CBS's Patinkin Village

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., July 18

The important thing to know about a CBS executive Q&A session at Summer TV Press Tour 2007, if you wish to make it meaningful and prosperous, is to ask as many Mandy Patinkin questions as possible.

Just a few days ago, Patinkin, at his request, was written out of CBS's hit pervy crime drama "Criminal Minds," citing "creative differences." The producers, in their statement, said firmly that in this case "creative differences" is not a euphemism for "wanted a lot more money."

The development left CBS scrambling to replace the star of one of its more important series. "Criminal Minds" clocked nearly 13 million viewers in its first season and more than 14 million in its second, even though for part of the TV season it aired in the teeth of Fox ratings monster "American Idol."

This was the second time Patinkin has pulled out of a CBS drama series. Back in the '90s he left "Chicago Hope" in mid-season, though he came back to the show toward the end of its run.

About four questions into Wednesday's Q&A session with Nina Tassler, president of CBS's entertainment division, an eczema of Patinkin queries erupted.

I started with, "I just wanted to ask a question with two words: Mandy Patinkin. What happened?" Which, technically, is four words.

"Oh, a Mandy question," Tassler said.

"First of all, Mandy . . . came to me and asked to be released from the show, and we were able to accommodate that request. . . . Right now it's a personal issue and I think the show is accommodating his needs."

Tassler said she was sure the show would be okay without Patinkin.

"The 'creative' on the show is very strong. . . . People come to that show for that white-knuckle ride that they're going to get every week."

In the same way "ER" and "Law & Order" have survived cast changes, "the show will go on," Tassler said, which we didn't think ever happened except in Broadway musicals.