiero [who oddly enough knows a thing or two about fandom coming from the world of VERONICA MARS] might wish to consider taking a proactive approach when it comes to reaching out to grieving MOONLIGHT fans.

Which brings us to the free advice. With THE EX LIST revolving around Elizabeth Reaser [GREY'S ANATOMY] exploring her past relationships after a psychic tells her she’s already dated her future husband, why not make one or two of the potential love(s) of her life a familiar face. I hear Alex O’Loughin and Jason Dohring find themselves with a little free time on their hands.

Full disclosure: Having just devoured TWILIGHT over the weekend, this TV Addict is the first to admit that I may be a little bias when it comes to protecting all things Vampire.

But as a result of to today’s speculation courtesy of Variety’s Cynthia Littleton that MOONLIGHT may not be seeing a second season pick-up thanks to CBS being high on a slew of new dramas in development. I thought I’d take an opportunity to remind the proverbial ‘Powers that Be’ of the following. Remember CANE? SMITH? THE AGENCY? 3 LBS? THE BROTHERHOOD OF POLAND NH? Neither does anybody else!

Which is why I’m imploring you to give MOONLIGHT a second chance. Or at least consider this interesting idea by theTVaddict.com reader Eric S., “Maybe it’s time to suggest to CBS that it place one of its minor cult hits (Moonlight) on its younger-skewing partner network, The CW.  That would bring new viewers to The CW, give it a vampire hit (the show really belongs there), and keep the show in the “CBS family,” as well.”

HOUSE
Even with the new team and the return of Cutthroat Bitch, this TV Addict can’t seem to get excited for HOUSE anymore. Is it just me, or are we watching virtually the same show each and every week? Diagnose, Snarky Comment, Cure, Repeat.

THE BIG BANG THEORY
As a stare blankly at my ridiculously large collection of Entertainment Weekly magazines [quite literally, almost every one], this recovering eBay Addict couldn’t help but laugh sympathize with Leonard, Sheldon, Wolowitz and Raj’s Time Machine predicament.

SMALLVILLE
It should come as no surprise that television’s most frustratingly uneven series relied on the tired and clichéd “It’s a Wonderful Life” plot contrivance for their very special 150th episode. Talk about your super lack of creativity.

GREY’S ANATOMY
After the train—wreck that was season one of PRIVATE PRACTICE, Addison’s brief return to Seattle Grace was a welcome reminder of what Kate Walsh can do when given great material. Here’s hoping the PRIVATE PRACTICE writers took notes.

MY ROGERS PVR
I think my Rogers PVR [Personal Video Recorder] is developing a mind of its own. Rather than obeying my commands, it failed to record Thursday’s SUPERNATURAL and SCRUBS. Stupid Toaster!

MOONLIGHT
Move aside NIP/TUCK, because after this week’s paparazzi filled installment, the continued adventures of Vampire Mick St. John, complete with uber—cheesy voiceovers and an over-the-top Jason Dohring may officially be this TV Addict’s new guilty pleasure. Bonus points for giving 8 SIMPLE RULES Martin Spanjers an acting gig outside of the occasional Pizza Hut commercial.