Mandy Patinkin Goes AWOL From ‘Criminal Minds’

Patinkin Leaves Criminal Minds: Star Mandy Patinkin fails to show up for work at CBS drama Criminal Minds and is eventually released from his contract after actor and producers have “creative differences.� Uh, we had creative differences with your mom, dude. Wait, that doesn’t work. [Variety]

Silverman Makes Peacock Moves: Wunderkind Ben Silverman announces series of NBC moves for the fall in first presentation for the press. Among news: Isaiah Washington joins cast of Bionic Woman; Norman Lear will produce a drama for the net; Criss Angel and Uri Geller will star in Phenomenon, a reality show about the search for the next great magician. Silverman wore nothing but a brilliant white smile for the afternoon session’s duration; one reporter, who pointed this out, was belittled and mocked by her compatriots. [Variety]

Weinstein Books, Films Make Mob Hit: The Weinstein Company options The Mad Ones by author Tom Folsom, about the Gallo brothers, trio of mobsters who attempted to shake up the Mafia in the sixties. Rob Weisbach at Weinstein Books also snaps up tome for 2009 publication from agent Zoe Pagnamenta. In the mob, we’d call that a racket; here, it’s synergy! [Variety, Publishers Marketplace]

Polley, Leto Are Nobody: Jared Leto and Sarah Polley sign on to Mr. Nobody, passion project by Belgian writer-director Jaco Van Dormael about the last mortal man on a planet of immortals remembering his one great love. Polley and Leto feel like matter and anti-matter to us, but we’re willing to give this one the benefit of the doubt. [HR]

Lee, Broadbent Travel to Other Side: Indie fantasy comedy The Other Side, directed by David Michaels, assembles cast, including Brittany Murphy, Jason Lee, Giovanni Ribisi, Jim Broadbent, Tim Roth, and Lili Taylor. Pic tells story of a researcher (Murphy) on a remote island and her encounters with an eccentric local community. We assume she finds love, and we can only hope it’s with Broadbent. [Variety]